Meta, Shopify to integrate AI agent for e-commerce purchases
Meta Platforms and Shopify plan to allow Meta's AI agent to complete purchases for users across Shopify's network of stores. In other news: The Trump administration has proposed investing $5 billion in a new fund to help Middle East countries rebuild energy infrastructure damaged in the Iran war and reduce their reliance on the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas transport. Western pharmaceutical companies are urging the administration to allow them to continue deals with Chinese companies for drug candidates, despite a 2025 law restricting U.S. investment in Chinese technology. Private-equity
The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - Meta Platforms and Shopify are teaming up, with plans to allow the social-media company’s personal artificial-intelligence agent to complete purchases on behalf of users with the e-commerce platform’s roster of stores. - The Trump administration has proposed investing $5 billion in a new fund that would help Middle East countries rebuild energy infrastructure battered in the Iran war and reduce their reliance on the Strait of Hormuz to transport oil and gas.
- Western pharmaceutical companies are urging the administration to allow them to keep doing deals with Chinese companies for promising drug candidates, despite a 2025 law restricting US investment in Chinese technology. - Private-equity firms Shamrock Capital and Flexpoint Ford have acquired Podium Entertainment, a book publisher focused on independent authors and audiobooks. They bought the publisher for north of $400 million - CarMax has slashed 145 white-collar jobs, about 4% of its corporate staff, a move that comes as auto sellers face the pain of high prices and rising interest rates. com)