Connected Economy

The innovations in technology, connected devices, software, payments and cellular technology make it possible for people and businesses to connect with each other and do business via any device, an in any digital or physical location safely, securely, and in real time. This integration of the digital and physical worlds will transform the economy across the ten pillars that today represent its key cornerstones – pillars that are already experiencing the impact of disruptive innovation as new blended, digital-first experience-driven ecosystems are now taking shape.

Banks Are Racing Into AI Faster Than Security Can Follow
Banks Are Racing Into AI Faster Than Security Can Follow
July 07, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

The Model Context Protocol, or MCP, is an open standard introduced by Anthropic in late 2024 that lets artificial intelligence (AI) agents connect to business...

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States Move to License AI Doctors as the FDA Steps Back
States Move to License AI Doctors as the FDA Steps Back
July 07, 2026  |  Healthcare

Utah launched the country’s first artificial intelligence (AI)-powered prescription refill program in January, partnering with startup Doctronic to let an AI chatbot renew certain chronic...

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Klarna’s Bid Tests Whether FinTech Scale Needs a Charter
Klarna’s Bid Tests Whether FinTech Scale Needs a Charter
July 06, 2026  |  Banking

FinTechs are treating banking licenses as strategic infrastructure. Klarna’s decision to apply to establish Klarna Bank USA, a Utah-chartered industrial bank, illustrates that shift. The...

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AI Giants Pour Billions Into Enterprise Deployment
AI Giants Pour Billions Into Enterprise Deployment
July 06, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

The money for artificial intelligence companies is in enterprise, but the challenge isn’t building the model. It’s getting it to work inside a company that...

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Meet the AI Mom Assistant With a Grocery List
Meet the AI Mom Assistant With a Grocery List
July 06, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

Watch more: Digital Shift With AI-Empowered Mom’s Sarah Dooley Artificial intelligence (AI) has become synonymous with workplace productivity, helping employees summarize meetings, write code and...

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Companies Trust AI’s Advice but Not Its Actions
Companies Trust AI’s Advice but Not Its Actions
July 02, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

Companies are using artificial intelligence across more of their operations than ever while trusting it less to act on its own. The PYMNTS Intelligence report...

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Microsoft Spends $2.5 Billion on Customer AI Deployments
Microsoft Spends $2.5 Billion on Customer AI Deployments
July 02, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft will spend $2.5 billion on a new unit aimed at helping its customers implement artificial intelligence (AI). The Microsoft Frontier Company, announced Thursday (July...

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Super Agents Are Connecting What Enterprise Software Kept Separate
Super Agents Are Connecting What Enterprise Software Kept Separate
July 01, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

Enterprise software is built around functions. Finance has its system. HR has its own. IT has another. Work that touches all three moves through each...

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Retailers Turn to AI Agents to Meet Shoppers Before Checkout
Retailers Turn to AI Agents to Meet Shoppers Before Checkout
July 01, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

Retailers have spent years enhancing digital shopping capabilities. Today, many merchants are evaluating which features still justify additional investment as artificial intelligence becomes a larger...

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