Author: Art Ryan

The Prompt Economy™ was generous this week. Instead of the recent deluge of instructions and advice for developers, we saw some more practical applications for digital media and retail as agentic artificial intelligence (AI) continues to become a real factor for the end of the year. One of the more interesting use cases came in the area of SEO and digital media. Search is moving from a keyword-driven exercise to an intent-driven conversation between users and intelligent systems. As Search Engine Journal explains, agentic AI doesn’t just respond to queries. It acts on goals, retrieves and tests information, and guides users toward outcomes it deems most relevant. That means visibility is…

The uncertainty surrounding the shutdown has left millions of Americans unsure how they’ll restock their pantries. Food insecurity spikes when government benefits stall, and for millions of households, SNAP dollars are the difference between an empty fridge and a family meal. That’s the gap Gopuff CEO Yakir Gola says his company is stepping in to fill. Building on a Foundation of Service “It’s in our culture to step up for the community and be there in times of need,” Gola told PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster in a recent interview. “When we heard about the government shutdown and the delay in SNAP funding, we called a meeting…

OpenAI’s CEO wants the U.S. to expand eligibility for a tech-focused tax credit. In a post on the social media platform X, Sam Altman pushed the federal government to expand eligibility for a Chip Act tax credit. “We think U.S. re-industrialization across the entire stack — fabs, turbines, transformers, steel, and much more — will help everyone in our industry, and other industries (including us),” wrote Altman, whose comments were flagged in a report by Reuters. However, Altman added, the tax credit is “super different than loan guarantees to OpenAI.” Reuters noted that Altman’s comment follows OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane’s letter to the White House…

Meta will invest $600 billion in the United States by 2028 to build artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. “As the importance of AI grows, so will the importance of data centers,” the company said in a Friday (Nov. 7) press release. “We’ll continue to build and scale infrastructure for the future of AI while supporting the communities that host us.” Meta told investors during an Oct. 29 earnings call that it would be stepping up its infrastructure spending as it races to build what CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls “personal superintelligence.” Chief Financial Officer Susan Li said the company expects capital-expenditure dollar growth to be “notably larger in 2026 than 2025” and…

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – November 10, 2025 — The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) convened an extraordinary Thematic Session at the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh, under the theme “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Shaping Global Tourism.” Hosted in the Prince Sultan Grand Hall at the Mandarin Oriental, this session brought together ministers, industry leaders, and global innovators to explore how AI and cutting-edge technologies are transforming the travel sector into a more intelligent, inclusive, and sustainable ecosystem. Opening Remarks: A Vision for the Future of Tourism The event commenced with Natalia Bayona,…

SHANGHAI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) — Dutch health technology giant Philips is expanding its investment in AI-powered healthcare in China, unveiling its latest health solutions at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai to tap into the country’s rapidly evolving digital health landscape. “AI is becoming a key force in addressing the common challenges of the medical system, and we have seen strong innovation momentum in China,” Liu Ling, chief region leader of Philips Greater China, told Xinhua in an interview. An eight-year participant of the CIIE, Philips is presenting about 50 innovations this year, covering precision diagnosis, intelligent…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping how the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry operates. After years of testing automation and data analytics, leading chains are now using AI to forecast demand, manage labor and streamline kitchen operations. The shift marks a broader redefinition of “fast food” from speed of service to precision of prediction. This is different from the first wave of AI use in QSRs, which saw brands like Taco Bell get mixed results when they added AI to drive-thru ordering. McDonald’s Refines Its AI Strategy McDonald’s is deploying AI and edge-computing systems across its global network of roughly 43,000 restaurants to improve operational reliability…

Lloyds Banking Group plans to add an artificial intelligence (AI) powered financial assistant to its mobile app in early 2026. The assistant will initially help customers manage their spending, savings and investments, and it will later be expanded to work across all financial products, the bank said in a Thursday (Nov. 6) press release. “By harnessing cutting-edge artificial intelligence, the new AI financial assistant will provide 24/7 personalized financial coaching and work as a financial companion, capable of answering questions and providing guidance, alongside the ability to easily refer to expert human support when needed,” the release said. While many adults have…

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is redefining the global tourism landscape through a powerful fusion of artificial intelligence (AI), digital innovation, and sustainability. As the host of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, Riyadh has emerged as a global epicenter for smart tourism—where cutting-edge technology meets visionary leadership to create a model for the future of travel. A Global Blueprint for AI-Powered Tourism At the heart of Riyadh’s tourism transformation is an ambitious strategy to integrate AI, data analytics, and automation across every stage of the visitor experience. These innovations are enabling smarter travel ecosystems, seamless…

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — A new era of collaboration and innovation in global tourism leadership has begun as Patrick Torrent, Executive Director of NECSTouR (Network of European Regions for Sustainable and Competitive Tourism), has been elected President of the UN Tourism Affiliate Members Board during the 45th Plenary Session held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This milestone election took place alongside the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — marking a historic gathering celebrating 50 years of international tourism cooperation and innovation. Global Leadership for a Transformative Era Torrent’s appointment symbolizes a renewed focus on…

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – November 7, 2025 — The 26th UN Tourism General Assembly officially opened today in Riyadh, marking a defining moment for the global tourism community. This year’s gathering, held under the theme “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future,” celebrates 50 years of international cooperation while charting a bold new path driven by innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation. A Historic Milestone for Global Tourism For the first time in the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia hosts the world’s largest tourism assembly, welcoming delegates from over 160 countries, including ministers, industry leaders, and innovators. The five-day event brings together policymakers and…

In a landmark move spotlighting the intersection of travel, technology, and sustainable growth, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) has unveiled its Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge, poised to reshape the future of tourism through deep-tech innovation. Launched in late 2024, the challenge seeks to bring start-ups and scale-ups into the heart of tourism transformation, offering AI-driven solutions that span everything from destination branding to operational efficiency and education. An Era of Tech-Infused Travel As international travel surges past pre-pandemic levels, the tourism industry faces a new frontier: how to blend human curiosity and cultural connection with digital intelligence.…

Tourism is entering a new era—one defined not only by destinations but by data, intelligence, and human connection enhanced through technology. This transformation takes the global spotlight in Riyadh, as the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly (UNTGA 2025) convenes under the forward-looking theme, “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future.” Hosted in collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism and the Saudi Tourism Authority, the assembly will welcome ministers, innovators, and leaders from more than 160 nations between 7–11 November 2025, marking the largest gathering in the organization’s 50-year history. AI and the Future of Global Tourism Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how the…

While stock markets fret over artificial intelligence (AI) valuations, finance teams are increasingly focused on its deployment. The evolution of AI in payments started across existing use cases, with models embedded in fraud detection, invoice matching and risk scoring. At first, these tools sat within well-understood parameters: “assistive” solutions designed to help human analysts find anomalies in sprawling datasets. But real gains are beginning to materialize as AI crosses over into proactive, and predictive, territory. Seen through the chief financial officer (CFO) lens, AI’s capacity to improve financial outcomes falls into three broad categories: operational, strategic and relational. Operational return on investment (ROI) comes…

BILL’s new artificial intelligence agents are already delivering quantifiable results for small and medium-sized businesses, executives said Thursday (Nov. 6) during an earnings call. The intelligent finance platform debuted its first AI agents on Oct. 28, saying they will autonomously collect and validate W-9s, reconcile receipts, accelerate user onboarding and carry out routine tasks for small businesses that are currently saddled with manual workflows. These agents “deliver automation capabilities that are transforming financial workflows from manual to touchless,” BILL CEO and founder René Lacerte said Thursday during the earnings call. Lacerte said BILL’s new agents are trained on the company’s dataset that includes over $1 trillion in…

CarGurus is looking to double its total addressable market by adding artificial intelligence-powered products that go beyond its existing automotive shopping site. The company’s growing range of AI-powered solutions for car dealers will expand its addressable market to include not only the $3.5 billion that U.S. dealers spend on marketplaces but also the $4 billion they spend on software and data products, CarGurus CEO Jason Trevisan said Thursday (Nov. 6) during the company’s third quarter earnings call. “We believe that our growing product suite positions CarGurus as an intelligence-driven partner that helps dealers optimize every stage of their workflow beyond simply marketplaces,” Trevisan said. CarGuru’s…

Expedia Group said its third-quarter results topped expectations as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and partner connectivity helped the company capture growing global demand for travel. The results marked the strongest momentum in more than three years and prompted management to raise full-year guidance. CEO Ariane Gorin told analysts the company’s technology systems now operate as a “connected layer” linking travelers, supply partners, and data insights across every part of the booking journey. Gross bookings rose 12% to $30.7 billion, while revenue increased 9% to $4.4 billion. The company pointed to higher lodging and air prices, an improved demand environment and continued gains in marketing efficiency. Free…

Google introduced on Thursday (Nov. 6) new AI features to Google Finance, adding Deep Search, enhanced charting and prediction-market data. The update, outlined in Google’s blog, integrates the company’s Gemini models into its finance product and broadens beyond basic stock listings and headlines. Deep Search Adds Context to Financial Queries This new version of Google Finance allows users to type open-ended financial questions and receive AI-generated responses that include citations and links to supporting material. Deep Search performs multiple lookups across the web, aggregates results and displays a “research plan” explaining how the answer was formed. Users can open each reference…

Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) head has reportedly outlined the company’s vision for life after OpenAI. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Thursday (Nov. 6), Mustafa Suleyman discussed the company’s plans to create self-sufficiency from OpenAI, which is enmeshed into many of the products Microsoft offers to its customers. As the report noted, a recent deal between the two companies allows Microsoft to establish its new MAI Superintelligence Team, which will emphasize human interests and guardrails first, Suleyman said. The WSJ said he reiterated past warnings about AI’s possible risks. While praising OpenAI and the companies’ collaborations, Suleyman criticized the idea of treating AI systems as…

Companies’ investments in projects related to artificial intelligence are reportedly expected to fuel the debt issuance market through next year. U.S. investment-grade bond issuance could reach $1.7 trillion this year and $1.85 trillion in 2026, a Wells Fargo executive said Thursday (Nov. 6). Speaking with Bloomberg TV, Maureen O’Connor, global head of high-grade debt syndicate at Wells Fargo, said blue-chip companies are likely to borrow more to fund their artificial intelligence investments and to take advantage of favorable financing conditions, Bloomberg reported Thursday. Debt sales have benefited from investors seeking still-elevated yields and liability-driven investors like pension funds and insurance companies seeking long-maturity bonds, O’Connor…