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Plum launches AI-powered money guidance, delivering tailored plans in minutes to the general public

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LONDON, June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Smart money app Plum has launched a new financial guidance service called Plum Plan, transforming the way people build, manage and grow their wealth over their lifetime.

The AI-powered service offers a step-by-step plan to help users reach their goals faster and more easily, helping them choose the right amount to set aside in the appropriate tax wrapper and investment option. It’s the first stage of Plum’s AI offering as it builds towards a fully digital advice experience, with optional access to a human expert as well.

Plum Plan, which is available for free to all customers, represents a major leap forward. By bringing together the latest AI technology, customer data and the Plum’s suite of tax-efficient solutions, it empowers the 91% of the public who don’t have access to financial advice*. The service provides people with information about the relevant financial products they could use, whether it’s to plan for retirement, buy a house, save for a wedding, or another important financial milestone, without the traditional costly fees.

The service uses data provided by the customer about their current life circumstances, including their salary, outgoings and everyday spending habits.  It then creates an easy-to-follow financial plan in a matter of minutes, all via conversational AI. As their circumstances evolve, from career changes and growing families to shifting financial goals, the plan will soon be able to automatically adapt to reflect their changing needs and help keep them on track for lifelong financial wellbeing.

Plum Plan helps users to narrow down their options from the range of financial products available and provides suggestions about how they might allocate their money tax-efficiently, meaning they can achieve their ambitions quicker. The service also includes advanced planning capabilities specifically for home buying and retirement, namely:

House cost estimation: Home-buying plans can estimate the average cost of a property based on the user’s preferred location and required property size, while also factoring in additional costs such as stamp duty and solicitor’s fees.Retirement savings projection: Retirement plans can compare a user’s desired retirement age with their projected retirement age and highlight additional investment options, alongside workplace pension contributions, to help them retire sooner.

As well as these larger financial milestones, users can also generate plans to save for holidays, car purchases, or other smaller goals that are tailored to the information they provide.

Plum Plan has been informed by chartered financial planner Will Bryant, Director of Wealth Strategy at Plum, who has used his almost 30-years experience to optimise the quality and accuracy of the guidance provided. The pioneering service has been built with user safety in mind, so customers can rest assured knowing their data is never shared with third-party AI providers, as all conversational tuning and prompt engineering is carried out using internal data only.

In addition, Plum Plan combines best-in-class LLMs with comprehensive guardrails, using continually reviewed knowledge bases and up-to-date financial information. This helps avoid the hallucinations or potentially hazardous content often associated with general-purpose chatbots.

Speaking about the service, Victor Trokoudes, Founder and CEO of Plum, said:

“From the very start, Plum was rooted in smart technology. When we began life as a chatbot, I could see AI’s potential for making it easier for people to manage their finances through conversations. Replicating the interaction that people have with others was critical to helping people feel comfortable when making financial decisions and overcome their money inertia.

“The technology has evolved so we can now offer a conversational platform with trusted, automated assistance. But importantly we’re able to offer this in an environment where the guidance is monitored and overseen by experts, as opposed to an untested generic provider.

“This isn’t just a shift in the world of personal finance, it’s a shift in the world more generally. It’s something that for so long has been out of reach for so many people. Built for the 91% of people who are not receiving financial advice, Plum Plan makes managing money feel intuitive, empowering and genuinely accessible. Unlike most AI tools, Plum Plan is built right into the app and it actually knows you. It uses the information you provide to create a clear plan that is designed for you, to get you where you want to go, all for free.

“I’m delighted that more than 150,000 people have used Plum’s AI for guidance so far and are actively progressing towards their goals. It’s already making a big difference, helping users to build an additional retirement pot of around £170,000 on average**. My ambition is that everyone in the UK and EU can have a financial plan within Plum that is automatically optimised to use the right products. This way they can focus on living their life, while we take care of their finances.

Will Bryant, Director of Wealth Strategy at Plum, added:

“What’s particularly exciting is that this is just the first step for us in helping our customers achieve their financial aspirations and supporting them on their wealth-building journey. We’re working to secure a licence to offer financial advice to our users so we can make personalised recommendations, facilitated by our pioneering use of AI.”

To find out more information about Plum Plan, and to use the service for free, download the Plum app and click the ‘Plum Plan’ tab. Or visit https://withplum.com/plan.

* FCA Financial Lives survey, 2024

**The current average age of the customer is 44 years, leaving an estimated 24 years to retirement. The median yearly saving post-plan is £4,164/year pre monthly compounding, leading to a median projected pot at 68 of £170,000 based on typical 5% real growth.

Notes to editors

Plum provides information and insights to our customers. We do not currently provide advice, and nothing herein should be construed as such.

For further information, please contact:

Rajan Lakhani, rajan@withplum.com, 0207 959 4254

Susanna Wood, susanna@withplum.com, 07804253709

About Plum: 

Plum is the ultimate smart money app, helping people to build their money for life. Founded in 2016 by Victor Trokoudes (ex-Wise), Plum automates parts of personal finance that people find difficult or don’t have time for, with effortless saving, empowered spending and accessible investing. Five million customers across Europe have downloaded Plum to do more with their money, with more than £6 billion set aside via the app. Plum was named one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK by the FT1000: Europe’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026. Plum is headquartered in London, UK, and has offices in Athens, Greece and Nicosia, Cyprus.

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DUVA Introduces DUVA ONE at IFA 2026: Personalized Sleep Earbuds That Respond in Real Time

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The Sleep System That Understands You Best.

BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DUVA, created by Fitnexa, is introducing DUVA ONE at IFA Berlin 2026. This intelligent in-ear sleep system is designed to sense changes in the user and the bedroom, then personalize audio, noise control, and device behavior throughout the night.

Most sleep wearables explain what happened after users wake up. DUVA ONE is designed to help while the night is still happening. Its low-profile earbuds, environment-sensing charging case, and app work together to determine when and how to respond.

A user might start the night with a podcast over Bluetooth. After they fall asleep, DUVA ONE can introduce locally stored sleep audio and optimize power use. If a partner begins snoring or traffic grows louder, it can adjust ANC or add sound masking. In the morning, a private offline alarm wakes only the wearer, without requiring an active phone connection.

In-ear PPG and motion sensors estimate sleep stages and track heart rate, HRV, sleep position, and movement, while the case monitors noise, light, temperature, and humidity. The AI Agent interprets these signals alongside playback status and personal preferences to select an appropriate response. Users control sleep audio, playback duration, ANC strategy, and nighttime interventions in the DUVA App.

“Sleep does not happen in a static environment, so sleep technology should not remain static either,” said Diego, Founder of Fitnexa. “DUVA ONE is designed to respond while sleep is still happening.”

Key Highlights

Layered noise relief: Passive isolation, Hybrid ANC, and sleep audio provide noise reduction of up to 42 dB, with Transparency Mode and adaptive ANC calibration.Personalized AI sleep guidance: The AI analyzes the user’s real-time sleep state and generates personalized audio guidance to help them gradually fall asleep.Side-sleeping comfort: Each fitted earbud weighs approximately 3.3 grams and has an approximately 9.9 mm low-profile design. Two ear-tip shapes and multiple tip and stabilizing-wing sizes provide more than 40 fit configurations.All-night battery: Up to 16 hours in the most power-efficient configuration, including 13 hours of local audio with ANC off and 9.5 hours with ANC on. The USB-C and wireless charging case provides up to five additional recharges.Private offline alarm: Alarms gradually increase in volume and offer 5, 10, or 15-minute snooze options through the earbud controls.Privacy-first sensing: DUVA ONE does not record conversations, store ambient audio, or upload raw environmental audio. Users can disable individual sensors and delete historical data.

DUVA ONE is planned for release in October 2026 at a target retail price of US$349.99, with target markets including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia.

Media Contact: essie@duva.com
Learn more: duva.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duva-introduces-duva-one-at-ifa-2026-personalized-sleep-earbuds-that-respond-in-real-time-302870832.html

SOURCE DUVA

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China Xplained | The China Squeeze, or the China Opportunity?

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GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a news report from South: 

Is China’s manufacturing rise squeezing out or creating opportunities for other economies?

Ahead of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in China this November, journalists and experts from around the world gathered in Guangdong for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum (APMF) 2026.

The forum opened in Shenzhen on September 5, bringing together more than 400 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from international organizations.

Before the opening of the forum, participants travelled across Guangdong to see China’s industries and development first-hand.

In this episode of China Xplained, we look at the numbers, supply chains, investment and voices from across the developing world—to ask a bigger question: Is China squeezing out room for other economies?

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-xplained–the-china-squeeze-or-the-china-opportunity-302870814.html

SOURCE South

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PUDU D7 Named Honoree in IFA Innovation Awards for Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, today announced that its PUDU D7 Semi-humanoid Intelligent Robot has been named an Honoree in the Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies category of the IFA Innovation Awards. The recognition highlights PUDU D7’s ability to combine mobile navigation, dexterous manipulation and intelligent sensing to perform a range of tasks in real-world industrial and commercial environments.

The IFA Innovation Awards recognize outstanding innovations across the global technology landscape. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury based on criteria including technology and functionality, innovation and originality, and the potential to create tangible value for users and the market. The recognition places PUDU D7 among emerging technologies demonstrating new possibilities for the future of robotics.

From Industrial Operations to Guest Interaction

PUDU D7 is designed for industrial, warehouse, retail and hospitality environments, where it can move through human-oriented spaces and perform tasks that require both mobility and dexterous manipulation.

In industrial and warehouse settings, D7 can handle materials, pick items from shelves, replenish inventory, transport goods between work areas and push carts. With a payload capacity of up to 20 kg (44.1 pounds) and an operating height of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), it can work with a range of storage systems and materials.

In retail, D7 can support shelf replenishment, item handling and store organization, moving products between storage areas and shelves and helping maintain product displays.

In hotels and hospitality, PUDU D7 can take on the role of an intelligent front-desk host, welcoming guests, preparing and serving coffee, interacting with visitors and providing engaging experiences. Its semi-humanoid form and dual-arm capabilities allow it to combine practical service tasks with natural human-robot interaction, bringing a more personable and engaging presence to the guest experience.

Designed for Adaptable Performance

PUDU D7 combines a dual-arm manipulation system, tactile sensing and a 360-degree perception system to support these applications. Front- and rear-facing LiDAR and other sensors enable navigation around people and obstacles, while tactile sensing provides precise control when handling objects.

The robot also features autonomous battery swapping, allowing it to independently replace its battery and reduce downtime during extended operation.

Together, these capabilities enable D7 to support different tasks across a range of environments without being limited to a single application.

PUDU D7 Makes Its European Debut at IFA

IFA 2026 marks the first time PUDU D7 is being showcased in Europe. At the Pudu Robotics booth, visitors can experience live demonstrations highlighting the robot’s capabilities and its potential for human-robot interaction.

D7 interacts directly with visitors through demonstrations including waving, making heart gestures and picking up objects. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s ability to combine movement, manipulation and interaction in a human-oriented environment.

Advancing the Next Generation of Intelligent Robotics

The IFA Innovation Awards recognition marks another step in Pudu Robotics’ expansion from service delivery, commercial cleaning and industrial delivery into embodied intelligent robotics.

PUDU D7 is part of Pudu Robotics’ broader strategy to develop a portfolio of specialized, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots, building on its capabilities in embodied navigation, manipulation and interaction. This approach enables the company to address a broader range of applications across commercial and industrial environments.

Pudu Robotics will continue working with customers and partners worldwide to explore new applications for embodied intelligence and bring increasingly capable robots into real-world environments.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics is a global leader in commercial service robotics and the industry’s first company to offer a full portfolio spanning specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots. According to Frost & Sullivan’s latest market report, Pudu Robotics ranks No. 1 globally in commercial service robotics by both revenue and shipment volume. Built on its One Brain, Multiple Embodiments architecture, Pudu offers robots for service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied AI applications across hospitality, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, public services, and more. To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 robots to customers across 85+ countries and regions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pudu-d7-named-honoree-in-ifa-innovation-awards-for-best-in-ifa-next–emerging-technologies-302870806.html

SOURCE Pudu Robotics

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