In a move that signals a new chapter for Ethiopia’s digital economy, M-PESA Ethiopia and Gebeya Inc. have unveiled the Dala AI Bundle, a subscription-based service that enables users to access and pay for advanced AI creation tools directly through their M-PESA wallets.
The initiative eliminates one of the biggest barriers to digital tool adoption in emerging markets — credit card requirements. By allowing payments through mobile money, the companies are opening access to artificial intelligence tools for millions of Ethiopians who were previously excluded from global AI platforms.
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The partnership marks what the companies describe as the first time an African mobile money operator has bundled AI-powered creation tools as a mainstream consumer product. By integrating AI services into one of the country’s fastest-growing mobile financial platforms, the collaboration extends advanced digital capabilities to anyone with a mobile phone, from students in Addis Ababa to merchants in regional towns.
AI Tools in Local Languages
The Dala AI Bundle is powered by Dala Studio, Gebeya’s AI platform, and provides users with tools for:
- App development
- AI agent creation
- Game building
- Comic and creative content generation
Notably, the tools support content creation in local languages, including Amharic and Afaan Oromo, making the technology accessible and culturally relevant.
Amadou Daffe, CEO of Gebeya Inc., framed the initiative as a step toward digital sovereignty.
“We’re not just adding another product, we’re handing the keys of building and creation to every Ethiopian with a mobile phone,” Daffe said. “A student in Addis, a merchant in Bahir Dar, a storyteller in Hawassa — all can now create digital assets in their own language. This is how Africa’s AI future gets built: by Africans, for Africans.”
Strategic Shift for M-PESA
For M-PESA Ethiopia, the launch represents a strategic expansion beyond payments into broader digital services. Elsa Muzzolini, CEO of M-PESA Ethiopia, emphasized that the company is leveraging the trust and reach of its platform to introduce more sophisticated digital tools to the mass market.
The offering builds on an existing collaboration between the two companies through the Safaricom Talent Cloud, which has trained thousands of Ethiopian developers. However, the Dala AI Bundle shifts the focus from professional capacity building to direct consumer access, positioning AI tools as everyday utilities rather than niche professional products.
Expanding Ethiopia’s Digital Frontier
As Ethiopia accelerates its digital transformation agenda, the integration of AI tools into widely used financial infrastructure could significantly lower entry barriers for innovation and entrepreneurship. By embedding creation tools within mobile money ecosystems, the partnership aims to move AI adoption from urban tech circles to the broader population.
With mobile penetration rising and digital payments expanding rapidly, the Dala AI Bundle could mark a turning point, transforming mobile wallets from payment instruments into gateways for participation in the global AI economy.
