Latest news with #RamiAbuArja
Tahawul Tech
09-07-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
'We are committed to ensuring every part of society can benefit from AI.' – Rami Abu Arja, Yasmina
CNME Editor Mark Forker sat down with Rami Abu Arja, Senior Innovation Marketing Manager at Yasmina, Yango Group, to learn more about how their human-like bilingual AI-powered assistant is reshaping the smart home space, and why consumers now crave hyper-personalised experiences. The 'smart home' space is a burgeoning industry vertical that has grown exponentially over the last few years. Unsurprisingly, the UAE, which is regarded globally as one of the most vibrant hubs for technology, innovation, creativity, bold design and entrepreneurship, has seen rapid growth in its own domestic smart home marketplace. The UAE leads the rest of the GCC region when it comes to smart home adoption, due to a combination of factors, namely high disposable incomes, forward-thinking smart city policies, and strong urbanisation. A product that has emerged as a market leader in the smart home space is the AI-powered smart speaker Yasmina from Yango Group. Yasmina is a bilingual AI assistant powered by a YangoAI LLM, an advanced model developed for natural, conversational speech, complete with jokes and cultural awareness. Rami Abu Arja is the Senior Innovation Marketing Manager at Yasmina, Yango Group. He has been the driving force behind Yasmina's dominance in the smart home sector across the UAE, and is known for his ability to bring innovative and disruptive products to the market. In a candid interview with CNME, he spoke all things AI, and he began the conversation by outlining what he thinks is going to be the next 'big leap' in terms of integrating AI. 'The AI marketplace is developing at an extremely fast pace — it is always evolving and moving in new directions. There's a lot of discussion around Agentic AI, and significant investment is directed towards that. As for the smart home and AI-assistant sectors, I think the next big trend will be centred on personalisation. Consumer psychology has changed — we used to be comfortable using different apps for different tasks, but that's no longer the case. Today's users want a single device that can communicate with all their applications, assist with multiple tasks, and ultimately deliver hyper-personalised experiences,' said Abu Arja. Abu Arja pointed to a study from Deloitte that reinforced his views on the fact that customers want a unilateral interface for interacting with all their applications on a daily basis. 'Deloitte conducted a comprehensive report on this topic, revealing that 34% of respondents want a more user-friendly experience across their entire app ecosystem. They want one ecosystem that delivers everything for them, they want to move away from the current fragmented approach, where you jump from app to app. 57% of those surveyed also want an AI system that can manage all aspects of their smart home. So it's clear that everyone is leaning toward AI assistants that can help them with everything and deliver the personalisation they want. This is where Yasmina comes into play with its ability to connect a wide range of smart home devices, delivering the personalised experiences consumers are demanding,' said Abu Arja. One of the key components in the success of Yasmina is its cultural relevance. That has struck a chord with the marketplace across the UAE, and, as Abu Arja points out, Yasmina's ability to understand different dialects, again enables it to deliver that personalisation. 'We believe that an AI assistant has to fit naturally into everyday life, and the way you interact with it should feel as effortless as speaking with family or friends. We know that the two main languages are English and Arabic here in the UAE. However, for a truly localised AI assistant, understanding standard Arabic isn't enough — that's why we designed Yasmina to understand and respond to multiple regional dialects. That is a key USP for us. At the end of the day, I believe consumers want something simple and easy–to–use, and Yasmina delivers just that. Simplicity drives satisfaction, and as a company, we are always looking to improve our services to simplify modern everyday life — whether by integrating with more smartphone platforms or connecting with a wider range of smart home devices, from washing machines to air conditioners and TVs. Our goal is to help create a unified smart home ecosystem that streamlines everyday life,' said Arja. One of the very interesting aspects of the current AI movement is the fact that it is the first industrial revolution in history that will potentially lead to mass casualties for 'white collar' workers. In the past, it was blue-collar workers who felt the pinch of technological progress, but with Agentic AI and Gen AI, developers and engineers on six-figure salaries are being let go. Abu Arja is someone at the coalface of AI innovation on a daily basis, and he is hyperaware of the dystopian view held by many when it comes to AI, and the age-old human versus robots debate. When asked how he tries to temper the flames of negativity around AI, he prefers to focus on the fact that AI is an enabler. 'It certainly is a hot topic — and with good reason. AI's transformative potential and massive scale make it difficult to grasp all at once. As for me, I see AI as an enabler. It has fundamentally been developed so we can do more. It also allows us to have more time for ourselves. Much of the fear and hysteria around AI comes down to a lack of understanding.. We need to not only learn more about AI, but to embed it into our culture and daily lives. The UAE has taken the lead in this regard; it was the first country in the world to appoint a dedicated Minister of AI, and now it has recently announced that AI will be taught in all schools. Research from MIT involving children aged 7 to 12 using AI tools showed improvements in reasoning and creativity, which shows that AI can also be a powerful educational tool for children. It goes without saying that AI needs to be used ethically and responsibly, but we need to embrace AI because it's not going away, and we need to understand and see it for what it is — a tool that enables us to do more,' said Abu Arja. Abu Arja also added that AI is actually helping to create and establish a much better work-life balance. 'There are some tasks that are mundane and would take hours out of your day, for example, administrative work. However, now, due to the power of technologies like Agentic AI, you can complete those tasks in minutes, and that frees up a lot of time for you to spend with family and friends,' said Abu Arja. The final part of our conversation pivoted towards the topic of 'accessibility' when it comes to AI, and the role played by private sector companies like Yasmina in creating an ecosystem in which everyone in society can benefit from AI. 'Making AI accessible to all is incredibly important, and once again, the UAE is leading the way in this by making ChatGPT free for everyone. It's yet another example of the forward-thinking leadership of this country. We want to have more interaction with communities because at the moment, global technology doesn't really serve local communities, and there is a gap there. We reached out to Rashid Center for People of Determination, which works with children aged 5 all the way up to adults in their 30s, and offered them Yasmina. Yasmina is now in their classrooms, and it is helping students learn in new and meaningful ways, with the technology integrated in their learning environment. Rashid Center for People of Determination has also created a sort of smart centre, where they have deployed multiple sensory-friendly technologies designed to enhance linguistic and cognitive development. From a linguistic perspective, that's where Yasmina was a great fit, because of her ability to understand multiple dialects and speech patterns. In short, AI is a powerful tool, but it needs to be accessible, and at Yango Group, through Yasmina, we are committed to ensuring every part of society can benefit from AI,' said Abu Arja.
Web Release
12-06-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Yango Group upgrades its AI assistant Yasmina for enhanced creativity, richer conversations, and expanded language translation skills
Yango Group , a global tech company, significantly upgraded the LLM powering its AI assistant, Yasmina , to deliver more accurate, in-depth, and context-aware responses in both Arabic and English. The upgrade is part of a gradual rollout of YangoAI, a suite of AI features and technologies adapted and localized to meet the specific needs of regional users, powering a wide range of the company's products and services, including Yasmina. The AI assistant now provides 38% more relevant and up-to-date answers in Arabic, thanks to its enhanced ability to analyze web documents. The new LLM has also enabled smoother conversational interactions and reduced the number of unnecessary refusals in answers by almost 50%. In addition to more robust language processing, the new LLM increases Yasmina's effectiveness as a multilingual AI assistant. One of the most notable advancements is the assistant's ability to handle translation. This feature empowers bilingual users, language learners, educators, and content creators in the region to accurately translate their speech between Arabic and English. Yasmina now delivers more contextual, actionable recommendations on everyday activities and lifestyle choices. For example, you can ask the assistant for recommendations on how to spend time in Dubai, combining modern and heritage-related activities. Whether asking for information on an array of subjects or breaking down complex concepts from history to blockchain, the assistant demonstrates enhanced clarity and precision in every response. The AI assistant's improved capabilities also extend to assisting individuals and professionals with daily tasks and content creation in Arabic and English. It enables real-time currency conversion and guides young adults to independently solve their homework, fostering critical thinking and reasoning skills. Yasmina can also help brainstorm ideas, craft poems and bedtime stories, and suggest riddles for children. 'With more precise and culturally aware responses, along with additional skills, Yasmina's latest upgrade positions it as a trusted everyday companion for diverse needs. From creative storytelling to translation, we are enriching lives with human-centred AI and making innovation more accessible to all. As the region embraces digital transformation, we continue to enhance our AI assistant, aiming to make it even more helpful, versatile, and relevant,' said Rami Abu Arja, Senior Innovation Marketing Manager at Yasmina, Yango Middle East. YangoAI is powering technology that is fine-tuned and continuously trained on region-specific data. This allows Yango Group's services to better reflect local culture and user expectations across the Middle East.
Campaign ME
21-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Science & Sunshine wins creative brief for Yasmina by Yango
Dubai-based independent agency Science & Sunshine has been appointed creative agency of record for Yasmina, the AI assistant developed by Yango Group, following a competitive pitch. Yasmina is a bilingual, human-like voice assistant designed to serve users across the Middle East. Developed with regional fluency – both linguistic and cultural – Yasmina offers support in Arabic and English, aiming to deliver a smarter, more intuitive and localised AI experience. As part of the mandate, Science & Sunshine will lead Yasmina's brand strategy, creative campaigns, and content storytelling as the platform scales across MENA. The partnership kicks off with launch activity in the UAE and Oman. 'Yasmina isn't just another AI assistant – she's built to speak the region's language, literally and culturally,' said Nadine Ghossoub, CEO at Science & Sunshine. 'That's a bold ambition, and one we're excited to bring to life through smart, relatable creative work.' Rami Abu Arja, Senior Innovation Marketing Manager at Yango Group, added: 'Yasmina was designed to feel local from the first word spoken. As we expand her presence across the Middle East, we needed a creative partner who could match that cultural fluency with insightful, strategic storytelling – and Science & Sunshine fit that brief perfectly.' The win strengthens Science & Sunshine's growing position in the region's technology and innovation sector. Alongside its work with Yasmina, the agency's wider portfolio spans entertainment, tourism, culture and lifestyle – supporting brands that are actively shaping the future of the Middle East. Yasmina is currently rolling out in select markets, with further expansion planned across the region in 2025.
Mid East Info
24-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Yango Group showcases AI-powered innovations at Machines Can See 2025 during Dubai AI Week - Middle East Business News and Information
Yango Group, a global tech company, marks a strong presence at the Machines Can See 2025 summit , showcasing three of its pioneering AI-powered innovations: Yasmina, a human-like bilingual AI assistant; Yango Tech Robotics' warehouse AI solutions; and Yango Tech Autonomy's last-mile delivery robots. Taking place from April 23-24 at the Expo Zone on the Boulevard of Emirates Towers, the event is part of Dubai AI Week, bringing together global experts, innovators, and industry leaders. Yango Group is presenting a preview of its bilingual human-like AI assistant, Yasmina, ahead of a major update. Visitors can experience the latest smart speaker in the lineup – Yasmina Lite – featuring the assistant's capabilities and tailored for educational scenarios. Powered by an advanced LLM and already capable of generating new ideas, explaining complex concepts, and performing calculations, Yasmina is becoming the ideal everyday tutor for children and lifelong learners alike. With translation capabilities coming soon, the AI assistant is set to become an indispensable tool for anyone aiming to learn Arabic or English. Rami Abu Arja, Senior Innovation Marketing Manager at Yasmina, Yango Group , commented: 'One of the most important shifts in AI is the move toward creating systems that genuinely understand and reflect the cultural identities and everyday experiences of their users. Yasmina embodies this evolution, offering interactions tailored to the Middle East. Our participation at Machines Can See is part of our commitment to advancing AI that is both innovative and deeply connected to the communities it serves, contributing to the ongoing growth of human-centred AI in the region.' Yango Tech Robotics is showcasing its Picker Robot, an AI-powered robotics solution for warehouse automation based on imitation learning. Picker Robot is trained using behavioural cloning, learning directly from human experts and thousands of real-world warehouse scenarios. A system that mirrors human adaptability, handling up to 97% of product types with up to 95% picking accuracy, even in unpredictable environments. It helps businesses streamline operations and reduce the need for manual labour. As the region races toward more agile, sustainable, and resilient logistics, robotics powered by imitation learning is a new frontier of physical AI. Yango Tech Autonomy is featuring its latest fleet of autonomous delivery robots capable of navigating city streets, accessing hard-to-reach areas, and transporting goods quickly and sustainably. Designed to perform in diverse weather and terrain conditions, the robots support cleaner urban logistics. Through a recent partnership with food tech retail company ROOTS, the service is now live in Dubai's Sobha Hartland community, enabling faster, more eco-friendly last-mile deliveries. A strong national strategy backs the UAE's ambition to become a global AI destination. As part of the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, AI is expected to contribute 14% to the country's GDP by 2030, with AI adoption across sectors targeted to boost productivity and improve quality of life. Regionally, McKinsey projects that AI could add as much as $150 billion to GCC economies. Yango Group's participation at Machines Can See 2025 reflects its commitment to advancing this transformation through intelligent, inclusive, and regionally adapted technologies. Visitors can explore Yango's comprehensive AI and tech solutions at the Expo Zone during the summit.
Zawya
23-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Yango Group showcases AI-powered innovations at Machines Can See 2025 during Dubai AI Week
Dubai, UAE – Yango Group, a global tech company, marks a strong presence at the Machines Can See 2025 summit, showcasing three of its pioneering AI-powered innovations: Yasmina, a human-like bilingual AI assistant; Yango Tech Robotics' warehouse AI solutions; and Yango Tech Autonomy's last-mile delivery robots. Taking place from April 23-24 at the Expo Zone on the Boulevard of Emirates Towers, the event is part of Dubai AI Week, bringing together global experts, innovators, and industry leaders. Yango Group is presenting a preview of its bilingual human-like AI assistant, Yasmina, ahead of a major update. Visitors can experience the latest smart speaker in the lineup – Yasmina Lite – featuring the assistant's capabilities and tailored for educational scenarios. Powered by an advanced LLM and already capable of generating new ideas, explaining complex concepts, and performing calculations, Yasmina is becoming the ideal everyday tutor for children and lifelong learners alike. With translation capabilities coming soon, the AI assistant is set to become an indispensable tool for anyone aiming to learn Arabic or English. Rami Abu Arja, Senior Innovation Marketing Manager at Yasmina, Yango Group, commented: 'One of the most important shifts in AI is the move toward creating systems that genuinely understand and reflect the cultural identities and everyday experiences of their users. Yasmina embodies this evolution, offering interactions tailored to the Middle East. Our participation at Machines Can See is part of our commitment to advancing AI that is both innovative and deeply connected to the communities it serves, contributing to the ongoing growth of human-centred AI in the region.' Yango Tech Robotics is showcasing its Picker Robot, an AI-powered robotics solution for warehouse automation based on imitation learning. Picker Robot is trained using behavioural cloning, learning directly from human experts and thousands of real-world warehouse scenarios. A system that mirrors human adaptability, handling up to 97% of product types with up to 95% picking accuracy, even in unpredictable environments. It helps businesses streamline operations and reduce the need for manual labour. As the region races toward more agile, sustainable, and resilient logistics, robotics powered by imitation learning is a new frontier of physical AI. Yango Tech Autonomy is featuring its latest fleet of autonomous delivery robots capable of navigating city streets, accessing hard-to-reach areas, and transporting goods quickly and sustainably. Designed to perform in diverse weather and terrain conditions, the robots support cleaner urban logistics. Through a recent partnership with food tech retail company ROOTS, the service is now live in Dubai's Sobha Hartland community, enabling faster, more eco-friendly last-mile deliveries. A strong national strategy backs the UAE's ambition to become a global AI destination. As part of the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, AI is expected to contribute 14% to the country's GDP by 2030, with AI adoption across sectors targeted to boost productivity and improve quality of life. Regionally, McKinsey projects that AI could add as much as $150 billion to GCC economies. Yango Group's participation at Machines Can See 2025 reflects its commitment to advancing this transformation through intelligent, inclusive, and regionally adapted technologies. Visitors can explore Yango's comprehensive AI and tech solutions at the Expo Zone during the summit. About Yango Group Yango Group is a tech company that transforms global technologies into everyday services tailored for local communities. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, the company reshapes and enhances leading cutting-edge technologies from around the world into seamlessly integrated daily services for diverse regions. The mission is to bridge the gap between world-leading innovations and local communities, fostering connections and enhancing everyday living experiences.
