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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.

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qatar airways unveils the world's first ai cabin crew sama 2.0
Qatar Airways

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.

Also Read: UGREEN Nexode Pro Review: Portable Yet Powerful Chargers

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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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.

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paymob extends series b funding to $72 million amid continued growth

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”.

Also Read: Zoho Expands Qatar Operations & Releases New Survey Data

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.

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