iWorld
Republic Records signs AP Dhillon
Mumbai: Republic Records, owned by Universal Music Group, has signed AP Dhillon to their roster. Known for artists like Taylor Swift, Post Malone, John Legend, The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj, and Drake, Republic Records continues to expand its diverse lineup.
This deal marks a significant step for brown representation globally and sets a precedent for future talent and the community. “Republic Records got and understood who I am from day one. We’re all in harmony when it comes to this new music, and now I just can’t wait to show everybody what we’ve been cooking up,” stated AP Dhillon.
Dhillon has been independently releasing music since 2019. He is famously known for his 2020 single – Brown Munde – one of the most viral and trending songs on the billboard, amassing nearly 700 million YouTube views to date. With the new deal, the singer-songwriter will be on Republic Records’ roster and he is all set to release a single – Old Money – with the label this Friday (9 Aug) and a new album, The Brownprint, following two weeks later, on 23 Aug.
AP Dhillon has also directed the music video for his upcoming single – Old Money – and the clip will star Bollywood icons Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt. As AP Dhillon revealed, “I came up with a concept that was influenced by all my favorite action movies, and Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt showed up and killed it. Old Money is the perfect way for me to start my next era, especially with going big for the music video. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
Dhillon has also co-produced The Brownprint, with DZL (Future, Central Cee), Luca Mauti (J.Cole, Eminem) and AzizTheShake (BIA, Central Cee) also contributing to the upcoming album.
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.
