Author: Art Ryan

The UAE has officially become one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence powers in 2026, according to the latest Stanford AI Index Report. The report points to the UAE’s rapid progress in AI adoption, workforce development, government readiness and educational transformation, cementing the country’s status as a major global AI hub. The UAE has achieved one of the highest AI adoption rates globally at 54 percent, ranking second globally after Singapore, according to a number of reports citing Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031 puts it on the global map The long-term National…

Choice Hotels International is accelerating its AI transformation strategy with the launch of several new technology platforms. These systems are designed to help franchise owners increase revenue, improve operational efficiency, and enhance guest experiences across its global hotel network. The hospitality giant unveiled a suite of AI-powered tools including Choice Hotels Business Direct, EasyBid, EasyBid Plus, and RAISE. These tools are all aimed at modernizing hotel operations while helping franchisees compete in an increasingly digital travel market. Furthermore, the company is also expanding partnerships with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Salesforce to strengthen its enterprise-wide AI ecosystem. Choice Hotels Expands…

The United Arab Emirates is accelerating its national artificial intelligence strategy with a new youth-focused program. This program is designed to prepare Emiratis for the next generation of industrial and technology jobs. Announced during Make it in the Emirates 2026 in Abu Dhabi, the Shabab AI initiative aims to equip Emiratis aged 18 to 35 with practical AI, innovation, and problem-solving skills. The program is led by the Abu Dhabi Youth Council under the Federal Youth Authority. It is designed to move young people from basic AI awareness into real-world application. UAE Targets Youth as AI Becomes Central to Industry…

RingCentral is expanding its AI Receptionist with new integrations for Shopify, Calendly, and WhatsApp. This gives businesses more ways to automate customer conversations across calls, texts, scheduling, e-commerce, and messaging platforms. The update is part of RingCentral’s broader push to bring “always-on” AI to customer engagement. The company says its AI Receptionist, also called AIR, can be deployed quickly to help businesses answer calls and texts. It can route customers, capture leads, and reduce missed opportunities as well. RingCentral Expands AI Receptionist Beyond Phone Calls RingCentral’s AI Receptionist was originally built to handle front-desk-style phone tasks. However, the latest update…

Airbnb’s AI customer service assistant is becoming a major part of the company’s support strategy, now resolving roughly one-third of customer support issues in North America without human intervention. The update shows how quickly AI agents are moving from experimental tools to real business systems, especially in industries where fast customer service can shape user trust and loyalty. Airbnb Expands Its AI Customer Support Strategy Airbnb first began rolling out its AI customer service agent to U.S. users in 2025, with the goal of handling more customer questions directly inside the app. At the time, the company said the assistant…

NVIDIA and IREN Limited have announced a major strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the global buildout of next-generation AI infrastructure. The companies said the partnership could support the deployment of up to 5 gigawatts of NVIDIA DSX-aligned AI infrastructure across IREN’s global data center pipeline over time. In addition, the deal is designed to expand access to large-scale AI computing for AI-native startups, enterprises, and other customers. These customers need massive compute capacity. What the NVIDIA and IREN Partnership Includes Under the agreement, NVIDIA and IREN plan to collaborate on deploying NVIDIA accelerated computing inside DSX AI factories. These AI…

Smart Tourism Technology is Reshaping Global Travel Trade The global travel and tourism industry is undergoing rapid transformation thanks to Artificial Intelligence. AI is reshaping how travel companies manage bookings, customer experiences, distribution systems and operational efficiency. The travel trade stands at the threshold of a new era of digital transformation powered by advanced tourism technology. This technology includes everything from AI-driven automation to predictive analytics and intelligent personalization. AI in travel is not just about customer-facing applications like chatbots or itinerary planners. Today B2B travel distribution systems are using intelligent automation and data-driven technologies to increase operational efficiency. They…

Hotel booking portal Agoda is taking the power of artificial intelligence to a whole new level with the unveiling of an innovative hotel discovery feature. This feature makes it easier for travelers to get answers before deciding on their accommodations. The recently introduced Agoda AI travel tool is one of the latest examples of technology built on top of generative AI. Moreover, it has the ability to offer real-time answers, personalized hotel recommendations, and an enhanced property exploration experience via Agoda’s platform. AI Technology Aims to Simplify Travel Booking for Millions of Users This AI-powered solution comes on the heels…

Following its ambitious plans regarding Industry 4.0 development, the United Arab Emirates has announced the establishment of an advanced industrial AI platform. This platform is set to modernize existing manufacturing facilities in the region. Moreover, the du AGPC industrial AI platform will play a key role in driving innovation and efficiency in these sectors. This step is the latest manifestation of ongoing growth and investments made by the UAE in AI and smart factories. In addition, this platform will solidify the nation’s position as a regional center of industrial innovation and technological advancement. AI Technologies Transform UAE Factories One of…

Google is collaborating with XPRIZE and Range Media Partners on launching the new “Future Vision” contest, which encourages storytellers and filmmakers from around the world to envision an optimistic future powered by new technologies and artificial intelligence. The Google Future Vision AI Film Competition offers an exciting platform for creative minds to participate. With millions of dollars in prizes up for grabs, this international competition wants to change the way people perceive AI. Participants of the competition should craft a sci-fi trailer or a short film showcasing their vision of the optimistic technology-enabled future for humanity. Unlike many current sci-fi…

Google has unveiled major artificial intelligence partnerships, infrastructure investments, and workforce development initiatives during the AI Impact Summit 2026 held in New Delhi, India. The event brought together global leaders, policymakers, and top AI executives to explore the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on billions of people worldwide. The summit became one of the largest AI-focused global events ever hosted in India, further strengthening the country’s position as a rising force in AI innovation and digital transformation. Sundar Pichai Emphasizes AI’s Global Impact Google CEO Sundar Pichai described artificial intelligence as “the biggest platform shift of our lifetime”…

CoreWeave delivered robust results for the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the persistent rise in demand for AI-enabled cloud infrastructure. When looking at CoreWeave revenue estimates, the Nvidia-backed AI cloud company reported total revenues of $2.08 billion in Q1 2026, ended March 31, 2026. It had posted total revenues of $982 million in Q1 2025. This beat market analysts’ expectations of around $1.97 billion. The figures show that firms working on the deployment of artificial intelligence models are still investing heavily in high-performance computing resources. CoreWeave has been making waves as one of the leading players in the AI infrastructure…

Tokyo, once again, is poised to be at the heart of innovations in AI-led tourism thanks to WiT Japan 2026. This event promises to bring to Tokyo the world’s brightest experts in travel technology, hospitality and artificial intelligence for focused discussions on WiT Japan 2026 AI travel technology trends. The high-profile event to be held in The Westin Tokyo hotel will focus on the impact of artificial intelligence, digital transformation and smart tourism on the future of travel in Japan. In addition, it will address these issues in the broader North Asian region, and WiT Japan 2026 AI travel technology…

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has emerged as one of the fastest growing hubs for artificial intelligence development and application in recent years. As the GCC AI boom accelerates, water and energy risks are becoming increasingly important to address. The issue of GCC AI boom water energy risks is now at the centre of policy discussions. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have invested billions into their hyperscale AI infrastructure, data centre projects and cloud computing systems. But there are rising fears that the GCC’s drive for supremacy in AI could add to the pressure on already scarce natural resources like…

The UAE’s growing AI ecosystem keeps expanding. Tactica AI, a spinout linked to the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), unveiled its latest geospatial intelligence platform powered by artificial intelligence. Notably, this new solution is called the Tactica AI geospatial intelligence platform. This platform uses Falcon, one of the most well-known open-source AI models created in the Middle East. It provides advanced analytics and multi-source data fusion, making the Tactica AI geospatial intelligence platform a competitive choice in this field. Tactica AI Overview Tactica AI concentrates on the integration of geospatial and operational intelligence systems with artificial intelligence technologies. It allows for…

The biggest artificial intelligence event in South Korea, AI EXPO KOREA 2026, has opened in Seoul. In fact, it is one of the most important Asian AI exhibitions and brings together all the top global AI solution providers. The annual B2B-focused AI trade show AI EXPO KOREA takes place at the COEX Convention Center, Seoul from May 6 until May 8. It features groundbreaking advances in AI, robotics, AI infrastructure, cloud computing, enterprise automation, and AI solutions for business. Organizers state that this years event is becoming one of the major centers for AI networking, investments, and technology demonstration across…

Saudi Aramco and IBM have agreed to strengthen their industrial AI collaboration amid Saudi Arabia’s ongoing digital transformation. The two companies will leverage advanced technologies like AI and hybrid cloud. In addition, they will use quantum computing to transform industrial processes and accelerate sustainability initiatives. This collaboration will include the creation of an Innovation Hub in Riyadh. IBM and Aramco engineers will develop next-gen industrial AI applications there. In line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, this project will help modernize industries through the use of emerging tech. Industrial AI Becomes Central Priority for Many Companies Industrial AI is now…

A leading AI-powered travel booking startup named Mindtrip announced the launch of its all-inclusive flight booking experience powered by conversational artificial intelligence, created in collaboration with Sabre and PayPal. The Agentic AI flight booking system is designed to transform how travelers seamlessly book and manage their flights using advanced technology. With the introduction of agentic AI, the latest trend among conversational assistants in the travel industry, customers get assistance in managing flight bookings from scratch to finish. What Is Agentic AI Flight Booking System? Agentic AI booking system allows customers to complete the entire experience with a single AI-powered conversation.…

Google is making another big move into the future of AI-powered search with its experimental feature called Web Guide. The new tool leverages Gemini AI to organize search results into categorized sections, helping users discover information faster and more intelligently than traditional search pages. The launch signals a broader transformation of Google Search, where artificial intelligence is no longer just assisting search rankings — it is actively curating and generating search experiences. For publishers, marketers, and SEO professionals, this marks one of the biggest shifts in online discovery since the rise of mobile search. What Is Google Web Guide? Google…

Restaurant technology company Wonder is stepping up efforts to harness the power of AI automation as it looks to revolutionize how restaurants are launched, run, and scaled. In fact, the company is at the forefront of Wonder AI restaurant automation, pushing the limits of what’s possible. Founded by the entrepreneur Marc Lore, the tech firm is developing an innovative ecosystem that leverages the power of AI, robots, delivery logistics, and kitchen infrastructure into a “mealtime super app.” The ambitious goal of Wonder is to make launching a new restaurant as simple as creating a social media page. Wonder AI restaurant…