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Core42 Announces Overhaul Of Compass Platform & Chat App
The raft of new features and tools will empower businesses and developers to build a wide range of GenAI applications.
Cloud and AI infrastructure experts Core42 have overhauled their Compass platform for enhanced navigation and easier access while adding a wealth of new features, including a Compass Chat mobile app.
Earlier this year, the company launched a new inferencing platform — Compass Version 2.0 — integrating Qualcomm Cloud AI 100 Ultra inference accelerators, allowing users to leverage a suite of pre-optimized Generative AI, Embeddings, Natural Language Processing AI models, Computer Vision, and APIs.
The latest update enables developers to analyze their usage on the platform and also includes a Stable Diffusion text-to-image model for high-quality image generation, typography, and prompt responses to queries.
“The Compass platform is a testament to Core42’s pursuit of excellence and innovation in AI infrastructure. The additions of the revamped Compass platform, as well as the introduction of the Compass Chat mobile app, will redefine how businesses interact with AI and provide even greater flexibility and efficiency in today’s digital era,” announced Raghu Chakravarthi, EVP of Engineering, Core42.
Compass Chat — available on Android and iOS — is designed to boost productivity and integrates with Entra ID to enhance security and streamline onboarding. Meanwhile, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology improves data reliability and accuracy. The app features a unified interface, consolidating work and search histories while enabling a more efficient user experience.
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“Compass Chat provides access to leading AI models like GPT-4o and JAIS 30B, ensuring advanced language processing capabilities. It also supports both Arabic and English and offers seamless, synchronized chats across devices, allowing users to maintain productivity at their desks or on the move,” added Chakravarthi.
With the latest update of its Compass platform, Core42 continues to strengthen its product offering and offers yet more proof that the UAE is rapidly becoming a global hub for AI innovation.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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