News
Istanbul Fights Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes Using A Smartphone App
There are approximately 190,000 mosquito habitats in Istanbul, and 80% of them wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for humans creating ideal breeding conditions.
With the world’s attention focused on the still ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it’s easy to forget that there are many other serious health problems affecting the lives of people around the world. Istanbul is one of the countless cities that have been invaded by disease-carrying mosquitoes, and the city’s civic body has recently decided to solve this problem using modern technology.
More specifically, the Istanbul Municipality has released a smartphone app whose purpose is to identify different mosquito species in the city and create a real-time map showing their location. The gathered information will allow city officials to take appropriate actions in order to stop, or at least slow down, the spread of mosquitoes in the city of hundred names.
The biggest challenge is the fact that not all Istanbul residents own high-end smartphones with high-resolution cameras capable of taking detailed pictures of tiny mosquitoes, especially under poor lighting conditions. That said, even less-than-ideal pictures can help officials map out the general presence of mosquitoes in Istanbul, which can go a long way in tackling the infestation.
Önder Yüksel Eryiğit, a senior municipal official, said that there are approximately 190,000 mosquito habitats in Istanbul, and 80 percent of them wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for humans creating ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
Also Read: FDA Approves Israeli Cancer-Freezing Technology
Academics have warned the Istanbul Municipality about the possibility of mosquitoes infected with Zika and West Nile viruses already making the city their new home. To prevent a deadly outbreak of these and other infectious diseases, it’s important to act quickly and avoid letting the problem get out of hand.
This certainly isn’t the first application of mobile apps in the Middle East for the purposes of solving pressing healthcare issues, and it’s safe to say that it won’t be the last. For example, during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, a group of 16 technology enthusiasts from Turkey developed a contact-tracing app to instantly alert users who had contact with infected people.
News
Microsoft Invests $1.5 Billion In Abu Dhabi AI Tech Firm G42
The collaboration will promote and share the latest AI tech and skills initiatives worldwide and introduce an investment fund for developers.
Abu Dhabi AI and tech firm G42 have announced a partnership with Microsoft that will include a $1.5 billion investment. The huge cash injection will help the collaborating companies bring the latest Microsoft AI tech and skills initiatives to the UAE, as well as the wider Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.
Over time, G42 and Microsoft aim to empower nations and improve equity by allowing access to services that address vital government and business concerns while promoting the highest privacy and security standards.
H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of G42, explained: “Microsoft’s investment in G42 marks a pivotal moment in our company’s journey of growth and innovation, signifying a strategic alignment of vision and execution between the two organizations. This partnership is a testament to the shared values and aspirations for progress, fostering greater cooperation and synergy globally”.
The partnership will support the creation of a skilled AI workforce and develop a talent pool to drive innovation and boost competitiveness in the UAE and beyond with a $1 billion investment fund for developers.
As part of the newly expanded partnership, Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, will join G42’s board of directors. In a recent statement, Smith said: “Our two companies will work together not only in the UAE, but to bring AI and digital infrastructure and services to underserved nations [combining] world-class technology with world-leading standards for safe, trusted, and responsible AI, in close coordination with the governments of both the UAE and the United States”.
Also Read: Getting Started With Google Gemini: A Beginner’s Guide
As part of their regional plans, Microsoft and G42 have firmly committed to complying with US and international trade laws. They will also adhere to responsible AI and business integrity regulations governed by a detailed Intergovernmental Assurance Agreement (IGAA).
Peng Xiao, G42’s Group Chief Executive Officer, stated, “This partnership significantly enhances our international market presence, combining G42’s unique AI capabilities with Microsoft’s robust global infrastructure. Together, we are not only expanding our operational horizons but also setting new industry standards for innovation”.
The G42 and Microsoft collaboration has passed several significant milestones over the past twelve months. A joint plan to develop AI solutions for industry and the public sector and industry was unveiled in April 2023, and last September, Microsoft and G42 laid out plans to unlock the potential of the Azure public cloud platform. Finally, in November 2023, Microsoft added G42’s Jais Arabic Large Language Model to its Azure AI Cloud Model.
Microsoft Invests $1.5 Billion In Abu Dhabi AI Tech Firm G42
NASA’s HERA Campaign 7 Reveals New Emirati Crew Member
Adobe Teases New AI Editing Tools And Updates In Premiere Pro
YallaHub Teams Up With Lapochka For Future UAE Expansion
Lebanese Newspaper Builds AI President To Beat Political Crisis
Abu Dhabi To Develop $1 Billion eSports Island Facility
MENADNA And Nebula Genomics Enter New Partnership
Advancing MENA Health Through AI Vascular Age Analysis
True Gamers & Takefluence Reveal New Ambassador Program
