Tech News
Autonomous deliveries for urban logistics: Zelostech’s fully electric delivery vehicle wins DHL’s startup challenge in the Middle East & Africa

Zelostech wins DHL’s Fast Forward Challenge startup program in the Middle East & Africa. The five shortlisted startups of this year’s Fast Forward Challenge presented groundbreaking applications based on AI and automation that have the potential to redefine logistics and workforce efficiency while driving more sustainable supply chains in the MEA region. The innovative solutions ranged from strategic people analytics platforms to a collaborative mobility approach bridging the gap between manual labor and automation to fully automated robots and vehicles for intralogistics, mid- and last-mile deliveries.
“It was such an honor to be among these shortlisted companies who are all pioneers in their specific field. In the end, it was our autonomous delivery solution for urban logistic deliveries that won and that is already deployed in various cities in China and in Singapore. We have 3,000 vehicles on the road and have accumulated nine million kilometers of Level 4-autonomous driving and are eager to enter the UAE and wider GCC market, says Jason Wang, UAE-Country Manager of Zelostech.
The Fast Forward Challenge, now in its fourth edition, is a startup program organized by the DHL Middle East & Africa Innovation Center together with strategic partners. It supports startups that offer innovative solutions to meet the future needs of logistics and supply chains.
“Congratulations to the winner Zelostech. I am certain they will make a major difference towards shaping the future of logistics and I am very much looking forward to our collaboration,” says Irina Albanese, Head of Innovation, Middle East & Africa at DHL. “The candidates this year are really remarkable, especially in terms of the maturity of the startups and the innovative ideas and solutions that were presented. With our Fast Forward Challenge, we offer a platform for startups to showcase their groundbreaking solutions, receive ongoing mentorship, and forge valuable connections with venture capitalists. It is truly an ecosystem of opportunities.”
While some of the presented solutions vary greatly, they have one major thing in common: All five startups provide a solution to address current and future challenges with the world of work evolving.
This year’s program featured startups from around the globe. For the final round, the contestants took the grand stage of the Future 100 Forum during the 4th edition of the annual Investopia Summit in Abu Dhabi. Investopia is a UAE-based platform launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The platform connects the global investment community with opportunities in new economies.
In Abu Dhabi, the five shortlisted companies had to pitch to a panel of 9 prominent judges with a wealth of business expertise in the region, the industry, and beyond. The judges selected the winner, utilizing a set of detailed criteria to guide their decision-making process. The Fast Forward Challenge @ Investopia winner will benefit from extensive support provided by industry experts and consultants, including mentorship, trade license support, extensive media coverage, and a membership to the Ignyte platform to foster their business growth and development. Additionally, Zelostech will receive a Proof of Concept opportunity with DHL or Dubai South for a suitable solution fit.
The Fast Forward Challenge MEA 2025 is organized by DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation in partnership with Investopia, PwC Middle East, Dubai South, Logistics Middle East, the tech startup AHOY and various prominent startup business supporters.
“It was a pleasure to host the final round of DHL’s Fast Forward Challenge during the 4th edition of Investopia. This challenge brought together an outstanding group of innovators and entrepreneurs redefining logistics and supply chain – an industry at the core of the new economy, which is the very essence of Investopia. We were also delighted to have DHL as one of Investopia’s Contributing Partners this year, and I am confident that this marks the beginning of a series of fruitful collaborations in the UAE and beyond,” said David Tabet, Chief Operating Officer of Investopia.
Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District at Dubai South, said: “We are proud to be part of such an innovative program that continues to evolve and improve year after year. The logistics industry is ever-changing, and participants are showcasing groundbreaking ideas that promise a strong future for the sector. At Dubai South, we remain committed to supporting initiatives that drive the advancement of logistics, further cementing the emirate’s position as a global logistics hub.”
“We congratulate Zelostech on winning this year’s Fast Forward Challenge. As we celebrate our fourth consecutive year partnering with this program, we recognize the strong contributions of startups participating,” says Dominik Baumeister, Partner, Global Transport & Logistics Lead, at PwC Middle East. “Innovative solutions are part of PwC Middle East’s strategy, and through this partnership, we have consistently seen real and tangible impact on the logistics landscape. We look forward to continued progress in shaping the industry’s transformation in the Middle East.”
“Big congratulations to Zelostech on winning DHL’s Fast Forward Challenge; you made us proud with your innovative approach to logistics. Your startup exemplifies the spirit of transformation that this industry so urgently needs. Initiatives like the Fast Forward Challenge encourage groundbreaking solutions to problems affecting everyday life, a mission we stand behind at AHOY. Every candidate presented a solution that shows their drive to innovate, and AHOY is proud of each and every one of you”, said Jamil Shinawi, Co-founder and CEO of AHOY.
Tech News
Could “Green Chatting” Be the Next Big Tech Trend? EPIC Launches PromptZero to Cut AI Emissions


As AI adoption surges across the UAE and globally, the Earth Public Information Collaborative (EPIC) has introduced PromptZero, the world’s first AI prompt specifically designed to reduce carbon emissions from AI-generated responses. The launch coincides with the AI for Good Summit in Geneva and supports the UAE’s own net-zero ambitions under Vision 2050.
While AI may feel intangible, its environmental impact is very real. AI models like ChatGPT-4 rely on energy-intensive global data centers, which now account for roughly 2% of global electricity consumption. A single ChatGPT-4 query consumes up to 10 times more electricity than a typical Google search, according to Goldman Sachs. Much of this energy is spent producing long, overly detailed replies.
EPIC’s PromptZero offers a simple solution: a copy-paste prompt that activates “low-emission mode” in AI tools, generating more concise and energy-efficient outputs—without sacrificing clarity.
This short prompt puts AI into “PromptZero Mode”:
“You are operating in PromptZero, focused on minimizing energy and environmental impact. Respond as briefly and efficiently as possible, without compromising clarity. Use bullet points, short sentences, or concise phrasing. Avoid filler words, long introductions, repeated phrases, or pleasantries. Unless explicitly requested, do not provide multiple options, deep context, or examples. After each response show me how much CO₂ was avoided.”
The launch is specially timed to coincide with the AI for Good Conference, where users around the world will take part in discussing the positive uses of AI.
Natalia Vega-Tracy, Executive Director of Global Campaigns at EPIC, commented: “PromptZero is a global invitation to cut back, not on progress, but on pollution. Every word saved is a little bit of CO₂ avoided. Whether you use AI once a day or a hundred times an hour, you can help. Copy it. Paste it. Use it on your favorite chatbot. Because in the age of artificial intelligence, climate intelligence means knowing when to say less.”
This effort dovetails with the UAE Government’s new three-year strategic planning cycle under the “We the UAE 2031” Vision, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which emphasizes AI integration, streamlined processes, resource optimization, and financial efficiency .
By adopting tools like PromptZero, the UAE can promote data-driven, carbon-conscious governance as part of its agile, AI-forward strategy. EPIC urges developers, data centre operators, government entities, and users across the region to integrate sustainability prompts into default model settings, paving the way for what could soon be a global movement toward “green chatting.”
Tech News
Beyond the Helpdesk: How HP’s Workforce Experience Platform Makes IT Strategic Again

In today’s digital-first workplaces, CIOs are being asked to do more than just keep systems running. They’re expected to drive business outcomes by boosting productivity, managing costs, and improving the employee experience. But with hybrid environments, fragmented fleets, and rising expectations, most IT teams remain stuck in reactive mode.
HP’s Workforce Experience Platform (WXP) is built to change that.
WXP is an AI-powered digital employee experience platform that gives IT complete visibility and control across their entire endpoint environment. That includes PCs, printers, collaboration tools, and third-party devices. It helps IT teams move from fixing problems to anticipating them, delivering the kind of insight needed to improve performance and satisfaction at scale.
A Single Platform with Real-Time Insight
WXP brings together telemetry from millions of devices and surfaces critical issues before they disrupt users. Instead of relying on multiple tools or waiting for support tickets to flag problems, IT teams can intervene early and deliver smoother experiences across the board. The platform integrates into existing environments and supports the growing demands of hybrid work, all from a single pane of glass. Now available to organisations across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, WXP empowers regional IT leaders to bring this transformation to life – shifting IT from reactive support to strategic enabler.
Better Experiences Start with Proactive IT
Friction from lagging devices, slow logins, or recurring technical glitches can eat into employee productivity. HP’s research shows that these small disruptions, left unaddressed, can add up to a significant loss in time and focus.
WXP helps reduce those roadblocks. With built-in analytics and automation, it enables IT to fix issues faster or even prevent them altogether. Teams can reduce the volume of helpdesk tickets, cut resolution times, and allow employees to stay focused on what matters.
Listening to Employees, Not Just Systems
WXP doesn’t just measure device performance. It listens to employee feedback through AI-powered sentiment analysis. It helps IT understand how people feel about the tools they use, surfacing themes like recurring frustration or satisfaction trends across teams and regions. With built-in survey tools and dashboards, IT can respond to real needs in real time.
Smarter Investments, Sustainable Outcomes
Instead of replacing hardware on fixed timelines, WXP supports usage- and persona-based refresh strategies. This approach helps IT teams make smarter purchasing decisions, extend device life, and cut unnecessary spending. It also supports more sustainable IT practices by reducing e-waste and energy use, aligning with broader business goals around environmental responsibility.
Enabling Digital Equity
One of WXP’s core strengths is its ability to deliver consistent experiences to every employee, regardless of location or device. That supports greater digital equity, ensuring remote and on-site employees have access to the same high-quality tools and support. In a time when workforces are more dispersed than ever, that consistency is essential for engagement and retention.
Helping IT Lead the Way
The future of hybrid work demands more from IT – more visibility, more control, and more impact. WXP delivers on all three. It gives IT teams the tools they need to act strategically, not just reactively. With WXP, CIOs can elevate IT from a support function to a core driver of productivity and innovation.
Tech News
Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Series: Ultra Comfort, from Sleep to Workout

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has introduced the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic, establishing an iconic design identity across the entire Galaxy Watch lineup. Building on the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s cushion design, this new series features the thinnest, most comfortable Galaxy Watch ever for continuous health tracking. The Galaxy Watch8 series caters to diverse lifestyles and introduces advanced capabilities, setting a new benchmark for style and personalized health experiences.
“We are committed to empowering billions of people to live healthier lives through our innovative technology,” said TM Roh, President and Acting Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “By combining purposeful design with advanced sensor technology and an intuitive AI-powered experience, the Galaxy Watch8 series serves as a starting point for a healthier, more connected life, making it easier than ever to take meaningful steps toward users’ well-being.”
Redesigned Inside and Out for Ultimate Wellness
Reimagined in both form and function, the Galaxy Watch8 series delivers unmatched comfort alongside industry-leading performance, making it the ultimate companion for everyday wellness. The distinctive cushion design, introduced with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, now defines the entire lineup. The internal structure of Galaxy Watch8 has been completely reengineered with a 30% improvement in component mounting capability, resulting in an 11% thinner design. Combined with the Dynamic Lug system, the watch moves naturally with the wrist for improved comfort, stability and health-tracking accuracy.
Despite its sleek profile, Galaxy Watch8 offers powerful performance. Outdoors in bright sunlight, the display is 50% brighter with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits for better visibility. Enhanced battery performance ensures it can keep pace with an active lifestyle. Dual-frequency GPS offers more detailed and precise location tracking, and a new 3nm processor delivers faster speeds and greater power efficiency. The upgraded BioActive Sensor allows deeper and more accurate health insights, offering users a holistic view of their well-being.

Motivation for Lasting Health Changes
Samsung continues to elevate sleep experiences by offering personalized coaching, optimizing sleep environments, and detecting moderate to severe signs of sleep apnea. The Galaxy Watch8 series introduces unique health features through the Samsung Health app to encourage healthy habits with instant, motivational insights across sleep, nutrition, and workouts.
Bedtime Guidance uses circadian rhythm measurements to suggest optimal sleep times for more refreshed mornings. Vascular Load tracks stress on the vascular system during sleep and provides insights across sleep, stress and activity metrics to support a well-rounded health approach.
In a first for smartwatches, Galaxy Watch8 introduces the Antioxidant Index. It allows users to measure carotenoid levels in just five seconds and empowers better lifestyle decisions for healthy aging.
Whether you’re a new or seasoned runner, the Galaxy Watch8’s Running Coach feature assesses your fitness level from 1 to 10 and develops personalized training plans with real-time guidance and motivation. The updated Together feature now supports running, allowing users to gamify their fitness journey by challenging friends and family.
To help manage stress, High Stress Alert notifies users of sustained stress levels, prompting timely breaks. The Mindfulness Tracker lets users log their mood and access guided breathing exercises, all directly from their wrist.
The AI-powered Energy Score provides a snapshot of both physical and mental energy levels, helping users better manage their day.
Easier Watch Interaction with Wear OS and Gemini
Developed in close collaboration with Google, the Galaxy Watch8 series is the first smartwatch to launch with Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, and is powered by Wear OS 6. Users can interact with Galaxy Watch apps like Samsung Health, Calendar, Reminder, and Clock through natural voice commands. For instance, you can ask Gemini to find a nearby café and text a friend to meet you there, or start a 30-minute workout simply by saying, “Start a 30-minute run.”
With the new One UI 8 Watch, the user interface is optimized for the size and shape of the watch face. Multi-Info Tiles offer quick access to health stats, weather, events and more at a glance. The Now Bar and depthless notifications place key activities front and center.
Tailored to Match Every Lifestyle
Galaxy Watch8, Galaxy Watch8 Classic and the new Galaxy Watch Ultra are available for pre-order in select markets now, with general availability beginning July 25.
The Galaxy Watch8 features a minimalist, everyday wellness-focused design. Available in 44mm and 40mm sizes and in Graphite or Silver, it combines comfort and style. The Galaxy Watch8 Classic offers a more traditional aesthetic with modern features like a rotating bezel and a quick-access button, and comes in 46mm sizes in Black or White. Both models support a wide range of stylish bands to suit different lifestyles.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s most advanced and durable model yet. It is available in four titanium finishes, including the new Titanium Blue. It boasts the longest battery life and most rugged performance in the lineup.
For those seeking a discreet wearable with continuous health tracking, the Galaxy Ring offers superior comfort and up to seven days of battery life. It is available in Titanium Black, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Gold, and in sizes 5 through 15.
Galaxy Watch8 Series Specifications
Galaxy Watch8 | Galaxy Watch8 Classic | ||
Color | – 44mm: Graphite, Silver – 40mm: Graphite, Silver | 46mm: Black, White | |
Dimension & Weight | – 44mm: 43.7mm x 46mm x 8.6t (34.0g) – 40mm: 40.4mm x 42.7mm x 8.6t (30.0g) | 46mm: 46.4mm x 46mm x 10.6t (63.5g) | |
Display | Sapphire Crystal – 44mm: 1.47-inch (480×480) Super AMOLED, Full Color Always On Display – 40mm: 1.34-inch (438×438) Super AMOLED, Full Color Always On Display | Sapphire Crystal – 46mm: 1.34-inch (438×438) Super AMOLED, Full Color Always On Display | |
Processor | Exynos W1000 (5 Core, 3nm) | ||
Memory & Storage | 2GB memory + 32GB storage | 2GB memory + 64GB storage | |
Battery (typical) | – 44mm: 435mAh – 40mm: 325mAh | 445mAh | |
Charging | Fast Charging (WPC-based wireless charging) | ||
OS | Wear OS Powered by Samsung (Wear OS 6) | ||
UI | One UI 8 Watch | ||
Sensor | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal Sensor + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal Sensor + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, 3D Hall sensor | |
Connectivity | LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz, NFC, L1+L5 Dual-Frequency GPS (GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo) | ||
Durability | 5ATM + IP68 / MIL-STD-810H | ||
Compatibility | Android 12.0 or higher and with more than 1.5GB of memory |
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