AD Tech Watch #8: Gemini 4 Argon, NCC Phone Checker, Halal Tags on Google

AD Tech Watch is our short, selected roundup of the AI, search and software news that matters to businesses in Nigeria, explained in plain English. In this issue: Google’s new Gemini 4 Argon model arrives in AI Mode and the Gemini app, the NCC launches *315# so you can check a phone is approved before you buy it, a Google Tag Manager upgrade cuts tracking code on your website, and restaurants can now tag halal, gluten-free and dairy-free dishes on Google.

Issue #8 · 13 October 2026 · By AD Technologies Limited, an AI technology company in Lagos

1. Google’s Gemini 4 Argon Arrives in AI Mode and the Gemini App

What happened: On 13 October, Google released Gemini 4 Argon, which it calls its latest frontier model. It is aimed at complex, multi-step work such as coding, finance, legal, cybersecurity and science. Google says it is rolling out globally to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the Gemini app and in AI Mode in Google Search, but it did not list individual countries. Developers can use it through the paid tier of the Gemini API in Google AI Studio at an introductory price of $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens. After the introductory period ends on 30 November 2026, the price rises to $4 and $20. Search Engine Roundtable confirmed the same day that the model can now be selected in AI Mode.

What this means for Nigerian businesses: Google’s AI search keeps getting better at long, multi-step questions, such as comparing several suppliers or service providers before choosing one. Those answers are built from websites that clearly state what a business does, where it works and what it charges, so a vague website is easy to leave out. If you are building AI features into your own products, plan your budget around the higher price from December, not the introductory one. Whether Google AI Pro is on sale in Nigeria is not confirmed in Google’s announcement, so check in your own Google account. To learn how businesses get mentioned in AI answers, see our guide to generative engine optimisation in Nigeria.

Sources: Google, Search Engine Roundtable.

2. NCC Launches *315# to Check a Phone Is Approved Before You Buy It

What happened: The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is now enforcing type approval for mobile phones, and devices that are not approved can be denied access to Nigerian networks. At a news conference in Abuja reported by Channels Television on 13 October, the NCC presented its device checker: dial *315# and follow the prompts, or use the web portal at ncc.gov.ng/devicechecker. To check a phone other than the one you are using, you need its 15-digit IMEI, which you get by dialling *#06#. The NCC said its enhanced type approval compliance framework took effect on 7 October 2026, and that phones already on Nigerian networks before then were automatically verified and generally need no action. BusinessDay reported on 10 October that some users had received messages saying their phone was not verified and could be disconnected after 30 cumulative days. The NCC says a failed check does not automatically mean a phone is fake, and that compliance rests mainly with manufacturers, importers, suppliers and businesses that sell devices.

What this means for Nigerian businesses: If you sell phones, the responsibility sits mainly with you and your suppliers, so check your stock and ask suppliers to confirm their devices are approved before you buy more. If you buy phones for staff, riders or sales teams, especially second-hand phones or phones bought abroad, check each IMEI before you pay. The NCC warns against sharing one-time codes with sellers or callers, and says to use only *315# or its website. If a phone your team relies on fails the check, contact your network provider or call the NCC on 315.

Sources: Channels Television, BusinessDay, Legit.ng.

3. Google Tag Manager Upgrade Cuts Tracking Code on Your Website

What happened: Search Engine Land reported on 13 October that Google Tag Manager containers can now send measurement data directly to supported Google destinations, without loading a separate gtag.js script for those connections. Google’s help page says the upgrade means less JavaScript on your pages, which gives faster page loads and better measurement, plus a new Settings tab to manage Google tag settings in one place. Admins see an upgrade banner on the Overview page in Tag Manager. If all Google tags share the same settings, you click Review details, optionally preview the changes, add them to your workspace and submit. If the tags have different settings, a guided migration asks you which settings to keep first. Search Engine Land noted that Google did not list which destinations are supported.

What this means for Nigerian businesses: Many business websites in Nigeria carry several tracking scripts for Google Analytics and Google Ads, and most visitors arrive on mid-range phones using mobile data. Less code means pages load faster, which helps both visitors and conversions. If you or your developer manage Google Tag Manager, look for the upgrade banner, preview the changes before submitting, and test that your enquiry, WhatsApp click and purchase tracking still records correctly afterwards. If nobody on your team knows who controls your Tag Manager account, find out now.

Sources: Search Engine Land, Tag Manager Help.

4. Restaurants Can Now Tag Halal, Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Dishes on Google

What happened: Google has added gluten-free, dairy-free, halal and kosher badges for menu items on restaurant Business Profiles, alongside the existing vegetarian and vegan options, Search Engine Roundtable reported on 13 October. The update was announced on LinkedIn by Google’s Lisa Landsman, who said tagged dishes help when diners search for things like a gluten-free dinner nearby. Owners open their Business Profile, select Edit menu, choose a dish and tick the badges that apply. Google did not say which countries have the new badges, so availability in Nigeria is not confirmed. Search Engine Roundtable also questioned how such claims are checked, noting diners may simply have to trust the restaurant.

What this means for Nigerian businesses: If you run a restaurant, canteen, catering service or hotel kitchen, many of your customers care whether food is halal, and some need to avoid gluten or dairy. If the badges appear when you edit your menu, tag the dishes that qualify so you can show up for those searches. Only tag what is true and what your kitchen can guarantee every day, because a wrong label costs trust quickly and invites bad reviews. Keep your menu, prices and opening hours on Google current at the same time, since Google and AI assistants rely on your profile to describe you. Our AI SEO team can help you get local listings right.

Sources: Search Engine Roundtable.

Also This Week: Grants for Creative Businesses in the EWA Deal Room

Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) announced a grant pool for standout creative businesses taking part in this year’s Deal Room, which connects creative businesses with investors and mentors, Nairametrics reported on 13 October. Each business is assessed by a jury that includes its lead mentor, and grants will be awarded during EWA 2026, which runs in Lagos from 17 to 22 November. The grant amounts, eligibility rules and application deadline were not stated. If you run a business in music, film, fashion, beauty, art, live events or creative tech, applications are open at ewafrica.com. Sources: Nairametrics.

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