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Decentraland Just Hosted The UAE’s First Metaverse Wedding
After the online ceremony, the couple held a metaverse afterparty where they interacted with those who joined and partied for hours.
When two people from different parts of the world decide to get married, they face many difficult challenges, and one of them is figuring out the logistics of getting their family and friends to attend the ceremony.
After all, plane tickets are not cheap, and not everyone is healthy enough to travel thousands of miles. Florian Ughetto and Liz Nunez, the owners of Easy Wedding Georgia, have come up with a truly cutting-edge solution: they decided to get married in the metaverse.
More specifically, the couple walked down the aisle in their own private Decentraland plot on May 19, accompanied by close family, friends, and select guests.
“We dreamt of flying in our family and friends from France and Paraguay to Dubai to attend our wedding. However, Covid and legal hurdles played spoilsport. That is when we decided to take things to the metaverse,” said Florian Ughetto.
During the wedding, their avatars were dressed in a black and brown suit and a white dress, both of which were purchased on OpenSea, the world’s largest NFT marketplace. As they exchanged their vows and said, “I do,” their guests were enjoying the ceremony from the comfort of their own homes using laptops and smartphones.
After the online ceremony, the couple held a metaverse afterparty where they interacted with those who joined and partied for hours.
Also Read: A Beginner’s Guide To Getting Started With NFTs
The biggest challenge Florian Ughetto and Liz Nunez faced when organizing the metaverse wedding was ensuring that everyone had a stable connection to the internet. To be extra safe, they had recorded backups of their vows at hand, but, fortunately, they were not needed.
The fact that people are already getting married in the metaverse even though the new iteration of the internet is still in its infancy goes to show just how huge its potential is, and it will be interesting to see what its impact on our lives will be a few years from now.
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Google To Launch AI Hub In Saudi Arabia, Aiming For $71B GDP Boost
The tech giant also plans to develop local AI solutions, and train regional talent to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Google has announced plans to set up a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Saudi Arabia, a move aimed at accelerating technological growth and economic development across the wider gulf region. The ambitious project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an initiative that champions technology and innovation as central to economic diversification away from the oil industry.
According to Google, the hub has the potential to contribute as much as $71 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy. The initiative will likely speed up the adoption of AI across industries such as healthcare, retail, and financial services — not only within Saudi Arabia but also throughout the wider MENA region and beyond.
Yasir Al Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), highlighted the importance of the project for the Kingdom: “This partnership demonstrates PIF’s dedication to fostering an AI-friendly environment through investments in human capital and technology, upskilling thousands with cutting-edge tools to support our sustainable and innovative infrastructure goals,” he explained. Al Rumayyan also emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s combination of sector knowledge and long-term investment strategies makes it an ideal environment for global technology partnerships.
Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East
A central aim of Google’s initiative is nurturing local talent. The AI hub will offer a range of training, research, and collaboration opportunities for developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia. Google envisions training “millions” of people, helping to create a robust innovation ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and ensures economic benefits reach all segments of society.
As international technology giants increasingly look to develop solutions tailored to regional needs, Google’s initiative reflects a progressive approach that leverages the strengths of local markets. With the potential to inject billions into the economy and strengthen digital capacities, Saudi Arabia could soon emerge as a prominent center for AI innovation in the Middle East.
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