e-commerce
Twitter launches #Tweetups to bring the power of global conversations to life
MUMBAI: Twitter serves the public conversation, and is the best way to see what’s happening in India and to talk about it. Fostering conversation and dialogue across various topics has the potential of catalysing cultural exchange, and in order to bring this to life, Twitter has launched Global #Tweetups.
#Tweetups aim to take the online conversation offline, breaking down barriers between diverse cultures and ethnicities through the power of conversation.
Twitter has partnered with Shared_Studios (@sharedstudios) to create immersive portals where people can connect to others in an almost life-like, full-screen experience. Shared_Studios has activated #Tweetups in 40 locations across the globe, from New York to Nairobi, Seoul to Sao Paulo and Los Angeles to London. In India, it is located in Delhi at Select CITYWALK in Saket enabling anyone to walk into this portal, and instantly talk with another person across the world about anything under the sun.
#Tweetups will stay live till 4th of August, and while live will host a series of curated, experiential activities, including group conversations, bursts of music and dance, and topical discussions around women empowerment and other shared interests. Conversations in these #Tweetups will be started and moderated by local curators.
Some of the conversations to look forward to:
● On July 30th, the cast of the upcoming movie Khandaani Shafakhana, Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha), Varun Sharma (@varunsharma90) and rapper Badshah (@Its_Badshah) will have a conversation in line with their movie’s campaign ‘Baat toh Karo’, which seeks to open up and normalise the dialogue around sex and sexuality. You can also follow @sonakshisinha as she will go live from her Twitter handle sharing the experience.
● On August 2nd, Ananya Pandey (@ananyapandayy) will be talking about online bullying and the importance of sensitising people towards online health in line with her initiative, SO+ (SocialPositive).
Follow all the action by searching for the hashtag #Tweetups, and visit Select CITYWALK to connect with someone from another country, in another time zone and have a conversation.
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.
