iWorld
Over three million people tune in for Facebook and Priyanka Chopra’s #SocialForGood Live-athon
Mumbai: Facebook is a place where people come together to connect with their communities and support each another in meaningful ways. Today, Facebook India and Priyanka Chopra's #SocialForGood Live-Athon gave people another way to support causes they care about. The Facebook Live-Athon shone a light on the remarkable work being done online and how these communities came together to collaborate to raise awareness towards different causes from Mental Health Awareness to Women Entrepreneurship.
By the end of four hours , #SocialForGood Live-Athon had garnered over three million views and over 15,244 donations (which is more than a donation per second!) from over 57 cities across the globe.
Speaking about the Live-Athon, Priyanka Chopra said, “It was an amazing day and I am overwhelmed by the support we have received not just from our panelists and performers but also from all those who tuned in to the Live-Athon. The conversations were insightful and impactful and what made the day a success was the number of donations received for each of these important causes. It showed that we care and that we can use #SocialForGood. Thank you to the team at Facebook and all the change makers who gave their time to us today and who made this initiative possible. `It is only apt that on #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving fuelled by the power of social media and community, our initiative was able to harness the power of individuals to work towards a better tomorrow for us all. Let's pledge to do our bit and work relentlessly towards building a stronger, safer and a more supportive world. she added."
#SocialForGood Live-Athon has partnered with four organizations who work towards causes like mental well-being and women entrepreneurship in rural cities. Donations will be live until next Tuesday, December 4th. To know more and donate, please visit https://sfg.ketto.org/
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.
