AI Debt Collectors Are Now a $16B Industry—and They Never Sleep
AI agents are automating debt collection as delinquency surges, replacing human call-center workers in one of the lowest-satisfaction jobs.
#fintech
OpenAI Integrates ChatGPT With Plaid for Direct Bank Account Access
OpenAI is piloting a financial-data connector that allows ChatGPT Pro subscribers to link bank accounts for spending analysis and budgeting advice.
Khosla Ventures bets $10M on Synthetic, Ian Crosby's fully autonomous AI bookkeeping startup
Khosla Ventures leads a $10M seed round in Synthetic, the new AI bookkeeping startup from Bench Accounting's ousted founder Ian Crosby.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Ticket Deadline Arrives as Programming Tracks Map AI's Real-World Turn
A buy-one-get-one-half-off ticket deal for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 expires before midnight Pacific on May 8, as six programming stages signal where AI is actually deploying.
PayPal Declares AI Transformation — but Admits It's Playing Catch-Up
PayPal CEO Enrique Lores outlined an AI-driven overhaul at the Q1 2026 earnings call, targeting $1.5B+ in savings while conceding the company has lagged peers on AI adoption.