Author: Art Ryan

OpenAI reportedly expects ChatGPT to have at least 220 million paid subscribers by 2030, up from 35 million today. The artificial intelligence (AI) startup also projects that the percentage of weekly users of the AI assistant who become paid subscribers will grow to 8.5% by 2030, up from 5% currently, Reuters reported Wednesday (Nov. 26), citing a paywalled article by The Information. OpenAI expects about 20% of its revenue to come from new products related to shopping and advertising, according to the report. For example, the personal shopping assistant for ChatGPT that was released this week could enable monetization through ads or commissions, the report said. It…

Two major artificial intelligence (AI) releases landed less than a week apart. Google introduced Gemini 3 on Nov. 18, presenting the model as a major step forward in multimodal reasoning and visual understanding. PYMNTS reported that the launch marked a deeper shift in Google’s approach to AI and reflected its push to regain leadership in the sector. Anthropic followed six days later with Claude Opus 4.5, saying the model outperformed every human candidate on its internal engineering assessment, a claim the company detailed in its official announcement. Both companies lowered the cost of running their newest models after redesigning their systems to operate more efficiently. Anthropic cut the price of Claude Opus…

Researchers at Imperial College London and Ant Group, part of the Chinese conglomerate Alibaba Group, introduced a new method for training groups of artificial intelligence (AI) agents to work together on complex tasks, presenting a framework that coordinates a main agent that plans steps and sub-agents that operate tools. The team detailed the approach, called M-GRPO, in a paper released this month and evaluated the system across three real-world benchmarks that measure multi-step reasoning and tool use. Single Agent Systems Face Coordination Limits Most current tools using AI systems rely on a single agent to handle planning, reasoning and tool execution. They…

Google’s release of its Agent Payments Protocol marks an incremental shift in how commerce will operate, and toward an automatic future when it comes to transactions. In its announcement of Agent Payments Protocol, Google outlines a framework in which artificial intelligence (AI) agents can initiate transactions on behalf of users. PYMNTS coverage in the wake of that September announcement explains the model as one that enables agents to compare products, act on delegated instructions and complete purchases without a human clicking to confirm. For banks and payments providers, this introduces a payer type the system never anticipated. The Way it Stands Now The payments ecosystem is…

PayPal and Perplexity introduced on Tuesday (Nov. 25) Instant Buy, which allows U.S. consumers to complete purchases directly in Perplexity’s AI chat, creating a single flow from product discovery to checkout. The companies said the feature streamlines online shopping by turning conversational queries into purchase-ready actions. Instant Buy uses PayPal’s identity, payments, and buyer protection systems while keeping the merchant of record with retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Fabletics, Ashley Furniture, and NewEgg. The companies said the setup preserves direct customer relationships while allowing merchants to participate in AI-driven commerce without building custom integrations. To mark the launch, PayPal is offering…

Dubai, UAE — A major inflection point in the UAE’s digital and sustainability journey was witnessed today at DATE MENA, where regional and global leaders gathered for one of the event’s most pivotal sessions: “The Digital Triad of UAE.” On stage, two of the country’s most influential strategic thinkers — H.E. Maher Al Kaabi of the Al Serkal Group and the UAE Circular Economy Council, and Eng. Ahmed Refaie, CEO of G.P.I. Investments — revealed a bold, integrated blueprint shaping the nation’s economic and technological direction for the next decade. In a session described by delegates as a “national vision…

Dubai, UAE — The region’s most influential technology and innovation summit has officially begun. The Digital Acceleration & Technology Expo Dubai 2025 (DATE Dubai 2025) opened its doors this morning at Madinat Jumeirah, gathering global leaders, top enterprises, government innovators, investors and tech pioneers for two days of high-impact dialogue and discovery. Running 26–27 November 2025, this year’s edition arrives at a decisive moment for regional and global markets, as organizations race to integrate artificial intelligence, strengthen digital resilience and build future-ready business models. The overarching theme, “Human Potential Meets Digital Possibilities,” underscores the powerful shift toward AI-augmented decision-making, digital-first…

Companies are replacing large language models (LLMs) with smaller, specialized micro agents that handle tasks faster and more accurately. The move comes after early use showed that focused agents outperformed general-purpose models on cost, reliability and speed. LLMs entered the market as all-purpose systems capable of answering open-ended questions, generating documents and assisting with research. Many companies initially attempted to build entire workflows around them. But over time, those attempts showed clear limitations. Broad models often required significant compute power, introduced latency during high-volume periods and produced uneven results when asked to perform industry-specific work. Micro agents have emerged as an…

The U.K. government last week announced a wide package of AI investments designed to place artificial intelligence at the center of its economic renewal strategy, committing billions of pounds for regional growth, research access and homegrown chip development. The plan, released by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, frames AI as a long-term engine for job creation and industrial capacity. The announcement establishes an advance market commitment of up to 100 million pounds, which allows the government to act as the first buyer for U.K. firms developing inference chips. Officials said the commitment helps domestic hardware start-ups reach commercial readiness in…

When a musician hits No. 1 on a Billboard chart, it’s an accomplishment. So, when Breaking Rust reached that milestone earlier this month, it should have been an exciting moment for the artist. But this “artist” is AI. Breaking Rust reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart with its debut track “Walk My Walk.” Reporting from outlets including, Time and USA Today, show that many listeners learned the song was created with artificial intelligence only after it drew media attention. The delayed recognition shaped reactions and raised questions about how synthetic performers should be disclosed. This confusion was not unique to…

For all the futuristic rhetoric surrounding healthcare innovation, the reality for most Americans remains largely analog. Appointment reminders still come by phone. Insurance authorizations require endless back-and-forth communication and many waiting rooms outside of large healthcare systems still hand patients a clipboard to update medical history using paper and pen. These sheets of paper can cascade into stress for staff, delays for clinicians, longer wait times for patients, and a sense, before the visit even begins, that the system is disorganized. “I had an MRI done recently, and the results were literally handed to me on a CD-rom,” said Aditya Bansod,…

Anthropic released its latest artificial intelligence (AI) model, Claude Opus 4.5, on Monday (Nov. 24), together with several other new products and features. Claude Opus 4.5 performs especially well when applied to coding, agents and computer use, the company said in a Monday press release. The new model is also “meaningfully better” than its predecessors in performing deep research and working with slides and spreadsheets, according to the release. “Opus 4.5 is a step forward in what AI systems can do, and a preview of larger changes to how work gets done,” Anthropic said in the release. The model is now available on the company’s…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now better at reading customers and assessing their needs than humans. A new analysis from MIT Sloan School of Management showed that large language models can identify customer needs with a level of accuracy that exceeds trained human analysts. The study showed that a fine-tuned model detected 100% of primary customer needs, while human analysts identified 87.5%. The researchers also found that non-expert employees matched expert-level performance when they used the same model, marking a significant shift in how companies can approach customer-needs analysis. The findings arrive as companies increase their use of AI systems to process customer feedback, summarize…

Alphabet’s stock rose to a record high and moved the company closer to a $4 trillion valuation on Monday (Nov. 24). The stock gained 5% and gave Alphabet a market capitalization of $3.82 trillion, Reuters reported Monday. If the company reaches a $4 trillion valuation, it will become the fourth company to do so, after Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple, according to the report. Microsoft’s value has dropped below that mark, per the report. Alphabet’s gains this year have been driven by it cloud business becoming a growth driver, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway becoming an investor, and Alphabet’s Gemini 3 artificial intelligence (AI) model earning strong early reviews, the report said. The company’s Google business is likely to continue performing well because of its strong…

Google Search was supposed to lose ground in the artificial intelligence (AI) era, but Alphabet’s third-quarter 2025 earnings tell a different story. Alphabet said Search-and-other advertising revenue rose about 15% to more than $56 billion in Q3, defying expectations that generative AI systems would erode its core business. Instead of being replaced by large language model (LLM) chat interfaces and AI browsers, Search stayed robust by embedding its Gemini model in the results page, improving ad performance via AI models, and holding onto the commercial intent that chatbots still struggle to replicate. Google Embedded AI, Preserving Search Behavior The prevailing assumption in…

Dubai, UAE — The wait is over. Tomorrow, the Middle East’s most anticipated digital innovation summit — the Digital Acceleration & Technology Expo (DATE) Dubai 2025 — officially begins at Madinat Jumeirah, bringing together global leaders, innovators, investors, and decision-makers shaping the next era of AI-powered transformation. Taking place on 26–27 November 2025, DATE Dubai 2025 arrives at a critical moment as organizations across the region accelerate their adoption of AI, cloud modernization, cybersecurity, enterprise automation, customer experience transformation, and emerging digital ecosystems. This year’s theme, “Human Potential Meets Digital Possibilities,” reflects the powerful intersection between people, technology, and future-ready…

The Global AI Show 2026 in Riyadh brings an engaging experience for anyone interested in the future of artificial intelligence. Organized by VAP Group and Powered by the Times of AI, the Global AI Show (GAIS) is planned with a vision to explore AI’s potential across multiple sectors, from business solutions to user-centric applications. GAIS brings to fore the transformation of different human spheres led by AI. Attendees will be a part of deep discussions on AI strategy, machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics. Participants will also engage directly with AI tools and platforms, which will help them…

Riyadh is set to become the global stage for modern artificial intelligence with the upcoming Global AI Show (GAIS), beginning from 09-10 February 2026. Organized by VAP Group and powered by the Times of AI, the event offers the latest breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and automation, and provides a platform for companies and thought leaders to exchange ideas and lead the industry forward.Our past speakers have represented a remarkable mix of global leaders, visionaries, and innovators across technology, governance, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Honourable Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta, Canada, has shared his insights alongside…

The Global AI Show 2025 Abu Dhabi, a premier platform driving the future of artificial intelligence, proudly announces its visionary partners and world-class speaker lineup for its upcoming edition themed “AI:2031 – Accelerating Intelligent Futures.” Organized by VAP Group in association with Times of AI, the event will gather global technology leaders, pioneering researchers, influential policymakers, and innovative enterprises in Abu Dhabi — a thriving hub for digital transformation and smart innovation. We are pleased to have the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau supporting our mission, along with the National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security Council, as…

Following the resounding success of past two editions, VAP Group in association with and Times of AI and supported by Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau is set to host an exclusive event on 8-9th December, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, that will bring together AI futurists across the globe with 5,000+ attendees, 200+ speakers, 150+ sponsors and exhibitors 150+ media professionals all under one roof to explore the latest AI innovations, trends and investment opportunities. We are also proud to announce the support of the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau for the upcoming Global AI Show, further strengthening our…