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The thing about AI for business, it may not automatically fit the way your business works. At IBM, we've seen this firsthand. But by embedding AI across hr, IT and procurement processes, we've reduced costs by millions, slash repetitive tasks, and freed thousands of hours for strategic work. Now we're helping companies get smarter by putting AI where it actually pays off, deep in the work that moves the business. Let's create smarter business IBM
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here's your morning TNB Tech Minute for Tuesday, July 28th. I'm Imani Moiz for the Wall Street Journal. Apple is launching a new product leasing program with Klarna that will allow customers to pay monthly for new devices and then return, upgrade or buy them. The program, called Apple Upgrade, will offer 12 and 24 month leasing options for iPhones and Apple watches, and 24 and 36 month lease terms for Macs and iPads. Apple, which reports earnings Thursday, also said it's ending its own upgrade in iPhone payments programs. In the U.S. visa is slashing 2,600 jobs, or about 7% of its workforce, as it works to adapt to the rapidly changing payments industry. The company's CEO said in a memo to employees that most of the roles affected would be in technology and product teams, but that there would be cuts across the organization. Visa joins other large companies seeking to streamline operations and improve efficiency with AI. Companies including Intuit, Cisco and Meta have announced cuts in recent months, citing AI. Visa is set to report its quarterly earnings after market close today and Asian stocks fell today, led by South Korean markets amid growing concerns over spending linked to the AI boom. South Korea's Kospi led losses across the region and suffered its largest one day drop since early March. Korean stocks have been hit recently by a wave of margin calls related to single stock leverage exchange traded funds. These ETFs primarily in market heavyweights. SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics have pulled a huge wave of retail investors into the market. Many of these investors have borrowed to invest and are now being forced to sell their holdings, accelerating the market's drop and adding to the volatility. And that's your TNB Tech Minute. We'll be back this afternoon with more.
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So there's a lot of noise about AI, but time's too tight for more promises, so let's talk about results. At IBM, we work with our employees to integrate technology right into the systems they need. Now a global workforce of 300,000 can use AI to fill their HR questions, resolving 94% of common questions, not noise. Proof of how we can help companies get smarter by putting AI where it actually pays off. Deep in the work that moves the business. Let's create smarter business. IBM.
Date: July 28, 2026
Host: Imani Moiz
In this concise "Tech Minute" segment, Imani Moiz reports on Apple’s newly-announced device leasing program in partnership with Klarna, a major update to Apple’s consumer financing strategy. The episode also covers significant layoffs at Visa tied to the adoption of AI technologies, as well as turbulent moves in Asian stock markets—especially Korea—due to volatility in AI-driven sectors.
Apple’s Strategic Shift:
“Apple is launching a new product leasing program with Klarna that will allow customers to pay monthly for new devices and then return, upgrade or buy them.”
— Imani Moiz (00:35)
Industry Trend Toward AI Efficiencies:
“Visa joins other large companies seeking to streamline operations and improve efficiency with AI. Companies including Intuit, Cisco and Meta have announced cuts in recent months, citing AI.”
— Imani Moiz (01:07)
AI-Driven Investment Risk:
“Korean stocks have been hit recently by a wave of margin calls related to single-stock leverage exchange traded funds. … Many of these investors have borrowed to invest and are now being forced to sell their holdings, accelerating the market’s drop and adding to the volatility.”
— Imani Moiz (01:53)
The episode maintains a crisp, informative tone typical of the WSJ Tech Minute, delivering rapid-fire updates on top tech business developments with clear context and industry connections.
Listeners looking for a quick yet thorough update on major tech moves—especially Apple’s new device subscription shift, industry layoffs due to AI, and AI-driven stock market volatility—will find this episode both immediate and insightful.