• BOTIM's Arabic Chat GPT will cater to BOTIM features like international money transfers, bill payments, and e-commerce. 

Dubai, UAE: Astra Tech (Astra), a leading consumer technology holding group in MENA, has launched the first-ever Arabic Chat GPT in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) leveraging on expertise from the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), ushering in a new era of AI-driven solutions in the region. Integrated into the BOTIM app, the GPT has the potential to revolutionize access to services through conversational commerce.  

BOTIM’s Arabic Chat GPT is an AI-powered platform that will cater to all BOTIM services, ensuring the information provided is always current and accurate by continuously sourcing latest information from local markets. BOTIM GPT has the potential to revolutionize the Middle East, by offering various services like international money transfers, bill payments, government services, and weather checks. The platform is under development to expand in the upcoming months to include additional services such as BOTIM stores and healthcare services, making it the ultimate one-stop-shop for users in the region.

Abdallah Abu Sheikh, Co-Founder and CEO of Astra Tech, BOTIM’s parent company, stated: “BOTIM’s Arabic Chat GPT marks another significant step towards simplifying people's daily lives and transforming the global tech industry while also enhancing the capabilities of our upcoming Ultra app. We are very excited to leverage the Arabic language modeling experts at MBZUAI  to pilot the service on BOTIM for our select users as we train the model. The Middle East is poised to experience a 20% annual growth rate in AI by 2030, and the UAE is set to lead the region with an average annual contribution of nearly 35%. We are excited to be at the forefront of technological innovation and creating new opportunities with local academic collaboration.”

Sultan al Hajji, Vice President of Public Affairs and Alumni Relations, MBZUAI, added that “This new collaboration with Astra Tech underscores how the university’s research and subject matter expertise in natural language processing (NLP) is being deployed to address challenges and enable enhanced services for industries and their customers. We welcome further opportunities to align our scientific focus with the UAE and wider region’s vision for innovation in technology and communications.” 

Initially, BOTIM GPT will be available to a select group of its 100 million-plus user base before gradually expanding in the near future. Following the testing phase, users can input their inquiries into the chat field, and the model will process the sentence, providing source URLs that redirect them to more information about a particular service of interest.

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About BOTIM:

Astra Tech is MENA's leading consumer technology holding group dedicated to revolutionizing everyday services through its Ultra app. The group acquired PayBy, Rizek, and the VoIP app BOTIM in 2022 to create the Ultra app, which will seamlessly integrate day-to-day services for users. BOTIM operates in 155 countries, offering a range of services including VoIP, international money transfers, bill payments, and UAE visa services. Astra Tech is committed to advancing technology and enhancing user experience in the region through continuous innovation.

About MBZUAI:

MBZUAI is a graduate, research university focused on AI, computer science, and digital technologies across industrial sectors. The university aims to empower students, businesses, and governments to advance AI as a global force for positive progress. For more information, visit www.mbzuai.ac.ae

To apply for admission, visit mbzuai.ac.ae or contact admissions@mbzuai.ac.ae

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Aaron Illathu | Karim Geadah
Atteline
Email: astratech@atteline.com