News
NVIDIA Teams With Ooredoo For Large-Scale Middle East Launch
The move will give local customers access to cutting-edge generative AI technology and comes amid US curbs on chip exports to the region.
NVIDIA has agreed to a deal with Qatari telecoms group Ooredoo that will see the computing corporation’s artificial intelligence technology deployed at data centers in five Middle Eastern locations.
The expansion plans are NVIDIA’s first large-scale foray into a region where Washington has curbed US chip exports to prevent Chinese firms using Middle Eastern countries to gain back door access to cutting-edge AI technology.
Once plans are complete, Ooredoo will be the first company in the region able to offer clients direct access to NVIDIA AI and graphics processing. The telecoms firm currently has data centers in Algeria, Tunisia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and the Maldives, though no details have been released on the exact technologies that will be available in individual locations.
In a recent statement, NVIDIA’s senior vice president of telecom, Ronnie Vasishta, explained that the company’s technology will soon allow Ooredoo customers to deploy the latest generative AI applications. Meanwhile, Ooredoo’s CEO, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, explained in a recent interview that “B2B clients, thanks to this agreement, will have access to services that probably their competitors (won’t) for another 18 to 24 months”.
Also Read: The Most AI-Proof Career Opportunities In The Middle East
Neither company has disclosed the value of the deal, which was signed at the TM Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark, on June 19. However, we do know that Ooredoo will invest $1 billion to upgrade its regional data center capacity in the near future, while also partitioning its large undersea cable and fiber networks into a separate commercial entity.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
Jordan’s $45M Push To Boost E-Government & Digital Economy
Viasat Satellite Messaging Tech Showcased In Saudi Arabia
Saudi Innovator Secures Patent For Revolutionary Crypto Asset
Study Shows Gen Alpha’s Growing Impact On The Digital Economy
TerraPay & Suyool Offer Fast, Secure Money Transfers To Lebanon
Galaxy Ring 2 May Launch Early As Apple Prepares Competing Device
Google To Launch AI Hub In Saudi Arabia, Aiming For $71B GDP Boost
Popcorn AI Raises $500,000 For “Conversational eCommerce”
