The payments & online selling stories our desk judged worth your time, written so anyone can follow them.
A Toast survey finds fewer small and midsize retailers use self-checkout this year, a sign the lanes may not save as much as stores hoped.
Read more: More stores are cutting back on self-checkout lanesMural's CEO predicts AI agents could start 5% of cross-border payments within a year, but who pays when software errs is still unsettled.
Read more: Software could soon start sending 1 in 20 international paymentsZalando's new app feature lets AI agents buy from other online stores for you. It starts with one home goods pilot, and the details are still thin.
Read more: Zalando launches an AI that shops for you across other storesMeta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots remember past chats and can act on their own, which could change how people research and buy things, and how shops sell.
Read more: Personal AI helpers from Meta and OpenAI are starting to shop for youA new SEON survey says U.S. consumers are embracing AI. The details are missing, but it may matter for how you serve customers and spot scams.
Read more: New survey says Americans are warming up to AIA former banker argues that cashless-only shops push card fees into prices for everyone, and regulator data shows those fees have been rising.
Read more: Cashless shops make every customer pay card fees, even cash buyersSecurity firm Thales warns that AI tools that shop and pay for people create new risks for online stores just as holiday sales and fraud both peak.
Read more: AI shopping helpers create new security risks for stores this holiday seasonShopify's Fall '26 update lets store owners approve what AI assistants say about their business, and adds fraud tools and new ways for customers to pay.
Read more: Shopify adds fraud tools, new payment options and AI shopping helpAnthropic bought Mithril Medicine, a one-employee drug startup that used Claude to run its lab work. It hints at how small teams may work with AI.
Read more: Anthropic buys a one-person drug startup run with its AI, ClaudeCiti Hong Kong's 2026 AI survey finds AI is part of daily life, yet many people worry about keeping up and still want humans guiding it.
Read more: Hong Kong shoppers use AI daily but still want a human in chargeAI shopping assistants that compare and buy for you depend on store data, so messy or outdated product listings could get a store skipped.
Read more: AI shopping assistants are testing how good store data really isMastercard signed an AI shopping deal with OpenAI and a preliminary one with Tencent's TenPay Global. Soon an AI helper may pay with your card.
Read more: Mastercard teams up with OpenAI and Tencent so AI can shop for youMastercard signed a small business deal with HDFC Bank, India's largest private bank, which could put three million more of its cards in circulation.
Read more: Mastercard deepens its bet on India with the country's biggest private bankPamarco says AI agents now handle about 40% of its month-end close tasks, while staff keep approvals. Here is what that shows other businesses.
Read more: A manufacturer now lets AI software do 40% of its month-end bookkeepingSquare is turning on Bitcoin payments for eligible US sellers, with fees waived through 2026. Owners should check their Dashboard to see if it is on.
Read more: Square turns on Bitcoin payments for eligible US sellers, fees waivedUber and four partners showed a company could keep cash invested over part of a weekend and still cash out when markets were closed. It was a pilot.
Read more: Uber tests a way to keep company cash earning interest over a weekendTwo investment firms are reportedly pursuing Global Payments, a major card processor. Shops that rely on it could see changes in products, systems and support.
Read more: Global Payments reportedly in talks to be bought by two investment firmsOKX's Mastercard-powered virtual card, which spends stablecoins directly, is now open to eligible customers in most US states. Here is what to know before you try it.
Read more: OKX Launches a Card That Spends Stablecoins in Most US StatesLeaders from Amex, Google and Walmart say AI shopping helpers are changing how stores get found, though most shoppers still want their favorite brands.
Read more: AI shopping helpers are changing how stores reach customersNumbersGame's tool now reaches Stripe, Square and Ramp data, so accountants using Claude or ChatGPT can ask questions about payments and spending.
Read more: Accounting firms can now ask Claude or ChatGPT about Stripe, Square and Ramp dataTech leaders say AI buying will continue despite market jitters, but they want faster payoffs. Business owners may have more room to negotiate.
Read more: Companies keep buying AI even as Wall Street gets nervousFresha has added Klarna's buy now, pay later option, so beauty and wellness clients can spread the cost of pricey services over time.
Read more: Salons and spas on Fresha can now let clients pay in installmentsGoogle Wallet may add an optional setting that makes tap-to-pay safer but slower, giving you a say in how much hassle you accept.
Read more: Google Wallet may let you choose safer tap-to-pay over speedThe SEC's enforcement chief says AI firms must clearly disclose risks in how they fund growth, which could help investors judge how solid that growth really is.
Read more: SEC warns AI companies to be honest about how they fund their growth
