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Ridero and AFG Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand Residual-Based Vehicle Financing

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Partnership will drive incremental originations through AFG’s existing lender programs while enabling lenders to launch and scale leasing across new and used vehicles

NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ridero, the technology platform building infrastructure for vehicle leasing and residual-based financing, today announced a strategic partnership with AFG to expand residual-based vehicle financing across new and used vehicles.

The partnership combines AFG’s lender programs, residual expertise and residual value guarantees with Ridero’s integrated technology and dealer network across two tracks: expanding distribution of AFG’s existing programs and enabling lenders to launch and scale new residual-based products.

Expanding Distribution for Existing AFG Programs

Ridero will integrate AFG’s existing lender programs into its platform, giving AFG’s lender partners an additional origination channel while expanding financing options available to Ridero dealers.

“The first part of this partnership is simple: help dealers get more deals done and help AFG’s lender partners originate more business,” said Brock Thompson, Co-Founder and CEO of Ridero. “By bringing these programs directly into the dealer workflow, we can expand their reach and create incremental opportunities for everyone involved.”

Opening Leasing to More Lenders Without the Residual Risk

The second track enables banks, credit unions, specialty lenders, OEM captives and dealer captives to launch or expand leasing across new and used vehicles without building the specialized technology and residual infrastructure traditionally required.

“A lender that wants to launch or expand leasing shouldn’t have to spend years building specialized technology and residual infrastructure,” said Thompson. “By combining Ridero’s technology with AFG’s residual expertise and guarantees, we can give lenders a much simpler path to bring leasing programs to market.”

“Residual based financing has proven its value: borrowers save thousands in lower payments, lenders capture incremental volume, and dealers close deals faster. It’s a win – win – win. Yet these programs remain concentrated among a handful of players. Through this partnership with Ridero, AFG continues to pursue its mission to expand access to residual based financing and remove the infrastructure burden that’s historically kept many lenders on the sidelines,” says Richard Epley, Auto Financial Group’s CEO.

Together, Ridero and AFG will expand distribution of existing residual-based programs while lowering the barriers for new lenders to enter the market.

About Ridero

Ridero is a financial technology company building infrastructure for vehicle leasing and residual-based financing. Its AI-powered platform connects dealers and financial institutions, embedding residual-based products directly into existing automotive retail workflows.

About AFG

Auto Financial Group (AFG), a Houston-based company, provides an online, residual based, walk-away vehicle financing product called AFG Balloon Lending, as well as vehicle leasing and vehicle remarketing to financial institutions across North America.

AFG’s residual based financing solutions provide the advantages of lower payments, flexible terms, in the case of the balloon loan, actual ownership of the vehicle and several end-of-term options, including the option to surrender the vehicle and walk away in lieu of paying the final loan payment. The financial institution receives higher loan yields, a competitive residual based financing alternative, and AFG manages the entire end-of-term process.

The AFG Remarketing program is a proven solution for financial institutions that offers the greatest financial return to their clients by matching assets to the selling network with the greatest number of buyers.

For more information about AFG call toll free at 877-354-4234, or visit www.autofinancialgroup.com

www.ridero.ai

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University of Phoenix Debuts New Locked-In Pricing Guarantee, Building on Nearly a Decade of Price Certainty and Transparency

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New students will know their full per-course cost before they enroll and keep it through program completion; current enrolled students’ tuition remains locked under the University’s long-standing Tuition Guarantee 

PHOENIX, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — University of Phoenix today announced its Locked-In Pricing Guarantee, which gives new students one price per course, covering both tuition and the resource fee, locked from enrollment through completion in their enrolled program. The guarantee builds on the Tuition Guarantee the University introduced in 2018, which has locked tuition for enrolled students for nearly a decade.

The guarantee takes effect with the University’s updated pricing on Nov. 2, 2026. For new students, tuition will increase 7% and the resource fee will increase $10 per course, presented as a single all-in, locked-in price per course. For current students’ their tuition in their enrolled program remains unchanged under the Tuition Guarantee; and their resource fee will increase $10 per course, its first increase in nearly a decade. [Active-duty military graduate tuition rates will update Jan. 4, 2027.]

The price update responds to rising operating costs and expands students’ access to learning technologies, including Microsoft® Copilot® through each student’s Microsoft 365® account.

“Price transparency should be the norm in higher education. At University of Phoenix, it has been our practice for nearly a decade,” said Chris Lynne, president, University of Phoenix. “When we update pricing, we do it the way we always have— in plain terms, published in advance and with a price students can count on. The Locked-In Pricing Guarantee takes that commitment further. New students will see one all-in price before they enroll, and it’s the price they keep through program completion. Working adults value knowing the full cost, up front, so they can plan for it, without surprises, and finish what they started while living their busy, full lives.”

One price, known up front, kept through graduation
Under the Locked-In Pricing Guarantee, before enrolling, new students will see one all-in per-course price for tuition and resource fees for their enrolled program. That price includes tuition and the resource fee, which covers course electronic textbooks and materials, support resources, and AI tools, so students aren’t left to add up separate charges to understand what a course will cost. It’s one price, all-in and locked. The price stays the same from their first course through the completion date of their enrolled program, giving students a fixed number to plan around for the length of their degree.

Current and upcoming tuition and fees are published in the University’s Academic Catalog, in each student’s web account and at phoenix.edu.

Students are asking for certainty and transparency
The University’s approach aligns with what students and families say they want. In The Price Transparency Imperative, an April 2026 report from Strada Education Foundation based on a nationally representative survey of more than 5,000 people, the top-ranked affordability solutions were cost transparency (68%) and a price guarantee (65%), and 62% also prioritized a single, all-in price. Among prospective adult learners, cost and affordability were the most-cited factors in choosing where to enroll.

Preparing students for work in the age of AI
The resource fee includes course electronic textbooks and materials, Microsoft 365®, access to Microsoft® Copilot® and AI learning resources, the University Library, virtual tutoring, the Centers for Math and Writing Excellence and virtual science labs. Students also receive guidance on responsible AI use through the University’s Center for AI Resources. The University recently published a white paper about its approach to AI implementation, detailing the AI pillars framework and resources for students.

“Employers increasingly expect people to use AI well, and our students are building that capability while they learn,” said John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer of University of Phoenix. “Putting these tools in courses helps students study more efficiently and practice the skills they’re already being asked to use at work.”

Ways to lower the cost of a degree
A locked price tells students what each course will cost. The University also helps students potentially reduce how many courses they need to take. Over the past eight years, University of Phoenix has applied more than 7 million transfer credits, helping students save an estimated $3 billion in tuition and fees by avoiding repeated coursework.

Other ways eligible students can reduce the time and cost of a degree include:

Credit for prior learning (CPL). Students may earn credit for relevant learning and experience through Prior Learning Assessment, national testing programs and military service. In fiscal year 2024–2025, students whose degree programs included CPL saved an average of $5,408 in tuition.Alternative credit providers. Eligible students can complete coursework through an alternative credit provider such as Study.com or StraighterLine that may count toward degree requirements.Scholarships. The Transfer Student Scholarship provides up to $3,000, applied over 20 courses, for qualified new bachelor’s degree students who transfer 12 to 60 credits and maintain eligibility requirements. The University’s Scholarships and Savings Guide helps students find additional opportunities.Employer tuition benefits. Upgrade skills and pursue a degree with the support of one’s employer through the University’s flexible education options for employees and members of 2,300+ organizations in healthcare, information technology, retail, financial services and many other industries.Savings Explorer®. Prospective students can use this tool to explore options based on their experience and see what students with similar backgrounds have saved.

Full tuition and fee information and program completion deadlines are available in the University’s Academic Catalog and at phoenix.edu.

About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is Built for Real Life. 50 Years Strong. The University innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world through flexible online learning, relevant courses, academic AI pillars, and skills-mapped curriculum for associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Active students and alumni have access to Career Services for Life® resources including career guidance and tools. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

Microsoft, Copilot, and Microsoft 365 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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Glimmer Launches Creator+ offering turnkey Managed Services for Global and Regional Creator/Influencer Campaigns on its Enterprise Platform

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As more traditional advertising dollars move to creators, Fortune 5000 brands can now benefit from the turnkey ability to offload campaign sourcing, managing and back-office payments for their global creator campaigns.

NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Glimmer®, the enterprise global content production and creator platform, announced today at ADVERTISING WEEK NY, the launch of Creator+, a managed service for creator campaigns, run by experienced producers, with every dollar and contract tracked and governed in one place. Glimmer has quickly become the global platform that sources, contracts, manages and pays creators worldwide on behalf of Fortune 5000 companies and global news organizations who rely on Glimmer’s infrastructure for global content production, real-time budget visibility and AI-powered content spend insights.

Glimmer has quickly become the global platform that sources, contracts, manages and pays creators worldwide.

The announcement comes as creator and influencer budgets are surging. Goldman Sachs projects the creator economy will grow from $250 billion to $480 billion by 2027.

“The hard part isn’t finding the creators. For large brands, it’s onboarding, contracting, paying, and tracking thousands of creators in every region with different contracts, rates and deliverables,” said Alex Ragir, Founder and Co-CEO of Glimmer. “Creator+ gives them the control and financial visibility they need, while they get access to expert local teams that adapt to their internal workflow.”

In private beta the past two years, Creator+ has been used by Fortune 500 companies, from technology to advertising to finance, for global creator campaigns in dozens of countries including one where over 3,000 creators were onboarded, contracted and paid within six weeks.

“Lots of influencer platforms have gotten good at finding creators and measuring results,” said Alan Schulman, Advisory Board member and former Chief Creative Officer of Deloitte Digital. “What most Fortune 500 brand CMOs and CFOs lack is a way to outsource how their creator and influencer budgets get managed and disbursed without having to maintain large internal staff. Glimmer’s Creator+ solves that problem for both heads of influencers and the marketing procurement departments.”

What brands get

One system of record for creator spend. Glimmer handles creator onboarding, e-contracts, secure messaging and global payouts in 190 countries, including 1099-K tax reporting. Budgets are set by the business unit and enforced automatically, and spend data can sync directly into the brand’s ERP, including Oracle and NetSuite, and existing content stack.

Budget intelligence. Real-time visibility into every content dollar, spend forecasting and AI-powered budget insights give procurement, finance and creative teams the same view of what is being spent, from where and with whom.

Producers who run the campaign. Creator+ draws on Glimmer Select, Glimmer’s network of 326 executive producers vetted through more than a decade of work for clients including CNN, Bloomberg, Starbucks and Warner Bros. Discovery. They handle strategy, creator sourcing and list curation, negotiation, onboarding, workflow management, brand-safety checks and monitoring.

Creator and production work in one place. Creator campaigns are tracked in the same system brands use for their video and photo production, which draws on more than 50,000 vetted production teams worldwide. Marketing and finance get one view of content spend across departments, regions and creators.

Works with existing teams and tools. Creator+ works with a brand’s in-house influencer or marketing team and can integrate current technology or creative resources/partners, rather than replacing them.

Availability

Creator+, see the overview here, is available now to enterprise brands and to agencies running creator programs on behalf of their clients. To request pricing or scope a campaign, contact Sam Nada at sam(at)glimmer.io 

About Glimmer

Glimmer is the enterprise content production & creator platform behind CNN, Bloomberg, Morgan Stanley, Hearst, Warner Bros. Discovery, Starbucks and more. It connects Fortune 5000 companies with more than 50,000+ vetted creators, production companies and creator agencies, with the financial controls to manage that spend. Learn more at glimmer.io.

Press: press(at)glimmer.io

General: contact(at)glimmer.io

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Applied Intuition Announces Collaboration with Nissan to Provide AI-Native Development Platform and Support AI-Defined Vehicle Development

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Applied Intuition will provide its Vehicle OS software and support the development of Nissan’s next-generation SDVs through its AI-native development tooling, extending a relationship that began in 2020.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Applied Intuition, Inc., a leader in physical AI solutions for all moving machines, today announced it is deploying its AI-powered software-development tools with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. to support development of AI-defined vehicles (AIDVs).

As part of the engagement, Applied Intuition will leverage its Vehicle OS software to support development of Nissan’s scalable and open next-generation in-vehicle software platform. Applied Intuition’s software teams in Japan and Silicon Valley will work alongside Nissan’s engineering team in Japan to help shorten software-development timelines and accelerate AI-native vehicle development.

“Nissan is strengthening its software and AI-driven development capabilities as we advance toward the realization of AI-defined vehicles,” said Takashi Yoshizawa, corporate executive, SDV Engineering Division, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “As we pursue a more efficient and agile approach to vehicle development, we highly value Applied Intuition’s technical expertise and proven track record in advanced vehicle-software development.”

Applied Intuition’s Vehicle OS software and AI-native development tooling are designed to support Nissan’s internal engineering teams by modernizing software workflows, reducing development complexity, and enabling a common software platform that spans multiple powertrains. By abstracting hardware complexity and unifying legacy and modern software development practices, Applied Intuition will help accelerate the development of Nissan’s future vehicle programs.

“Nissan is taking an ambitious approach to transforming how vehicles are developed,” said Qasar Younis, co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition. “By combining AI-native software development with Nissan’s vehicle engineering expertise, we aim to redefine how vehicles are developed, evolved and continuously updated over time, as well as the value customers expect from their vehicles.”

This collaboration builds on a relationship that began in 2020, when Nissan adopted Applied Intuition’s simulation technology. Since then, the two companies have jointly advanced AI-powered vehicle development workflows, including a live demonstration of a Nissan LEAF–based test vehicle at AWS Summit Japan. With this expanded collaboration, the partnership extends beyond simulation into in-vehicle operating systems and AI-native software development.

The work with Nissan further strengthens Applied Intuition’s position as a trusted software partner to leading global automakers, including those based in Japan. Applied Intuition combines its engineering strengths with an AI-native development approach to redefine how intelligent vehicles are developed, built and continuously evolved. Applied Intuition’s work with Nissan aims to establish a new industry standard for bringing AIDVs to market.

About Applied Intuition
Applied Intuition is building the technology to make a billion machines intelligent. Founded in 2017, the Silicon Valley company powers physical AI in the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries. Applied Intuition is based in Sunnyvale, California, with nearly two dozen offices around the world, including London, Munich, Tokyo, Seoul and the Washington, D.C., metro area. Learn more at applied.co, or email press@applied.co.

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SOURCE Applied Intuition, Inc.

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