iWorld
SonyLIV and OnePlus announce a strategic alliance to boost content offering for consumers
MUMBAI: SonyLIV locked in a multi-year strategic partnership with OnePlus, the global technology brand ahead of their much-awaited upcoming OnePlus TV launch in India. This alliance will open access to the extensive content library of Sony Pictures Networks India for OnePlus Smart TV users spanning movies, music, sports, animation, web originals, short films and much more. SonyLIV is amongst the few selected mobile apps available as part of the much-hyped OnePlus TV launch in India.
After bolstering its place as a leader in the premium smartphone segment in India, OnePlus is foraying to Smart TV category to strengthen its consumer connect. SonyLIV’s partnership with OnePlus TV is reflective of their brand ethos of creating an exceptional viewing experience for its 100 MN plus monthly active users, expand the market potentialities and up the ante in brand integrations. In its efforts to capture newer and wider audience segments, SonyLIV intends to strengthen the engagement quotient with OnePlus by offering its varied content to the Smart TV users.
“Our partnership with OnePlus is a leap ahead in blending captivating stories with an innovative viewing experience. With our robust content portfolio on offer, there’s plenty to consume for OnePlus TV users. This alliance enables us to expand our consumer footprint to Indian households and boost our engagement. It’s a great starting point for the two companies, and we are excited about the journey ahead of us,” Sony Pictures Networks India digital business head Uday Sodhi said.
“With OnePlus TV being our latest premium offering, it is important for our users to have access to content across genres and languages and we believe Sony Liv offers that experience with its extensive content portfolio. This partnership along with the superior audio and picture quality on the OnePlus TV will offer a viewing experience like never before,” OnePlus India general manager Vikas Agarwal commented.
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.
