Stripe stories

Google has launched an open Universal Commerce Protocol to standardise AI shopping flows across search, apps, merchants and payments.

Insight deepens its Stripe alliance to modernise enterprise payments and power AI-driven checkout and in-chat commerce experiences.

Akeneo launches an AI‑driven Winter Release to power “agentic commerce”, speeding product data from enrichment to activation for AI buyers.

Google launches a Universal Commerce Protocol and Business Agent tools as it bets on AI agents to drive the next era of online shopping.

Google launches Universal Commerce Protocol to link AI shopping agents, retailers and payments in a new ‘agentic commerce’ push.

Marqeta has hired veteran payments executive Patti Kangwankij as CFO, completing a leadership reshuffle under chief executive Mike Milotich.

Rithum links its commerce platform to Stripe’s Agentic Commerce Suite, enabling AI agents to handle product discovery and payments end-to-end.

Freshworks rolls out new AI tools for Freshdesk to unify channels, cut agent drudgery and boost resolution speeds for service teams.

Zepz will launch stablecoin-linked Visa cards with Stripe’s Bridge, enabling global daily spending of digital dollars from early 2026 in markets including Australia and the US.

Salesforce launches Agentforce Commerce, a platform enabling retailers to sell via AI-driven channels like ChatGPT, boosting engagement and orders globally.

Bluwhale launches AI-powered Stablecoin Agent to manage digital dollars as stablecoin market tops $300bn, aiming to boost individual investor returns.

Payments now make up 55% of global fintech revenues at USD $126 billion, driven by innovation, regulation, and demand for instant, secure transactions.

Freshworks launches new AI tools in the UK to streamline customer support and IT management, boosting efficiency and cutting manual tasks for enterprises.

Visa has expanded its Intelligent Commerce framework in Asia Pacific, introducing new AI-driven payment security protocols for agentic commerce starting early 2026.

Qualtrics appoints AI veterans and pledges USD $500 million to advance purpose-built AI for transforming customer and employee experience management.

Datadog has launched Updog.ai, a free AI-driven platform offering near real-time status monitoring of major AWS and SaaS services for enhanced reliability insights.

KiwiSaaS relaunches as an industry-led network under NZTech to drive growth and connect New Zealand’s booming SaaS sector contributing NZD $2.2bn to GDP.

Salesforce teams up with Stripe and OpenAI to launch AI-powered Instant Checkout, enhancing personalised shopping and speeding up online purchases for retailers.

Salesforce and OpenAI expand their partnership, integrating AI and commerce features into ChatGPT to enhance enterprise workflows and customer interactions.

Fergus has launched tap-to-pay on mobiles, letting tradespeople accept instant contactless payments without extra hardware, boosting convenience and cash flow.