News
Abu Dhabi Hosts Middle East’s First Passenger Drone Trials
MLG and Abu Dhabi Mobility hosted an exhibition of cutting-edge technology, along with two test flights.
In recent years, Abu Dhabi has become a pioneer and champion of smart and sustainable mobility, attracting industry-leading startups and experts from around the world. The first Abu Dhabi Mobility Week, held between 24th April and 1st May 2024, showcased this innovation while also hosting the Middle East’s first-ever passenger-carrying drone trials.
.@ad_mobility, in association with @MultiLevelGroup, has conducted the Middle East’s first passenger-carrying drone trials in #AbuDhabi. The trials took place as part of Abu Dhabi Mobility Week, and further affirmed the emirate as a hub for smart and autonomous vehicle innovation pic.twitter.com/tUVLzdbfZn
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) May 8, 2024
Multi Level Group (MLG), a pioneer of “advanced automation and digital transformation solutions”, teamed up with Abu Dhabi Mobility to present an exhibition of cutting-edge drone technology, which included two test flights. The first showcase featured a five-seater drone with a 25 km range and potential payload of up to 350 kg, while the second involved a smaller drone able to carry two passengers up to 35 km for around 20 minutes.
محمد حمد الظاهري، عضو مجلس إدارة مجموعة "ملتي ليفل"، يتحدَّث عن أهمية الرحلة التجريبية لطائرة بدون طيار مع راكب، ودورها في الإسهام في تطوير قطاع التنقُّل الجوي، عبر توظيف أحدث التقنيات لدعم تسيير الرحلات الجوية الآمنة بين المدن. pic.twitter.com/VoPG6PEY4t
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) May 8, 2024
Mohammed Hamad Al Dhaheri, a Multi-Level Group board member, made history at the mobility expo by becoming the first person in the Middle East to board an eVTOL for a demonstration flight. Al Dhaheri explained to the press that future plans also involved manufacturing passenger drones in the UAE: “starting with drone structure and gradually moving forward until we manufacture small parts such as motors and batteries, ensuring the technology is fully developed and exported from the UAE to the world”.
Also Read: UAE Stores May Soon Accept Payments Through Your Palm
The milestone test flights represent a significant addition to Abu Dhabi’s achievements in the drone and micro-mobility sectors. The emirate’s forward-thinking strategy is rapidly making it a global hub for smart and autonomous vehicles while plans continue at pace to develop a sophisticated infrastructure for driver and pilot-less vehicles.
News
Popcorn AI Raises $500,000 For “Conversational eCommerce”
The firm’s AI platform uses specialized chatbots to handle entire eCommerce journeys, from recommending products to seamless payments.
Dubai-based Popcorn AI has announced the closure of a pre-seed funding round that raised $500,000 for its revolutionary AI platform. The investment, led by Spring Studios with the backing of Salica Investments, Al Waha Fund of Funds, and prominent angel investors from Saudi Arabia, represents a key step forward in reshaping customer-business interactions using the power of conversational AI.
Unlike traditional chatbot systems, Popcorn AI’s platform is designed to redefine eCommerce by creating highly intelligent sales agents that handle entire customer journeys, from personalized product recommendations right through to seamless payment acceptance — all through a conversational experience.
The clever idea was recently tested to great success when one of Popcorn AI’s chatbot agents closed a $400,000 real estate transaction, handling everything from the first inquiry to the final sale. Early adopters have reported a massive 90% reduction in customer acquisition costs, along with a highly impressive 20% improvement in conversion rates, highlighting the platform’s potential to transform customer engagement across dozens of industries.
Josh Rodger, Principal at the Spring Studios fund, expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying, “We are proud to support Popcorn AI’s mission to reshape how businesses connect with their customers. Their innovative approach to conversational commerce has the potential to revolutionize industries and redefine the way customers experience digital transactions”.
Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East
Meanwhile, Popcorn AI founder and CEO Yousef Al Arif declared: “The future of commerce is conversational,” adding, “Today’s consumers want shopping experiences that are instant, personalized, and effortless. We’re not building just another chatbot; we’re crafting intelligent commerce agents that understand context, recall customer preferences, and guide users through the entire shopping process, much like an expert salesperson would”.
Building upon a decade of experience scaling eCommerce and marketplace platforms across the MENA region, Al Arif has now achieved huge success with Popcorn AI, positioning the product at the cutting edge of AI-powered eCommerce. The platform has also made significant impacts in sectors such as real estate, and hospitality, signaling that conversational commerce is emerging as a powerful new model for digital businesses.
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