SoundHound AI Inc., a provider of artificial intelligence-based voice technology apps, unfolded its voice commerce strategy in the hotly competitive restaurant market with the introduction of an in-vehicle, artificial intelligence-based reservations agent. The reservation system, developed with restaurant-reservation platform OpenTable Inc., connects drivers to a network of more than 60,000 …

Fees paid by merchants to accept credit card and debit cards will dampen consumer spending power this holiday shopping season as sellers look for ways to offset the cost, says the Merchants Payment Coalition. Swipe fees are projected to cost merchants at least $19.9 billion this holiday shopping season, up …

Grocery-delivery and store pick-up platform Instacart is partnering with ChatGPT to offer shopping and checkout within a ChatGPT conversation. The deal will enable Instacart users to shop at more than 1,800 grocers directly within ChatGPT and complete purchases in real time during a ChatGPT conversation. The partnership with ChatGPT builds …

The FIDO Alliance has launched an initiative to accelerate the adoption of verifiable digital credentials and identity wallets. The initiative will be led by the Alliance’s Digital Credentials Working Group (DCWG), EMVCo, the International Standardization Organization, The OpenID Foundation, and the Worldwide Web Consortium are also partnering on the initiative …

Seeking to provide an alternative to rewards credit cards, Klarna AB has expanded its Premium and Max membership programs in the United States. Klarna’s membership program is a monthly fee-based service that offers consumers such rewards as cashback, exclusive deals, and lifestyle rewards, as well as airport lounge access and …

California Pizza Kitchen has signed with restaurant-technology provider OneDine LLC to deploy its platform in more than 100 CPK locations in the United States. The deal is a reminder that restaurant point-of-sale and management technology is one of the hottest acquiring markets in digital payments. OneDine’s platform, which the company …

While credit cards are the most common way small businesses pay for a purchase, a growing number are embracing buy now, pay later loans as a payment option. At the same time, many small businesses are opting not to pay by card in order to avoid a surcharge, finds J.D. …

Consumer spending is expected to remain strong on Cyber Monday, after merchants saw robust holiday sales over Thanksgiving weekend. Shoppers in the United States are projected to spend $14.2 billion online on Cyber Monday, a 6.3% increase from a year ago, says Adobe Analytics. Spending is expected to peak at $16 …

Online shoppers have spent $79.7 billion in the first 23 days of the 2025 holiday shopping season, a 7.5% year-over-year increase, Adobe Analytics finds. Within that period, online shoppers spent more than $3 billion in a single day on 22 days, up two days from last year. Discounts played a big …

Consumers will spend less between Black Friday and Cyber Monday than they did last year, despite a higher percentage of consumers planning to purchase during the four-day holiday shopping period, finds Deloitte’s 2025 Black Friday-Cyber Monday survey. Consumer spend per person during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping events …