Author: Art Ryan

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Nikita Gavrilov, Regional Head of Yango Tech Autonomy at Yango Group, shared progress on autonomous delivery vehicles during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. Gavrilov spoke in an interview with Justin Cooke, outlining how pilot programs in Dubai are moving into broader deployment. Gavrilov leads autonomous delivery operations at Yango Tech Autonomy. The team focuses on sidewalk based delivery robots designed for last mile logistics in urban communities. “We reached near scale readiness,” Gavrilov said. “Pilots over the past nine months delivered strong operational results.” Yango Tech Autonomy completed pilots at Expo City Dubai and in…

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Dr. Ahmed Dabbagh, Managing Director of Polynome AI Academy, outlined how leadership education and workforce readiness drive national AI ambitions during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. Dr. Dabbagh shared these insights in an interview with Justin Cooke at the event. Polynome AI Academy operates in partnership with Abu Dhabi School of Management and delivers executive education and professional training programs focused on artificial intelligence. Programs target government leaders, industry decision makers, SMEs, and working professionals. Training spans agentic systems, generative AI, and core artificial intelligence fundamentals. “Our role is capacity building,” Dr. Dabbagh said. “The…

Abu Dhabi, UAE. Ahmed Gamal, Regional Director for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at VAST Data, shared insights on AI infrastructure, adoption, and regional growth during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. Gamal spoke in an interview with Justin Cooke at the event. Gamal leads regional operations for VAST Data, a company delivering an AI operating system and unified data platform designed to support large scale AI projects across industries. “Machines Can Think brings together AI experts, government leaders, vendors, and system integrators,” Gamal said. “This setting helps align on real use cases and the AI roadmap for 2026…

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Sonali Maheshwary, Director of Digital Marketing and Transformation and Consultant, spoke at the Machines Can Think Summit 2026 about the role of artificial intelligence in marketing, communications, and digital transformation. Maheshwary appeared in an interview with Justin Cooke during the event. Maheshwary brings more than two decades of regional experience, having lived in the UAE for 25 years. Professional roles include leadership positions at AD Ports Group, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Abu Dhabi. Current work focuses on digital marketing transformation and advisory services across public and private sectors. Maheshwary…

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Valerie Hawley, Founder of SCAI, shared her perspective on the global AI landscape, investment priorities, and the UAE’s strategic role during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. Hawley spoke in an interview with Justin Cooke at the event. Hawley described Machines Can Think as a content driven forum that brings global AI expertise to Abu Dhabi while reinforcing the UAE’s position on the international AI map. “This event brings together experts from around the world and feeds meaningful discussion on AI for Abu Dhabi,” Hawley said. “It places the UAE firmly on the global AI stage.”…

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Walid El Zayani, CGI and VFX Director at Alwasl Media, shared a grounded perspective on artificial intelligence and creative work during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. El Zayani spoke in an interview with Justin Cooke, focusing on how AI fits into real world creative workflows without replacing human input. El Zayani brings more than two decades of experience in media, visual effects, branding, and digital production across the UAE. Originally from Benghazi, Libya, he has worked in Abu Dhabi and Dubai since 1999. His recent focus centers on integrating AI tools into established creative processes.…

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…