Yasmina: the human-like AI assistant transforming everyday life in the UAE

By: Swithin D’Silva, Director International Business, Yango

With the rapidly advancing world of technology, the UAE has emerged as a front-runner in digital transformation. This shift is evident in the country’s various sectors, including healthcare, education, and government. As smart devices become increasingly prevalent, the AI assistant Yasmina has the potential to play a crucial role in this transformation.

Yasmina is a human-like AI assistant that speaks both Khaleeji Arabic and English and is deeply connected to the culture of the Middle East. When developing Yasmina, our goal at Yango Group was to create a human-like AI assistant, which inherently requires a deep understanding of local culture. Therefore, Yasmina is culturally attuned to the Middle East and can provide users with Hijri calendar dates and play surahs from the Quran, among other features.

Hyperlocal AI with a human-centred approach

What makes Yasmina unique is its innovative natural language understanding, speech recognition, and speech synthesis technologies. At the core of Yasmina lies a powerful large language model, which enables it to continuously learn and enhance its knowledge and skills. We have improved Yasmina’s ability to generate natural language by exposing its large language model (LLM) to diverse linguistic contexts that capture the intricacies of regional dialects, idioms, and cultural references.

Yasmina can also act as a smart home hub, enabling users to control their environment through voice commands. This, along with Yasmina’s entertainment and educational skills, can make the assistant an indispensable tool for UAE residents.

The assistant’s increased relevance for the region relies heavily on user feedback. Prior to the launch of the product, we established a beta testing community, which allowed us to engage directly with users, gather valuable feedback, and make sure that Yasmina meets the unique needs of the region.

Yasmina embodies the future of hyperlocal AI, where innovation directly addresses the unique needs of our users. It’s an example of how large language models can be used to create not just intelligent, but truly personalised experiences.

Yasmina’s role in shaping the digital future of the UAE

Our intent from the outset was to treat the Middle East — and the UAE in particular — not as an afterthought, but as a region to invest in. We wanted to create something for the local people and build a legacy by utilising our GLOCAL (think global, act local) approach.

As the UAE continues to embrace digital transformation, driven by the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and the UAE Vision 2030, Yasmina’s role becomes even more significant. With its advanced features, the assistant aligns perfectly with these ambitious projects aiming to position the country as a leading global hub for AI technologies.

In conclusion, the adoption of Yasmina in the UAE will not only make everyday tasks more efficient, but it will also open up new opportunities for innovation and advancement in the digital world. As technology continues to evolve, Yasmina will remain a key player in the UAE’s ongoing digital transformation journey.