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, Retailers Turn Call Centers Into Revenue Engines With AI

Banks, Retailers Turn Call Centers Into Revenue Engines With AI
Banks, Retailers Turn Call Centers Into Revenue Engines With AI
April 24, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

Retailers and banks are reworking the mechanics of customer contact, as artificial intelligence (AI) moves call centers away from scripted menus and toward conversational problem-solving...

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Mastercard Takes Aim at the Fragile Side of Financial Inclusion
Mastercard Takes Aim at the Fragile Side of Financial Inclusion
April 24, 2026  |  Payment Methods

Technology and connectivity have drawn billions of consumers and businesses into the formal financial system, but the shift from access to stability remains uneven and...

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The AI Leapfrog Coming for Insurance Underwriting
The AI Leapfrog Coming for Insurance Underwriting
April 24, 2026  |  Insurance

Watch more: Digital Shift With Crystal Venture Partners’ Jonathan Crystal In the late 1680s, a man named Edward Lloyd opened a coffeehouse on Tower Street...

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Insurance Denials Meet Their Match in AI-Powered Appeals
Insurance Denials Meet Their Match in AI-Powered Appeals
April 23, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

A patient is denied coverage for a drug he has taken for 18 years. His insurer says he should try a cheaper alternative. He finds...

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WEX Earnings Show AI’s Growing Role in B2B Payments
WEX Earnings Show AI’s Growing Role in B2B Payments
April 23, 2026  |  Earnings

The competitive edge for the next generation of financial infrastructure companies is not visibility, but indispensability. At a time when macroeconomic volatility continues to test...

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Google Brings All Enterprise AI Agent Tools Under One Roof
Google Brings All Enterprise AI Agent Tools Under One Roof
April 23, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

Most enterprises experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) agents face the same problem. Building an agent is one task. Connecting it to live data is another....

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OpenAI Images 2.0 Is a Real Leap With a Real Price Tag
OpenAI Images 2.0 Is a Real Leap With a Real Price Tag
April 22, 2026  |  Artificial Intelligence

Two years ago, asking an artificial intelligence (AI) image model for a software dashboard mockup meant getting back something that looked like a dashboard had...

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50% More Digital Shopping Days Put Parents at the Center of Retail’s Shift
50% More Digital Shopping Days Put Parents at the Center of Retail’s Shift
April 22, 2026  |  Consumer Insights

Busy parents may be giving global digital commerce its clearest growth signal yet. The data makes a strong case for why merchants should pay attention....

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