Astra Tech announced the integration of Botim AI into its Botim Ultra App, bringing advanced AI capabilities to the platform and enhancing accessibility for over 150 million global users. This makes Botim the first fintech in the region to introduce this innovation. Botim AI is a chat assistant designed to elevate user engagement and interaction, offering free, seamless access to cutting-edge features directly within the Ultra App. Users will benefit from intelligent, AI-driven conversations and assistance across various areas, including productivity, education, research, and everyday problem-solving.

H.E. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Board Member and CEO of Astra Tech, commented: “The launch of Botim AI marks a significant milestone in our journey to revolutionize digital communication in the MENA region. By integrating advanced AI capabilities, we are enhancing user experiences and setting new standards for intelligent, seamless interactions. This innovation underscores our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to meet the evolving needs of our users, while advancing our mission to deliver more inclusive solutions that empower individuals from all demographics and enable frictionless engagement with our solutions.”

The AI currently supports chat-based interactions, with enhancements such as web search capabilities and action-based integration planned for future phases. As part of its strategic evolution, Botim is advancing toward the deployment of executional AI, enabling users to complete tasks in their native language with ease. This innovation meets the growing demand for inclusive AI solutions that ensure seamless, accessible interactions, empowering individuals from all backgrounds to engage effortlessly with the Ultra App.

Botim AI represents a significant step forward in the evolution of communication apps in the MENA region, offering users a smarter, more interactive way to connect and engage. Easily accessible from the landing page, Explore, and Search sections of the app, Botim AI allows current users to simply update to the latest version to access these new features directly on the landing page. Additionally, users can securely save chat history for future reference and have the option to delete past conversations for privacy and control.

A potentially controversial application of Google’s new Gemini 2.0 Flash AI model has emerged: users are leveraging it to remove watermarks from images, including those from stock photo sites such as Getty Images.

The recently expanded image generation feature of Gemini 2.0 Flash allows for native image generation and editing, a powerful tool that seemingly lacks robust usage restrictions. Social media users have highlighted how the AI can not only remove watermarks but also intelligently fill in the resulting gaps, often with impressive accuracy, and it’s currently free within Google’s AI Studio developer tools.

While labeled “experimental” and “not for production use,” Gemini 2.0 Flash’s ability to bypass watermarks stands in contrast to models like Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet and OpenAI’s GPT-4o, which explicitly prohibit such actions, citing ethical and legal concerns.

It’s important to note that Gemini 2.0 Flash isn’t foolproof; it can struggle with semi-transparent or heavily overlaid watermarks. Nevertheless, the ease with which it can remove watermarks raises potential copyright issues, as removing a watermark without the copyright holder’s permission is generally illegal in many countries. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges of balancing powerful AI capabilities with copyright protection.

Shopping, streaming, and savings are set to get much better and more rewarding as Smiles, the UAE’s premier everyday rewards SuperApp, teams up with Amazon.ae to offer customers in the UAE up to 6 months of Amazon Prime, using Smiles points. With this collaboration, customers can now subscribe to an Amazon Prime membership directly on the Smiles app at discounted prices of up to 58 per cent, courtesy of Smiles. Customers have the flexibility to redeem their Smiles Points against the subscription or pay using their credit card, earning additional points with every purchase.

Khaled ElKhouly, Chief Consumer Officer, e& UAE, said, “Our collaboration with Amazon is all about bringing real value and convenience to our customers. By offering discounts on Amazon Prime subscriptions through the Smiles app, we’re making it easier to Reward Your Everyday while enjoying the best in shopping, entertainment, and savings.” Smiles customers can now subscribe to a 3 or 6-month Amazon Prime membership at a promotional rate through the Smiles app.

3-Month Promotion:

1. Available for just AED24 on the Smiles app (retail price at AED48)—a 50 per cent discount. Customers can redeem this offer using
2. 3,000 Smiles Points or pay via credit/debit card.

6-Month Promotion:

1. Available for only AED40 on the Smiles app (retail price at AED96)—a 58 per cent discount. Customers can redeem this offer using
2. 5,000 Smiles Points or pay via credit/debit card.

After the promotional period, customers will automatically be billed AED16/month by Amazon.ae to continue enjoying their Amazon Prime membership benefits. This collaboration brings together the best of both worlds for customers in the UAE, combining Smiles’ innovative rewards ecosystem with the incremental value of Amazon Prime shopping, convenience and entertainment benefits.

Smiles, the UAE’s leading everyday rewards SuperApp, boasts a community of over five million loyal members. It empowers customers to earn and redeem points for a wide range of daily activities, including ordering food and groceries, booking home services, dining out, shopping, entertainment, travelling, and much more. “Reward Your Everyday” underscores Smiles’ commitment to enhancing every aspect of daily life and integrating the SuperApp more deeply into the lifestyles of UAE residents by making each interaction convenient and rewarding and delivering unmatched value and convenience to its customers.

Prime continues to be the best way to enjoy Amazon, offering members a wide range of benefits such as Free Same-Day and One-Day Delivery, Free International Delivery from Amazon US, UK and Germany and access to Prime Video and Prime Gaming.