iWorld
VOOT skill introduced on Alexa
MUMBAI: India’s second largest premium AVOD platform by Viacom18 has always created high engagement and interactive experiences through its diverse and immersive content slate. Adding to this, to amplify the reach of its content, VOOT has now introduced the all new VOOT skill on Alexa for Amazon’s range of Echo devices with screen – the Amazon Echo Show, NEW Amazon Echo Show 8 and Amazon Echo Show 5.
Enhancing discoverability and convenience, users can now activate and enable the skill on any Amazon Echo Show smart speaker with simple voice commands. So now an Asli Fan of Bigg Boss on VOOT only needs to say “Alexa, watch Bigg Boss on VOOT” to enjoy the national phenomenon.
VOOT, AVOD Business Akash Banerji, Head said, “At VOOT we have been committed to creating highly interactive and engaging experiences for our users. We’re constantly driven to exceed our efforts beyond industry standards and benchmarks set by ourselves. We have wide ranging, language agnostic content like Bigg Boss Hindi, Feet up with the Stars, Silsila, Bigg Boss Kannada, Bigg Boss Marathi, Kodeeswari Tamil and many more; and now the all new VOOT skill on Amazon Alexa allows us to make it easier and more convenient for our customers to access their favourite content, in a highly technology forward and futuristic environment.”
“Entertainment is one of the most popular categories on Alexa and we’re very excited that the VOOT Alexa skill is now available for customers,” said Amazon India Alexa Skills and Voice Services Country Manager Dilip RS. “VOOT is extremely popular for some of their flagship shows such as Bigg Boss, Feet up with the stars and a host of regional content. With the new VOOT skill, customers are just an utterance away from enjoying their favorite shows, giving them even more choices for engaging content.”
With the VOOT skill now on Amazon Echo Show, NEW Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5, your favorite entertainment needs and best of shows like Bigg Boss, Splitsvilla, MTV Hustle, Kodeeswari Tamil and more are just a conversation away with Alexa. So, enjoy the new enthralling VOOT experience on the Echo Show range of smart displays that come with HD screen and premium sound.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
