On January 5, 1933, construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Today, it's one of the world's most photographed bridges—proof that a Monday can truly kickstart something legendary!
Good morning and welcome to your Monday tech fix! If the coffee isn't strong enough yet, these stories definitely are: we've got a fintech mega-deal shaking Africa, car batteries about to leap into sci-fi territory, and the US Army basically building real-life laser defenses. It's the first Monday of the year—let's jump-start 2026 with the most mind-blowing tech news. Ready? Let's go!
Flutterwave snaps up Mono—African fintech on overdrive!
Black Sesame’s 7nm auto chip gets green light from the US.
Insilico signs $888M AI cancer drug deal post-IPO.
Solid-state batteries finally hit electric vehicles!
Hong Kong turns up the biotech and AI integration.
Next-gen AI ('intelition') blurs lines between human & machine.
US Army field-tests 20,000-watt anti-drone lasers.
Hyundai reveals future mobility tech (think: holographic cars!).
African fintech leader Flutterwave just bought Nigerian startup Mono in a stock deal worth up to $40 million. This move connects Africa’s widest payment platform with advanced open banking services, making financial data way easier to access. Expect a big push for business integration, more inclusion, and innovation across the continent. Stay tuned—Africa’s digital money scene is heating up!
View articleBig leap for automotive tech: Black Sesame Technologies’ Huashan A2000 chip, built on a spiffy 7nm process, just passed tough US regulatory checks. It’s set for global launch in 2025 and promises ultra-high performance for car systems—think smarter, safer, more autonomous vehicles. This approval doesn’t just move the needle for Black Sesame, it might supercharge the future of next-gen mobility.
View articleFresh from an oversubscribed IPO, Insilico Medicine has locked in a massive $888 million partnership with France’s Servier. Their AI platform will turbocharge the hunt for new cancer drugs, smashing through data to find molecules fast. It’s a big win for biotech innovation—and might mean quicker, more efficient life-saving treatments. Investors are clearly loving the AI health revolution!
View articleDonut Labs, teaming with Verge Motorcycles, just launched the world’s first commercial solid-state battery in EVs—goodbye liquid electrolyte! These batteries are safer, pack more power, and may mean charging in minutes, not hours. This could be the push electric vehicles need to finally go mainstream, making them fast, practical, and future-proof. Hold onto your (electric) seat!
View articleHong Kong is doubling down on biotech, fintech, and AI. With massive investor interest and new public offerings, capital is flowing into Chinese drug startups—especially now that innovative medicines are booming internationally. The city is on track to become a true global innovation hub, welcoming cutting-edge companies and bold ideas for the coming years.
View articleForget simply using AI—‘intelition’ is about merging human smarts and machine learning for real-time teamwork. With smarter interfaces, learning models, and data privacy projects like Tim Berners-Lee’s Solid initiative, the lines between us and the tech we use are blurring. Expect more personalized, secure, and intuitive interactions with your devices very soon. AI is moving from tool to ally!
View articleSci-fi becomes reality: the US Army is field-testing a massive 20,000-watt laser system (LOCUST) to zap drones out of the sky. Developed by AeroVironment, this tech could be a game-changer for air defense—precision countermeasures at the speed of light! If it passes real-world tests, expect laser defenses to go mainstream by the end of the decade. Pew pew!
View articleHyundai’s CES 2026 live event just dropped: a holographic windshield display projects info onto the glass, while passengers can stream videos the driver can’t see (genius!). Plus, meet ‘Atlas,’ a new dog-like AI robot drawing on Boston Dynamics know-how. Mass production is planned for 2029—looks like the future of rides is part sci-fi, part reality show!
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