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Qatar Airways Unveils The World’s First AI Cabin Crew
The Gulf carrier has set new standards by being the first to use AI to improve passenger experiences.
National carrier Qatar Airways has unveiled Sama 2.0, the world’s first AI-enhanced “digital human cabin crew” at ITB Berlin 2024. Sama, meaning “sky” in Arabic, can learn from passengers to enhance her responses. She even has a backstory of growing up in Doha and undergoing specialist training as a flight attendant.
The updated version 2.0 of Sama provides responses in real-time and can answer FAQ-style queries, brief passengers on their destinations, and offer support and advice. Sama is accessed through QVerse, Qatar Airways’ latest digital platform, and can also be found in the airline’s official app.
Sama was developed in collaboration with UneeQ, a company specializing in “digital humans” for corporate branding projects.
Qatar Airways is experiencing a significant surge in demand as travel recovers after the pandemic. According to Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori, customers are becoming more selective with their travel decisions and often opting for higher-quality options.
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The shift in consumer behavior is beginning to drive a wider gap between top-tier airlines and more budget-oriented options. As a result, Gulf carrier Qatar Airways finds itself in a price and quality bracket that includes powerhouses like Emirates and Etihad, which explains the push for innovative experiences from technologies like Sama 2.0.
Despite intense competition, Qatar Airways has experienced a 31% increase in traffic this year, which can be attributed to the expansion of its network and an overall surge in global travel.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.