There’s a special look kids give a floppy disk. They turn it over, tap the little metal shutter, and then ask, politely but devastatingly: “So where do you plug in the Wi‑Fi?” It’s the same energy adults bring to a rotary phone: reverence, confusion and the suspicion that someone is filming a prank video. After […]The post The Friction Economy: Why Gen Z Is Trading Smartphones for Dumb Devices appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Virgin Media O2, a leading mobile provider in the United Kingdom, has partnered with flexible payment network Affirm to provide hardware financing. This collaboration will allow O2 customers to access Affirm’s pay-over-time options at checkout when purchasing mobile phones, headphones, game consoles and other hardware, the companies said in a Friday (Feb. 6) press release. Affirm will offer a wide range of monthly payment plans and will charge no late […]The post Virgin Media O2 Bets on Affirm to Fuel Hardware Sales appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

AutoNation saw a year-over-year decline in vehicle sales during the fourth quarter due to a tough comparison to 2024 and a race to buy vehicles earlier in the year before the implementation of tariffs and expiration of electric vehicle tax credits, executives said Friday (Feb. 6). The automotive retailer’s same-store new vehicles sales were […]The post Early Buying Spree Cannibalizes Fourth Quarter Car Sales appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also entering the race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, which runs through Feb. 22, bringing a layer of machine intelligence to an event long defined as a showcase of human performance. From athlete training and broadcast production to fan engagement and judging, AI systems are increasingly […]The post AI Enters the Race at the Winter Olympic Games appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Apple plans to allow other companies’ voice-controlled artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to operate within its vehicle interface, CarPlay, Bloomberg reported Friday (Feb. 6), citing unnamed sources. The company is working to support these third-party apps in CarPlay and plans to make this capability available to AI providers within months, according to the report. Currently, Apple allows […]The post Apple Opens CarPlay to AI Rivals Following Driver Demand appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

The Home Depot has launched an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered feature that helps professional renovators, remodelers, builders and specialty tradespeople create a list of the materials they will need for a project. With the new Material List Builder AI, these professionals can input details of the project and then receive a draft material list that […]The post Home Depot AI Battles for the Pro Wallet appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

The Federal Reserve’s latest consumer credit data points to a familiar seasonal pattern, with revolving balances moving higher as households navigated year-end expenses and holiday purchases. According to the Fed’s December G.19 report released Friday afternoon (Feb. 6), total consumer credit expanded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.7%, a sharp pickup from […]The post Credit Data Shows Spending Discipline as Card Balances Rise appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Self-driving vehicle startup Waymo said Friday (Feb. 6) that the latest virtual world in which it is developing its artificial intelligence (AI) will enhance the company’s ability to scale its service in the real world. The company’s newly introduced Waymo World Model is built on Google DeepMind’s general purpose world model Genie 3, which Waymo then adapted […]The post Google World Model AI Accelerates Waymo Robotaxi Expansion appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Businesses and workers have different views of the economy, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President and CEO Mary C. Daly said in a Friday (Feb. 6) post on LinkedIn. Businesses are “cautiously optimistic,” with good growth, solid consumer spending easy hiring and rising productivity, Daly said. Workers are “not so sure,” as they […]The post San Francisco Fed Chief Spots Risky Economic Disconnect appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Crypto company Gemini is cutting its workforce by 25% and exiting the United Kingdom, European Union and Australia as it sharpens its focus on prediction markets and the United States. Gemini CEO Tyler Winklevoss and President Cameron Winklevoss announced the changes in a Thursday (Feb. 5) blog post. The company’s withdrawal from overseas markets and its headcount […]The post Gemini Slashes Staff and Exits Europe to Chase Prediction Market Profits appeared first on PYMNTS.com.