Ai news and trends

Apple Bets on AI Wearables to Lock in iPhone Users
Wearables // February 17, 2026

Apple is accelerating its development of three artificial intelligence (AI)-powered wearable devices: smart glasses, a pendant and AirPods, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (Feb. 17), citing unnamed sources. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS...

Robots, Compliance and AI Receptionists: $1.45 Billion Backs AI Embedded in Real Operations
artificial intelligence // February 17, 2026

Across robotics, media production, healthcare administration, compliance and small-business front desks, startups raised capital by promising measurable output: robots on factory floors, video assets in production pipelines and prior authorizations processed. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited...

Fed Governor Michael Barr Says Firms Adopting AI Reallocate Staff to Higher-Value Roles
artificial intelligence // February 17, 2026

Artificial intelligence may transform the American workplace by enhancing how employees perform complex tasks rather than replacing employees, Federal Reserve Governor Michael S. Barr said Monday (Feb. 17). Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to...

Render Raises $100 Million to Build Cloud Tech for AI Agents
Investments // February 17, 2026

Cloud technology company Render has raised $100 million in new funding. 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...

Interviews & Exclusives
AI Turns Websites Into Adaptive Sales Engines

February 17, 2026
Digital marketing has a blind spot. 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 agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of […]

Why Voice Is the New Middleware of Commerce

February 17, 2026
Voice technology has spent a decade as a high-tech novelty, a hands-free way to set timers or check the weather that consistently hit a ceiling at the point of transaction....

OpenAI and Cisco Back Standards to Scale Agentic AI

February 16, 2026
Right alongside the immense promise of agentic AI is the issue of trust. CFOs, according to PYMNTS Intelligence, are gaining it. So are consumers. As the issue of trust continues...

New Research: Productivity Gains Rise When Companies Pair AI Agents With Strong Oversight

February 12, 2026
Companies have spent the past two years racing to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) agents across sales, finance, operations and customer support. Now, a new constraint is surfacing inside the enterprise:...

Quick Reads
Private Software Firms Beat AI Disruption Fears With Early Earnings

February 17, 2026
Privately held software firms McAfee, Rocket Software, Perforce Software and Cloudera released their earnings to lenders ahead of schedule to reassure those lenders at a time when some are concerned that the rise of artificial intelligence could disrupt the industry, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (Feb. 17). Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this […]

Apple Bets on AI Wearables to Lock in iPhone Users

February 17, 2026
Apple is accelerating its development of three artificial intelligence (AI)-powered wearable devices: smart glasses, a pendant and AirPods, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (Feb. 17), citing unnamed sources. Get the Full Story...

Fed Governor Michael Barr Says Firms Adopting AI Reallocate Staff to Higher-Value Roles

February 17, 2026
Artificial intelligence may transform the American workplace by enhancing how employees perform complex tasks rather than replacing employees, Federal Reserve Governor Michael S. Barr said Monday (Feb. 17). Get the...

Render Raises $100 Million to Build Cloud Tech for AI Agents

February 17, 2026
Cloud technology company Render has raised $100 million in new funding. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS...