Author: Art Ryan

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Dr. Andrew Jackson, Chief AI Officer at Core42, outlined how governments are approaching artificial intelligence at national scale during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. Jackson shared these insights in an on stage interview with Katie Jensen following discussions with global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Jackson described growing urgency among heads of state to understand where AI development is heading and how sovereignty shapes national strategy. Leaders focused on AI literacy, data sovereignty, compute sovereignty, and model ownership as core priorities. “Governments want clarity,” Jackson said. “They hear a lot about AI,…

Dubai, UAE – Rami Abu Arja, Senior Innovation Marketing Manager Middle East at Yasmina, Yango Group, shared growth milestones and product direction for the region’s leading Arabic first AI assistant during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. Abu Arja spoke in an on stage interview with Katie Jensen. Yasmina launched in the UAE as a voice based AI assistant designed specifically for Arabic and English speakers across the region. Development took place locally, led by regional talent with deep cultural understanding. The assistant supports Arabic in multiple dialects, starting with Khaliji, while also responding in English. “Yasmina was built by…

Dubai, UAE – Roman Axelrod, Co-Founder of XPANCEO, shared major progress updates on the company’s AI powered augmented reality smart contact lenses during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. Axelrod discussed the vision, technology, and commercialization strategy in an on stage interview with Katie Jensen. XPANCEO is developing smart contact lenses designed to function as a primary interface between humans and digital systems. The lenses display visual content directly to the eye while collecting real time biological data. Current capabilities include visual output, intraocular pressure monitoring for glaucoma patients, and glucose level measurement for people with diabetes. Axelrod described the…

Dubai, UAE – Michal Valko, Chief Models Officer at a Stealth AI Startup and one of the most respected researchers in modern machine learning, offered a grounded and forward looking perspective on artificial intelligence during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. Valko shared these insights in an on stage interview with Katie Jensen following his keynote address. Valko began by addressing a common misconception around the speed of AI progress. While public attention surged in recent years, he noted that AI research spans more than seven decades, with foundational work dating back to the 1950s and reinforcement learning research emerging…

Abu Dhabi, UAE- Hassan Alnoon, Chief Operating Officer at Tahaluf, delivered a clear message on trust, talent, and national scale technology during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. He shared these insights in an on stage interview with Katie Jensen following his panel session at the event. Alnoon addressed the complexity of building and operating systems used by millions across the UAE, including large scale national platforms such as identity infrastructure and mission critical operational systems. He emphasized system comprehension as the foundation of success. “When technology reaches national scale, technical skill alone does not solve the problem,” Alnoon said.…

Abu Dhabi, UAE — As Machines Can Think 2026 unfolds in Abu Dhabi, organizers have released an interactive 360° virtual tour of the summit stage, giving global audiences a real-time look inside the space where today’s most important AI conversations are taking place. The immersive experience is now live and allows viewers anywhere in the world to explore the main stage and venue layout as the summit happens, offering a behind-the-scenes view of the environment hosting leaders shaping AI in practice. 🎥 Explore the live 360° stage tour:https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=b7FpP7HrCuF Step Inside the Summit — In Real Time The 360° virtual tour…

Notion has added Arabic language support to its productivity platform, allowing users to use the interface in Arabic for the first time. The update is part of Notion’s effort to expand globally and better serve users in Arabic-speaking markets. Arabic interface now available The new update enables users to switch Notion’s interface language to Arabic. Menus, settings, and core navigation elements are now displayed in Arabic, improving usability for native speakers. The change makes it easier for users to manage notes, tasks, and databases in their preferred language. Support for right-to-left layout Arabic language support includes right-to-left text alignment, which…

UAE residents are increasingly outsourcing thinking to AI chatbots for everyday tasks, professional support, and creative work. People across age groups and job roles are using conversational AI to generate ideas, solve problems, and speed up routine tasks. Why UAE users turn to AI chatbots Many users say chatbots help them save time and reduce effort. Residents use AI tools for planning trips, writing emails, creating content, preparing reports, and answering questions. The technology offers instant responses and suggestions that some users find practical for everyday decisions and work tasks. Professional and creative uses Professionals in marketing, media, and business…

The UAE is investing in advanced digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence to transform its hospitality and tourism sectors. These technologies aim to enhance visitor experiences and improve operational efficiency across hotels, attractions, and transport services. AI in customer experience Artificial intelligence is being used to personalise travel and hospitality services. Hotels and service providers deploy AI-driven chatbots, recommendation engines, and automated concierge services to respond to guest needs quickly. These tools help visitors find information, book services, and manage itineraries with minimal human intervention. Digital infrastructure upgrades The UAE has expanded high-speed connectivity and smart city networks to support digital…

The United Arab Emirates is accelerating efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into higher education as part of its broader digital transformation strategy. Universities and education authorities are expanding AI learning, research, and skills development to prepare students for future job markets. AI added to university curricula UAE universities are introducing artificial intelligence courses across multiple disciplines. AI is no longer limited to computer science programs. Institutions are embedding AI concepts into fields such as business, engineering, healthcare, and education. The goal is to ensure graduates understand how AI tools apply across industries. Faculty training and capacity building Education authorities are…

Abu Dhabi, UAE — ‘Machines Can Think’ Summit kicks off, one of the UAE’s leading forums for AI adoption, in its 2026 edition on 26 and 27 January. The summit is co-organised and co-hosted by Polynome and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and the the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office in the UAE Government. It serves as a unified platform bringing together leaders, government officials, academics, and AI experts to discuss practical frameworks for the responsible development of emerging technologies and…

Abu Dhabi, UAE — January 26, 2026 — Machines Can Think 2026 officially opens today, bringing together global leaders in artificial intelligence for two days of focused, execution-driven dialogue on how AI is being built, deployed, and governed in the real world. For January 26–27, the summit convenes the people shaping AI beyond demos, hype, and pilot projects — uniting builders, researchers, investors, policymakers, and operators responsible for making AI work at scale. This is not a conversation about what AI might become someday.It is a conversation about what AI is becoming right now. From Hype to Production: A Summit…

Dubai, UAE – 26 January 2026: Egypt is once again at the center of Africa’s AI momentum as international technology experts, influential policymakers and startups prepare to convene at Ai Everything MEA Egypt 2026, the world’s first all-AI expo and summit of the year. Announced just four months ago, the event has already mobilised the global AI ecosystem at unprecedented speed, creating one of the foremost AI showcases in Egypt ahead of its 11-12 February 2026 debut. Taking place at the Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC), Ai Everything MEA Egypt is presented by GITEX, the world’s largest tech and AI…

AppliedAI closes pre-Series B funding in a financing round aimed at supporting the company’s growth and expansion of its artificial intelligence-based products. The funding will help scale operations, enhance R&D, and widen market reach. Funding round and investors AppliedAI secured a pre-Series B capital injection from existing and new investors. The round reflects investor confidence in the company’s technology and market opportunity. Specific financial terms were not disclosed, but the funding is intended to support strategic growth initiatives and broader deployments. Use of funds The company said it will use the new funding to expand its artificial intelligence platform, invest…

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and the World Economic Forum have agreed to establish a new centre in Abu Dhabi focused on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The initiative aims to support research, policy development, and international cooperation around the future of AI. New centre in Abu Dhabi The planned Abu Dhabi Centre for Intelligent Future will become part of the World Economic Forum’s global network of Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It will serve as a platform for collaboration between governments, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society. The centre is intended to address both the…

Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has entered a collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies to advance edge-AI and autonomous systems. The partnership focuses on deploying artificial intelligence directly on devices, enabling real-time decision-making without constant reliance on cloud connectivity. Purpose of the collaboration The collaboration brings together TII’s research expertise in robotics and autonomous systems with Qualcomm’s edge-computing platforms. The goal is to develop intelligent machines that can operate independently in real-world environments. By combining research and hardware, both organizations aim to accelerate the transition from experimental systems to deployable solutions. Edge-AI technology focus TII plans to work with Qualcomm’s edge…

SirbAI and EDGE partner to boost AI-powered drone swarm capabilities, aiming to enhance autonomous operations and real-time decision-making for complex missions. The collaboration brings together SirbAI’s artificial intelligence expertise with EDGE’s technology and defence systems experience. Partnership goals SirbAI and EDGE said the collaboration focuses on developing advanced algorithms and systems that allow multiple drones to operate as a coordinated swarm. These swarms can share information, adapt to changing environments, and make decisions without direct human control. The effort targets improvements in speed, efficiency, and mission flexibility. Advancing autonomous drone operations The project will work on software and AI models…

Abu Dhabi proptech Evoost AI has hit $3.5 billion in real estate transaction volume after reporting rapid growth of 1,500 percent. The company said its artificial intelligence-driven tools and services are attracting users across the United Arab Emirates and other markets, scaling both listings and executed deals. Growth in transaction volume Evoost AI said recent performance has driven total real estate sales and lease transactions facilitated through its platform to $3.5 billion. The reported growth rate of 1,500 percent reflects increased adoption of the company’s AI offering over a recent reporting period. The platform supports property agents, sellers, and buyers…

Dubai’s AI lifeguard system adds smart cameras and sensors to its beaches to make swimming zones safer and improve emergency detection. The upgraded technology works alongside human lifeguards to identify risks and alert responders faster. AI lifeguard system upgrade Dubai’s beaches now use a network of smart cameras, thermal sensors, and artificial intelligence software to monitor swimmers. The technology analyses video and sensor data in real time, looking for signs of distress, unusual movements, or potential drowning situations. How the system works Cameras and sensors are placed along key beach areas and linked to an AI monitoring platform. The system…

UAE billionaire Hussain Sajwani says AI will disrupt India’s outsourcing jobs as technology automates routine work. He also believes the shift will create new opportunities in innovation, automation, and higher-value work. AI disruption in outsourcing Sajwani, founder and chairman of DAMAC Group, spoke about how artificial intelligence is transforming global labor markets. He said roles tied to repetitive tasks and traditional outsourcing are likely to be replaced or reduced as companies adopt AI tools. Sajwani pointed to the rapid pace of automation and how AI can handle functions previously done by large teams. Impact on Indian outsourcing sector India’s outsourcing…