June 10, 2025
Tech News
PayPal has announced a partnership with hotel payment provider Selfbook, enabling users to search for and book hotels directly within the PayPal app. This integration provides users with the ability to pay through PayPal at checkout, along with exclusive discounts and the option to utilize PayPal’s Buy Now, Pay Later feature for select hotels.
In addition to enhancing user experience, PayPal’s collaboration with Selfbook aims to streamline hotel payments, which have traditionally involved multiple platforms. Selfbook will also integrate PayPal’s enterprise payment suite to facilitate credit card transactions, enhancing convenience and reducing commission fees for hotels. This move aligns with PayPal’s strategy to offer more travel-related services to its customers.
At Apple’s WWDC 2025 event, the company unveiled its new Visual Intelligence feature, set to be included in iOS 26. This AI-powered image analysis tool allows users to perform image searches and add calendar events directly from their iPhones, streamlining daily tasks and interactions with content on the device.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s head of software engineering, emphasized that developers can leverage App Intents to incorporate this visually intelligent search capability into their apps, allowing for seamless integration across frequently used applications, thus enhancing overall user engagement and utility.
Meanwhile, Qualcomm has struck a deal to acquire Alphawave Semi, a UK-based semiconductor firm, for approximately $2.4 billion. This acquisition is part of Qualcomm’s strategy to expand its data center business amidst declining revenue from smartphone processors, with Alphawave’s technology promising to enhance data center connectivity.
The acquisition comes on the heels of Qualcomm’s purchase of VinAI’s generative AI division and IoT company Edge Impulse, reflecting its efforts to diversify amid market challenges. The deal is anticipated to finalize in the first quarter of 2026, positioning Qualcomm for growth in advanced technological solutions.
Tech Explained
PayPal – PayPal is a global online payment system that allows users to make payments and send money securely over the internet. It offers services like online money transfers and the ability to pay for goods and services online, facilitating e-commerce transactions.
Artificial Intelligence – Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines designed to think and act like humans. In the context of Apple’s Visual Intelligence, AI analyzes visual data to enhance user interactions and automate tasks such as image searches and event calendar entries.
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) – BNPL is a financing option that allows consumers to purchase items and pay for them over time, often without interest. This service is particularly attractive for travelers looking for flexible payment options while booking hotels through PayPal.
Semiconductor – A semiconductor is a material that has electrical conductivity between that of an insulator and a conductor. It is essential in modern electronics, forming the backbone of devices like processors, enabling high-speed data processing and connectivity in data centers, as demonstrated by Qualcomm’s acquisition of Alphawave Semi.
