According to Google, the hub has the potential to contribute as much as $71 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy. The initiative will likely speed up the adoption of AI across industries such as healthcare, retail, and financial services — not only within Saudi Arabia but also throughout the wider MENA region and beyond.

Yasir Al Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), highlighted the importance of the project for the Kingdom: “This partnership demonstrates PIF’s dedication to fostering an AI-friendly environment through investments in human capital and technology, upskilling thousands with cutting-edge tools to support our sustainable and innovative infrastructure goals,” he explained. Al Rumayyan also emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s combination of sector knowledge and long-term investment strategies makes it an ideal environment for global technology partnerships.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

A central aim of Google’s initiative is nurturing local talent. The AI hub will offer a range of training, research, and collaboration opportunities for developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia. Google envisions training “millions” of people, helping to create a robust innovation ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and ensures economic benefits reach all segments of society.

As international technology giants increasingly look to develop solutions tailored to regional needs, Google’s initiative reflects a progressive approach that leverages the strengths of local markets. With the potential to inject billions into the economy and strengthen digital capacities, Saudi Arabia could soon emerge as a prominent center for AI innovation in the Middle East.

The post Google To Launch AI Hub In Saudi Arabia, Aiming For $71B GDP Boost appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The program is the most extensive AI endeavor in the region and is aimed at expanding access to essential AI skills, research funding, and AI-driven products.

Google.org, the company’s philanthropic division, will allocate $15 million from this year through to 2027 to regional organizations. The funding is intended to broaden AI’s reach, ensuring it supports diverse communities across MENA and includes resources in skill development, research, infrastructure, and product launches in Arabic:

• AI Skill Development: Google is committed to making AI education inclusive and widely available. New educational programs are being launched, focusing on providing an AI Curriculum in Arabic, along with support for underserved communities. In addition, an AI safety education program for young people (ages 11-14) will be funded via a grant to the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
• AI Research & Local Solutions: Since 2005, Google has invested over $400 million globally in research. In the MENA region, Google is supporting local institutions through the startup accelerator startAD to develop AI applications supporting healthcare, education, and climate.
• AI-Powered Tools In Arabic: Google’s Gemini, an AI-powered assistant that understands over 16 Arabic dialects, launched in July 2023. New Arabic features include personalized guidance in learning and career advice, plus language-specific conversational and image-generation tools.
• Infrastructure Investment: Google has reasserted its commitment to cloud infrastructure in MENA, with data regions in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. A partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will support this effort with an AI hub to expand AI research and to boost digital skills for regional job growth.

Also Read: Wa’ed Ventures Pledges $100M For Early-Stage AI Startup Funding

Commenting on the project, Ruth Porat, President of Alphabet and Google, stated, “Google’s long-standing investments in the Middle East and North Africa have helped equip people and organizations with the connectivity, innovation, and skills required to thrive in the global digital economy”.

The post Google Launches Largest AI Initiative In The MENA Region appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Gemini Live is Google’s approach to “free-flowing, natural conversations” in the world of generative AI. You can use it for tasks like brainstorming event ideas, exploring new learning paths, or preparing for job interviews with real-time feedback. While Google describes the chatbot as being like talking with a friend, how many people would truly use it that way remains to be seen.

The update also enables users to switch between two languages on the same device. This feature will be integrated across other Google services such as Calendar, Tasks, Keep, and Utilities. You can set your language preferences within the Android app by navigating to Settings > Google Assistant > Languages, where you can select your primary and secondary languages.

Also Read: Getting Started With Google Gemini: A Beginner’s Guide

As of now, Gemini Live is only available on Android devices, with no immediate plans for an iPhone release. It seems that for now, Google is using its flagship features to encourage users to stick with its own platform.

The post Google’s Gemini Live Will Soon Offer Support For 40+ Languages appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Until now, developing protein molecules for medical purposes has been a time-consuming, expensive, and complex process. However, advancements in artificial intelligence have significantly improved the process, making it more efficient and accessible.

Recently, Google DeepMind researchers introduced a cutting-edge AI-powered model that can create protein binders targeting specific proteins. The groundbreaking development allows scientists to design custom protein molecules that specifically target only cancerous cells while minimizing harm to healthy ones. Hopefully, this will lead to more effective and less harmful treatments for cancer patients.

The newly developed AI model, known as AlphaProteo, also promises to be a game-changer in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, including autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic illnesses such as diabetes.

This isn’t Google DeepMind’s first foray into using AI for protein research. In 2021, the company launched AlphaFold, another AI-powered system aimed at predicting the structure of proteins. AlphaProteo builds upon this foundation, further advancing AI’s role in medical research.

Also Read: Tumor-Fighting Nanobots Could Revolutionize Cancer Treatment

The system’s training involved large datasets from the Protein Data Bank and insights from Google’s previous AI research. By leveraging this wealth of data, AlphaProteo avoids the need for traditional, resource-intensive testing methods, saving both time and money.

One of the most significant achievements during AlphaProteo’s testing phase was the strength of the protein binders it produced. On average, these binders were ten times more effective than current designs. The research also included testing protein binders for various target molecules, including those related to diseases like COVID-19 and leukemia.

The post Google’s New AI Technology May Revolutionize Cancer Treatment appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Android 15 will soon be available on select Pixel models. Additionally, devices from brands like Samsung, Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, vivo, and Xiaomi will receive support in the coming months.

Notable features include smart volume adjustment and dynamic range compression for apps using AAC audio with loudness metadata. Other updates and fixes include better split-screen app access and edge-to-edge app display for apps targeting SDK 35.

Also Read: Noble Announces Launch Of FoKus Apollo ANC Headphones

The developers are also launching a series called Spotlight Weeks to delve into technical topics related to the mobile operating system. They’ll kick off by discussing what’s new in Android 15.

Since Android 10, Google has moved away from naming its releases after desserts. After ending this tradition with Android 9 Pie, the focus has shifted to more straightforward branding and regular feature updates. While these changes reflect a more mature operating system, some of us miss the excitement of those earlier days. Maybe we’ll get a nostalgic nod to the older naming scheme buried somewhere in the settings?

The post The Android 15 Source Code Has Been Released appeared first on Tech Magazine.

“Under the visionary leadership of His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince, and the guidance of His Highness the Prime Minister, Kuwait has made great strides towards realizing its National Vision 2035,” stated His Excellency Mr. Omar Saud Al-Omar, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Communication Affairs.

Eighteen months ago, Google Cloud revealed details of a national alliance framework agreement with Kuwait’s government that intended to develop an all-encompassing roadmap for digital transformation. Government entities and specific state-owned enterprises would benefit from Google Cloud’s cutting-edge data expertise and technologies — such as AI — enhancing their operations and bolstering cybersecurity.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

According to Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Managing Director of Google Cloud in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, “Opening Google Cloud offices in Kuwait is yet another step to meet the demand for our services and expertise to support the New Kuwait Vision 2035 vision […] in addition to participating in the implementation of several digital transformation initiatives in healthcare, education, disaster recovery, and smart living”.

Google has also collaborated in a national upskilling program in Kuwait to help government employees, entrepreneurs, and graduates better understand the latest digital technologies. According to a Google-commissioned study by Access Partnership, the overall annual economic impact cloud computing technologies could bring Kuwait may reach a colossal USD29.8 billion by 2030.

The post Google Cloud Opens New Kuwait Office To Aid Digital Transformation appeared first on Tech Magazine.

AI Search Overview

The first major reveal was that Google would add AI overviews to search results. The company hopes that AI will be able to take numerous sources of information and make a small, digestible overview for users.

Ask Photos

Next up was news on Google Photos, which is getting a powerful new AI tool called Ask Photos. Google said the feature can effectively search through images and answer questions such as: “What is my car’s license plate number?” or “What date did my child learn to swim?”.

AI Agents

A new tool called AI agents (AI personal assistants) was also debuted at I/O. CEO Sundar Pichai said AI Agents is in its early days, but in the future, it will be able to undertake complex tasks, including scanning through emails, filling out forms, and setting up appointments.

Gemini 1.5 Pro

Google announced new versions of its AI model at the I/O event, known as Gemini 1.5 Pro and Flash. According to the CEO of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, “Flash is a lighter-weight model compared to Pro, and is designed to be fast and cost-efficient to serve at scale while still featuring multi-model reasoning capabilities and breakthrough long context”.

Google added that the technology would soon include features such as video searching, planning (such as travel itineraries), and contextual search.

AI Teammate

AI Teammate is a new AI chatbot that will function as a virtual co-worker. The tool can serve as an office hub, allowing teams to work together more effectively.

Nano

Although a minor announcement, Nano, Google’s smallest AI model, is interesting due to its ability to run entirely on mobile devices. The tool can efficiently intercept and intelligently block annoying spam calls.

Veo

Finally, Google debuted a new video generator named Veo. The product is similar to OpenAI’s Sora and can create “high-quality 1080p videos from text images and video prompts”.

The post Google I/O Highlights: AI Agents, Ask Photos, AI Teammate, & More appeared first on Tech Magazine.

What Is Google Gemini?

Born from the evolution of Google’s AI initiatives, Gemini, formerly known as Bard, is a state-of-the-art chatbot developed by Google. This LLM initiative was Google’s answer to the fast-rising popularity of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Gemini brings to the table a suite of capabilities we’ve come to expect from large language models:

• Multi-Modal Understanding: Gemini is natively multi-modal, meaning it can understand, operate across, and combine different types of information including text, code, audio, image, and video.
• Sophisticated Reasoning: Gemini’s reasoning capabilities enable it to think more carefully before answering difficult questions, leading to significant improvements over just using its first impression. This is particularly useful in fields requiring complex problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced Coding: Gemini can understand, explain, and generate high-quality code in over 20 programming languages. It excels in coding benchmarks, making it a powerful tool for developers.
• Multi-Language Support: Gemini’s translation abilities and its support for numerous languages help break down communication barriers. This is especially valuable in a globalized world, making both work and personal interactions potentially smoother.
• State-Of-The-Art Performance: Gemini Ultra (used in Gemini Advanced) has outperformed human experts on the MMLU benchmark, a massive multitask language understanding test, scoring 90.0%. It exceeds current state-of-the-art results on 30 of the 32 widely-used academic benchmarks.

While Gemini was introduced with the ability to generate images through Google Brain’s Imagen 2 text-to-image model, these image generation capabilities are currently disabled because the feature created a controversy after flooding the internet with historically inaccurate, racially-biased images.

Google Gemini Availability

Currently, Gemini supports more than 40 languages, including Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish, among others, and extends its reach to over 230 countries and territories, with Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Tunisia all being on the list.

Besides the standard version of Gemini, which uses Google’s Pro 1.0 model, there’s also Gemini Advanced, which is based on the Ultra 1.0 model. This more sophisticated version of the LLM is available in more than 150 countries and territories in English. Again, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Tunisia are all supported. Unfortunately, Gemini Advanced is optimized only for English, so its responses in other languages can be a hit or miss.

How To Use Google Gemini?

Getting started with Google Gemini, whether on desktop or mobile, is a straightforward process:

On Desktop:

1- Visit The Gemini Website: You can find it at gemini.google.com.

2- Sign In: Click on the Sign in If you have an existing Google account and are older than 18 years, then you can simply use it to sign in. If you don’t have one already, this is the time to create it.

3- Accept The Terms Of Service: Read and accept Google Gemini’s Terms of Service by clicking more, followed by I agree on the subsequent page.

4- Start Using Gemini: After clicking Continue, you will be directed to the Gemini page.

5- Message Gemini: Type your question or search term into the search box and press enter. Await Gemini’s response, which will be generated based on the input provided.

On Mobile:

• Android: As an Android user, you can download the Google Gemini app from the Play Store, or you can use the mobile version of the gemini.google.com website.
• iOS: Unfortunately, there’s currently no dedicated Google Gemini app for iOS, but there’s a Gemini tab will appear at the top of the Google app.

Top Tips For Google Gemini Beginners

One of the biggest advantages of conversational AI systems like Gemini is their intuitiveness. You can literally just start asking questions and issuing commands, and Gemini will do its best to understand and respond appropriately. However, to truly harness the power of Google Gemini, especially if you’re just starting out, it’s important to keep a few key tips in mind:

• Double-Check Information: Click the Google icon below any response from Gemini. This feature allows you to quickly verify the accuracy of the information provided using Google Search.
• Provide Feedback: Use the thumbs up or down icons to give feedback on Gemini’s responses. This simple action helps Gemini learn from your preferences, continually improving the accuracy and relevance of its future replies.
• Listen To Responses: For those who prefer auditory learning or simply wish to hear the information, click the speaker icon at the top of a response. This feature converts text to speech, allowing you to listen to Gemini’s replies.
• Leverage Multi-Modality: If you’re stuck explaining something in words, try supplementing your query with an image or reference a piece of code. Gemini’s understanding of different input types can lead to more nuanced assistance.
• Break Down Complex Tasks If you have a complicated problem, try breaking it into smaller, sequential steps. Gemini can assist with each stage, making the whole process more manageable.
• Experiment With Prompts: Don’t be afraid to rephrase questions or provide additional context to guide Gemini in different directions. You may be surprised by the insights you uncover through a slight change in wording.

ChatGPT vs Google Gemini: Which Is Better For MENA Users?

With both Google Gemini and ChatGPT being available in the MENA region, users have unprecedented access to some of the most advanced AI chatbot technologies. Deciding which platform best suits your needs depends on various factors, including pricing, features, and how well each integrates into your daily digital routine. Here’s a breakdown to help you make an informed decision:

Gemini presents a compelling option for users deeply embedded in Google’s ecosystem or those looking for a value-packed subscription. With the Google One AI Premium plan, you can enjoy access to Gemini Advanced and 2 TB of cloud storage space for use across Google’s suite of products, which includes Gmail, Google Docs, and more. Best of all, you can currently get two months of the Google One AI Premium plan for free, so there’s no reason to not give it a try.

On the other hand, ChatGPT shines with its extensive feature set, especially with DALL-E for image generation and the ability to create and train custom GPTs. Despite what artificial LLM performance benchmarks say, ChatGPT’s answers are typically more accurate and relevant than Gemini’s, but they do take longer to generate, and there’s a fairly strict usage limit (40 messages every 3 hours). Unfortunately, OpenAI doesn’t offer a free trial version of its ChatGPT Plus plan, but you can play with the free version of ChatGPT without any limitations.

Conclusion

Google Gemini is a fascinating addition to the world of conversational AI, and it’s already available to users across the MENA region. With its advanced capabilities — from multi-modal understanding to sophisticated reasoning and multi-language support — it presents a good alternative to ChatGPT for those in the Google ecosystem as well as those who have a need for another AI companion in their.

The post Getting Started With Google Gemini: A Beginner’s Guide appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Google’s vice president of product management, Ruth Kricheli, wrote in a blog post that the company is updating its inactivity policy for Google (and Google Workspace) accounts that have not been used or signed into for at least two years, explaining that all content contained in Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar, and Google Photos will also be axed — though business and school accounts will be unaffected.

“This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven’t had two-factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user,” Kricheli says in the blog post. “Our internal analysis shows abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have 2-step verification set up. These accounts are often vulnerable, and once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam”.

Also Read: You Can Now Delete Threads And Keep Your Instagram Account

There are now 1.8 billion active Google account users worldwide, so the upcoming purge could lead to millions of deleted Gmail addresses. Unfortunately, if you expect to find it easier to grab a catchy new address, think again. The company will not release purged Gmail handles back into circulation due to fears they could be used to impersonate their old owners.

Should you be worried about Google’s December 1st plans? You’ll be completely fine if you’ve logged in to a Google account during the last 2 years. However, if you’re paranoid about an old account getting wiped, you should login and send yourself an email for extra peace of mind.

The post A Google Account Purge Is Coming. Will You Be Affected? appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The vulnerabilities found in Google’s Chrome browser could allow “malicious actors” to execute harmful code on users’ systems, the council explained on Saturday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Important Security Alert
The Cyber Security Council of the UAE government has issued a critical warning regarding high-risk vulnerabilities in the Google Chrome browser. These vulnerabilities could potentially allow malicious actors to execute harmful code on your operating… pic.twitter.com/2Jm5rLAtpC

— Cyber Security Council (@cscgovae) October 28, 2023

“We strongly advise all users to promptly update their Chrome browsers to the latest version to safeguard against any potential threats,” the government organization said.

With around 3.3 billion users, Google Chrome is the world’s most-used web browser. The browser has about 65% of the market share and is installed on PCs, smartphones, tablets, and more.

The Cyber Security Council also warned of several Apple-specific vulnerabilities that span desktop and mobile operating systems, as well as in the Safari browser, Apple Watch, and even the Apple TV’s tvOS.

“We strongly recommend all users to update their systems and software immediately to mitigate potential threats,” the Cyber Security Council said, amidst fears that hackers could exploit the security flaws to gain control of user’s devices.

Also Read: The Largest Data Breaches In The Middle East

Established in 2020, the UAE Cyber Security Council is responsible for legislation to strengthen cyber security after a recent surge in digital attacks.

The UAE also recently announced plans to develop a cyber security vision to strengthen action against digital crime over the next 50 years. The move will give the Emirate “the highest level of resilience” and boost its ability to “address growing digital challenges”, said Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council at the time of the announcement.

“As the UAE looks forward to its centennial in 2071, we had an opportunity to pause, examine how the world might evolve, and how we can use technology to optimize outcomes for humanity,” he said.

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