Written By Karen Webster

Karen Webster is one of the world’s leading experts on emerging payments and a strategic advisor to CEOs and Boards of multinational players in the payments and commerce space. As the CEO of Market Platform Dynamics, she works extensively with the most innovative players in the payments, financial services, mobile, B2B, digital media and technology sectors to identify, ignite and monetize innovation. Karen also serves on the boards of a number of emerging companies, helping innovators develop and implement business strategies that drive market adoption for their products and services. Karen is also an entrepreneur herself, who has successfully founded and launched several new ventures in the loyalty, on-line media, and social networking sectors, including PYMNTS.com.

Cryptocurrency
Open USD and the Questions 140 Logos Don’t Answer

On June 30, an independent company called Open Standard launched a dollar stablecoin, Open...

B2B Payments
The Invoice Becomes the Shopping Cart in B2B Payments

Businesses sent roughly 560 billion invoices in 2024. Fewer than a quarter were electronic....

Artificial Intelligence
Are Agents the Anti-Influencer?

Agentic commerce is about to answer a question direct selling has been circling for...

Artificial Intelligence
The Pink Skirt Problem: Why AI Agents Can’t Own Serendipity

The best thing I ever bought while shopping for a blue blazer was a...

Artificial Intelligence
The AI You’re Given vs. the AI You Chose

There’s a number in the latest PYMNTS Intelligence consumer survey that ought to get...

Google
Google’s Agentic Wallet: Is the Fifth Time the Charm?

In Hollywood, the fifth installment of a franchise is usually the one where everyone...

Artificial Intelligence
Why OpenAI, Amazon and Apple Want to Be the Smartphone...

On January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs stood on stage at Macworld and introduced three...

Karen feature
Consumer Insights
65% Call Insurance Essential. Why Most Spending Isn’t So Clear-Cut 

Picture two families living four miles apart in the same mid-sized American city. Both...

Retail
Why the Offers Economy Is Broken

Picture a woman standing in the checkout line at her local grocery store, frantically...

Artificial Intelligence
The Battle for AI Isn’t About Models. It’s About Habits

Think about how you shop. Not how you used to shop, but how you...

David's Bridal Monday Conversation
Retail
David’s Bridal CEO Kelly Cook on Betting Big and Knowing...

Watch more: Monday Conversation With Kelly Cook of David’s Bridal Get the Full Story...

Artificial Intelligence
Why AI Shopping Is Still Just a Smarter Search Bar

More than a year ago, I asked AI to help me buy a toaster....