Author: Art Ryan

The Government of India, through its Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Startup India initiative, is participating in Web Summit Qatar 2025 at DECC, Doha, running from February 23 to 26, 2025. As part of the Startup India initiative, launched in 2016 to drive innovation and entrepreneurship, DPIIT is leading a delegation of dynamic startups to Web Summit. These startups represent a diverse range of sectors, including wastewater treatment, smart travel technology, AI-driven SaaS solutions, lead generation platforms, WhatsApp-based business automation, and STEM education. Their presence at Web Summit Qatar…

In a landmark move set to bolster international collaboration in innovation and entrepreneurship, the Government Communications Office (GCO) of Qatar and the German Mittelstand GCC Office have signed a multi-year memorandum of understanding (MoU). The agreement, spanning from 2026 to 2028, establishes Germany’s official representation at Web Summit Qatar through the German Startup Pavilion . The signing ceremony took place during a formal event attended by dignitaries, business leaders, and representatives from both nations yesterday. Director of the Government Communications Office and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organising Committee, H E Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani,…

Microsoft is making a significant impact at Web Summit Qatar 2025, showcasing its cutting-edge AI innovations and commitment to responsible AI solutions that empower businesses, startups, and government initiatives. With a focus on advancing Qatar’s vision for technology and entrepreneurship, Microsoft is positioning itself as a key enabler of digital transformation in the region. 🌍 Microsoft’s Mission: Empowering Qatar’s Tech Ecosystem Speaking at the event, Amr Samir, Public Sector Director at Microsoft, emphasized the company’s ongoing commitment to fostering technological growth and innovation in Qatar: “We are happy to be here for the second year at Web Summit Qatar 2025.…

Key Points Apple plans to open a new factory for artificial intelligence servers in Texas as part of a $500 billion investment in the U.S., the company said Monday. The U.S. technology giant said it would work with partners to launch a 250,000-square-foot server manufacturing facility in Houston to produce servers for Apple Intelligence, its AI personal assistant for iPhone, iPad and Mac computers. The new factory, which is slated to begin operations in 2026, will form part of a major investment plan Apple is committing to over the next four years. In addition to the new Texas facility, Apple said it also…

Singapore’s biggest bank says it expects to cut 4,000 roles over the next three years as artificial intelligence (AI) takes on more work currently done by humans. “The reduction in workforce will come from natural attrition as temporary and contract roles roll off over the next few years,” a DBS spokesperson told the BBC. Permanent staff are not expected to be affected by the cuts. The bank’s outgoing chief executive Piyush Gupta also said it expects to create around 1,000 new AI-related jobs. It makes DBS one of the first major banks to offer details on how AI will affect…

American superstar Will Smith took the stage alongside best-selling author and podcast host Jay Shetty at Web Summit Qatar 2025, delivering an inspiring conversation that captivated a packed audience. Their discussion explored career reinvention, personal growth, and the evolving definition of success. 🌟 Embracing Fear as a Catalyst for Growth During the session, Smith shared his perspective on fear and transformation, emphasizing that stepping into the unknown is essential for progress. “You’ll never be rid of fear. Don’t try to not be scared. The courage to lean into the unknown—to be scared and do it anyway—is a huge part of…

Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council launches Innolight, also known as the Innovation Lighthouse, at Web Summit Qatar 2025. Innolight is an online national platform designed to provide a seamless way to explore and access the resources, capabilities, and infrastructure within Qatar’s innovation and research ecosystem. Serving as an evolution of the QRDI Portal, Innolight aims to be a hub where users can connect, collaborate, and create new opportunities together. Following the success of the launch, QRDI Council’s Secretary General, Omar Al Ansari, took part in an engaging panel discussion on “Bridging Borders: Building Collaborative Tech Ecosystems for Economic Growth.”…

Doha will host a global payment platform and a brand-new regional find and venture studio among others, as part of a number of partnerships announced on Monday. Doha will headquarter an early-stage venture investment firm and a leading payment orchestration platform among others, as part of the agreements and partnerships announced on the second day of Web Summit Qatar 2025. In partnership with the Qatar Investment Authority and the Qatar Development Bank, UK-based capital management firm UTOPIA will launch A-typical Ventures, aiming to “scale innovations and drive economic diversification” across the Middle East. QDB’s Executive Director of Investment and Incubation…

Media City Qatar and Huawei have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support digital transformation in Qatar’s media sector through advanced technology solutions. The partnership, announced at Web Summit Qatar 2025, will enhance technological capabilities across the media industry while strengthening Qatar’s position as an emerging global media hub. This collaboration will create a state-of-the-art smart media campus powered by Huawei. The comprehensive technology infrastructure will integrate advanced AI-powered access control, intelligent shared space asset management, an integrated multi-cloud media platform and next-generation storage architecture for media content. The initiative aims at elevating customer experiences for Qatar’s media and…

The Web Summit Qatar 2025 kicked off today at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, marking its debut in the Middle East. This landmark event has drawn a diverse global audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders, all eager to explore the latest innovations, build connections, and secure funding opportunities. 🌍 Qatar’s $1 Billion Innovation Push In his opening speech, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani unveiled a major investment initiative. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund will inject over $1 billion into international and regional venture capital funds under the “Fund of Funds” program. 📌 Goal: To attract…

On the second day of Web Summit Qatar 2025, Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF), took the stage to emphasize Qatar’s mission to drive economic and social growth through education, science, research, and community development. Her speech resonated with attendees as she outlined how Qatar Foundation continues to shape the nation’s transformation into a global leader in knowledge-based industries and innovation. 🚀 Qatar’s Vision: A Future Fueled by Innovation Sheikha Hind highlighted Qatar Foundation’s ongoing efforts in fostering cutting-edge research, entrepreneurship, and educational excellence, all of which play a crucial role in…

The highly anticipated Web Summit Qatar 2025 has officially kicked off at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), reaching full capacity with an astounding 25,747 attendees from 124 countries. This marks a 10,000-person increase from last year, solidifying Web Summit Qatar as the leading startup and technology event in the MENA region. With 1,520 startups, 723 investors, 381 speakers, and 168 exhibiting partners, the summit is a hub of innovation and global collaboration, spotlighting the transformative power of AI, fintech, healthtech, and digital policy. 🚀 Web Summit Qatar 2025 by the Numbers 📌 Sold out with 25,747 attendees from 124…

Qatar Airways is proud to sponsor Web Summit Qatar for the second consecutive year, debuting revolutionary travel AI tools and announcing its four-year long-term commitment as the Official Lifestyle and Travel Partner of the yearly event. The award-winning airline opened Web Summit Qatar 2025 with its latest innovations including Sama’s AI Booking, Dream Destination – The Pulse, QVerse Multi-Sensory Experience, AI Menu, Privilege Club Collection, and Reward Seat Finder. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Qatar Airways’ partnership extension with Web Summit Qatar illustrates our commitment to innovation and highlights our pursuit of adopting cutting-edge technological advancements…

Under the glittering lights and amid towering skyscrapers pf Doha, the inaugural night of Web Summit Qatar 2025 set the stage for what is said to be one of the largest tech gatherings in the Middle East. With more than 25,000 attendees and more than 1,500 exhibiting startups, the buzz was hard to miss energy as entrepreneurs, investors, and tech enthusiasts filled the halls, eager to uncover the latest tech that will redefine the future. This year’s Web Summit edition, running from February 23 to 26, the spotlight will be on artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI, in particular will dominate…

Google has quietly revealed the pricing of Veo 2, the video-generating AI model that it unveiled in December. According to the company’s pricing page, using Veo 2 will cost 50 cents per second of video, which adds up to $30 per minute or $1,800 per hour. Google DeepMind researcher Jon Barron contrasted this pricing with the blockbuster Marvel movie “Avengers: Endgame,” which had a reported production budget of $356 million — or around $32,000 per second. Of course, customers aren’t necessarily going to use every second of Veo-generated video that they pay for, nor is Veo 2 likely generate three-hour “Avengers” epics anytime soon (Google’s announcement…

Apple has officially released the iOS 18.4 Beta 1 update for iPhone users, introducing a suite of new features powered by its artificial intelligence technology. Among the highlights is the Priority Notifications feature, which was previewed at WWDC 2024 but had not been made available until now. This innovative update aims to enhance user experience by intelligently sorting notifications based on their importance. iOS 18.4 Beta 1 Update: What’s New The iOS 18.4 Beta 1 update brings significant enhancements, particularly with the introduction of Priority Notifications. This feature utilizes on-device AI to analyze notification content, allowing the system to prioritize…

Qatar’s government has signed a five-year deal with AI data company Scale AI to deploy AI-powered tools and training in a push to improve government services in the Gulf Arab state, a senior Scale AI executive told Reuters on Sunday. “(This deal) can be a blueprint for other governments around the world, and it allows us to really commit in a way that I think could drive impact even faster,” said Trevor Thompson, global head of growth at the San Francisco, California-based company. The deal will allow Qatar’s government to adopt tools such as predictive analytics, automation and advanced data…

Alibaba (9988.HK), opens new tab said on Monday it plans to invest at least 380 billion yuan ($52.44 billion) in its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure over the next three years. The Chinese e-commerce giant had said it had plans to invest in the sector while announcing its results on Friday, but did not provide an exact figure at the time. The company had reported revenue of 280.15 billion yuan for the three months ended December 31, marginally ahead of analysts’ estimates. Alibaba said the total investment amount exceeds the company’s spending in AI and cloud computing over the past decade. The company…

Sports apparel giant Nike (NASDAQ: NKE) is turning its gaze to emerging technology in a valiant effort to pull away from its competitors and improve the state of its offerings for consumers. Nike is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology into its operations for market efficiency and personalized services to shoppers. The push to embrace next-gen technologies has earned Nike an avalanche of plaudits, but the journey remains fraught with several pitfalls. The company’s foray with blockchain began in late 2020 when executives turned to distributed ledgers to fight the scourge of counterfeit products. By incorporating blockchain into all layers…

Doha: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani inaugurated Web Summit Qatar 2025, the second edition of the Middle East and North Africa’s largest technology event, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. During his keynote address, HE the Prime Minister affirmed that Qatar’s continues to strengthen its position as a global platform for innovation and entrepreneurship while actively implementing regulatory reforms and creating new economic opportunities to empower the private sector. “Built on the back of our thriving energy sector, we are positioned for a private sector take-off. This launch will…