In a move signalling the deepening convergence of financial technology and artificial intelligence on the continent, M-PESA Ethiopia and Gebeya Inc. have launched the Dala AI Bundle, a subscription-based package designed to give Ethiopians access to advanced AI creation tools with payments processed directly through mobile wallets.
The initiative marks a first-of-its-kind rollout in Africa’s fintech space, positioning a mobile money operator as a distributor of mainstream AI tools and enabling subscribers to pay for high-level digital creation capabilities through their existing mobile payment accounts. The offering is structured to sit alongside other digital services, expanding access to artificial intelligence for mobile phone users nationwide.
Through the package, users can subscribe to locally adapted AI tools for application development, AI agent design, game creation, comic production and multilingual content generation supporting Amharic, Oromo and other indigenous languages. Payments are integrated into the platform’s billing architecture, eliminating conventional transaction barriers that often limit digital adoption.
Chief Executive Officer of Gebeya, Amadou Daffe, said the rollout represents a shift from passive technology consumption to active digital creation. He noted that students, traders and storytellers across cities such as Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar and Hawassa can now build digital products in local languages using tools accessible through devices they already own.
The launch builds on the company’s earlier collaboration within Ethiopia through developer training initiatives that have produced thousands of software talents. With the new bundle, the focus shifts from training to large-scale consumer access, effectively extending AI capabilities from specialist circles to everyday users.
Chief Executive Officer of M-PESA Ethiopia, Elsa Muzzolini, described the partnership as part of a broader evolution of mobile money platforms from payment channels into gateways for digital services. She said the integration allows millions to use trusted financial tools to unlock innovation, entrepreneurship and digital participation.
Industry observers say the partnership strengthens M-PESA’s strategic position beyond remittances and transfers, opening pathways into Ethiopia’s expanding creator and developer economy. Analysts also note that for Gebeya, the alliance validates its AI distribution model at scale by leveraging an established payment ecosystem with nationwide reach.
Stakeholders view the rollout as a significant milestone in widening access to emerging technologies, with proponents arguing that simplified payment integration could accelerate adoption rates and support the country’s wider digital transformation agenda.
