News

Google I/O Highlights: AI Agents, Ask Photos, AI Teammate, & More

The event was full of news and announcements, but most centered on Gemini and its expanding capabilities.

Published

11 months ago

May 15, 2024

Joanna Melki

Google

Google held its I/O event aimed at developers yesterday. Plenty of news and product announcements were expected at the showcase, and we weren’t disappointed.

AI Search Overview

The first major reveal was that Google would add AI overviews to search results. The company hopes that AI will be able to take numerous sources of information and make a small, digestible overview for users.

Ask Photos

Next up was news on Google Photos, which is getting a powerful new AI tool called Ask Photos. Google said the feature can effectively search through images and answer questions such as: “What is my car’s license plate number?” or “What date did my child learn to swim?”.

AI Agents

A new tool called AI agents (AI personal assistants) was also debuted at I/O. CEO Sundar Pichai said AI Agents is in its early days, but in the future, it will be able to undertake complex tasks, including scanning through emails, filling out forms, and setting up appointments.

Gemini 1.5 Pro

Google announced new versions of its AI model at the I/O event, known as Gemini 1.5 Pro and Flash. According to the CEO of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, “Flash is a lighter-weight model compared to Pro, and is designed to be fast and cost-efficient to serve at scale while still featuring multi-model reasoning capabilities and breakthrough long context”.

Google added that the technology would soon include features such as video searching, planning (such as travel itineraries), and contextual search.

AI Teammate

AI Teammate is a new AI chatbot that will function as a virtual co-worker. The tool can serve as an office hub, allowing teams to work together more effectively.

Nano

Although a minor announcement, Nano, Google’s smallest AI model, is interesting due to its ability to run entirely on mobile devices. The tool can efficiently intercept and intelligently block annoying spam calls.

Veo

Finally, Google debuted a new video generator named Veo. The product is similar to OpenAI’s Sora and can create “high-quality 1080p videos from text images and video prompts”.

News

PayPal & TerraPay Join Forces For Cross-Border MENA Payments

The collaboration will be especially helpful in regions where traditional banking infrastructure is limited or inconsistent.

Published

23 hours ago

April 15, 2025

Nour Nasir

paypal and terrapay join forces for cross-border mena payments

PayPal has teamed up with TerraPay to improve cross-border payments across the Middle East and Africa. The move is designed to make it easier and faster for users to send and receive money internationally, especially in regions where traditional banking infrastructure can be limited or inconsistent.

The partnership connects PayPal’s digital payments ecosystem with TerraPay’s global money transfer network. The goal is to streamline real-time transfers between banks, mobile wallets, and financial institutions, significantly improving access for millions of users looking to move money securely and efficiently.

Through the partnership, users will be able to link their PayPal accounts to local banks and mobile wallets using TerraPay’s platform. This means faster transactions and fewer barriers for individuals and businesses across the region.

“The Middle East and Africa are at the forefront of the digital transformation, yet financial barriers still limit growth for many,” said Otto Williams, Senior Vice President, Regional Head and General Manager, Middle East and Africa at PayPal. “At PayPal, we’re committed to changing that […] Together, we’re helping unlock economic opportunity and build a more connected, inclusive financial future”.

For TerraPay, the deal is a chance to scale its reach while reinforcing its mission of frictionless digital transactions.

“Our mission at TerraPay is to create a world where digital transactions are effortless, secure, and accessible to all,” said Ani Sane, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at TerraPay. He added that the partnership is a major milestone for enhancing financial access in the Middle East and Africa, helping businesses grow and users move funds with fewer limitations.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

The integration also aims to support financial inclusion in a region where access to global banking tools is still uneven. With interoperability at the core, TerraPay can bridge the gap between different financial systems — whether that’s a mobile wallet or a traditional bank — making it easier to send money, pay for services, or grow a business across borders.

As the demand for cross-border payment options continues to rise, both PayPal and TerraPay are doubling down on their commitment to provide reliable, secure, and forward-looking financial tools for the region.