SeamlessHR, a Nigerian HR tech company, has raised $9 million in a Series-A extension round from the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures. The funds will support the company’s expansion across Africa and potential acquisitions. This brings the total funding raised by SeamlessHR to about $25 million.
Qatar Airways has launched its first AI-powered virtual cabin crew member, Sama, at ITB Berlin 2024. Active on Instagram, Sama will provide personalized travel recommendations, engage users with destination content, and promote sustainability efforts. This initiative marks a significant shift toward AI-driven marketing in the airline industry.
Sri Lanka is progressing with its SL-UDI project, procuring biometric hardware to transition national IDs to digital formats. The project, supported by India and international donors, will improve government services and reduce corruption. It includes biometric data collection, secure digital payments, and integration with government institutions.
Prince Sultan University (PSU) in Riyadh has launched a groundbreaking AI initiative in partnership with Intelmatix and leading global universities. The program aims to position PSU as a global leader in AI research, advancing Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation goals and fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration in the field of AI.
Nokia and Zain KSA have partnered to launch the first 4G/5G Femtocell solution in the region, aiming to improve indoor mobile connectivity for businesses in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and supports Zain KSA’s investment in 5G and digital transformation across the Kingdom.
Oman Broadband Company and ST Engineering have partnered to develop smart city solutions in Oman, supporting the country’s digital transformation under Oman Vision 2040. The collaboration will focus on advanced fibre-optic infrastructure, smart mobility, and sustainable urban development, aiming to position Oman as a regional hub for technology and innovation.
Nepal’s surplus clean energy, particularly from hydropower and solar, presents an opportunity to attract global AI data center investments. As generative AI drives rising energy demand, Nepal could position itself as a key destination for AI infrastructure, leveraging its renewable resources to power data centers for regional markets.
Starting February 7, Morocco’s ANRT will evaluate the internet service quality provided by Maroc Telecom, Inwi, and Orange. Volunteers will have quality measurement equipment installed in their homes to assess latency, speed, and other indicators. The campaign aims to ensure compliance with international standards and improve service quality.
The Ministry of Education has launched the first phase of its digital fingerprint system for employee attendance, using facial recognition and GPS technology. This system simplifies attendance tracking, boosts transparency, and enhances efficiency. The second phase will extend the system to all employees, including school administrations.
Kazakhstan has surpassed Japan in mobile internet speed, ranking 57th globally in the Speedtest Global Index for December 2024. With a median download speed of 53.76 Mbps, Kazakhstan outpaced Japan’s 53.54 Mbps. The UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait ranked as the top countries for median download speed.
