In her 2024 book published by Verso, Anna Kornbluh meditates on immediacy and why speed, flow, and direct expression now dominate cultural style. 

Immediacy, or The Style of Too Late Capitalism

People are time-poor and overwhelmed but still health conscious, so they're looking for nutritious quick fixes, like Winning Food's convenient and eco-friendly plant-based frozen food blocks.

Quick nutrition 

Etsy's AI tool aims to 'make you the perfect gift giver' without any of the effort usually involved. This speaks to a desire for tech to do the thinking, even when it's the thought that counts. 

Thoughtless gifting

Claiming to be 'the world's first AI doctor's office', CarePod offers instant, self-service preventative care without the hassle of visiting a doctor.

Self-serviced health

Family Guy 'Boring Ahh' multitasking memes make light of the constant overstimulation experienced on the internet, making it increasingly difficult to focus on time-consuming, singular tasks.

Boring Ahh

People are looking for seamless travel experiences without the need to put in the work, so they're turning to ChatGPT to plan dream holidays, from locations to itineraries.

AI travel planners

Simple and seamless travel experiences are increasingly seen as conventional post-COVID, and local public transport is no different. Rome has become the first European city to introduce a contactless payment system on its public transport network for users of the major Chinese card scheme, UnionPay.

Rome makes public transport fuss-free for UnionPay users

As Gen Alphas enter their own self-care era, they are turning to beauty care as a source of social capital, self-acceptance, and confidence. For the emerging generation in Australia, skincare that offers a playful and tactile experience reigns supreme, and Allkinds does just that.

How Allkinds formulates playful beauty for Aussie tweens

The Tokyo-based start-up Orange has secured $19 million in investments to develop AI software that can translate manga titles into English. While the tech may broaden global readers’ access to Japanese media, it could also threaten the role of the fan translator in the proliferation of such content.

Orange uses AI to speed up manga translations in English

Hallyu is not stopping anytime soon, and neither is K-beauty. By supporting and fostering the growth of local beauty brands while also catering to the rapidly growing foreign market interested in K-beauty, Olive Young has solidified its position as the leader of the Korean beauty market.

How Olive Young globalises the quality of local K-beauty

How is Japan’s shrinking, ageing population impacting locals’ decisions? Are government efforts to regulate work hours actually leading to shifts in Japan’s notoriously overworked society? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore the behavioural norms shared by people in Japan in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of Japan: 2024

The number of EV chargers in California is slowly catching up to the number of gas stations, pointing to a turning point for a major barrier to EV adoption. While charging infrastructure is improving, consumers are still looking for innovation to help make EV charging frictionless and efficient.

California's EV chargers point to mass adoption

UKTikTok has introduced its 'Preowned Luxury' category within its TikTok Shop in the UK, enabling users to browse and purchase luxury fashion while remaining on the platform. As TikTok looks to expand its Shop even further, it's tapping into the growing market of resale luxury goods.  




TikTok Shop debuts pre-owned luxury category in UK

Gen Zers are planning for an early retirement in their forties and plan to live off $500,000 in their old age. But as the economic climate suggests these desires may be unrealistic, and there's a need to educate young people about responsible methods for planning their futures.

American Gen Zers are making plans to retire early

Thumbtack's app provides automated maintenance tips, DIY guides, and AI-based expert searches. It features maintenance and specialized guides for energy efficiency, babyproofing, and landscaping, with task details and cost estimates, helping homeowners personalize their houses.

Thumbtack uses AI to help Gen Yers with home DIY

Unilever has unveiled Wonder Wash, a product aimed at providing a better, quicker clean for the growing share of people doing quick-cycle washes. Many people are doing more frequent laundry with smaller loads and are looking for innovation to facilitate quicker cleaning.

Unilever develops detergent for quick washes

‘Sari-sari’ (literally, ‘variety’) stores remain staples in Filipino neighbourhoods despite the rise of convenience stores. They balance affordability and accessibility with modernisation and adapt to changing needs by providing reasonably priced essential goods, making them a pillar in the country.

Why Filipino neighbourhood ‘sari-sari’ shops flourish amid convenience stores

The mobile payments app GCash has revolutionised financial services by bringing banking to Filipinos' fingertips. Through its innovative features, strategic partnerships, and commitment to financial inclusion, GCash empowers millions to control their finances and easily pierce the digital economy.

How GCash dispenses financial inclusion to mobile Filipinos

Production issues have halted aircraft deliveries at a time when global travel demand is higher than ever. With resulting disruptions set to occur this year, brands have an opportunity to help smoothen travel processes by meeting expectations for flexibility and protection.

Aircraft shortage set to disrupt summer travel plans

According to new research by PYMNTS, Boomers are the most likely generation to pay for everyday items – from yoga classes to coffee pods – via subscriptions: 92% of respondents said they've embraced them. This hints at new opportunities to service this demographic while ensuring safety and security.

Boomers use more subscription services than Gen Y

Naver, South Korea’s biggest search engine, has created interactive shopping experiences and a thriving online community. Through its combination of group-buying, live e-commerce, and AI-generated ads, it continues to make exciting improvements that keep it at the top of the game in South Korea.

How Naver decodes Korean shoppers’ online lifestyles

‘Budol’ culture is a phenomenon that influences Filipinos to shop online impulsively because of social media trends and recommendations from friends. While this can promote a sense of community among buyers with the same preferences, it can also lead to overspending and mindless purchases.

How ‘budol’ culture makes Filipinos overspend

Spotify UK is experimenting with video-based educational courses. The move aims to broaden the reach of course providers and target users based on their listening habits. The once audio-only platform is expanding into multiple media categories, enabling users to streamline their online experience. 

Spotify UK ventures into educational video content

With over 20 million active shoppers, same-day delivery, and recent expansion into the luxury market, Coupang is South Korea’s answer to consumers’ hyperconnected demands. As online shopping overtakes traditional shopping, speed becomes the currency for the satisfaction of Korean shoppers.

How Coupang delivers Korean demands at lightning speed

Boutique grocery stores, including those run by brand giants, are popping up more and more in the inner cities of Australia amid an anti-supermarket sentiment. The question is, how did this happen, and are Aussies buying the cost of convenience and bougier atmosphere these places are offering?

Behind the success of boutique grocery stores in Australia

In support of Ramadan fasters, UltraSuperNew Singapore has created a Chrome extension that allows users to block out all food-related content. Beyond representation, this ad demonstrates an understanding of and practically caters to the needs of the Muslim community.

FoodBlocker tool aims to assist fasters through Ramadan

Renude is harnessing AI to make dermatology more accessible, accurate, and speedy. Appealing to people who lack access to skin care specialists, and those overwhelmed by too much – often contrasting – information found online, Renude is providing a simple skincare and skin health solution.


Renude makes expert skin care advice more accessible

Frontier Airlines has launched an initiative to let people pay more to have nobody sit next to them on a flight. While budget airlines offer the ability to travel despite financial squeezes, people are prioritising comfort and safety when travelling, and are willing to hack the system to get them.




Frontier Airlines makes budget air travel more appealing

According to a survey from Pew Research, teens and parents are still clashing over screen time. The results reveal the push and pull going on within families about adolescents’ freedom on the internet. As a result, parents are looking for platforms to build guardrails to protect their children.

Screen time remains a source of strife for parents

Snap has announced the return of its AR Ramadan mall, complete with new features to heighten the immersive retail experience during the festive season. It’s an example of successful localisation that goes beyond product to become an integral companion in the everyday lives of local customers.

Snap uses AR to bring Ramadan shopping to life

Chinese EV makers are racing to introduce innovative lifestyle and entertainment attributes that cater to prominent cultural trends. As expectations of technology – and the quality of life it provides – increase, the automotive industry has to adapt to fulfil these changing consumer needs.

Chinese EV makers focus on innovative functionality

Gen Y women are set to inherit more money than their male counterparts, opening up a new wealth landscape that will emerge over the coming decades. Women have different investing habits compared to men, presenting diversification opportunities for existing financial products and organisations.

Future wealth transfer will benefit Gen Y women most

Parlon, a Filipino beauty and tech platform, makes self-care easy by hosting over 500 wellness service providers. By catering to Filipinos’ health and wellness priorities post-pandemic, it is a one-stop shop for beauty enthusiasts and helps independent salons with digital operations.

Why Parlon digitises the Filipino beauty salon experience

Disney has unveiled its first animated series with the release of the miniseries Iwájú on Disney+. Set in the Black Panther universe and telling the story of a young girl in Nigeria, the show leans into desires for greater representation and a shift towards short-form, immersive content.

Disney releases first ever animated series, Iwájú

A study has shown that people are happier in denser communities, as proximity to 'third places' increases social cohesion. Young people are making decisions about where they live based on the desire for proximity to these new social centers, such as coffee shops and stores.

People are willing to pay more to access 'third places'

Dunkin', long synonymous with coffee, is now targetting Gen Z with a move toward energy drinks – embracing the shift towards bright, wellness-oriented beverages appealing to younger consumers. This pivot reflects a trend as the brand adapts to evolving ideas around beverage functionality.

Dunkin' trades coffee for energy drinks to capture Gen Z

Minimalist styles dominate the global furniture market, led by Swedish brand IKEA, which Japanese brand Nitori wants to challenge. In their current battleground, Southeast Asia, Nitori attempts to get ahead by tapping into locals’ preferences for more practical and convenient living.

Why Nitori builds utilitarian spaces for SEA homemakers

Universal Music Group (UMG) has joined hands with the UAE-based entity Dubai Global Music City (DGMC) to build a hub for the region’s music industry. As artists and fandoms become increasingly transnational, there’s an opportunity to spotlight and nurture emerging hotspots of global popular culture.

UMG develops MENA’s first 'music city' in Dubai

A 50-part video series posted by TikTok user Reesa Teesa detailing her ex-husband’s pathological lying has gone viral on the platform. Exemplifying social media as reality entertainment, the phenomenon also reveals people’s paradoxical attitudes toward long-form storytelling.

‘Who TF Did I Marry’ storytime takes TikTok by storm

Despite car ownership being a key marker of the American lifestyle, shared services are booming thanks to a desire for affordable and low-maintenance transport options. Canvas8 spoke to eight people from across the US to find out why they opt for e-bikes, scooters, and ride-hailing apps.

What’s driving Americans towards shared mobility services?

Saks Fifth Avenue has announced a partnership with premium EV maker Lucid to offer demo drives at its stores. As experiential innovation becomes the yardstick of success for luxury brands, there’s an opportunity to lean into untapped spaces around the HNW lifestyle to diversify client bases.

Saks expands luxury offerings through EV retail

Belgian startup Winning Foods offers a novel approach to meal preparation with its versatile frozen food blocks, which tackle food waste and enable flexible meal planning. The plant-based, eco-friendly model caters to busy individuals seeking convenient, ethical, and nutritious food.

Winning Foods' frozen blocks offer easy nutrition

Snickers is bringing its long-running 'Rookie Mistake' campaign to Apple Vision Pro in anticipation of Super Bowl LVIII, offering interactive experiences exclusive to the new technology. As AR technology becomes more mainstream, advertisers are betting big on immersive experiences.

Snickers targets Apple Vision Pro for Super Bowl ad

E-commerce giant Meituan has launched an in-app feature that helps customers avoid last-minute shopping during Chinese New Year. As super apps become ubiquitous, there’s an opportunity to help ease customers’ mental load and enable them to stay present in the everyday occasions that truly matter.

Meituan makes Chinese New Year a stress-free celebration

For the seventh edition of its Lunar New Year short film, Apple has produced  Little Garlic for its 'Shot on iPhone' platform. This content flexes the capability of Apple's hardware while focusing on stirring storytelling, speaking to consumers who are growing weary of intrusive advertising.

Apple's Lunar New Year short combats advertising fatigue

Ease of use and interoperability have made homegrown instant payment systems the preferred mode of transactions for payments for millions of Indians who are becoming more digitally savvy and evolving commerce locally. Now, the United Payments Interface (UPI) is trying to recreate its success abroad.

How cashless payments are restructuring the Indian economy

DoorDash is using its Super Bowl ad to shake up its reputation as a simple delivery service in favour of bringing anything and everything to its customers. With the promise of a monumentally big giveaway for one lucky winner, the brand is catering to rising consumer expectations in a big way.

DoorDash upgrades its promises with Super Bowl giveaway

In India, an app lets unborn babies take care of their moms by blending Ayurveda and new-gen tech. Garbh Sanskar Guru pioneers the pre-parenting domain by serving expectant moms across India with the help of Ayurvedic doctors, yoga coaches, psychologists, and an AI baby voice that gives reminders.

Why Garbh Sanskar Guru guides moms using Ayurvedic AI

AirAsia has launched MOVETIX, an all-in-one platform that allows customers to book tickets for live events, activities, and flights. Responding to the skyrocketing demand for entertainment-driven tourism in the region, it’s making the booking journey more seamless for superfan travellers.

AirAsia integrates bookings for live events and travel

Global e-commerce marketplace Etsy has launched Gift Mode, an AI-powered tool that provides personalised recommendations for gift purchases within the platform. As consumer expectations of online retail experiences grow, both shoppers and retailers are using AI to enhance customer journeys. 

Etsy's AI-powered tool personalises gift giving

Heinz has released another iteration of its 'It Has to be Heinz' platform, and this time there's no Heinz in sight. In a 'need it now' driven era, the campaign utilises diners' unwavering willingness to wait for their condiments to arrive before eating to demonstrate love for the brand.

Heinz campaign portrays unwavering brand love

The Super Bowl is one of the world’s most-watched sporting events, and has been landmark television in the United States for decades. However, with the advent of streaming and simulcasting, how is the way in which sport events being consumed changing for a new multi-generational cohort of fans?

How are families watching sports at home?

According to industry experts, increased snacking behaviors are driving sales of produce as people turn to fresh fruit and veg for healthy, snackable items. Time-poor eaters are snacking more and looking for ready-to-eat options that offer healthy alternatives to conventional quick bites.

Snackers turn to ready-to-eat produce for convenience

Gen Zers are driving an unlikely resurgence of the shopping mall as a social destination, rejecting online shopping for IRL discovery. Many young people, beginning to understand the downsides of a digital-first existence, are turning towards physical experiences for connection and convenience.

Gen Zers drive the shopping mall rebirth in the US

A survey has found that most Deutsche Bahn riders still prefer to purchase tickets at a station machine or counter. As Germany looks to transition towards contactless payments for transport, it’s crucial to ensure that it doesn’t come at the expense of people’s desire for flexibility and autonomy.

Germans are hesitant about mobile payments for trains

Southeast Asians often find dental care hard to access due to rising costs and the amount of time an appointment takes from their day. Enter Zenyum, a Singaporean startup making oral beauty more accessible and habitual through affordability and offering personalised dental services powered by AI.

How Zenyum frees Asian smiles with access to oral beauty

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Sopranos, HBO is releasing the series on TikTok in 25-second condensed versions of each episode. As social media reshapes the way that viewers consume TV, companies are leaning away from exclusivity and limited access to content, with varied results.

HBO releases The Sopranos in snippets on TikTok

As Gen Alphas spend more time across YouTube for entertainment, streaming platforms are struggling to compete due to the volume of new content being produced regularly. Despite the huge demand for kid-friendly programming, people are looking for less fragmented spaces to consume this content.

YouTube beats out Netflix for the attention of Gen Alpha

Instagram is rising as one of Korea's most popular platforms for reading web-based cartoon strips – webtoons. With community and co-creation central to how people consume media, Instagram is winning with fans who want to easily share webtoons and consume media in shorter formats. 

'Instatoons' rises in popularity in South Korea

EVs are reshaping UK car culture, moving from nostalgia to digital integration. Rapid tech advances lead to obsolescence concerns while shifting ownership models and advanced in-car features redefine the driving experience and consumer relationships. How can brands fuel loyalty in this dynamic era?

The dawn of a digital driving era in the UK

Very little can compare to a freshly brewed, slowly made cup of coffee. But with Southeast Asia’s entrepreneurship environment prioritising speed and innovation, tech-enabled chains are poised to reshape cafe culture. Will these companies continue to pick up steam, or are they not meant to stay?

Southeast Asians welcome convenient and accessible tech-enabled coffee

Australian retailer Coles has teamed up with shoppable recipe technology provider Northfork to enhance consumer experience in grocery shopping. As the cost of living crisis continues to affect consumer loyalty, people are seeking out clear benefits and value from the brands they shop with.

Northfork x Coles offer seamless online grocery shopping

Just Eat and Sainsbury's launched a 'picky bits' delivery store in London, enabling shoppers to curate their festive meals. The pop-up signals a shift away from traditional meal norms – catering to Gen Z and Y preferences for customisation, convenience, and joy over strict traditions. 

Just Eat and Sainsburys cater to rule-free festive meals

Kraft has introduced a plant-based version of its iconic boxed macaroni and cheese, featuring a fava beans and coconut oil recipe. Plant-based eaters are looking for vegan versions of familiar foodstuffs, and successful brands are innovating to capture declining flexitarian interest.

Kraft's NotMac&Cheese offers dairy free comfort food

Audible has launched its 'This is The Story' campaign, showcasing the range of genres available on the audio storytelling platform. The campaign aims to highlight how storytelling can transform everyday life and its ability to transport listeners into different worlds, providing escapism.

Audible billboards illustrate escapism of a good book

Despite a local digital transformation, rural Indians are still at a disadvantage when it comes to accessible healthcare. Indian startup Lifechart remedies this by integrating AI, telehealth, and Ayurveda in a holistic wellness service that blends traditional and modern medicine.

Why Lifechart uses AI to bring Indians traditional medicine

In a market dominated by international beauty brands, Filipino names such as Happy Skin, Issy, and Sunnies Face have gained traction beyond their homegrown roots thanks to their understanding of how to cater to diverse skin shades. What can be learnt from the growing reach of these brands?

What's behind the rise of Filipino beauty brands?

CarePods are set to be placed all over malls, gyms, and offices in America to make health check-ups quicker and easier with AI tech. By jumping into one of the pods, people can skip the usual long queues and processes when trying to see a doctor, instead getting a quick AI-powered diagnosis.

CarePod offers handy healthcare through AI self-service

Substack has launched video creation tools to expand its offerings while maintaining a model that prioritises direct creator-subscriber support. In the context of a creator economy and social media fatigue, the platform is giving creators new ways to connect with their audience.

Substack adds new video tool to heighten connection

India is poised to take over the tech hurricane with an array of tools at its disposal, including a robust EdTech and climate-tech start-up ecosystem and government-led AI tools aimed at delivering social tools. But how can this growth continue amid concerns around privacy and inclusivity?

Indians are developing their tech fast – but is it sustainable?

Motortaxi-hailing platform Angkas is widely recognised in the Philippines for being attuned to what its consumers want – from affordable transportation solutions to amusing moment marketing. How did they achieve their unique position amid several transportation crises in the country?

How Angkas beats the traffic with pop culture humour

How are people changing their mealtime routines to adapt to fast-paced lifestyles? What's causing the growing demand for education around food supply chains? What's behind the rise of small indulgences and treat culture? Why are people turning to nostalgic flavours, recipes and products?

Eating and Drinking Sector Snapshot: November 2023

People are increasingly looking for ways to optimise their wellbeing through seamless dietary choices and supplements. Meeting this demand, Biomel offers plant-based drinks and snacks that conveniently integrate gut care into people’s routines without compromising on taste.




Biomel drinks and snacks make gut care accessible

A flagship partnership will see buyers in the US be able to purchase Hyundai cars via Amazon as of 2024. With online research already a key part of people’s car purchase journeys, this partnership speaks to an anticipated shift in digital-first shopping for big-ticket items.

Amazon and Hyundai ramp up DTC auto options

Released on November 10th, The Marvels had the second-worst opening weekend of any film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With viewers overwhelmed by their streaming options, the brand's proliferation of TV shows and movies could be hurting its fans' ability to invest in characters and storylines.

‘The Marvels’ highlights oversaturation for Marvel fans

China is on pace to end a nearly decade-long streak of declining marriage registrations, with huge numbers of young people looking to tie the knot in 2023. As young people move past the obstacles that kept them from marrying throughout the 2020s, they’re seeking stability to build lives on.

Chinese couples look to settle down despite money woes

Femtech start-up Daye provides support to people beyond period products; it has launched an at-home STI screening test with a product many are familiar with – a tampon. While STI testing can be daunting, this approach helps to break down barriers by tapping into routine behaviour.

Daye offers approachable at-home STI test kit

Female-focused, ethical, and empowering content is shifting the adult entertainment sector. With growing demand for more inclusive and respectful representations of sexuality, brands can play a role in shifting the narrative with content that spotlights authentic female sexual pleasure. 

Female-driven perspectives are transforming adult content

A survey has found that half of Americans plan to spend money on travel this holiday season. The holidays are gearing up to be a busy time for getaways, meaning people will be looking to brands and services for support with more seamless processes – especially after the disruption of 2022.

Americans want seamless holiday travel experiences

Despite inflation, Diwali e-commerce is booming as people look for convenience while shopping. Shoppers also prioritise community-driven discovery and brand trust, embracing tech innovations like VR and AR. How can brands leverage hyper-regional content and use tech to enhance intimacy?

How is social shopping changing the way Indians spend on Diwali?

TikTok continues to redefine entertainment and reshape the cultural landscape in Southeast Asia, with Gen Z at the forefront of this transformation. Through the short-form video app, they’re crafting a new narrative for what it means to connect, create, and communicate in this digital age.

Inside TikTok’s cultural footprint on Gen Z in Southeast Asia

A survey has found that younger Gen Zers and Gen Alphas in Korea increasingly use their personal credit or debit cards for everyday purchases. There’s a need to teach smart spending habits and encourage children to take ownership of their money from a younger age so they build financial resilience.

More Korean teens experiment with credit cards

In the aftermath of a pandemic amid a digitally charged Singapore, physical queues are still prevalent and thriving in the city-state. With younger Asians making up a larger chunk of the spending demographic, will physical queues continue being a mainstay in the future?

Staying in line: Singapore’s obsession with long queues

Deft is an online search tool that aims to make it easier than ever to find a product online thanks to its uses of AI and visual search. As convenience and immediacy become ever-entwined in all aspects of life, people expect to get what they want as quickly as possible, and not a moment later.

Deft uses AI and visual search to find anything online

Southeast Asia is poised to become a global fashion hub, with Thailand as a source of fast fashion. This shift brought the Thai brand Gentlewoman to the worldwide scene, becoming an iconic and recognisable name for young Southeast Asian women and inspiring knockoffs internationally.

How Gentlewoman brings Thai fashion to Southeast Asians

Almouneer is an Egyptian health start-up that offers patients an online diabetes management platform and secure storage of medical records. Diabetes is a leading health concern in Egypt, where millions of people struggle to manage their lifestyles alongside their condition and are looking for help.

Almouneer helps Egyptians with diabetes management

Sainsbury's has extended its hyper-personalised Nectar price deals online after previously only offering them in-store. As the cost of living crisis rumbles on, supermarket loyalty schemes and deals have become essential as people's loyalty is tested amid financial hardship.

Sainsbury’s extends personalised Nectar deals to online

Ulta has announced a nationwide expansion of its in-store wellness spaces, looking further to integrate wellness into the beauty retailer’s DNA. Americans have largely come to see beauty and self-care as occupying the same space, and many are looking for brands to make wellness journeys easier.

Ulta increases its focus on in-store wellness discovery

While many choose to suffer through a cough or a cold, Amazon's Clinic is launching a service focusing on those ailments. As expectations for quick, convenient, and remote healthcare grow ever stronger, people are gravitating towards brands that make healthcare easily accessible.

Amazon Clinic service caters to cold and flu symptoms

Project Khoj, Emami Group's flagship rural expansion initiative in India, is tapping into a growing rural consumer market. The FMCG industry is seeing double-digit growth, driven by a revival in rural markets and traditional trade channels, with the help of new tech harnessing local intelligence.

Why Project Khoj tracks small stores in Indian villages

A survey has shown that despite being tech-savvy, Gen Z and Gen Y have poorer cybersecurity habits than Boomers – but Boomers feel less confident whilst browsing online. Complacent online behaviour amongst Gen Z and Y needs addressing, whilst building trust and confidence for Boomers is key.

Boomers' cyber-security habits stronger than Gen Z and Y

As people remain wary of splashing out on eating out, they want brands to help them create dining out experiences at home. With this in mind, Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Gymkhana has made its signature ingredients for fine Indian cuisine available for purchase at supermarkets.




Gymkhana offer premium Indian culinary indulgence at home

Google Maps is set to debut a feature that will let busy Indian urbanites book metro tickets directly via the app saving them time and making commuting less of a pain. As expectations around convenience and immediacy grow ever higher, people are looking to brands to help tackle these pain points.




Google Maps simplifies metro ticket purchasing in India

Dubai-based tech company Yango has unveiled Yasmina, an emotionally intelligent AI assistant fluent in Arabic. It speaks to the demand for hyperlocal chatbots that are attuned to cultural nuances and the proliferation of AI as empathetic companions, not just machines of convenience.

Yasmina meets demand for culturally specific AI chatbots

US fintech company Circle and Filipino crypto platform Coins.ph are teaming up to promote the use of USDC for remittances. As Web3 plays a greater role in financial inclusion, companies are prioritising financial literacy and anti-scam measures to help customers make sound financial decisions.

Circle and Coins.ph simplify remittances for Filipinos

A survey from PYMNTS Intelligence revealed that American consumers plan to utilize installment plans to rein in their holiday spending. There’s an opportunity for brands to encourage cautious splurging while also meeting the demand for more precise and helpful product recommendations.

US shoppers eye installment plans for holiday purchases

Target has launched an immersive shopping experience for kids in the form of a virtual room of toys, most of which are under $25. While the cost of living crisis shows no sign of ending before the holidays, brands are looking to help price-conscious parents discover gifts for their children.

Target uses VR to help parents with holiday spending

As remote work becomes the norm, flexible accommodation arrangements offer new ways of travelling and working simultaneously. Habyt is a platform providing flexible stays that are neither hotels nor long-term tenancies bound by lease agreements, instead offering reliable medium-stay arrangements.

Habyt lures digital nomads with medium-term rentals

Walmart has eliminated degree requirements for some corporate jobs, focusing instead on skills and prior experience. Americans’ careers are becoming less linear, and as big employers look to identify talent, workers are focusing on upskilling outside of traditional avenues like college.

Walmart shifts its focus to skill-based hiring

The nascent femtech landscape in India is proving critical to the destigmatisation of overlooked women’s health concerns, granting better healthcare to half of the population. Elda Health stands out by catering to women over 35, with a focus on mid-life health concerns, especially menopause.

Elda Health: helping Indian women manage menopause

DoorDash is rolling out a rewards program that offers consumers credits for dining out at local restaurants. Reward schemes are a well-established generator of brand loyalty, but as they become more commonplace, brands are coming up with novel ways to do something for customers who return to them.

DoorDash rewards customers who dine at local restaurants

Lifecycle

The need-it-now mentality has become the norm