Video gaming giants Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have long dominated video gameplay, but Dizzaract Games, a UAE-born gaming studio is positioning itself at the intersection of AI and interactive entertainment. With a product roadmap designed for user co-creation, adaptive storytelling and real-time personalization, the company is betting on a seismic shift in what video games are and how they’ll be built. “Until now, narratives were scripted – you played through what was already written. But AI flips that. It can generate evolving storylines that respond to your choices, making gameplay feel more like stepping into a dream or directing your own film in real time,” says Ilman Shazhaev. Dizzaract is also using AI across its development pipeline to help the human team do everything from digital asset creation to quality assurance. That AI strategy is helping to lower production costs and compress design cycles, which Shazhaev calls critical advantages when facing off with incumbent gaming firms such as EA, Ubisoft or Tencent. But he says an even more radical shift is coming regarding in-game purchases that players can make for a better gaming experience. “Think about in-game economies where item prices or currency rates react in real time to global markets or external marketplaces. That’s where things get really interesting. The pricing system could also adapt based on the country you are playing from, taking into account factors like your country’s currency inflation and other economic indicators. Integrating those gaming economies directly into the world economy gives you different experiences altogether,” Shazhaev said.
Stablecoins are propelling cross-border money transfer by being at least 10 times cheaper, 100 times faster while users avoid capital controls, currency conversion hurdles, and heavy compliance bottlenecks
While much of the attention on stablecoins focuses on regulation and market cap, their real momentum comes from how they’re being used: Global money transfers: Compared to transferring the same amount via stablecoins, even in the worst case, fees might only be a few dollars, and the transaction typically settles within minutes. That’s at least 10 times cheaper and potentially 100 times faster. There’s also another major benefit: users avoid capital controls, currency conversion hurdles, and heavy compliance bottlenecks, particularly relevant when sending money from or to countries with restrictive financial systems. Means of payment: The second use case — using stablecoins as a means of payment — is less advanced, largely due to regulatory inertia. ccording to U.S. Treasury International Capital data, Tether’s treasury holdings alone rival those of sovereign investors like Germany or Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Circle’s portfolio is comparable to that of Thailand or Sweden. With such significant exposure to U.S. debt and growing political opposition to CBDCs—including campaign promises from Donald Trump to block their development—stablecoins may have already secured their place as the preferred digital dollar infrastructure in the United States. Decentralized finance (DeFi). The third major use case—decentralized finance —is where stablecoins are already thriving. They serve as the foundational currency for DeFi applications, enabling lending, borrowing, swapping, yield farming, and more—all without centralized intermediaries. The functionality mirrors traditional finance but with key advantages: it’s global, permissionless, and often more efficient. As crypto infrastructure intersects with artificial intelligence, stablecoins could enable AI agents to transact autonomously, unlocking programmable, real-time finance.
Studying system prompts (role and contextual) used by existing unicorn AI startups can throw up ideas for next crop of unicorns by helping LLMs become consistent, lending both purpose and personality and giving them context
Brad Menezes, CEO of enterprise vibe coding startup Superblocks, believes the next crop of billion-dollar startup ideas are hiding in almost plain sight: the system prompts used by existing unicorn AI startups. So as part of his own startup’s new product announcement of an enterprise coding AI agent named Clark, Superblocks offered to share a file of 19 system prompts from some of the most popular AI coding products like Windsurf, Manus, Cursor, Lovable and Bolt. Role prompting helps the LLMs be consistent, giving both purpose and personality. Contextual prompting gives the models the context to consider before acting. It should provide guardrails that can, for instance, reduce costs and ensure clarity on tasks. Tool use enables agentic tasks because it instructs the models how to go beyond just generating text. Replit’s, for instance, is long and describes editing and searching code, installing languages, setting up and querying PostgreSQL databases, executing shell commands and more. Studying others’ system prompts helped Menezes see what other vibe coders emphasized. Tools like Loveable, V0, and Bolt “focus on fast iteration,” he said, whereas “Manus, Devin, OpenAI Codex, and Replit” help users create full-stack applications but “the output is still raw code.” Menezes saw an opportunity to let non-programmers write apps, if his startup could handle more, such as security and access to enterprise data sources like Salesforce.
allpay becomes the first signatory of Enfuce’s Fortitude Pledge, a compliance and security standard designed to eliminate 100% of financial crime risks across all card transactions
allpay Limited, the UK’s leading payment solutions provider, has become the first company to sign the Fortitude Pledge, a bold new compliance and security standard launched by issuer processing powerhouse Enfuce, designed to eliminate 100% of financial crime risks across all card transactions. The Fortitude Pledge is a proactive commitment to move beyond checkbox compliance and take full responsibility in the fight against financial crime. From screening every card transaction to training every employee, the Fortitude Pledge sets a new benchmark of zero tolerance for financial crime, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and human trafficking. allpay and Enfuce have joined forces across two critical fronts, card manufacturing and payment processing, leveraging their combined strengths to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready solutions across the UK. By integrating Enfuce’s cloud-based technology, allpay is modernising public sector payments across the UK, making them more secure, efficient, and less vulnerable to fraud. At the same time, allpay is powering card manufacturing and personalisation for Enfuce’s MyCard solution, enabling highly secure, seamless, and personalised card experiences.
Apple AirPods get new features, including studio-quality audio and a camera remote
Apple has announced new features and gestures for its AirPods. The AirPods lineup will feature studio-quality audio recording and a camera remote. The audio recording improvements will improve sound quality, even in noisy environments. The features will be available on AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and AirPods Pro 2 devices. Users can activate the camera by pressing and holding on the AirPods stem, triggering the camera or a third-party app depending on settings. The camera can also be used for photos or videos.
TCH RTP’’s increased real-time payments limit of $10 million is fueling new use cases among Bank of America’s B2B clients for real estate and deal closings and other corporate activity
Recent action from The Clearing House to increase the transaction limit on real-time payments from $1 million to $10 million is fueling new use cases in business-to-business payments among Bank of America clients. The bank is one of the first financial institutions to enable its corporate customers to send payments up to the new transaction limit. As one of the owners of The Clearing House, Bank of America played a significant role in developing the RTP® network in consultation with peer banks, technology firms and the U.S. Federal Reserve. “Our clients have been using RTP to pay vendors, employees and customers, but the larger cap has opened up use cases for different kinds of transactions, such as real estate and deal closings and other corporate activity,” said AJ McCray, head of Global Payments Products, Global Payments Solutions (GPS) at Bank of America. In the first six weeks since the transaction limit was raised, BofA corporate clients have increasingly taken advantage of the limit increase, with transactions over $1 million now accounting for more than half the value of all U.S. real-time payments the company is processing. “The instant nature of real-time payments is a huge advantage for optimizing working capital and cashflow,” said Jay Davenport co-head of GPS Global Corporate Sales at Bank of America. “RTP payments embody some of the most commonly requested features from our customers – convenience, transparency and resiliency.”
Chase Digital Banking Attitudes survey says digital banking adoption grows- 67% of consumers polled reported they have used person-to-person payments, or P2P, up from 40% in 2020s
Whether splitting the bill when eating out, or sharing costs on grocery shopping, 67% of consumers polled in the Chase Digital Banking Attitudes survey reported they have used person-to-person payments, or P2P, up from 40% in 2020. Additionally, 39% expressed strong interest in adopting AI for financial management in the future. Also, 85% would prefer to manage all their banking activities in one app. Now in its fifth year, the survey of 2,000 participants has been examining consumer banking behaviors since the pandemic. Millennials are driving adoption trends, using all online banking features more than other generations. The survey shows that many consumers are also ready to explore the future of digital banking with new and emerging technologies. Millennials again stand out as most willing and interested in exploring new technologies in their digital banking experiences, followed closely by Gen Z. Nearly half of all Millennial (49%) and Gen Z (45%) respondents said they would like access to AI assistants to help manage their finances and provide real-time solutions to their needs. Younger consumers also are interested in integrating other technologies over the next five years, led by Millennials and Gen Z Some highlights include:
- 75% said they are aware of and have used P2P payment methods, a 21% increase from 2020, leading the way in adoption and moving away from traditional cash transactions.
- 79% use credit monitoring tools.
- 78% of consumers use banking apps weekly and 62% can’t live without them.
- Credit score monitoring adoption has jumped to 52%, up 11% since the first survey.
- One-third (34%) use digital budgeting tools and half use them weekly.
- About one-half (48%) of respondents said they would use mobile banking features that automate their savings.
- More than two-thirds (68%) find digital tools (texts, emails, fraud alerts) helpful in notifying about potential fraud on their accounts.
UWM’s AI-powered loan assistant, MIA makes outbound calls, asks and answers questions, takes messages, collects callback info, and even follows up with borrowers for refinance opportunities
Jason Bressler, chief technology officer for United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), is trying to change the narrative around AI being integrated into the mortgage industry and lending solutions. “What we need to understand is that AI is not some experience at the end of the day … it is a predictive analyst,” he said. “But everything, as you look at that, boils down to one thing: data. It’s all about the data, and having reliable data and confident data, in what we’re doing and the decisions that you’re making possible.” To AI naysayers, Bressler warned that resisting the integration of AI chatbots and solutions is akin to 1990s mortgage companies that resisted the internet. This could lead some companies to fall behind. The same root Bressler alluded to is technological intimidation. “You don’t need to come up with a giant strategy. AI does not have to be expensive. … There is always a way to improve or change the manufacturing process. It could be operationally, it could be getting leads,” he said. “Remember, AI doesn’t have an NMLS. It can’t do everything.” As the CTO for the largest mortgage company in the U.S., Bressler discussed toeing the line of developing in-house technology — what he refers to as a build versus buy mentality — and keeping that technology from replacing any of UWM’s several thousand employees. The company claims it has never had to lay off any team members. “Technology should work to enhance the job that you do, that loan officers do, that real estate agents do. It should never replace everyone. It should take away the tedious, laborious tasks,” he said. Bressler’s example was UWM’s AI-powered loan assistant, MIA, which makes outbound calls, asks and answers questions, takes messages, collects callback info, and even follows up with borrowers for refinance opportunities.
Capital One to retain its existing Walmart credit card portfolio following an announcement from Synchrony and OnePay of a new credit card initiative set to launch this fall
Capital One will retain its existing Walmart credit card portfolio following an announcement from Synchrony and OnePay, predominantly owned by Walmart, of a new credit card initiative set to launch this fall. TD Cowen has indicated that Synchrony will not acquire the current Walmart card assets from Capital One. Consequently, the new program will need to be developed from the ground up, which initially may lead to a short-term negative impact on earnings as reserves are established. OnePay, a financial technology firm backed by Walmart, picked Synchrony to issue both a co-branded card that can be used outside Walmart as well as a private-label card that will be available just for purchases at the retailer. OnePay will begin offering the cards in the U.S. later this year. Synchrony issued the Walmart credit card for nearly two decades until 2018, when it lost the partnership to Capital One Financial. The latest deal does not include the balances tied to Walmart’s existing credit card program. The move is the latest sign that Walmart is looking to weave itself into the financial lives of millions of its shoppers, and it’s betting that OnePay, which is structured as an independent company, is its best shot at doing so. While the fintech is majority owned by the retailer, it is also backed by investment firm Ribbit Capital. Synchrony is best known as one of the largest issuers of co-brand credit cards, counting the likes of JCPenney, Lowe’s, Amazon.com and PayPal as partners. It also renewed its 30-year relationship with Walmart-owned Sam’s Club last year. Those five partnerships accounted for more than half the interest and fees the bank earned on its loans in 2024, according to a regulatory filing. Co-brand and private label credit cards are a crucial way that many merchants and card issuers use to monetize a customer’s loyalty to a certain brand or store. To that end, the new card will be the latest avenue of growth for OnePay, which already offers a variety of banking, lending and payment products. Walmart’s so-called Money Centers allow customers to cash checks, get their taxes prepared, pay their bills and access money orders. In some ways, with more than 4,600 stores across the U.S., the company already operates a network of branches that would rival those of JPMorgan, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. But Walmart executives have long been vocal about the need to digitize the array of financial services the company offers shoppers.
Charles Schwab to cut costs for some fund investors; cost-savings on ETFs will help it compete with other low-cost funds and the share split will make shares more affordable
Charles Schwab’s asset-management unit said it will cut fees on four index exchange-traded funds and it announced another method to lower costs for investors—it is splitting shares (comparable to a stock split, so the funds will cost less per share) on six Schwab mutual funds. The moves may help Schwab attract more customer dollars as the cost-savings on ETFs will help it compete with other low-cost funds and the share split will make shares more affordable. The fee reductions, which will be effective June 10, are between 0.02 and 0.04 percentage points (or two and four basis points) for each fund. Schwab says the cuts will reduce the cost of all Schwab equity and fixed income market cap-weighted index ETFs to less than 10 basis points. A basis point is one one-hundredth of a percentage point. The operating expense ratio for the Schwab 1000 Index ETF will fall to 0.03% from 0.05%; Schwab International Equity ETF’s expense ratio will decrease to 0.03% from 0.06%; Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF’s expense ratio will drop to 0.08% from 0.11%; and Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF’s expense ratio will be reduced to 0.07% from 0.11%. The company’s cost-cutting moves come amid ongoing pressure on asset managers to reduce fees to attract investors’ dollars. Earlier this year, Vanguard unveiled sweeping fee cuts on dozens of funds. In that set of cuts, Vanguard lowered the expense ratio for the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF, an index fund that owns growth stocks, to 0.07% from 0.10%, comparable to some of the Schwab cuts. “Today, we’re taking another important step in advancing our commitment to providing investors with low-cost, high-quality building blocks for a well-diversified portfolio,” says John Sturiale, head of product management and innovation at Schwab Asset Management. Schwab’s forward share splits will increase the number of shares outstanding for certain mutual funds and decrease the net asset value per share, potentially making the funds more accessible to investors. For example, the planned 10-for-one share split for the Schwab 1000 Index Fund will return it to a NAV more closely aligned to its initial share price of $10, according to Schwab. Shares of the fund currently trade around $129. The fund has a total expense ratio of 0.05%. The splits are scheduled to occur Aug. 15 and, in addition to the Schwab 100 Index Fund, include the following funds: Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth Index Fund, Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund, Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund, Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap Index Fund, and Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value Index Fund.