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EU to make addictive app features easier to switch off
The European Union will on Wednesday unveil new rules to crack down on influencer marketing, ban online features that trick Europeans and force platforms to give users the right to turn off "addictive" features.
Electronics Inc runs ops update to build AI infra
India’s electronics manufacturers are moving into AI data centre infrastructure, targeting optical transceivers, advanced packaging and specialised cooling systems. Dixon Technologies, Samsung, LG, Blue Star and PG Electroplast are exploring production opportunities as global demand rises. The shift could attract investment, improve margins and strengthen India’s position as an export hub.
AI pushes B-schools to rethink curriculum, skills and leadership training
Artificial intelligence is reshaping management education, prompting business schools such as IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow, ISB and BITSoM to overhaul MBA programmes. The changes include integrating AI across subjects, requiring students to build AI agents, introducing specialised courses and labs, and placing greater emphasis on judgement, ethics and responsible decision-making.
AI is entering the boardroom, warehouse, and checkout. Are businesses ready?
The AI Business Transformation Masterclass & Awards 2026 at IIM Bangalore will focus on integrating AI into businesses on 19 November. The program features sessions on enterprise AI frameworks, real-world use cases, and discussions on Agentic AI in finance, physical AI applications, and contextual commerce, culminating in the ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards.
How intelligent commerce is shaping the next frontier of merchant payments
For a decade, the task in India’s merchant payments was to get every shop and website to accept digital money. The value, leaders argued, at GFF 2026, is now moving to identity, risk, credit and growth, and to preparing the checkout for AI agents that may soon shop on consumers’ behalf.
The next problem to solve: When money arrives, what can merchants do in the meantime?
At GFF 2026, PRISM founder Ritesh Agarwal and Adyen’s Chief Commercial Officer Roelant Prins discussed why, for merchants such as small hotel owners, how quickly money arrives now matters as much as whether a payment is accepted, and why AI is changing back offices faster than it is changing how people buy.
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Indian organisations on edge as sites fail to Captcha AI intruders
Personal AI agents such as Instinct, Muse, Grokbot and OpenClaw have taken over the consumer internet in the US. But last month, major US banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley, reportedly flagged AI agents such as Meta’s Muse accessing customer accounts using login credentials voluntarily shared by users laying bare the risks of handing AI agents the keys to consumers’ digital lives.
How will Democrats reduce your grocery bill once they take over Congress? Will rolling back Donald Trump's tariffs make food cheaper?
Democrats won both chambers of Congress after campaigning on the cost of living. Their grocery proposals range from rolling back tariffs to protecting food assistance. Some measures could help families pay for food even if the prices on the shelves stay the same.
Festive shopping: Home, kitchen products drive 81% jump in D2C sales to Rs 1,328 crore
Home and kitchen product sales surged 81% year-on-year during the pre-Diwali shopping period in India. Gross merchandise value reached an estimated ₹1,328 crore from October 21 to November 5. Consumers showed increased spending on household appliances, water purifiers, and kitchenware, reflecting changing priorities. Traditional categories like fashion and gifting also experienced notable growth during this time. However, health and wellness product sales decreased as budgets shifted towards festive purchases.
Beyond payments: Here is how Adyen is helping Prism globally through its unified payments platform
As Indian enterprises branch out to international markets, a fragmented payments ecosystem, non-compatible with the local payment rails, can be a major roadblock. PRISM’s journey to global markets, and its partnership with Adyen, highlights how a unified payments platform can mitigate the pain points and help businesses integrate local payment experiences with global scale seamlessly. Read on!
Cashfree opens checkout to AI agents, leaves final say with shoppers
Cashfree has introduced Checkout for Agents, allowing AI agents to assist with online payments. This feature utilises WebMCP technology to simplify the checkout process for AI shopping assistants. Customers still maintain control over final payment authorisation and sensitive information is protected. While AI agents currently represent less than 1% of checkout traffic, Cashfree aims to enhance their efficiency. The company limits agent access to sensitive payment steps to ensure security.
Google Pay wants to help you pick your next outfit
Google Pay is testing a new fashion and lifestyle shopping feature in India, bringing personalised outfit recommendations, visual product search and virtual try-on to its payments app. The Discover section will allow users to explore clothing trends, find similar products by uploading photographs and get daily outfit suggestions. Powered by Google's Shopping Graph, which has over 60 billion product listings, the feature redirects users to merchants' websites to complete purchases.
National Sandwich Day deals 2026: Subway, Jersey Mike’s, Jimmy John’s, Krispy Kreme and more - where to go after voting today in the midterm elections
National Sandwich Day 2026 brings deals from Subway, Jersey Mike’s, Jimmy John’s and other chains on November 3. Americans can also check Election Day offers, including a free Krispy Kreme doughnut, discounted Lyft rides and a Hertz rental promotion. Terms and availability vary by offer.
China's 'Lipstick King' touts AI tokens in first for Singles' Day festival
The launch is the first time AI token packages have been offered as a significant consumer product category during Singles' Day, the world's largest shopping festival originally held on November 11 each year.
Soaring tech costs push festive shoppers towards EMIs
At Bengaluru-based Pai International Electronics, which operates across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, 70-80% of smartphone sales during the festive season were financed through EMIs, up from 40-50% last year, said director Rahul Pai. At Vijay Sales, which operates 181 stores nationwide, EMIs accounted for about 70-75% of festive-season sales.
Black Friday 2026: Could buy now, pay later offers leave shoppers facing a bigger financial headache after the holidays?
Black Friday shopping can lead to manageable but potentially harmful financial consequences for consumers, particularly with buy now, pay later services. Many shoppers may face pressure to spend beyond their means during the holiday season, resulting in debt. This type of financial arrangement may seem attractive initially, but it can complicate budgeting for essential expenses. Additionally, shoppers often overlook the cumulative cost of multiple repayments while planning their purchases.
AI search gains 3-fold influence over traditional search in shopping decisions: McKinsey
McKinsey's survey, conducted in June 2026, covered around 21,000 consumers across 11 markets. It found that 56 per cent of consumers had used standalone AI chat or search tools for shopping in the previous three months, compared with 27 per cent who had used AI shopping assistants operated by retailers.
ET AI Business Transformation Masterclass & Awards: Inside the future of agentic payments
Synopsis: AI tools are all set to perform tasks that go beyond answering questions or making recommendations. A live demonstration at the ET AI Business Transformation Masterclass and Awards 2026 will show how AI agents can make UPI payments through P3P without manual intervention, and what this could mean for the way people make digital payments and business transactions in the future.
What happened to a Michigan Red Baron worker targeted in a prank? How a fundraiser brought unexpected support
In Michigan, a delivery worker named Walt Z faced off against a prankster who faked a money-taking scenario. The humorous confrontation was captured on video, propelling it into viral fame. Following his situation, a GoFundMe campaign was initiated, successfully amassing over $335,000 to provide Walt with financial support, ensuring his four children could maintain stability.
Rising tech costs drive EMI sales; Shadowfax Q2 profit soars
Happy Friday! Shoppers are turning to EMIs as electronics prices rise. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Meesho sees near-term margin pressure as it reinvests in growth
The value commerce platform’s September quarter results on Wednesday showed its contribution margin rising to 6% of net merchandise value (NMV) in the second quarter of FY27 from 4.6% in the April-June period. Contribution margin is the income after deducting direct, order-linked expenses.
Cyberattacks hit NBFCs; Pine Labs Q2 profit zooms
Cyber criminals are targetting smaller NBFCs with specialised AI toolkits. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Karwa Chauth shopping spreads beyond the North as D2C sales surge 64%
Karwa Chauth shopping is expanding beyond north India, with direct-to-consumer sales on GoKwik’s network rising 64% year-on-year in the six days before the festival. Demand for festival-labelled products grew sharply in central, western and eastern India, creating opportunities for brands across jewellery, beauty and ethnic wear.
Pine Labs Q2 net profit surges over six-fold to Rs 39 crore; revenue rises 24%
Pine Labs has shown impressive growth with a net profit reaching Rs 38.57 crore in the September quarter. The company's revenue from operations jumped by 24%, totaling Rs 806.19 crore. With 2.29 billion transactions processed, up by 22%, and revenue from digital infrastructure increasing by 21%, Pine Labs is clearly leveraging its innovative strategies to drive improved profitability through effective working capital management and new product offerings.
Meesho shares fall 3% even as Q2 loss narrows to Rs 132 cr. Why Jefferies raised target price but Nomura remains cautious
Meesho shares fell nearly 3% after Q2 FY27 net loss narrowed 68% year-on-year to Rs 132 crore, while revenue rose 34% to Rs 4,132 crore. Brokerages remained divided, with Jefferies and Motilal Oswal maintaining Buy ratings and Nomura retaining Reduce, citing growth prospects, margins and festive-season demand.
GTA 6 PS5 Deal: How to save $15 on the ultimate edition with a PlayStation gift card
Grand Theft Auto 6 fans are exploring ways to save on preorder costs for the Ultimate Edition on PS5. A previous promotion offered a discount on PlayStation Store credit but has now expired. Newegg currently provides a new gift card promotion that may interest some players. This new deal allows customers to receive additional store credit with a larger purchase.
The next problem to solve: When money arrives, what can merchants do in the meantime?
At GFF 2026, PRISM founder Ritesh Agarwal and Adyen’s Chief Commercial Officer Roelant Prins discussed why, for merchants such as small hotel owners, how quickly money arrives now matters as much as whether a payment is accepted, and why AI is changing back offices faster than it is changing how people buy.
Apple iPhone sale: Planning to buy new phone? Check Apple’s new checkout policy that puts a limit
Apple has implemented a buying limit on its official online store for iPhones to manage sales during the festive season. Shoppers can now purchase only two iPhones, whether they're identical models or different ones. If users try to check out with a third unit, they will receive a warning that halts the transaction.
Airbnb guests no longer have to wash the dishes or strip the beds at checkout
Airbnb has announced new rules that limit hosts to reasonable checkout requests, effective November 20. Guests will no longer need to complete chores typically reserved for professional cleaners during checkout. These changes aim to create better expectations between guests and hosts regarding cleaning fees. Additionally, Airbnb requires that hosts disclose all house rules clearly in their listings before bookings.
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