iWorld
Netflix raises US prices for the first time since 2017
MUMBAI: Is Netflix feeling the heat of well-funded competitors? The king of OTT platforms is increasing its US prices for the first time since 2017. The hike in subscription rate will be applied also to subscribers in Latin American and the Caribbean, where Netflix bills in US dollars. The move comes at a time when Disney is gearing up for its streaming service launch and NBC has just entered the market.
The move is aimed at easing a large, debt-fueled investment in new films, series and documentaries this year. According to media reports, company executives are looking for more money to pay escalating content bills.
The most popular subscription plan will see largest hike costing $13 a month, up from $11. Despite the hike, it costs lesser than HBO, whose streaming service charges $15 per month. The cheapest subscription will run $8.99, up from $7.99. The change in subscription will be effective for new customers immediately and for existing customers it will be rolled out during the next three months.
“We change pricing from time to time as we continue investing in great entertainment and improving the overall Netflix experience,” the company said in a statement.
Wall Street put its faith on the move as the company’s stock surged $21.70 to finish at $354.64 on Tuesday, its highest closing price in nearly three months. It shows that investors believe the price increase won’t significantly slowdown Netflix’s subscriber growth.
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.
