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The technology space is changing very quickly, with new ideas and investments changing how businesses operate and how people use digital services.
From spending on infrastructure to fresh regulatory challenges, the sector is moving into a phase that will impact its long-term growth.
This roundup highlights some of the notable developments making waves globally and within Nigeria’s tech space.
These updates provide a clearer sense of where the industry is headed and what the changes could mean for different stakeholders.
Big Tech’s AI Spending Reaches $240 Billion
Global tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta, have spent more than $240 billion on artificial intelligence infrastructure since 2024.
Their continued drive shows that the race for computing power is far from slowing down, with total spending expected to reach about $320 billion before the end of 2025.
This investment is a 47% increase year-on-year, rising from $104 billion in the first half of 2024 to $171 billion by the third quarter. Most of this spending is going into data centres, GPUs, and large-scale computing systems needed to run advanced AI services.
Microsoft’s AI-driven products alone now generate roughly $10 billion yearly, making it the fastest-growing part of its business. Amazon, on its part, has set aside about $75 billion for AI-related capital expenses this year.
The shift isn’t just about expanding capacity; it’s about meeting rising global demand. Companies are competing for enough computing power to train complex models and serve millions of users.
At Alphabet, AI tools now write about a quarter of new code, showing how deeply integrated the technology has become.
This level of spending suggests that AI infrastructure will remain a priority beyond 2025. With more resources going into this space, we can expect quicker innovation, stronger models, and possibly more affordable AI tools for businesses.
Nigeria’s ICT Sector GDP Contribution Drops Despite Growth
Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology sector contributed 16.35% to the nation’s real GDP in Q3 2024, down from 19.78% in the same period in 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Although the sector grew by 5.92% in Q3 2024, driven mostly by telecommunications, its real GDP contribution fell quarter-on-quarter to 13.94%, compared to 15.97% in Q3 2023.
The telecoms industry, led by MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile, remained the third-largest contributor to GDP after agriculture and trade.
However, the sector continued to feel the impact of rising costs, high inflation at 33.88%, and exchange-rate swings that weakened operator profit margins. Nominal growth also dropped to 11.86% in Q3 2024, down from 41.67% in Q2 2023. These challenges have slowed new investments and raised concerns about the sector’s growth path.
Still, analysts say the sector could surpass a 20% GDP contribution by 2030 if supported by improved policies and targeted investments.
Government initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent programme and Broadband Alliance are aimed at strengthening the sector, but regulatory issues, operational costs, and infrastructure limitations remain key challenges.
Australia to Enforce Under-16 Social Media Ban From December 10, 2025
Australia has become the first country to pass a nationwide ban preventing children under 16 from using major social media platforms. The law, approved in late November 2024, places the responsibility directly on platform owners.
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 passed with strong support, 102 to 13 in the House of Representatives, and 34 to 19 in the Senate.
Under the law, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, and X must stop under-16 users from opening accounts or face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (about $33 million).
The rule applies even when parents give consent. However, some services used for education, health, and messaging, such as WhatsApp, Google Classroom, and YouTube for learning, are exempt.
Meta, Google, and TikTok had urged the government to delay the start date, saying more time was needed to review the effects of the new rules and wait for age-verification trials. Meta described the bill’s passage as rushed.
With the law taking effect on December 10, 2025, platforms now need to create age-verification systems that do not compromise user privacy. The Digital Freedom Project has already filed a constitutional challenge, while a number of teenagers have also taken legal action.
Meta has said it will begin removing accounts suspected to belong to users under 16 from December 4, 2025, one week before the deadline.
Other countries are watching closely, with Malaysia already planning a similar ban from 2026. Whether this becomes a long-term global trend remains unclear.
Conclusion
These developments show a tech industry that is expanding quickly, backed by massive investments and new regulations. Big Tech’s $240 billion push into AI underscores how central the technology has become to global business.
In Nigeria, the drop in the ICT sector’s GDP share shows that growth cannot be taken for granted. Policies, infrastructure, and cost management will determine how fast the sector can recover and expand.
Australia’s new social media age-limit law marks a turning point in global tech regulation. It shows great concerns about child safety online, even though its real-world implementation is still uncertain.
The reaction from major tech companies accentuates the ongoing tension between innovation and rules that protect users.
Overall, the tech sector is entering a period where massive spending, regulatory decisions, and emerging tools will speed up the next wave of digital change.
