NEW data by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) shows that Zimbabwe’s telecommunications landscape has undergone a structural shift over the past two decades, with mobile technology rapidly displacing a historically limited fixed-line network. Data tracking phone subscriptions per 100 people from 1900 to 2023 shows that landline penetration remained consistently low for decades, never expanding…
ZIMBABWE’S internet use has grown from almost nothing in the early 1990s to a significant part of daily life today, but the share of the population using the internet remained below 50% in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data published via the World Bank. The data shows that in 1990, internet penetration in…
BY NATHAN GUMA US drone technology expert, Bronwyn Morgan says Zimbabwean innovators must adopt AI-driven innovation as it will shape UAV missions in agriculture, disaster response, security, logistics and infrastructure inspection globally. This comes at a time when some Zimbabwean companies are adopting AI and drone technology in agriculture among other sectors. Speaking at a…
BY NATHAN GUMA WHEN the Artemis crew left Earth to embark on the farthest manned spaceflight to complete a successful lunar flyby around the moon, that was not the only feat. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the crew flew 252,756 miles (406,771km), breaking Apollo 13’s record of 248,655 miles. However, using…
Algorithmic Watch Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Washington have confirmed a new reality that AI chatbots are mathematically wired to drive users into delusional spirals. A delusional spiral in AI terms is when chatbot users develop extreme, increasing confidence in unrealistic or harmful beliefs after extended AI interactions, also…
NEW data has shown that Zimbabwe’s scientific publishing output has fluctuated significantly over the past two decades, which, however, falls behind regional neighbours. In the late 1990s, Zimbabwe produced about 20 to 22 scientific articles per million people annually. This output declined steadily in the early 2000s, falling to nearly 10 articles per million people…
The Algorithmic Watch STUDENTS who rely on large language models (LLMs) for essay writing show weaker brain activity and lower engagement compared to those who work without assistance, a new study by MIT researchers has shown. This comes at a time when people are using AI to do most daily tasks, including writing and coding,…
The Algorithmic Watch WHENEVER you prompt a command to AI, you may often feel like you are always on track. However, very few people know that AI is not just trying to hurt your feelings; in the end, it feeds you hallucinated information. AI systems can generate information that sounds confident, coherent and convincing, but…
The Algorithmic Watch THE recent arrest of eleven alleged hackers in Zimbabwe, accused of defrauding EcoCash users by luring them with fake free data offers, highlights some of the weaknesses of digital money systems and underscores the need for stronger digital security. The suspects, aged between 20 and 26, are facing hacking charges after reportedly…
NEW data from Access Now shows signs of waning democracy and freedom of expression, with indications that internet shutdowns have been on the rise over the past decades. This comes at a time when freedom of expression is now severely under attack in several countries. For instance, on 29 October 2025, Tanzania went offline after a nationwide…
