A new set of consulting firms is leveraging AI to challenge the classic consulting model. Xavier AI describes itself as the world’s first AI strategy consultant. Filipe said Xavier AI has its own proprietary reasoning engine that is tailor-made for business use cases and can provide detailed sources without the hallucination you might find with other chatbots. He said Xavier can provide both strategy recommendations and actionable plans for implementation. “We created Xavier AI so that anyone could have the power of a consulting firm at their hands when they need it.” Consulting IQ positions itself as an AI-powered boutique consultant dedicated to the needs of SMBs. Once a user registers on the platform, they provide a few basic details about their business — who they are, where they operate, and their challenges. Then they’ll see a list of over 5,000 preloaded prompts in topics ranging from branding to business strategy to sales. Users can converse with the tool for insights on how to optimize their operations. Perceptis aims to help smaller and midsize firms compete with bigger industry players by using AI to streamline some of the more tedious processes in consulting, like proposal writing. Genpact, a professional services company that expects to generate $5 billion in revenue this year, has made a major push over the past year to position itself as a leader in AI strategy. Last year, Genpact launched “Client Zero,” an initiative to design, test, and refine AI solutions in-house before rolling them out to its 800-plus clients. SIB specializes in helping clients like restaurant groups, hospitals, universities, and government agencies find savings in fixed costs — expenses that remain static regardless of how much a company produces. SIB CEO Shannon Copeland told that these are often found in areas that “escape scrutiny,” like fees for telecommunications, utilities, waste removal, shipping, and software licenses. Monevate focuses on pricing strategy for software-as-a-service and high-growth tech companies. It also works with private equity firms to assess the commercial viability of potential investments. James Wilton, Managing Partner said clients usually turn to Monevate when they’ve hit a wall with their current strategy because their product has changed or the market has evolved. Keystone is a strategy consulting firm that advises technology companies, life science companies, governments, and law firms. While many consulting firms are embracing generative AI, which is often used to automate day-to-day work like writing emails or reviewing documents and contracts, Keystone is focusing more on operational AI.. Fusion Collective is an IT consulting firm that offers a range of consulting services to clients, including strategy and management advice, cloud transformation, and AI alignment. Founder Blake Crawford, said that in her experience, clients are seeking AI advice from consulting firms before they’re ready.. Slideworks isn’t necessarily going after consulting firms’ business, though it focuses on something many of the big guys are known for: making powerful slides..” Unity Advisory: Some top UK executives from Ernst & Young and PwC are joining forces to launch a new firm called Unity Advisory. The firm will be chaired by Steve Varley, and led by CEO Marissa Thomas.
CodeSightAI launches an AI code review platform that integrates with GitHub to cut review time by 60%, detect 90% of security issues, and automate smart fixes
CodeSightAI launched its AI-powered code review platform designed to help development teams deliver high-quality software faster. The platform seamlessly integrates with GitHub to provide intelligent code analysis, real-time collaboration, and comprehensive security scanning. The new platform addresses critical inefficiencies in traditional code review processes that cost the global software industry billions annually. By leveraging advanced AI algorithms, CodeSightAI enables development teams to reduce review time by up to 60% while catching 90% of security issues before deployment. CodeSightAI’s comprehensive feature set includes AI-powered code analysis that detects bugs, security vulnerabilities, and performance issues in real-time. The platform provides smart fix recommendations with automated application capabilities and supports multiple programming languages with pattern-based security scanning. The AI-powered code review platform offers seamless GitHub integration through one-click OAuth authentication, automated pull request analysis, and real-time synchronization with repository changes. Development teams benefit from live collaboration features including real-time cursors, code comments, and team performance analytics. Key capabilities of the platform include: – Advanced AI algorithms for bug and vulnerability detection; Real-time code quality assessment with detailed suggestions; Comprehensive security scanning with Row-Level Security; Team collaboration hub with activity feeds and performance metrics; Smart analytics dashboard tracking pull request metrics and quality improvements; Flexible billing and subscription management through Stripe integration.
Advisor CRM debuts a GenAI marketing suite that drafts LinkedIn posts, emails, and client letters in an authentic voice while automating segmentation and scheduling
Advisor CRM has launched its Gen AI Marketing Suite, a fully integrated set of free and paid tools empowers advisors to automate content creation, streamline marketing workflows, and strengthen client relationships. The Gen AI Marketing Suite includes Agents for generating Facebook and LinkedIn posts, marketing emails, client letters, press releases, and more—with new tools added weekly. With minimal training, the AI quickly learns an advisor’s tone of voice, unique value proposition, and communication style, enabling it to write marketing copy and client communications in the advisor’s authentic voice. Key features of the Gen AI Marketing Suite include: AI-powered email creation – Draft messages from scratch or with AI assistance, including suggestions for subject lines, tone, and clarity. Authenticity at scale – With minimal training, the AI learns your style and unique value proposition, writing copy in your authentic voice. Smart segmentation – Organize contact lists with custom tags (e.g., high-value clients, VIPs, new clients). Scheduling & automation – Plan email campaigns in advance with seamless scheduling tools. “Advisor CRM’s Gen AI Marketing Suite turns hours of marketing work into minutes,” said Ryan Borer, Managing Partner at Advisor CRM. “By leveraging AI, we’re not only making content creation easier but also ensuring it’s brand-consistent and client-ready. Because the system adapts to each advisor’s voice and value proposition, the marketing content it generates feels authentic, personal, and true to the advisor’s brand.”
Anthropic warns agentic AI is now executing sophisticated cyberattacks end‑to‑end, powering large‑scale data theft, targeted extortion, and autonomous intrusion decisions
Finastra has teamed up with Circle to help banks integrate stablecoin settlement into their cross-border payment flows. The collaboration sees Circle’s USDC stablecoin integrated with Finastra’s payment hub technology, including the Global PAYplus (GPP) platform. Connecting Finastra’s GPP customers to Circle’s infrastructure will enable settlement in USDC even when payment instructions on both sides remain in fiat currency. This, say the partners, provides banks the optionality to reduce reliance on traditional correspondent banking chains, accelerating settlement times while maintaining compliance and FX processes. “This collaboration is about giving banks the tools they need to innovate in cross-border payments without having to build a standalone payment processing infrastructure,” says Chris Walters, CEO, Finastra. Jeremy Allaire, CEO, Circle, adds: “Together, we’re enabling financial institutions to test and launch innovative payment models that combine blockchain technology with the scale and trust of the existing banking system.”
ISV SKsoft integrates Corpay’s global treasury and payment automation, letting Dynamics 365 users initiate and manage international payments in one workflow with lower fees, better visibility, FX coverage and end-to-end AP automation
Corpay announced a strategic partnership between its Cross-Border business and SKsoft, a leading independent software vendor (ISV) delivering global bank connectivity and treasury automation solutions embedded within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP ecosystem. This collaboration embeds Corpay’s payment automation and global treasury capabilities directly into the SKsoft environment, enabling clients to process and manage their cross-border payments through a single, unified solution, enhancing operational efficiency, visibility, and control. SKsoft’s bank connectivity engine allows for seamless integration into financial institutions across the globe. Now, with Corpay embedded, SKsoft clients gain access to process international payments in more than 145 currencies to over 200 countries, with additional access to currency risk management services, all through an end-to-end automated process. SKsoft’s embedded banking capabilities are purpose-built for Microsoft Dynamics 365, streamlining accounts payable payment processes and supporting enterprise cash flow optimization. Corpay’s solutions will further enhance SKsoft’s offering with expanded cross-border foreign exchange coverage, faster settlement, and the ability to manage currency exposure through a single platform. Aynsley Keller, COO, SKsoft said, “By integrating Corpay’s proven cross-border payment capabilities, we are giving our clients the ability to initiate and manage international payments directly from Dynamics 365, reducing costs, improving visibility, and eliminating the complexity of separate global banking systems.” This integration offers a comprehensive and turnkey payment solution, removing implementation complexity, reducing banking and foreign exchange fees, and unlocking a new level of automation for ERP users.
Circle and Paxos pilot “know‑your‑issuer” with Bluprynt to trace tokens to verified issuers, curbing counterfeit stablecoins and aiding auditors and regulators amid new U.S. rules
Stablecoin heavyweights Circle Internet Group Inc. and Paxos Trust Co. have piloted a new way to prevent copycats and help companies verify their digital asset holdings. The firms partnered with Bluprynt, a fintech startup using cryptography and blockchain technology to provide issuer verification when stablecoins are released by a company. The pilot provided a way to trace back a token to the verified issuer, using Bluprynt’s technology. Bluprynt’s technology gives “provenance upfront, reducing complexity, and providing regulators and investors with the transparency they need.” He noted that could help curb losses due to counterfeit tokens and impersonation attacks. It’s another sign that parts of the digital asset industry are maturing as they seek to meet new regulatory requirements being established in jurisdictions across the globe. Stablecoins are digital assets pegged to non-volatile assets, such as US dollars, and can be used as a cash equivalent for payments. The technology could benefit auditors, financial crime-fighters, and investors. Circle’s USDC is the second-largest stablecoin by market value, and Paxos issues and operates the blockchain infrastructure behind PayPal Inc.’s stablecoin, PYUSD. The number of firms offering stablecoins is expected to grow with the recently-enacted GENIUS Act, which provides a framework for dollar-backed stablecoins.
Microsoft launches an open‑source ZKP library that randomizes each credential presentation to ensure unlinkable, privacy‑preserving digital IDs
Microsoft has introduced Crescent, its cryptographic privacy library to address the growing privacy challenge posed by digital identities. Hidden identifiers in mobile driver’s licenses or JSON Web Tokens (a widely used app login authentication standard) can be exploited to compile detailed user profiles, even when only minimal data is shared, by linking separate activities together. Crescent is an open-source cryptographic library that integrates with existing identity formats without requiring issuers to change their infrastructure. It ensures that every presentation is randomized cryptographically so that no hidden data beyond what the user explicitly reveals can link one interaction to another, the company claims. “Zero-knowledge proofs are not as efficient as the cryptographic algorithms used in today’s credentials,” says the post. “Crescent addresses this computational challenge through preprocessing, performing the most complex calculations once in advance so that later proof generation is quick and efficient for mobile devices.” To make zero-knowledge proofs practical for mobile devices, Crescent splits proof generation into a one-time preparation stage and a fast per-presentation stage. The preparation stage computes reusable cryptographic values and stores them on the device; the presentation stage randomizes those values and produces a compact proof revealing only the necessary attributes. Crescent uses the Groth16 zero-knowledge SNARK system, which produces small proofs that can be verified quickly in a single step. Shared cryptographic parameters based on credential templates allow multiple issuers — for instance, different state motor vehicle departments — to interoperate as long as they adhere to compatible data formats and security standards.
Anthropic tests AI that can see pages, click, and fill forms in Chrome via a plugin, with guardrails to cut prompt‑injection risk from 23.6% to 11.2%.
Anthropic PBC, the startup developing the Claude Gen AI model family, announced the pilot of a browser extension on Tuesday that lets its AI model take control of users’ Google Chrome. The experimental browser-using capability, called Claude for Chrome, will be available for 1,000 users subscribed to the company’s Max plan for $100 or $200 per month. The company announced the extension as a controlled pilot for a small number of users so Anthropic can develop better security practices for this emerging technology. “We view browser-using AI as inevitable: so much work happens in browsers that giving Claude the ability to see what you’re looking at, click buttons, and fill forms will make it substantially more useful,” Anthropic said. The company said that early versions of Claude for Chrome showed promise in managing calendars, scheduling meetings, drafting email responses and testing website features. However, the feature is still experimental and represents a major new security concern, which is why it is not being released widely. Allowing AI models direct control of browsers means that they will encounter a higher chance of malicious instructions in the wild that could be executed on users’ computers, allowing attackers to manipulate the AI model. In experiments, Anthropic said prompt injection tests evaluated 123 attacks representing 29 different scenarios. Out of those, AI-controlled browser use without safety mitigation had a 23.6% success rate for deliberate attacks. “When we added safety mitigations to autonomous mode, we reduced the attack success rate of 23.6% to 11.2%, which represents a meaningful improvement over our existing Computer Use capability,” Anthropic said. Anthropic said for the pilot, users will be blocked from sites it considers “high-risk categories,” such as financial services, adult content and pirated content. The Anthropic team added that it will use insights from the pilot users to refine how prompt injection classifiers operate and how the security mechanisms work to protect users. By building an understanding of user behavior, especially unsafe behavior, and uncovering new attack patterns, the company said it hopes to develop more sophisticated controls for this type of safety-critical application.
Insurance carriers can embed FedNow for always‑on claim payouts, reducing manual processes and check costs while offering policyholders digital choice and immediate access to funds after covered events.
The FedNow® Service can offer insurance carriers the ability to instantly send final and irrevocable funds 24x7x365, creating an opportunity to modernize the policyholder experience, thus growing satisfaction and enhancing loyalty. This resource describes the advantages of transferring funds with instant payments, and outlines next steps for insurance carriers, service providers and financial institutions. Benefits of instant payment innovation in the P&C insurance space: Facilitating instant payouts for approved claims can get customers money and repairs quickly, bolster relationships, and improve business processes for insurance carriers across the space. Accelerate payouts with instant availability of much-needed funds • Instant payouts give insurance policyholders immediate access to funds they need for projects like urgent home or car repairs after an accident • Instant payments streamline transactions for the estimated 50% of approved claim payouts that go to businesses or vendors9, helping them get paid and get to work more quickly Improve relationships with customers in ways that increase satisfaction and boost retention • Policyholders can get paid using the payment method of their choice, which could appeal to customers who prefer digital payments • Better claim experiences drive customer satisfaction, in turn encouraging them to renew their policies or recommend their providers • Instant payouts can help insurers stand out in a crowded market with fast digitization and increasing competition Update analog systems and manual processes to cut costs • Instant payments can reduce reliance on inefficient and potentially risky checks, which still make up considerable shares of payouts • Instant payment methods can lower costs relative to other payment methods by cutting down on transaction fees, which in turn can offset rising industry-wide claims costs10 • New payment methods in the claims experience can accompany broader digital transformation initiatives across the industry • Routing insurance payouts to demand deposit accounts (DDAs) can help financial institutions grow balances and transaction volume.
Adyen teams with Prommt to bring deeply integrated, branded pay‑by‑link and real‑time property management updates to hotels, streamlining remote payments and reducing fraud.
Adyen announced a joint partnership with Prommt, the premium pay by link solution trusted by top brands in hospitality, travel, luxury retail, and professional services. This collaboration enables Adyen to deliver a deeply integrated, seamless payment experience for hotels using Oracle OPERA (v5 and Cloud), streamlining operations, reducing fraud, and elevating the guest payment journey. Prommt’s platform enables hotels to request and collect secure, efficient and premium branded remote payments. It supports features like scheduled sends, automated reminders (SMS/email), file attachments, reporting, and refund management. With a deep integration to Oracle OPERA, the platform automates payment workflows, updates the guest folio in real time and triggers email alerts on successful payments. Trusted by the world’s finest hotels, Prommt holds an all five-star rating on the Oracle Cloud Marketplace. The partnership has already made a strong impact in the market, marked by a successful win with Urban Hive, a vibrant hotel brand under Hively Hospitality, a group that owns and franchises hotels across multiple countries. The combined solution is helping Urban Hive transform its payment workflows and deliver a more secure and seamless guest experience.