The World Bank has reported that nearly half of developing economies are struggling to achieve economic growth, despite the global economy moving past the immediate disruptions caused by the pandemic. The findings were published in the World Bank's June report, highlighting ongoing challenges for these nations in their recovery efforts.

The article discusses the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive growth for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. It explores the current landscape of AI adoption among these businesses and offers insights on how they can effectively navigate the hype surrounding AI to identify real opportunities for development.

The United Nations (UN) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) are organizing a global dialogue aimed at addressing the social and economic realities influenced by artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative is part of their efforts to engage with the challenges posed by AI on a worldwide scale.

According to TechMoran, while cybersecurity firms are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve threat detection, cybercriminals are also employing AI for automated phishing and malware attacks. A survey indicates that 43% of organizations believe hackers are utilizing AI-driven techniques to enhance their effectiveness. To mitigate these threats, companies are encouraged to implement AI-powered platforms instead of relying on isolated solutions.

The World Bank has indicated that the economic recovery in Sub-Saharan Africa is losing momentum, projecting a growth rate of 4.1 percent for 2026, the same as in 2025. This figure represents a downward revision of 0.3 percentage points from a previous forecast of 4.4 percent, as noted in the latest Africa Economic Update released in April.

On June 23, 2026, intelligence agencies from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand issued a joint statement highlighting that advanced artificial intelligence systems could significantly impact cyber security in the near future. This warning coincides with ongoing challenges faced by Kenya's cyber security infrastructure as it manages threats on a large scale.