Mastercard is partnering with Interchecks to grow account-to-account payments. The move targets subscription businesses, banks, and fintechs, aiming to reduce payment failures and attract younger consumers.
A study from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance suggests Amazon’s algorithmic pricing is costing public schools and local governments. The report highlights wild price swings and a lack of transparency, arguing the system funnels money away from local businesses.
A new analysis from research firm Eilers & Krejcik forecasts that prediction markets could reach a trillion dollars in annual trading volume by the end of this decade. Sports are expected to drive nearly half of that activity, putting traditional sportsbooks on high alert as platforms like Polymarke
OpenAI is expanding its Instant Checkout feature, allowing purchases inside ChatGPT apps. Powered by a new protocol built with Stripe, it could turn AI chats into a major commerce platform.
JPMorgan Chase has achieved what most companies dream of: 60% of its employees now voluntarily use its internal AI tools. The key wasn’t forcing it, but building a platform that connects deeply to all the company’s critical data and systems.
The latest jobs data shows a split market. While the overall US economy added 64,000 positions in November, tech hiring in key sectors continued to soften, contributing to a slight rise in the unemployment rate to 4.6%.
New reader polls are showing a worrying lack of enthusiasm for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26. This flat reaction, before the phone is even announced, signals deeper issues for Samsung’s flagship strategy.
A major US-UK tech partnership is in limbo. The Trump administration has reportedly suspended the “Tech Prosperity Deal” over regulatory disputes, hitting pause on joint AI and quantum computing efforts backed by giants like Microsoft and Nvidia.
The European Commission is proposing a major expansion of its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. The levy will now target downstream products like machinery and car parts, and get tougher on companies suspected of under-reporting emissions.
Southeast Asia’s complex geography is shaping a massive digital infrastructure build-out. Countries are competing to become regional hubs, with AI workloads and sustainability becoming key battlegrounds.
