Latest Software & Apps News
Microsoft unveils agentic AI suite for end‑to‑end retail automation
Microsoft announced new **agentic AI** capabilities aimed at automating nearly every retail function, from merchandising and supply chain to customer service and marketing. The tools integrate with Copilot and partner ecosystems like Shopify’s Copilot Checkout to personalize shopping, enrich product catalogs, and speed customers from intent to transaction within conversational interfaces.
Shopify Copilot Checkout rolls out as default conversational checkout for merchants
As part of Microsoft’s retail AI push, **Shopify merchants** will be auto‑enrolled in Copilot Checkout after an opt‑out window, making AI‑driven conversational checkout a default. Copilot Checkout keeps customers inside chat or conversational surfaces while completing payments, which Shopify says can dramatically reduce friction and time from product discovery to purchase.
AI startups LMArena and Lovable hit multi‑billion valuations on explosive growth
AI platform **LMArena** has reached 5 million monthly users and facilitates around 60 million model conversations, becoming a key hub for AI experimentation. Low‑code “vibe coding” platform **Lovable** raised $330 million in Series B at a $6.6 billion valuation, scaling ARR from $1 million to $200 million in one year by letting non‑technical users build enterprise apps via text prompts.
Compact reasoning models like Falcon‑H1R challenge larger LLMs
The **Falcon‑H1R** model from TII is highlighted as a compact AI system that outperforms much larger models on reasoning tasks while being more efficient. Industry coverage frames this as part of a broader move toward smaller, task‑specialized models that can run more cheaply on edge and enterprise infrastructure.
Agentic AI market projected to surge from $5.2B to $200B by 2034
Analysts cited in recent AI sector coverage forecast the **agentic AI** market growing from about $5.2 billion in 2024 to $200 billion by 2034. Growth is driven by demand for autonomous, workflow‑oriented AI agents embedded into business software, from customer operations to development and finance tools.
CES 2026 signals shift in AI spend from model training to inference
At **CES 2026**, infrastructure vendors report that enterprise AI budgets are pivoting from expensive model training toward large‑scale inference deployments. Executives note customers are now optimizing where inference runs—cloud versus on‑prem—based on workload predictability and data‑locality, making deployment choices as strategic as model selection.
Parallels Desktop named leading solution to run Windows on Mac in 2026 review
A new evaluation by Software Experts names **Parallels Desktop** the top software for running Windows on macOS for gaming, development, and education. The report highlights strong performance on Apple Silicon, seamless app launching without reboot, and enterprise features like centralized management in the Business Edition as key differentiators.
AI becomes defining feature of finance and ERP software for high‑growth firms
A 2026 review of financial systems finds that nearly all major tools—QuickBooks Online Advanced, Xero, NetSuite, Adaptive Planning, Planful, and Abacum—are adding **AI capabilities**. Vendors are using AI for faster and more accurate analysis, scenario modeling, and automation, turning finance software from record‑keeping tools into real‑time decision platforms for scaling companies.
Venture capital reshuffle points to new wave of AI‑focused software funds
Recent industry analysis highlights the departure of **Niko Bonatsos** from General Catalyst and his plan to start a new venture firm as a notable shift in software funding. Commentators link this to a broader reorientation of VC toward AI‑driven automation tools and infrastructure software, potentially changing how early‑stage software startups access capital.
Geopolitics and tax policy push software and AI investment beyond California
Coverage of U.S. policy debates notes that proposed **California wealth taxes** could push software and AI founders to relocate to more tax‑friendly hubs such as Hong Kong. Analysts warn this may redistribute talent and capital globally, influencing where next‑generation AI and automation software is designed and scaled.
AI‑driven prescription software in Utah showcases sector‑specific healthcare automation
A Utah initiative using **AI‑powered software** to analyze prescriptions is cited as a model of how domain‑specific healthtech can improve safety and efficiency. The program uses AI for business analysis and risk identification around prescriptions, illustrating how software can tackle real‑world problems in regulated industries like healthcare.