News

Social Commerce
TikTok Says New Joint Venture Will Enable Continued US Operations
December 18, 2025

TikTok and parent company ByteDance have signed agreements with Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX to form a new TikTok U.S. joint venture that will enable the app to continue operating in the United States, according to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and...

Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI Launches ChatGPT App Store
December 18, 2025

OpenAI opened its ChatGPT App Directory on Wednesday (Dec. 17), which is a marketplace of third-party applications that run directly within the ChatGPT interface. The move allows developers to submit apps for review and publication, and users to discover and use those apps without leaving...

Regulation
OCC Reduces Regulatory Mandate Covering Citi’s Risk Management Systems
December 18, 2025

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency terminated a July 2024 amendment to an October 2020 consent order with Citi having to do with deficiencies in the bank’s risk management systems. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy...

Artificial Intelligence
Everyday Planning and Shopping Lead Consumer Shift to AI Assistants
December 18, 2025

Consumers are increasingly open to letting artificial intelligence (AI) move beyond answering questions and begin acting on their behalf, but that willingness remains selective and uneven. New PYMNTS Intelligence data shows meaningful interest in autonomous AI assistants for everyday planning, even as a sizable share...

Retail
Amazon and Walmart See Intent as 2026’s Holy Grail
December 18, 2025

Among retail’s most dominant themes in 2025 was that the next era of competition is about ecosystem control, not just operational excellence. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional...

Artificial Intelligence
UPS-Owned Happy Returns Tests AI to Combat Fraud
December 18, 2025

UPS-owned reverse logistics company Happy Returns reportedly plans to use artificial intelligence to combat returns fraud. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily...

Partnerships / Acquisitions
M&A Deals Reached Near-Record Levels in 2025
December 18, 2025

Wall Street began the year hopeful that 2025 would usher in a wave of dealmaking. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter,...

Regulation
Instacart AI Pricing Tool Faces FTC Investigation
December 18, 2025

Federal regulators are reportedly investigating Instacart’s artificial intelligence (AI) pricing tool. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today. By completing...

Security & Fraud
AI-Powered Scams Force Banks Into Real-Time Fraud Defense
December 18, 2025

Watch more: The Digital Shift: Block’s Brian Boates  Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today. By completing this form, you...