News

Artificial Intelligence
Big Tech’s ‘Frontier Model Forum’ Tackles ‘Responsible AI’
July 26, 2023

Four Big Tech companies have formed a group focused on responsible artificial intelligence (AI) development. The Frontier Model Forum, comprised of Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic, “will draw on the technical and operational expertise of its member companies to benefit the entire AI ecosystem,” Google said in a blog post Wednesday...

Retail
Walmart Counters Amazon’s Travel Offering With Expedia Partnership
July 26, 2023

Walmart is working with Expedia to offer Walmart+ members deals on travel. The partnership, announced Tuesday (July 25), lets members book trips via the WalmartPlusTravel website and get discounts on hotels, car rentals and vacation rentals, with bookings powered by Expedia. “We’re bringing together the ultimate savings membership and vacation...

Social Commerce
X Offers Discounts and Incentives to Win Back Advertisers
July 25, 2023

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is reportedly trying to gain back advertisers. The platform is now offering discounted prices and a new set of incentives to encourage brands to come back, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Tuesday (July 25), citing emails...

Regulation
UK’s CMA Finds HSBC Failed to Share Payment Transaction Histories
July 25, 2023

The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that HSBC has breached an order that requires banks to send payment transaction histories to some customers. Part 5 of the Retail Banking Market Investigation Order 2017 requires banks to send these histories to any business current account (BCA)...

Security & Fraud
Grasshopper and Cable Debut Financial Crime Prevention Testing Platform
July 25, 2023

Digital bank Grasshopper has partnered with Cable to equip its clients and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform with automation and technology for financial crime assurance, testing and oversight. The bank will leverage the automated assurance and testing capabilities of Cable, an all-in-one financial crime effectiveness testing platform, the companies said in...

Investments
Earned Wage Access Firm Immediate Closes $16 Million Funding Round
July 25, 2023

Earned wage access company Immediate has closed a $16 million funding round to accelerate its trajectory in the workplace financial health sector. The funds, which include both growth equity and a working capital facility, will enable Immediate to better serve employees who are facing unexpected expenses and...

Partnerships / Acquisitions
Report: Regional Lenders Banc of California and PacWest Negotiate Combination
July 25, 2023

Regional lenders Banc of California and PacWest Bancorp are reportedly in advanced negotiations to combine. A deal could be announced as soon as Tuesday (July 25), when both banks are scheduled to report their results, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources. Banc of California and PacWest Bancorp...

Retail
Walmart’s Digital Blind Spot Helped Amazon Win Summer Sales Standoff
July 25, 2023

Summer deals got financially fraught consumers to shop both Amazon Prime Day and Walmart+ Week in mid-July. But according to PYMNTS data, twice as many Amazon Prime members made purchases during Prime Day than Walmart shoppers did during Walmart+ Week, showing the digital blind spot...

B2B Payments
Flowspace Launches AI-Powered Tool for Automating Fulfillment Operations
July 25, 2023

Flowspace has launched a new tool that automates workflows in the management of transportation and freight. The new FlowspaceAI for Freight is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) and is designed to remove tedious tasks and improve overall efficiency, the provider of tools for managing fulfillment said...