BUSINESS

A falling hash rate and the resultant pressure on miners could signal another potential capitulation phase, which could push prices down further

For most people, interacting with AI still means typing into a box and reading a response. It is functional. It works. But it is also a long way from how humans naturally communicate with each other.A growing number of companies are betting that the next phase of AI is not just about smarter models. It is about more human interfaces, specifically digital humans: real-time, conversational avatars that speak, respond, and adapt in ways that feel closer to a real interaction.The idea is straightforward. If AI is going to be embedded into everyday business workflows, it needs to feel less like software and more like conversation.AI market moving fastThe numbers reflect a shift that is already underway. The digital human market is projected to grow from $6.28 billion in 2025 to more than $26 billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate of nearly 27%, per Mordor Intelligence.That growth is being driven by enterprises, not consumers. Companies are looking for ways to scale communication, training, and support without proportionally scaling headcount.Digital humans offer a model that runs around the clock, works across languages, and does not require a human on the other end of every interaction.More AI Stocks:Morgan Stanley sets jaw-dropping Micron price target after eventBank of America updates Palantir stock forecast after private meetingMorgan Stanley drops eye-popping Broadcom price targetMajor technology companies have taken notice. NVIDIA has built out its Avatar Cloud Engine, a suite of tools that allows developers and enterprises to create interactive AI-powered digital humans. Meta’s Reality Labs has continued investing in lifelike avatar and immersive interface research as part of the company’s broader AI push.From one-way video to live conversationOne of the most significant shifts in this space is the move from pre-recorded AI video to real-time, two-way interaction. Earlier generations of AI avatars were largely used to produce scripted content for training modules or marketing materials. Useful, but limited in how users could actually engage with them.That is changing as the underlying technology matures. D-ID, an enterprise AI avatar company, this week launched V4 Expressive Visual Agents, its latest generation of digital humans built for real-time, LLM-connected conversations. Gil Perry, co-founder and CEO of D-ID, explained how the practical reality for businesses has shifted.”A year ago, businesses were largely using AI video as a standard format for content production, creating pre-rendered clips for training, marketing, or communication. It was powerful, but fundamentally one-directional,” Perry told TheStreet.”With V4, we’re moving into real-time, interactive experiences. This is no longer early-stage experimentation. The quality of interaction has reached a level where conversations feel authentic enough for real-world, high-frequency use cases. V4 has taken the real-time visual agent technology to a state that is mature enough for wide usage. What’s changed is that these are no longer pilot projects – companies are moving into production-scale deployments.”That transition from static to interactive is significant. It turns digital humans from content tools into live communication platforms, capable of handling queries, adapting responses, and sustaining multi-turn conversations at scale.Why businesses are moving nowThe question of timing matters. Digital human technology has existed in various forms for years. What has changed is that the ROI case has become easier to make.

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“First, clear ROI use cases have emerged – especially in corporate learning, training, onboarding, and internal communications. These are areas where companies need to deliver consistent, scalable, and engaging experiences across large, distributed workforces. Second, there’s a shift toward more engaging interfaces for AI. Text-based systems are powerful but often underutilized. Digital humans provide a more natural way to interact with AI, which increases adoption. Third, enterprises are under pressure to scale expertise and communication without scaling headcount. Digital humans can deliver knowledge consistently, 24/7, across languages and regions,” Perry said.Where enterprises are deploying digital humans most activelyCorporate learning and development: Consistent, scalable training delivered to distributed workforces without scheduling constraintsHR onboarding: New employees get the same quality of information regardless of location or time zoneCustomer support: AI agents that handle high-frequency queries without escalating every interaction to a humanPre-sales and product education: Prospects engage with an interactive AI that explains complex products naturallyThe trust barrier is real but solvableUser skepticism around AI avatars remains a genuine challenge, particularly when an interaction feels close to human but not quite right.Companies in this space have recognized that higher visual fidelity alone does not solve the problem. Trust tends to come from consistency, transparency about what users are interacting with, and whether the system reliably delivers value. If a digital human helps someone get what they need quickly, the skepticism tends to fade.What comes nextDigital humans are unlikely to replace text-based AI for every use case. Typing a quick prompt will remain the fastest path to a lot of information.But as AI moves deeper into business operations, the demand for more natural interfaces is growing. Deloitte’s 2026 report found that worker access to AI rose 50% in 2025, and the number of companies with significant AI projects in production is expected to double within months. That scale creates pressure to make AI easier to use, not just more capable.Digital humans sit squarely in that space. They offer a way to make AI feel less abstract and more accessible, especially where communication and engagement matter most.The future of AI may not just be about what it can do. It may be about how it shows up.Related: Snowflake earnings beat as Goldman Sachs sees AI upside

The card_name is one that Clark loves for those who have the travel bug. Though it does have a $395 annual fee, you get most of it back in travel credit.

“I think it’s absolutely great,” Clark said on the podcast. “How could I say that you should spend $395 per year on a card? They give you $300 of it back as travel credits for travel you purchase through their travel portal. So the net annual fee is $95. And on top of some travel benefits, you get free airport lounge access for you and your 2 others. Plus, you get 2x miles on all of your purchases, just like a 2% cash back card.”

Right now, this card has the opportunity to earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. This is equal to $750 in travel!

In addition to the welcome bonus offer, you’ll also enjoy travel perks such as 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 in travel) every year, beginning on your first anniversary, as well as up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. You can earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 2x miles on all other purchases.

Learn more about the card here.

This content is accurate at the time of publication. Check the issuer’s site for the most up-to-date information.
The post Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles With This Capital One Card appeared first on Clark Howard.

Dell now has 36,000 fewer employees than it did in February 2023, a nearly 30% reduction over three years.

Oil prices jumped Wednesday despite the Trump administration announcing it will issue a temporary waiver on a law known as the Jones Act.

One of the the biggest stock-market stories of 2026 so far has been investors’ growing affinity for value stocks.

Apple just got the kind of iPhone rumor that investors cannot afford to ignore.A fresh leak suggests the iPhone 18 Pro will miss one of the easiest upgrades for Apple to sell: a smaller Dynamic Island. That fact alone is bad news for people who are expecting a more dynamic change in terms of visual presentation. But the timing makes it important. At the same moment, Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone is drawing fresh attention and fresh price speculation. All of it points to a device that will start retailing for near $1,999.When you put those two reports together, a more revealing picture comes forth. Apple (AAPL) is getting ready for its next iPhone cycle with a Pro model that looks more like the last one. It’s also moving toward a much more expensive halo device that will be at the top of the lineup to keep people interested. That is not just a product decision. Instead, you could state that it is a financial one.For Apple, the question is whether it can keep the iPhone franchise growing more premium without the core ingredient becoming less urgent. For AAPL investors, that happens to be the entire story. If Apple can push customers higher without cooling demand, it will back one of the oldest stories on Wall Street, that of Apple’s unmatched pricing power.If it can’t, the next iPhone cycle might feel like it’s just a small step forward when it needs to feel exciting.Why this Apple rumor matters for investorsApple may lose a highly visible iPhone 18 Pro upgrade.A more familiar design could weaken upgrade urgency.A $1,999 foldable iPhone could boost average selling prices.The real question is if Apple can keep its margins high without hurting demand for its main premium products.Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro rumor hits a weak spot in the upgrade storyApple does not need to redesign or introduce a new iPhone every year.It does, however, need a reason for premium buyers to look at Apple’s financials every year.That is why this AAPL rumor matters more than meets the eye. A smaller Dynamic Island will lead to what Apple loves. It’s elegant, recognizable, and instantly marketable. People wouldn’t need to look at benchmark charts or camera samples to see the difference; they would see it right away.Related: Galaxy S26 brings ‘agentic AI’ to phones, and it’s bigger than SamsungIf that change slips, Apple loses one of the iPhone 18 Pro’s cleanest selling points.That does not lead to a weak line-up. Far from it, reports still point to meaningful improvements, including a new A20 Pro chip, camera upgrades, and a larger battery for the Pro Max. But those are things that make things better. They help you close the deal. They don’t always make you want to upgrade right away.And that is the pressure point.The iPhone remains the jewel in Apple’s crown. That is not because of sales volume; it is because it anchors the broader ecosystem around services, wearables, upgrades, and loyalty.When the next iPhone feels like an afterthought, the market will begin to focus squarely on replacement cycles, mix, and the durability of premium demand.It’s not that Apple forgot how to make great phones that will lead to issues for AAPL. The concern is that a familiar-looking Pro model will result in a significant downgrade in one of the most appealing aspects of the newest iPhone model, which is its visible newness.That will serve as the pain point for AAPL investors.Because when Apple has to explain why a premium phone is exciting, rather than show the actual product itself, investors and users become confused.What Apple still has working in its favorApple boasts one of the best brand loyalty stories in the worldDeep ecosystem lock-inHigh-end Apple customers who are willing to pay moreContinued interest in camera, battery, and chip improvementsApple has a history of turning small hardware updates into big sales cyclesApple’s foldable iPhone could strengthen margins and complicate the lineupThis is where the Apple story gets even more intriguing. While the iPhone 18 Pro may be losing a high-visibility upgrade, Apple’s foldable iPhone is getting closer each and every day to debuting and getting into the hands of the end consumer.More Tech Stocks:Morgan Stanley sets jaw-dropping Micron price target after eventNvidia’s China chip problem isn’t what most investors thinkQuantum Computing makes $110 million move nobody saw comingRecent leaks suggest the device will arrive in markets with 12GB of RAM, storage options from 256GB to 1TB, and a starting price that could land near $1,999 in the U.S.That price sends a clear, straightforward message. Apple is not pursuing the low end of the foldable market but rather the more premium segment, also known as the top end.Financially, that makes sense. A foldable iPhone does not need spectacular unit volume to matter. If it raises average selling prices, enhances the product mix, and adds fresh halo energy to the iPhone franchise, it’s still a massive win for Apple.Wall Street usually loves these Apple moves like that right away: protect margins, defend the premium tier, and give the brand a new symbol of aspiration.However, there is an obvious, overt risk.If the standard Pro buyer starts to think that the most exciting design changes are being pushed into a category that costs almost $2,000, Apple may end up with two different lines of products. One level gets reliable upgrades and the other gets the drama.That is a risky difference if it becomes too obvious.Apple has been able to charge more for years because its products really do feel better. It doesn’t want people to think that the only way to get something that feels really new is to spend a lot more money.If that idea catches on, the company could still keep its profits high while making the main lineup look less appealing. For a company as big as Apple, that’s not a small trade-off.

Apple gets an unwelcome iPhone 18 twist as Fold buzz growsPhoto by Perry Knotts on Getty Images

What a foldable iPhone could do for Apple financiallyPush average Apple iPhoneaverage selling prices higherImprove Apple’s premium product mixSupport Apple’s reputation for high-end innovationMake a new Halo product without needing a lot of salesHelp protect profits even if upgrade cycles take a long time.Key takeaways for Apple investorsApple’s iPhone 18 Pro is now speculated to lack a smaller Dynamic Island, which removes a highly visible upgrade.That could make it harder to sell the next Pro cycle to people who are already pushing the limits of their replacement cycles.Reports say that Apple’s foldable iPhone is becoming a super-premium device that could cost around $1,999.The real question for AAPL is whether Apple can raise prices without making its core premium models less appealing.If Apple gets that mix right, it could support margins and product mix. If it gets it wrong, the next iPhone cycle could feel less urgent than investors want.Apple’s bigger bet may be on pricing power, not a supercycleWith all of this in mind, how should I, as an Apple investor or user, treat these rumors? Well, I believe all of these are mainly strategy choices more than anything else. Apple is currently in contemplation mode about where the next iPhone win will come from. When I look at all of the information in combination, the next win will not come from a broad-based supercycle and that is the important part that the Apple users need to understand. Related: Samsung Galaxy owners stunned by what appeared after a Google updateInstead, it will result in holding the mainstream Pro line steady. At the same time, there is a need for small, incremental improvements. Finally, using a foldable to raise the ceiling on how much customers will pay for the most desirable version of the iPhone.That constitutes a classic Apple move.It is disciplined. It is margin-aware. And the move is built around brand strength leading into pricing ambition.At the same time, for Apple investors and users, it is a gamble of epic proportions.The more Apple separates its lineup into “reliably better” and “genuinely exciting,” the more confusion it stands to generate. Apple users will ask themselves whether the regular premium iPhone still feels special enough, leading to both a demand and marketing issue. And demand is where rumor stories like this become stock stories.A smaller Dynamic Island won’t significantly impact Apple’s brand value. But these leaks suggest a strategy that could tell investors something more important: Apple may be putting more value on premium mix and pricing power than on a more exciting upgrade cycle.Apple’s core investor questions nowCan Apple keep its premium buyers engaged with a more familiar iPhone 18 Pro?Will a foldable iPhone make the high end of the market bigger, or will it make the regular Pro lineup look less interesting?Can Apple protect margins while still maintaining broad enough upgrade demand?Will Wall Street reward pricing discipline even if the next cycle feels less dramatic?If that works, AAPL holders will see yet another example of transformation. If it doesn’t, this rumor is not noise and instead is an early sign that the next iPhone cycle wasn’t as strong as it first seemed.Related: Samsung pulls off a stunning Galaxy S26 shocker

The New York Mets’ four-time National League saves leader is contending for a final spot on the roster after a standout career.

By trading NATO support in securing the Strait of Hormuz for stronger American backing of Ukraine, the West can tackle two urgent issues simultaneously.

Korea’s central bank and nine commercial lenders started real-world testing of deposit tokens, including subsidy payments and peer-to-peer transfers.