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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.

Published

5 months ago

March 8, 2024

Nour Nasir

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.

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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.

Related Topics:Artificial Intelligence Qatar Airways

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Mamo Completes $3.4M Funding Round To Enhance Fintech Services

The startup will use the influx of cash to expand into Saudi Arabia and across the wider GCC while improving its product offering.

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Nour Nasir

Mamo

UAE-based fintech Mamo has announced the completion of a $3.4 million funding round that will help the startup extend its market presence and improve its product offering. Investors included 4DX Ventures, the Dubai Future District Fund and Cyfr Capital.

Mamo’s platform offers “payment collection, corporate cards and expense management” to help small and medium-sized businesses consolidate and streamline their operations. With the latest influx of capital, Mamo will further develop its comprehensive suite of services and begin testing its product lines in Saudi Arabia, further extending its footprint across the GCC.

Imad Gharazeddine, co-founder and CEO of Mamo, stated: “We’ve been in the market for a while now and are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved. The holistic and expansive nature of our product offering has helped us continue to grow sustainably. This additional funding will allow us to reach our medium-term goals even faster. The support from new and existing investors is a testament to our strong expertise and the ability to deliver on our customer promise”.

Daniel Marlo, General Partner of lead investor 4DX Ventures, added: “We have immense trust in Imad’s vision, leadership and Mamo’s innovative approach to provide a user-friendly and comprehensive financial solution for SMEs that makes financial management more accessible and efficient. We are proud to partner with them and support their mission”.

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Amer Fatayer, Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund’s investment team, also commented: “Mamo’s localized product lines serve as an infrastructure for SME payments and spend management in UAE, a segment that is underserved by the country’s current banking infrastructure. The team has taken a product-first approach to consolidating SMEs’ financial journeys and building a fintech solution deeply embedded in a business’s core operations”.

To date, Mamo has raised around $13 million in investment funding and now boasts a team of 30 people. The company’s intuitive financial services platform has allowed over 1,000 businesses to consolidate their financial operations and significantly reduce payment fees.