Google Launches AI Mode in Search for Nigerians, Kenya, Others
- Google has launched AI Mode in Search, powered by the Gemini 2.5 AI model, to enhance how users in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria search for and explore information
- The update allows users to engage with Search using text, voice, or images, providing richer and more detailed responses through AI-generated content and clickable links to relevant websites
- AI Mode also introduces a query fan-out technique, enabling simultaneous searches on subtopics for more comprehensive results, and is now available in search results and the Google app on iOS and Android devices
Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has 5-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.
Google has introduced AI Mode in Search, a potent new tool that will revolutionize how millions of Africans search for and examine information online, specifically in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Source: Getty Images
The update, driven by Google's Gemini 2.5 AI model, handles intricate, multi-part queries and generates context-rich responses, going beyond simple keyword searches.
Now, users can engage with Search using text, voice, or images, making it easier to plan travel, acquire new skills, or delve deeper into subjects that would typically require multiple queries.
“This is about reimagining Search for our users in the region. With AI Mode, people will not only get the answers they need more easily, but they will also be able to explore a wider range of content from across the web,” said Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Google Africa.
Google is highlighting its support for the open web, in contrast to certain AI technologies that restrict access to sources. To help users find more content and keep publishers visible, each AI-generated overview includes clickable links to relevant websites.
If the system is not confident in an AI-generated response, Search will revert to its conventional results.
One of the most notable features of AI Mode is its query fan-out technique, which divides a user’s query into subtopics and performs several searches simultaneously. This provides more in-depth information and reveals highly relevant items that conventional search might overlook.
Today marks the beginning of the deployment, with AI Mode appearing as a new tab in search results and within the Google app on iOS and Android smartphones.
WhatsApp shuts down 6.8 million accounts
Legit.ng reported that WhatsApp has claimed that as part of a significant crackdown on illegal messaging networks, it has terminated over 6.8 million accounts linked to international scam activities.
The platform, which is owned by Meta, stated that the accounts found and eliminated in the first half of 2024 were connected to scam centers that use techniques such as cross-platform fraud, cloned voices, and deepfakes.
Source: Getty Images
This latest round of enforcement is part of larger efforts to stop coordinated scams before they spread, according to Kojo Boakye, vice president of public policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey at Meta.
“This is part of our unwavering commitment to protect our users, not just by banning malicious accounts, but by empowering individuals with the tools and knowledge they need to recognize and avoid these sophisticated threats,” he said.
To help users spot dubious contacts and prevent fraud, the platform has introduced new in-app features. One of the changes allows users to view additional context before interacting with senders they are unfamiliar with, particularly when they are added to group chats by people not on their contact list.
WhatsApp introduces new feature
Legit.ng reported that Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, has decided to integrate its Artificial Intelligence directly into the messaging app.
The new feature, which works like ChatGPT, offers users a range of exciting possibilities when chatting, including responding to questions.
In a statement on its website, WhatsApp said the feature is currently only available in limited countries.
Source: Legit.ng
