Apple opened up its near-field communication (NFC) technology to third parties in the US, the UK, and five other markets. This enables third-party digital wallets like Google Wallet to offer in-app contactless transactions for in-store payments. Apple will also let users switch their default contactless app. Access became available with the release of Apple鈥檚 iOS 18.1 update in October.
Affirm launched in the UK last month. The company previously only operated in the US and Canada. The provider scored a partnership with Apple Pay, widely expanding its availability in stores as well as online. Affirm also added new BNPL options like Pay in 2 and Pay in 30, offering customers more payment flexibility.
Plus, consumer enthusiasm over automated customer service is waning: Only half of consumers in the US, UK, and Australia feel positive about using AI to engage with a business, down from 62% a year ago, per LivePerson and PureSpectrum. What are the key use cases of genAI for customer service?