Insights & Ideas

Google has launched a cart and wallet-based checkout for agent-assisted shopping in the US. Our view: retailers should decide now which parts of the customer relationship they will not hand over, and write them down as identity, payment data and terms.

Vendors report falling unit costs for small and mid-tier models. This article sets out what that supports, what it does not, and how to rework a business case for high-volume agent workloads in financial services.

Financial services and data providers are exposing products as tools inside assistants controlled by others. Our view: treat the assistant as a distributor you do not control, and keep authorisation, brand and regulatory responsibility firmly on your side.

Mastercard and Visa both moved stablecoin products into commercial use in the same week in October. Here are the six decisions UK embedded-finance platform teams should make before they choose a stablecoin rail, and what the evidence does not yet show.

Every network and platform is sponsoring its own approach to agent payments, and none is displacing the others. This piece sets out a four-layer architecture for agentic checkout so a merchant or PSP can support several schemes without rebuilding each time.

JPMorgan has reportedly blocked outside AI agents from customer accounts while backing open banking, and marketplaces are closing their doors too. A route map of the sanctioned options, and what UK platform and retail-bank leaders should decide first.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has proposed opening iPhone contactless access to rivals of Apple Pay. This is a proposal only, but if it is implemented it could create a UK wallet market on iOS. A commentary on what was proposed and how a brand should prepare without assuming the outcome.

Most shortlists are built from lists and recommendations, then decided on a demonstration. This guide gives UK buyers a balanced, evidence-led framework for shortlisting a fintech development partner, with the criteria, the proof to request and a simple way to score it.

A proof of concept is not a demo. This executive guide sets out what an AI proof of concept must produce, from real-user evidence to a decision and a business case, how running several in parallel changes the economics, and what to ask of any partner.

The first harmonised standard supporting the EU AI Act is published and the 2 December 2027 high-risk date is confirmed, with credit scoring in scope. A UK-first guide to separating dated fact from interpretation, with a readiness checklist for credit and lending models.