Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

The mainstreaming of AI is setting a new precedent for how people relate to non-human sources of intelligence. While automation on a consumer level has typically focused on specific tasks like replying to emails or budgeting, it’s now swiftly expanding to a more dynamic range of applications.

Leveraging QR technology to create a frictionless customer experience, a new multilateral program allows people to pay seamlessly across borders. After a pandemic-induced boom in frictionless shopping, people are looking for seamless purchasing journeys at home and abroad.

Whole Foods stores in the US will soon allow customers to pay via the Amazon One palm payment system. As biometric payment options gain traction around the globe, this launch sparks questions about the privacy of consumers who want more convenient retail experiences without giving up their safety.

The pandemic has given hygiene-friendly peer-to-peer solutions a boost – and they’re ushering in a whole new era of banking. Owned by Jack Dorsey’s Square, Cash App is a one-stop digital banking solution that’s attracting increasingly bitcoin-savvy investors, rappers included.

Nvidia’s record earnings herald a bright future for AI, exceeding all expectations for the adoption of AI chips by those needing specialist computing power. There are now clear signs that AI is here to stay as it bleeds out into new industries with real-world applications for all.