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Google Is Developing An AI Cancer-Spotting Microscope
The search giant has teamed up with the US Department of Defense to build the new detection tool.
Google has developed an “Augmented Reality Microscope” (ARM) in collaboration with the US Department of Defense. The prototype uses AI enhancements to add real-time visual indicators such as heat maps or object boundaries, making identifying the presence of known pathogens and cancer cells easier.
The ARM was first teased in 2018, and the latest prototype has still not been used to diagnose real patients. After further testing, Google hopes that the technology will be “retrofitted into existing light microscopes in hospitals and clinics”. Once installed, ARM-equipped microscopes will give clinicians a variety of visual feedback cues, including text, arrows, contours, animations and heat maps.
The US Department of Defense’s “Defense Innovation Unit” has already negotiated agreements with Google to enable Augmented Reality Microscope distribution through military channels. ARM is expected to cost $90,000 to $100,000 per unit — a figure well beyond many local health providers.
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This is not the first time Google Health has invested in AI-powered diagnostic tools. Parent company Alphabet already has a strong record of partnering with startups that invest in AI to “improve healthcare” and is projected to have spent over $200 billion on AI technology over the past decade — something that’s especially noteworthy at a time when the World Health Organization is predicting a worldwide deficit of 15 million health care workers by 2030.
News
Paymob Extends Series B Funding To $72M Amid Continued Growth
The financial services provider has secured an extra $22 million after strong performance in its core market of Egypt.
Leading financial services provider Paymob has secured an additional $22 million in a funding extension, bringing its Series B total to $72 million.
The funding was spearheaded by EBRD Venture Capital, with support from Endeavor Catalyst. Existing backers such as PayPal Ventures, BII, FMO, A15, Nclude, and Helios Digital Ventures also participated, reaffirming their confidence in Paymob’s business model and potential in the regional fintech industry.
This extension comes on the back of Paymob’s strong performance in its core market of Egypt, where it has experienced 6x revenue growth since the initial Series B in Q2 2022. With the Series B extension and continued profitability in Egypt, Paymob is well-positioned to further its expansion strategy across the MENA region.
Islam Shawky, Co-founder and CEO of Paymob, commented: “We are very excited by our strong prospects in Egypt – where we hold a market-leading position – and the significant traction experienced in the UAE since launching operations there. This funding will help Paymob fully capitalize on the momentum in our established markets, as we accelerate our GCC roll-out. We remain committed to creating cutting-edge infrastructure enabling SMEs across the region to thrive in the digital economy and are proud of our continued impact”.
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The expansion into GCC markets has been driven by Paymob’s initial Series B funding of $50 million, raised in 2022 and led by Kora Capital, PayPal Ventures, and Clay Point. The investment fueled Paymob’s growth, allowing it to launch its mobile app in 2023 and grow its merchant base by 3.5 times, now serving nearly 350,000 merchants across MENA.
Paymob has also expanded its payment acceptance suite to offer 50 payment methods through its gateway, POS terminals, and the Paymob app, providing the region’s most comprehensive fintech solution. The company recently introduced embedded checkout services for Shopify and WooCommerce, further demonstrating its commitment to empowering small and medium businesses across the region.