Thanks in large part to Amazon‘s global reach, the world is getting more connected and seemingly smaller with Souq, an online retail and marketplace website in Saudi Arabia, which announced the launch of the Amazon Global Store.
In a press release, Souq said the store offers customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) the ability to shop from more than 1 million products on Amazon in the U.S. Customers will be able to shop a wide selection of products, including apparel, handbags, shoes, watches, home goods and other popular brands. The dedicated Amazon Global Store will be available both on the Souq website and via the mobile app.
“We are excited about making over 1 million popular products from Amazon available on Souq.com to customers. This brings global selection closer to our customers in the region, and we will continue to grow this further,” said Saleem Hammad, general manager of KSA at Souq, in the press release. “We share the same vision as Amazon and focus on providing our customers with best-in-class selection, great prices and a convenient shopping experience.”
With the Amazon Global Store, customers will be able to shop in Arabic or English and pay in SAR using a local credit card or cash on delivery. The prices will be in SAR and will include import fee deposits, which means they won’t be hit with unexpected fees later. The company is offering two to five business-day delivery and standard six to 10 business days. Customers will also be able to talk with Souq’s customer service team in English or Arabic.
Samir Kumar, Amazon’s vice president of international retail, said in the same press release, “When we acquired Souq.com, our goal was to provide the best possible service for millions of customers in the Middle East by supporting them with Amazon technology and global resources. Amazon Global Store is the first step of many in doing so, and represents Amazon’s confidence in the region and that our continued investment will provide customers with more of what they want — the largest selection combined with a reliable shopping experience that includes unique products and international brands from the U.S. and beyond.”
As the calendar flips to March, college basketball fans are gearing up for another exhilarating NCAA tournament.
In the future, artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology could change March Madness as we know it. Let’s break down how the digital revolution could transform the Big Dance.
AI is already being used to predict brackets. Gone are the days of agonizing over your picks based on team mascots or your alma mater’s colors. In 2025, AI-powered bracketology is the name of the game. Fans can use algorithms that crunch data points, from player statistics to historical upset probabilities, all at the click of a button.
But beware, bracket enthusiasts. While these AI tools promise to boost your chances of winning the office pool, they can’t account for the quintessential March Madness chaos. You know, the instance where AI can predict everything except the inevitable Cinderella story that ruins everyone’s bracket by the second round.
In a move that would be sure to ruffle some feathers, AI-generated commentary could be used for games. Digital play-by-play announcers would never need a bathroom break and potentially be able to recall obscure statistics from the 1957 tournament in an instant.
Can’t make it to the Final Four? Ten years from now, games might happen in a digital stadium, Forbes reported. With virtual reality (VR) technology, fans could experience the thrill of courtside seats from the comfort of their living rooms.
“AI-generated athletes, inspired by the procedural generation techniques of video game developers … could perform in virtual arenas, exhibiting strategies and plays conceived by advanced predictive algorithms,” Forbes reported.
Just be careful not to get too caught up in the moment with streaming. Wouldn’t want to have reports of fans attempting to rush the virtual court after buzzer-beaters have led to an uptick in living room injuries — especially when that flat screen falls over.
While human coaches still call the shots, AI assistants could one day be indispensable members of the coaching staff. In the next five years, these digital strategists could analyze opponent tendencies and more.
“Building on existing technologies … AI will provide coaches and players with intricate, multi-dimensional data patterns that dramatically enhance both offensive and defensive strategies,” Forbes reported. “These advanced algorithms will analyze vast datasets from numerous games to uncover hidden trends, strategic insights, and predictive cues about opponents’ potential moves.”
Say goodbye to controversial calls. Advanced computer vision systems could assist referees in making split-second decisions, from determining if a player’s toe was on the line for a three-pointer to detecting the slightest touch on a blocked shot.
The Hawk-Eye system is already used in tennis and cricket to help determine fouls, Viso.AI reported.
“This system uses a network of cameras to track the ball and then compares the trajectory of the ball to a virtual model of the playing surface,” the report said. “This system is accurate within a few millimeters, which is much more accurate than the human eye.”
As we dive into March Madness 2025, it’s clear that technology will change the way we experience the tournament. From AI-powered brackets to virtual reality arenas, the digital revolution is coming for basketball. But at its core, the magic of March Madness remains the thrill of competition, the joy of unexpected victories, and the heartbreak of last-second defeats.
So, whether you’re relying on an AI to pick your bracket this year, or screaming at a holographic referee in the future, remember to enjoy the ride. In the unpredictable world of college basketball, sometimes the best strategy is to embrace the madness — digital or otherwise.
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