Core, the exclusive distribution partner for Microsoft Surface in South Africa, has confirmed that the Surface Laptop Ultra will be sold locally, according to htxt.africa. The outlet’s headline frames the device as Microsoft’s “MacBook Pro killer,” presenting it as a challenger to Apple’s high-end laptop line. The provided information confirms local distribution through Core but does not include pricing, specifications, release timing, or which retailers will carry the machine in South Africa.

Microsoft is pursuing an on-device artificial intelligence strategy centred on embedding neural processing units into its Surface devices, allowing them to handle AI tasks locally rather than relying on cloud computing. However, the company faces pricing challenges in South Africa, where the higher cost of NPU-equipped hardware could limit adoption. According to The Citizen, these affordability hurdles may slow the rollout of Microsoft's AI-powered devices in the South African market despite the technology's promised performance benefits.

Microsoft Surface products will be distributed exclusively in South Africa by the Core Group, but the company has confirmed there are currently no plans to open a standalone Microsoft Surface branded store in the country. According to htxt.africa, despite the new distribution partnership, consumers should not expect dedicated retail locations for the Surface brand at this time. The arrangement means Surface devices will be available through existing channels rather than a flagship Microsoft store experience.

Nubia will launch its NaviX Ultra smartphone in China on 16 September, with ByteDance's Doubao AI agent powering the entire device, according to Tech-ish. The report notes that WeChat previously blocked a prototype version of the phone in December. The launch marks a notable collaboration between the handset maker and ByteDance in the growing market for AI-driven smartphones. Further details about pricing, specifications, and availability were not provided in the source material.

South African technology distributor Altron Arrow is bringing ASUS AI computing systems to local organisations seeking to build their own artificial intelligence infrastructure. According to TechCentral, the offering is positioned as delivering petaflop-level computing power in desktop form, enabling South African companies to run AI workloads locally rather than relying on cloud services. The initiative reflects growing interest in domestic AI compute capacity as organisations in the country look for alternatives for processing data in-house.

Investec, a dual-listed lender, is implementing Microsoft’s AI assistant for all employees in South Africa and the UK. This initiative aims to enhance productivity and streamline operations across the organization.