MANTL is the first fintech to resell and offer Plaid Layer, Plaid’s instant onboarding technology used by the most innovative neobanks. Through this first-of-its-kind integration, MANTL empowers regional and community financial institutions to deliver the same seamless digital onboarding experiences as tech-first neobanks while unlocking faster growth and stronger conversion. MANTL already delivers a best-in-class account opening experience, with average account opening times of under five minutes for consumers and under ten minutes for businesses. Now, with Plaid Layer natively integrated into its platform, MANTL can provide a one-minute account opening time. By embedding Plaid’s technology directly into its deposit and loan workflows, MANTL streamlines the entire onboarding process, accelerating time to open and enabling more users to successfully reach and complete applications—all within a secure, optimized experience. Key benefits of the MANTL–Plaid Layer integration include: Increase in conversion: Plaid customers using Layer have seen up to a 25% increase in end-to-end conversion rates. Faster onboarding: Layer can onboard an account holder in one minute by unifying the collection of identity data for verification and account linking into one conversion-optimized flow, streamlining the signup process by as much as 87%. Secure, scalable growth: MANTL paired with Plaid Layer unlocks an even more seamless, secure, and scalable path to customer growth.
With Perplexity’s new web browser a user can directly ask Comet which website provides the ability to ship something they need faster than others; it can also connect the dots and submit relevant responses to different types of questions after assessing multi-site information on its own
Perplexity recently announced the launch of Comet, a web browser built for the modern internet which, aims to be a more responsive and fluid option for modern internet users. Comet, serves to be an intelligent interface that works in tune with the user’s mind. It helps ease the challenges of switching between dozens of sites, applications and website to create a more seamless experience. The Comet intelligent assistant allows a user to focus on what really matters while taking care of actual browsing sessions. For instance, a user can directly ask Comet which website provides the ability to ship something they need faster than others. It can also connect the dots and submit relevant responses to different types of questions after assessing multi-site information on its own. Comet does away with complex workflows. Instead of simply searching for information, Comet allows users quick analysis at their fingertips and makes the internet an extension of their mind. One of the best things about Comet: accurate and trustworthy responses. Comet allows users to do a range of things at a faster pace than before, from compare insurance coverage plans to analyzing which technology is best to invest in for a business.
Kantar’s solution enables brands to benchmark and optimize customer experiences by analyzing factors influencing customer engagement and reaction using direct customer feedback from high-quality, privacy-compliant consumer access panels
Kantar, a leading marketing data and analytics company, has launched ExperienceEvaluator, a cost-effective Customer Experience (CX) solution that enables brands to benchmark and optimize customer experiences, accelerate business growth, and ultimately win against competition. The solution delivers results in as few as four days, allowing CX teams to quickly evaluate how audiences react, engage, and connect with brands. It uses direct customer feedback from Kantar’s high-quality, privacy-compliant consumer access panels to analyze what is influencing people’s experiences, pinpoint areas for improvement, and prioritize next steps based on data-driven insights. ExperienceEvaluator is available on Kantar Marketplace, Kantar’s agile market research platform, and is built on Kantar’s proprietary Meaningfully Different Experiences (MDX) methodology. MDX links strong consumer experience to measurable business outcomes such as increased market share, reduced churn, higher pricing power, and stronger customer retention. Kantar’s CEO Amy Cashman emphasizes the importance of customer experience in achieving business growth. Global telco giant Orange is using Kantar’s MDX metrics to demonstrate the positive business impact of its relationship CX programs.
OpenAI’s Chromium-based AI browser to likely include a chat-style assistant that can perform complex tasks on behalf of the user in click-free mode and an agentic AI to handle multistep tasks across the web that lets users delegate responsibilities
OpenAI is reportedly close to releasing a browser that could potentially take on Google LLC’s market dominance with its Chrome browser, several months after the company said that it would be interested in buying Chrome from Google. The browser is slated to be launched in the coming weeks and uses artificial intelligence to fundamentally change how consumers browse the web. Notably, the browser would also give OpenAI direct access to user data, which it could use to train its models. The browser is expected to be built on Chromium, the open-source codebase that underpins Chrome and most other browsers except Firefox, but with AI tightly integrated into the user experience. The OpenAI browser is said to include a chat-style assistant that can perform complex tasks on behalf of the user, such as summarizing pages, autofilling forms, booking travel or completing online purchases, without requiring users to click through websites manually, instead of simply serving as a traditional interface for web navigation. Where things could get particularly interesting is that the browser may include OpenAI’s Operator agent, an agentic AI offering designed to handle multistep tasks across the web, allowing users to delegate responsibilities such as scheduling appointments or ordering food to an AI agent. Its inclusion could turn the browser into more than just a gateway to the internet versus a fully capable assistant embedded directly in the browsing environment. The move could place OpenAI in direct competition with Google on multiple fronts, not only in search but also in advertising and data collection.
Microsoft’s Edge browser claims it can load websites faster now- First Contentful Paint (FCP) takes less than 300 milliseconds to start rendering the first parts of a website—whether it’s text, images, or interface components
Microsoft is introducing its Edge browser to users who are tired of Google Chrome’s memory and space consumption. Edge now loads websites faster than before, allowing users to see text and images load on the webpage. Microsoft has been accused of not giving Edge the momentum to load pages faster, as industry standards suggest any loading time beyond 300 ms is not ideal for users. The new-gen browser with Copilot support has dramatically reduced load times by an average of 40% across features like read aloud, split screen, and workspaces. Microsoft has shared details about the upgrade and even the Settings page on Edge now loads faster, giving people good reasons to consider the Microsoft browser for their daily use. While Chrome has an assailable lead with over 68% market share, Edge is used by less than 5% of users worldwide. Microsoft hopes Edge can become a strong challenger to Google’s superiority in the near future.
Pinwheel’s smartwatch for kids aged 7 to 14 prevents access to social media and internet features an AI chatbot that enables them to ask questions about everyday curiosities, social interactions, and homework-related questions
Pinwheel, a kid-friendly tech company, is introducing a new solution for parents who want to stay connected with their children without giving them a phone. The Pinwheel Watch is a recently launched smartwatch designed specifically for kids aged 7 to 14, offering a child-safe alternative that prevents access to social media and the internet. It features parental management tools, GPS tracking, a camera, voice-to-text messaging, fun mini-games, and — here’s a surprise — an AI chatbot. The smartwatch itself features a sleek black design and a screen that is slightly larger than that of an Apple Watch. In addition to a more standard set of parental controls, the feature some parents might be wary of is the watch’s AI assistant, “PinwheelGPT.” PinwheelGPT is designed as a safer alternative to typical AI chatbots, enabling kids to ask questions about various topics, including everyday curiosities, social interactions, and homework-related questions. In addition to the AI feature, kids and tweens can make calls and send texts on the watch by using voice commands or a keyboard. There’s also a camera for video calls and selfies, along with a voice recorder app. The parent-monitoring features are available through the “Caregiver” app. This allows parents to create a “Safelist” of contacts that their children are permitted to talk to, as well as reject certain phone numbers from being added to the list.
Truv, a provider income, employment, and asset verification solutions integrates with Blue Sage Solutions, a cloud-based digital lending platform for mortgage originators; of direct-to-source verification improves processing turn times and reduces time to close
Truv, a provider of direct-to-source income, employment, and asset verification solutions, announced a strategic integration with Blue Sage Solutions, a cloud-based digital lending platform for mortgage originators. The integration gives lenders access to Truv’s advanced verification capabilities within their existing workflow in the Blue Sage Loan Origination System (LOS), creating a streamlined verification process that significantly reduces costs and improves efficiency for mortgage lenders from application to closing. The integration delivers substantial benefits to mortgage lenders and borrowers: Significant Cost Savings: Lenders using Truv save 60-80% on verification costs compared to traditional solutions, increasing margins per loan file; Accelerated Loan Processing: Direct-to-source verification data coupled with Blue Sage’s automation capabilities improves processing turn times and reduces time to close; Enhanced Borrower Experience: The fully digital verification process reduces the paperchase and cumbersome manual process for borrowers; Streamlined Implementation: Go live quickly with minimal effort, using straightforward configurations. Carmine Cacciavillani, CEO of Blue Sage Solutions, remarked, “This partnership with Truv aligns perfectly with our mission to modernize mortgage lending through technology. The integration provides our clients with instant access to critical verification data, eliminating manual processes while ensuring compliance and accuracy.” Andrew Badstubner, CIO at First Community Mortgage said, ”The integration between Truv and Blue Sage supports that mission by eliminating document clutter and verification delays by providing fast, reliable data straight from the source.”
New technique for detecting tampering in PDF documents uses Python to generate hashes and access intricate PDF structures such as metadata and images, embedding them as hidden key in the relevant file’s page objects
Researchers from the University of Pretoria have developed a new technique for detecting tampering in PDF documents by analyzing the file’s page objects. The new prototype uses Python to detect changes to a PDF document, such as text, images, or metadata. PDFs are increasingly used in various industries and are a target for criminals who want to affect contracts or aid in misinformation. Current techniques for detecting changes in PDFs rely on watermarking and hashing, which can only detect visible parts of a PDF. However, these methods do not analyze hidden elements like metadata or background data, making it difficult to identify exactly where or what was changed. The new prototype uses the hashlib, Merkly, and PDFRW libraries to generate hashes and access intricate PDF structures. It performs two primary functions: protecting a PDF and assessing a PDF for forgery. To protect a PDF, the prototype reads the PDF document and calculates unique digital fingerprints, known as hashes, from various elements. These hashes are secretly embedded as new, hidden keys into the relevant file page object and the PDF’s main “root” object. The PDF tampering prototype works well with Adobe Acrobat, but it does not yet detect all possible PDF changes, such as altering a document’s font without changing the actual content or adding JavaScript code.
Naext’s indoor spatial computing enables people with visual impairments to navigate large-scale, complex buildings independently through smartphones and smart glasses
Naext, founded by Lukas van Delft and Victor van Dinten, is a European startup focused on creating a more accessible world through innovative, privacy-friendly technology. The company uses AI, computer vision, and immersive experiences to enable people to navigate complex buildings independently, using smartphones and smart glasses. Naext’s most visible application is making Dutch public transportation more accessible for people with and without visual impairments. The startup has raised €1.5 million in funding and plans to roll out its technology across Europe through European mobility hubs. The company competes with companies like Be My Eyes, GoodMaps, and Niantic, but sees them as ecosystem partners. Naext’s biggest success is the largest hospital in the Netherlands, which now has over 1,000 active users every month. The Brainport ecosystem supports Naext’s development, with investors, partners, and talent. However, there is room for improvement in large clients willing to adopt startup technology on a large scale.
Apple’s AI agent can provide accessible interactions using Street View imagery, analyze what is seen on a route, and describe the details of the elements to offer contextual clues for visually impaired users
A paper released through Apple Machine Learning Research talks about SceneScout, a multi-modal LLM-driven AI agent that can be used to view Street View imagery, analyze what is seen, and to describe it to the viewer. At the moment, pre-travel advice provides details like landmarks and turn-by-turn navigation, which do not provide much in the way of landscape context for visually impaired users. However, Street View style imagery, such as Apple Maps Look Around, often presents sighted users with a lot more contextual clues, which are often missed out on by people who cannot see it. This is where SceneScout steps in, as an AI agent to provide accessible interactions using Street View imagery. There are two modes to Scene Scout, with Route Preview providing details of elements it can observe on a route. For example, it could advise of trees at a turning and other more tactile elements to the user. A second mode, Virtual Exploration, is described as enabling free movement within Street View imagery, describing elements to the user as they virtually move. In its user study, the team determined that SceneScout is helpful to visually impaired people, in terms of uncovering information that they would not otherwise access using existing methods. If the research pans out, it could become a tool to help visually impaired people virtually explore a location in advance.