Enrico Ferigolli discusses Penny, an AI shopping assistant developed by Pick n Pay, highlighting its capabilities in conversation and replenishment. He also touches on the competition with Sixty60 and mentions Gemini in the context of their strategies.

Pick n Pay has launched an AI assistant as part of its strategy to reclaim market share from the Checkers Sixty60 app. Meanwhile, Woolworths is expanding its operations with the addition of another 'dark store'.

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.

Payaza has introduced Shopaza, an eCommerce platform that is now operational in 23 countries across Africa, North America, and Europe. The platform utilizes Payaza's proprietary payment infrastructure to facilitate instant settlement for transactions.

South Africa's Yoco is expanding its services beyond payment processing through a new artificial intelligence deal. This development is part of a broader discussion that includes the Central Bank of Nigeria's data localisation rule, which has raised concerns within the fintech sector, and Visa's plans to integrate AI for shopping with cards in South Africa, according to Techpoint Africa.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models used as chatbots and digital assistants, is becoming integral to daily life in South Africa. This raises concerns about the potential for AI to exacerbate existing inequalities, especially given the historical context of apartheid, which created disparities in access to education and healthcare. The implications of increased machine mediation in human interactions are significant in a society still grappling with these legacies, according to The Conversation Africa.