Ashley St Clair, Elon Musk’s former partner and the mother of one of his children, has filed a lawsuit claiming that Grok’s image-generation capabilities were used to harass her through the creation of de facto non-consensual imagery. De facto non-consensual imagery refers to intimate or sexual images where, even if someone technically agreed to their creation, the way they are obtained, shared, or used means the person did not or could not truly consent. Here is the breakdown of what is actually happening and why it’s a big deal. St Clair isn’t just suing for a generic privacy breach. She’s calling out Grok (xAI’s chatbot) for being a tool that enables targeted harassment. She alleged that users reportedly took photos of her from when she was just a 14-year-old kid and asked Grok to strip them down. Since St Clair is Jewish, attackers also used the AI to generate images of her wearing swastikas.The real kicker is X’s ad-revenue sharing. St Clair’s legal team is arguing that Musk’s platform isn’t just hosting the abuse, it’s actively incentivizing it. Let me make it more clear to you, if a deepfake of St Clair goes viral, the person who posted it actually makes money from it.If you strip away the celebrity names, this case is about one thing. Who is responsible when an AI hallucinates abuse?For years, social media companies have hidden behind Section 230, a law that says they aren’t responsible for what users post. But this case changes the game. If the AI itself created the image, based on a user’s prompt, is the company now the creator?If St Clair wins, it could force every AI company, from OpenAI to Google, to put biometric locks on their systems, meaning AI can no longer generate the likeness of a real person without a digital handshake or permission.
Train veers off track, kills 39 in Spain
At approximately 19:45 local time on Sunday evening, a Madrid-bound high-speed train operated by Iryo, a private firm, derailed on a straight stretch of track, near the town of Adamuz. Daily Tech gathered that the carriages crossed over to the opposing line, striking a southbound Renfe train traveling toward Huelva.At least 39 people have been confirmed dead, while dozens more have been injured in the collision. This is the worst rail disaster in Spain since the 2013 Santiago de Compostela derailment in Galicia, which claimed 80 livesMost casualties occurred in the leading carriages of the southbound Renfe train, which was pushed into a nearby embankment.Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente, while speaking to the press stated that the accident occurred on a section of track where such a derailment should have been technically impossible under normal conditions.Investigators are looking into why the automated braking and track-monitoring systems (ETCS) did not prevent the collision.The Spanish Red Cross has been deployed to offer psychological support to families waiting at stations in Madrid, Seville, and Málaga.All rail traffic between Madrid and the Andalusia region remains suspended, with delays expected throughout the week.
Visa issued crypto cards see 525% spending surge in 2025
Spending on Visa issued crypto cards increased by 525 per cent in 2025, according to data from Dune Analytics which reveals the total spending rose from $14.6 million in January to $91.3 million by December. The growth was driven by six crypto cards issued through partnerships between Visa and blockchain projects. These included Gnosis Pay, Cypher, EtherFi, Avici Money, Exa App, and Moonwell, all of which allows end users to spend crypto assets directly. EtherFi led the six with $55.4 million in annual spending, while Cypher followed with $20.5 million. Together, the two cards accounted for the bulk of the increase. Unlike other traditional exchange linked cards, these products are connected to decentralised finance protocols, enabling users to spend stablecoins and other on-chain assets. Stablecoins powered most of the transactions, offering price stability and instant conversion to fiat currency at the point of sale. Polygon researcher Alex Obchakevich, who built the Dune Analytics dashboard, stated on X, that the figures shows not only the fast adoption of crypto cards among users, but also the importance of crypto and stablecoins global payment ecosystem for Visa. He added that the rising spending shows crypto has evolved into a fully fledged tool for everyday financial transactions. Visa has expanded its stablecoin support across four blockchains and, in mid-December, launched a dedicated advisory team to help banks, merchants, and fintech firms integrate stablecoin payments. The figures cover only six cards, but analysts say overall market activity will likely be higher in the coming months.
Airtel Africa steps up share buyback, repurchases 40.9 million shares
By Aminu Umar Turaki Airtel Africa has confirmed that it bought back an additional 40,000 ordinary shares on December 31, 2025, under its ongoing buyback programme of 40.9 million, bringing the cumulative total to 40.93 million shares since the programme began in December 2024. The company said the shares were acquired at prices ranging between 354 pence and 357 pence, with an average purchase price of 355.95 pence. Overall, the buybacks have been executed at a cumulative average price of 152.24 pence per share. The value of shares repurchased so far is estimated at about ₦122.7 billion, according to the current exchange rates. The transactions were carried out by Barclays Capital Securities Limited. It was revealed that because the repurchased shares are being cancelled, Airtel Africa’s share base has been slightly reduced. After the cancellation, the ordinary shares issued by the company, stand at roughly 3.66 billion, while total voting rights have fallen to about 3.65 billion. Airtel Africa’s shares closed at ₦2,270 on the Nigerian Exchange on January 2, 2026, placing the company among the most valuable stocks.
CBN sets 2026 priorities around banking stability, fintech oversight, inflation control
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has outlined its key priorities for 2026, placing banking system stability, inflation control, tighter oversight of fintechs, and modern payment systems at the centre of its agenda. CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said the focus for the year is to strengthen the financial system with reforms aimed at long-term economic stability. According to Cardoso, the CBN will continue to pay close attention to the health of the banking sector, stressing that strong supervision and good corporate governance are critical to keeping the system stable. He added that a resilient banking sector is not just important for depositors, but also for economic growth, as banks remain central to credit creation and financial intermediation in the economy. The Governor also made it clear that inflation control remains a core priority for the apex bank in 2026. He said the CBN will rely more on disciplined, data-driven monetary policy decisions to anchor inflation expectations and reduce pressure on households and businesses, following a period of elevated inflation and rising living costs. On the fast-growing fintech space, Cardoso struck a balance between encouraging innovation and tightening regulation. He said while fintech companies have helped expand access to financial services, innovation must go hand in hand with strong consumer protection and financial integrity to avoid risks that could undermine the wider financial system. The CBN also plans to modernise the payment infrastructure to make transactions faster, cheaper, and more inclusive, especially for underserved communities.
PiggyVest pays out ₦1.3 trillion as user base crosses 6 million
PiggyVest has recorded its biggest year yet in 2025, paying out ₦1.3 trillion to users and crossing 6 million user base. The fintech said the payouts represent 56% increase from the ₦835 billion disbursed in 2024, which shows a strong growth as the company approaches its 10th year of operations. PiggyVest, in an email sent to users, disclosed that its assets under management grew by 110% in 2025, although it did not state the exact figure. In 2025, the fintech launched its own in-house payment system powered by PocketApp, moving away from the virtual account numbers. Establishing our own payment infrastructure through PocketApp account numbers has given us more reliability and control over deposits and payouts – Joshua Chibueze, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer The performance of the company in 2025 also earned global recognition, as PiggyVest was named among CNBC’s top fintech companies of the year, alongside Interswitch, Moniepoint, and M-KOPA. Since its launch in 2016, PiggyVest has now paid out more than ₦3 trillion to users. In 2024, the fintech introduced PiggyVest Business, extending savings and investment products to small businesses through offerings such as Investify and Safelock. Community engagement also played a role in PiggyVest’s growth. The company held town halls in five Nigerian cities, including Lagos and Abuja, to gather feedback and shape product strategy. Chibueze stated that the primary community programme of the company, OpenHouse, was extended to more cities nationwide last year which brought more depth and insights into product strategy. PiggyVest plans to roll out PiggyVest Kids, a savings product for children, around Children’s Day later this year.