A new AI-powered virtual assistant is set to help car buyers research, select and purchase cars through dealer websites at any time of the day. The Seezar virtual assistant is specifically designed for the automotive retail sector and will help dealers complete full digital sales outside of working hours. It will also give them the opportunity to pass over to a human salesperson if necessary, for a complete omnichannel experience. Currently being piloted in the UK by leading automotive omnichannel retailing services provider, ATG, the virtual assistant has been designed by specialist software-as-a-service (SaaS) developer, Seez, to engage customers with a natural conversational interface on a dealer’s website, effectively serving as a 24/7 sales assistant for dealer staff. A recent survey carried out by Seez found that 73% of visits to dealer websites occur outside of typical opening hours, specifically after 5pm on weekdays and on weekends. Where conventional chatbots have simple responses and basic data capture, Seezar uses a powerful, data-rich AI engine that is integrated with specific resources on the internet and multiple dealership sales ecosystems. This means it can provide unparalleled customer service, deliver sophisticated responses to complex questions, and will be able to complete an entire vehicle sale digitally. Seez research also reveals that customers typically visit 12 separate websites and reference sources through their car buying journey, from car review sites, to their bank for loan rates, and insurance comparison sites. With proprietary built-in technology, Seezar streamlines the car buying journey by removing the need to go to these external information sources. Harnessing real-time access to specific resources on the internet and the dealership ecosystem, Seezar can support customers throughout their car buying journey, presenting reviews from car magazines and social media to help provide personalised vehicle comparisons and recommendations from a dealers’ current stock. Seezar’s own AI algorithm has been intelligently programmed specifically for the automotive retail industry. When asked for the best deal, it did not just provide customers with the cheapest option but considered additional factors such as vehicle age, suitability and mileage. Customers don’t need to know exactly what they are looking for and can instead ask for vehicle recommendations based on their needs, such as a family sized vehicle able to cope with harsh winter conditions. Salespeople and customers alike can use Seezar to search dealer inventory and compare with alternative suggestions to ensure the right fit. Tarek Kabrit, founder and CEO at Seez, said: “Seezar isn’t just about improving chatbots; it’s a game changer because it’s transforming the entire shopping experience into something personalized and efficient. The days of tirelessly navigating between multiple websites for information are almost over. With Seezar, you get information that is customized and personal, making it an efficient experience. It’s the future of shopping, tailored to you, not just for cars, but across lines of business. “AI is a power tool for the automotive industry. Seezar will not replace salespeople but it will free up more of their time to do what they do best, building relationships with customers,” a spokesperson said. Seez has been launching powerful digital retail solutions for car dealers, importers and manufacturers’ sales operations since 2015. Having already secured customers for its suite of AI-driven products in Denmark, Italy, and across the Middle East, Seez will follow its focus on the UK with product introductions across other European markets.

The education, aviation, and healthcare sectors within the GCC including the UAE have been the prime targets for cyber threat actors. These findings were revealed at the Help AG’s participation during the ongoing 2024 Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference (GISEC). As per their data, 36 percent of cyberattacks targeted the education sector, 29 percent affected aviation and 15 percent targeted healthcare. Help AG, CEO, Stephan Berner said: “These sectors combined represented 80 percent of targeted organisations in the GCC. Of nearly 30,000 critical risk alerts identified by us, the dominant threat categories were found to be Credential Theft which stands at 49 per cent and 39 per cent of Brand Abuse, while Data Leakage and Phishing represented 10 per cent and 1.5 per cent of use cases respectively.” He added: “Government entities encountered eight percent of the attacks, Investment sectors faced seven percent, and Banking and Finance sectors experienced four percent, as digital transactions in these sectors continued to rise.” Therefore, experts emphasised the critical need for advanced cybersecurity measures in response to the increasing complexity and sophistication of cyber threats. The escalation of this trend is compounded by the financial consequences of data breaches. In the Middle East, including the UAE, data breach costs rank second globally, highlighting the economic objectives of cyber threat actors amid the region’s prosperity. Pandemic triggered an increase in cybercrime Moreover, the increasing occurrence of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks underscores the geopolitical complexities of cyber threats, underscoring the need for a comprehensive and strategic defense strategy to safeguard the nation. Amer Sharaf, CEO of Cyber Security Systems and Services Sector, Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) UAE, said: “We have seen an increase in cybercrime specifically around the pandemic time. Due to the digital transformation happening globally, these numbers have continuously increased. The global cybersecurity market size was valued at approximately $183 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $273.6 billion by 2028 an annual growth rate of 10.56 per cent.” He added “It’s an important area where we have to jointly put our efforts to withstand and put the right policies in place to protect our nation. Phishing emails also pose a massive challenge but the private and the public sector both created a lot of awareness around it and the types of email that can help one differentiate.” However, it’s worth noting that investments in the UAE including the private players have also spanned preventative, detective, responsive, and predictive controls. For example, at the conference Huawei Cloud is showcasing its industry-leading intelligent and simplified cloud native security solutions to protect entities across the Middle East and Central Asia against sophisticated cyberattacks. Huawei Cloud can apparently defend against massive attacks with ease, with over 70 per cent of security incidents cleared in one minute and over 99 per cent of incidents cleared in five minutes. Huawei Cloud’s Chief Security Expert of Enterprise Digitalization and Cloud Transformation, Eagle said: “The company’s cloud-native security system is rooted in a cloud platform that integrates assets, security, and security operations together, making it the optimal solution for the digital intelligent world.”

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Inflation in Pakistan has dropped to single digits for the first time in three years, recording a year-on-year rate of 9.6% in August 2024. This is a significant improvement from the 11.1% rate seen in July 2024, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The last time inflation was this low was in October 2021, when it stood at 9.2%.

On a month-to-month basis, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.4% in August 2024, which is a slower rise compared to the 2.1% increase in July 2024 and the 1.7% rise in August 2023.

This latest reading aligns with the official forecasts, as the Ministry of Finance had projected that inflation in August would range between 9.5% and 10.5% in its monthly economic outlook. The ministry also expects inflation to decline further, predicting it will drop to 9-10% in September 2024. The Ministry of Finance’s report stated, “Given the stability in economic indicators, inflation is anticipated to stay within the 9.5-10.5% range in August and further decline in September.”

This decrease in inflation comes after the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reduced its key policy rate by 100 basis points in its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in July, bringing the policy rate to 19.5%. The SBP had cited potential risks to the inflation outlook, including fiscal challenges and energy price adjustments, but felt confident enough in the overall economic environment to reduce rates.

In recent years, inflation has posed a major economic challenge for Pakistan. In May 2023, the inflation rate hit a record high of 38%. However, since then, it has been steadily declining, providing some relief to consumers and businesses alike.

The August inflation rate is also consistent with predictions made by various financial analysts and brokerage firms. JS Global had anticipated the inflation rate to reach 9.3%, marking the return to single digits after three years. They noted that the reduced inflation strengthens the case for further interest rate cuts by the MPC in their September meeting, possibly by another 150 basis points, which would bring the policy rate down to 18%.

Similarly, Arif Habib Limited (AHL) also predicted that the easing cycle of interest rates that started in June 2024 would continue. AHL had projected that the August inflation rate would land around 9.6%. Looking ahead, they foresee the policy rate dropping to between 14% and 14.5% by June 2025, with the possibility of a 100 basis point cut in September 2024.

Urban and Rural Inflation Breakdown

The PBS data further highlights the inflation divide between urban and rural areas. In urban areas, CPI inflation was recorded at 11.7% year-on-year in August 2024, down from 13.2% in July 2024 and 25.0% in August 2023. On a month-to-month basis, urban inflation saw a smaller increase of 0.3% in August 2024, compared to 2.0% in July 2024 and 1.6% in August 2023.

Rural inflation, on the other hand, was lower, coming in at 6.7% year-on-year in August 2024, compared to 8.1% in July 2024 and 30.9% in August 2023. On a month-to-month basis, rural CPI inflation increased by 0.6% in August 2024, down from the 2.2% increase seen in July 2024 and 1.9% in August 2023.

What Does This Mean for Pakistan?

The drop in inflation to single digits is a positive sign for Pakistan's economy, especially after years of double-digit inflation that strained households and businesses. The lower inflation rate could help stabilize consumer prices, making goods and services more affordable for the public. Furthermore, this decline gives the State Bank of Pakistan more room to continue lowering interest rates, which could further stimulate economic activity by reducing borrowing costs for businesses and consumers.

However, it’s important to note that inflation remains higher in urban areas compared to rural regions, reflecting differences in price pressures across the country. This urban-rural inflation gap will need to be monitored, as it may affect the economic well-being of different communities in Pakistan.

Additionally, while inflation has come down, potential risks remain. Factors such as fiscal slippages, energy price adjustments, and global economic conditions could influence future inflation trends. Policymakers will need to stay vigilant to ensure that inflation remains on a downward path and doesn’t rise again.

Conclusion

Pakistan's inflation rate has dropped to 9.6% in August 2024, marking the first time in three years that the rate has returned to single digits. This decrease provides some much-needed relief for consumers and signals a positive development in the country's economic recovery. With the potential for further interest rate cuts in the coming months, the inflation outlook for Pakistan appears optimistic, though risks remain. For now, the decline in inflation is a step in the right direction, offering hope for continued economic stability in the future.

The crypto community surrounding the Dogs Coin is abuzz with excitement following the announcement of a potential listing for its $DOGS token on August 20 across 15 major cryptocurrency exchanges, including Budget, OKX, and Bybit. Alongside this listing, a massive airdrop of 400 billion DOG tokens is also scheduled for the same date. This news has sparked considerable interest among $DOGS token enthusiasts in Nigeria, who are eager to know the possible price range and exchange rate of the token in Naira and USD.

This development marks a significant milestone for the $DOGS token, enhancing its visibility in the rapidly growing meme coin market and enabling it to reach a broader audience. The token's inclusion in the ‘Innovation and MEME Zone’ further underscores its potential as a standout and promising project within the cryptocurrency space.

Nigeria is one of the leading countries in which excitement and anticipation for this token are particularly high. Nigerian crypto enthusiasts have shown considerable interest in Telegram-based tap-to-earn projects due to the lucrative opportunities they present. Platforms like Blum, Hamster Kombat, Notcoin, and TapSwap have seen Nigerians actively participating, tapping their screens for the chance to earn dollars or Naira.

Tokenomics of $DOGS

The tokenomics of $DOGS reveal that over 42.2 million users are eligible to claim the airdrop, with an average of 9,500 DOGS per claim. The details provided on Telegram are as follows:

• Total supply of tokens: 550 billion
• 81.5% allocated to the community, with 73% going to Telegram OGs
• 10% reserved for the team and upcoming projects
• 8.5% set aside for listing and liquidity operations

Additionally, $DOGS is set to introduce tradable and mintable on-chain stickers in the coming weeks. Tokens can be claimed to a non-custodial wallet starting on August 20. However, users will need Toncoin to cover the gas fees associated with blockchain transactions. Before claiming their $DOGS tokens, users should ensure they have enough Toncoin in their wallets, which can be purchased using Stars or through exchanges.

What Could Be the Speculative Price of $DOGS at Launch?

As $DOGS gains traction with the news of its potential airdrop and listing, analysts have speculated that the launch price could be around $0.00055. This initial price point reflects the anticipated accessibility for early adopters and the token's perceived potential.

In the early days following the listing, $DOGS may experience significant volatility. If all goes well, the token's popularity could drive its price up to $0.00825 per unit, representing a 15-fold increase from the initial offering.

However, if there is a price correction after an initial surge, the token's value could drop to around $0.0004125, a typical movement in volatile crypto markets. This decrease represents about a 25% drop from the initial price, which is not uncommon in cryptocurrency trading.

If $DOGS undergoes such a correction, market observers speculate that it could stabilize around $0.0020625. This price would still represent a considerable gain from the launch price and might attract investors who initially missed out on the early excitement.

$DOGS Airdrop Price: Comparing Naira to USD

Many Nigerians interested in the $DOGS launch are keen to know the equivalent value of the token in USD and Naira. With a possible starting price of $0.00055, at the current exchange rate of 1600 Naira to $1, each $DOGS token could be worth 0.088 Naira. If the token's value climbs to $0.00825, Nigerians could potentially earn ₦13.2 per dollar.

Conclusion

The upcoming launch of $DOGS signifies an exciting new chapter for meme coins, particularly for Nigerian crypto enthusiasts. The speculative price indicates a significant financial opportunity, especially if $DOGS experiences an uptrend in the weeks following its listing.

However, caution is advised when dealing with cryptocurrency investments. The success of the $DOGS token will largely depend on sustained community engagement, market dynamics, and the project's ability to deliver on its promises.