Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Morocco became a founding member of the global ethical AI initiative Current AI during its first National AI Summit. The partnership, supported by significant government funding, commits Morocco to developing inclusive, values-driven AI technologies that promote the common good across Africa and beyond.
GiveDirectly partnered with Bangladesh’s government to pilot MobileAid, an AI-driven method using anonymized mobile phone data to identify low-income households quickly and cost-effectively. The approach outperformed community targeting and rivaled traditional surveys, enabling faster, cheaper poverty relief through mobile money transfers. Challenges for scaling include regulatory approvals, telecom cooperation, and building trust, highlighting the need for combining technology with community outreach. MobileAid shows strong potential for rapid social protection, especially in disaster response, by providing timely, accurate targeting aligned with real-world needs.
Alibaba Cloud is expanding its Southeast Asia footprint with new data centres, AI competency centres, upgraded cloud services, and sustainability solutions, reinforcing its role in accelerating AI adoption and cloud innovation globally.
Ooredoo’s launch of AI cloud services powered by NVIDIA GPUs delivers high-performance, secure, and locally hosted AI infrastructure in Qatar, accelerating AI adoption across key industries and supporting national digital transformation goals.
AI is at the heart of Middle East national strategies, driving transformation across energy, manufacturing, tourism, and healthcare. With bold government targets and integrated tech ecosystems, the region is poised to lead global AI innovation by 2030.
Morocco’s Deputy Minister emphasized the urgent need to integrate AI into national strategies to protect sovereignty and promote social equity. Speaking at the inaugural National AI Conference, she urged the public sector to adapt and lead AI adoption aligned with Morocco’s Digital 2030 vision, reinforcing the country’s role in shaping Africa’s technological future.
Ejada Systems and Huawei have partnered to develop tailored AI solutions for Saudi Arabia’s finance, government, and healthcare sectors, aligning with Vision 2030 and advancing the nation’s digital infrastructure and innovation.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia committed to deepening tech collaboration, launching a major semiconductor training program and exploring AI partnerships. Pakistan’s economic recovery supports this digital transformation agenda.
AgriCash, an Egyptian agri-fintech startup, raised seed funding led by Alex Angels to expand its AI-driven platform, enhance farmer financing, and enter new markets. The startup’s innovative BNPL model and digital tools aim to transform agricultural finance and support over 1,500 active farmers, with plans for further growth and ecosystem development.
Rezaul Karim Arif from Bangladesh won the global AI Showdown Hackathon with PixelFlow, an AI-powered infinite mood-boarding app. Built in 24 hours, PixelFlow stands out for simplicity and powerful AI features. Rezaul plans to scale it independently and inspire others in Bangladesh to explore AI innovation.