🌟 Good Morning! 🌟

Grab your coffee ☕ and dive into today’s top stories. From ethical debates to groundbreaking tech launches, here’s what you need to know 👇️ 

📰 What is it about?

• Google faces allegations of aiding military operations with AI tools.

• Amazon Now revolutionizes grocery delivery in Dubai.

• Dubai-based Pluto secures funding for GCC expansion.

💡 Why it matters?

• These developments reflect the ethical, technological, and economic shifts shaping the region and beyond.

🔜 What’s next?

• Google’s involvement with AI in military operations may spark global discussions on tech ethics.

• Amazon Now could expand its reach, further raising customer expectations.

• Pluto’s GCC expansion could set a new standard for SME banking in the region.

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🛡️ Google Allegedly Provides AI Tools for Military Use

📰 What is it about?

• A Washington Post report claims Google granted the IOF access to its Vertex AI platform during Gaza operations.

💡 Why it matters?

• Ethical concerns are mounting over tech companies’ roles in military strategies.

🔜 What’s next?

• Google’s response—or lack of one—will shape its reputation moving forward.

Markets

🚀 Amazon Now Launches in Dubai

📰 What is it about?

• Amazon’s ultra-fast delivery service is now live in Dubai hotspots like JBR and Dubai Marina.

💡 Why it matters?

• It’s redefining convenience for Prime members in the UAE.

🔜 What’s next?

• The service could expand to more neighborhoods, further transforming the city’s delivery landscape.

💳 Pluto Raises $4.1M for GCC Expansion

📰 What is it about?

• Dubai-based fintech Pluto raised $4.1M to expand into Saudi Arabia and enhance its AI-driven financial tools.

💡 Why it matters?

• Pluto’s innovative platform is reshaping financial workflows for over 30,000 SMEs globally.

🔜 What’s next?

• Their expansion could foster stronger partnerships and innovation across the GCC.

🔍In other news…

1. UAE billboards are expensive. This is what it can cost!

2. Investors reportedly lost $227M in Israeli startup AnyVision, now Oosto, after allegations of surveillance in the West Bank.

3. Oracle has announced plans to quintuple its investment in Abu Dhabi to address the rising demand for artificial intelligence and cloud services in the UAE.

4. January 22’s highly anticipated Arabian Business Achievement Awards 2025, set to take place in Dubai, was suddenly canceled without explanation.

The Latest from the Smashi Business Studio

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Here’s to a productive week ahead! 💪

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