iWorld
‘Ghoul’ director Patrick Graham to speak at Vidnet Masterclasses
MUMBAI: Creator, writer and director Patrick Graham is going to be attending the Indiantelevision.com’s Vidnet Masterclasses at The Westin, Mumbai on 4 October as a speaker.
Vidnet Masterclasses are an Indiantelevision.com initiative to facilitate the creative process of young and aspiring creators willing to work in the digital domain. The Masterclasses will host directors & editors, and writers who will be talking to the audience directly about the craft of video creation.
Graham will be sharing some creative anecdotes regarding directing compelling thriller series for the web. He will also be highlighting some interesting chapters from his own filmography, including his experience of directing Ghoul and writing for Leila.
Both his Netflix originals won wide critical and commercial acclaim in India. He is one of the finest writers and directors in the industry these days.
Other speakers at the Masterclasses include Richie Mehta, Amrit Raj Gupta, Amit Kulkarni, Bhavani Iyer, Puneet Krishna, and Danish Aslam.
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.
