Also launches the Superclaw — self-hosted for SMEs and privacy-first organizations

SAN FRANCISCO and MUMBAI, April 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gupshup, the world’s leading conversational AI platform, today announced the launch of Gupshup Superagent, an autonomous AI agent that drives customer conversations at scale across every major messaging and voice channel.

Superagent goes beyond traditional AI assistants by acting as a full-stack orchestrator for customer experiences. From a single conversational interface, it can design and launch campaigns, orchestrate customer journeys, provision messaging and voice infrastructure, process transactions, monitor performance, and continuously optimize outcomes — enabling businesses to move seamlessly from intent to revenue. It works across popular messaging channels including WhatsApp, RCS, SMS, Truecaller, Telegram, Instagram, PSTN voice, and WhatsApp voice — in most languages globally. You tell it what you need; it takes care of all the details – it takes you from prompt to profits.

What differentiates Superagent is its deep domain expertise rooted in Gupshup’s cPaaS and CX leadership. Superagent inherits Gupshup’s strong messaging and voice infrastructure built over 15 years, handling 10 billion messages per month for 50,000 businesses across 100+ countries, with regional and regulatory nuances across countries. It also leverages proven engagement levers across industry verticals and geography, channel-specific best practices, and a vast set of performance optimization metrics. This embedded intelligence enables Superagent to not just automate workflows, but to make autonomous, context-aware decisions that directly improve customer experience and deliver business outcomes — something generic AI tools cannot replicate. This enables business to go from conversations to conversions.

With a few simple prompts, Superagent can set up the infrastructure, create accounts, build journeys, develop AI agents, run campaigns, review analytics and autonomously self-optimize. It also understands context and makes custom recommendations for, say, a fintech company in Brazil, an e-commerce firm in the US, a real-estate broker in the middle east, or a bank in India – it customizes the campaigns and journeys for each. Beta users have seen up to 90% reduction in time, effort and cost, and over 25% higher conversions.

“Managing customer conversations has been too hard for too long. Superagent is not just laying the rails for AI-powered customer engagement; it can also run the trains. It autonomously attracts, serves, and converts customers — across every channel, in every language — without waiting to be told what to do. We believe this will transform customer engagement and are thrilled to put it in our customers’ hands.” said Beerud Sheth, CEO of Gupshup.

Gupshup is simultaneously launching Superclaw — a self-hosted, on-device version of the Superagent built on the OpenClaw platform, with stronger security, memory- and token- efficiency. Superclaw runs on a local computer, keeps all usage and customer data private and on-device, and links to either personal or business messaging channels on the user’s own accounts. It is designed for small and medium-sized businesses that want to run a powerful AI marketing agent with no external infrastructure costs — and for large enterprises in regulated industries where data sovereignty is non-negotiable.

Apart from using it on the web, users can also activate Superagent through WhatsApp, voice, or RCS, or embed it into their existing AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, etc. Superagent is live today in beta.

About Gupshup

Gupshup is the world’s leading conversational AI platform, enabling businesses to build and deploy AI-powered customer interactions across 30+ messaging channels. Trusted by 50,000+ businesses in 100+ countries, with a partner network of 3,000+ globally, Gupshup processes tens of billions of messages annually. Learn more at gupshup.ai.

Editor’s note: This year marks the 55th anniversary of the China-US Ping-Pong Diplomacy, a historic episode that paved the way for the normalization of bilateral relations.

To revisit the journey of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, this series features interviews with representative figures from the fields of sports, culture, economy, current affairs, and education — all of whom have contributed to China-US exchanges over the past 55 years.

SHANGHAI, April 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from english.shanghai.gov.cn

Jeffrey Lehman has served as vice-chancellor of NYU Shanghai since the university’s founding in 2012. During his years in Shanghai, he has received the city’s highest honors for expats, such as the Magnolia Gold Award, Magnolia Silver Award, and Honorary Citizen of Shanghai.

In 1972, when Lehman was a high school junior in the United States, he knew almost nothing about China, yet he loved playing ping pong.

Growing up in Maryland, his family kept a ping-pong table in the basement, where he often played with his father and friends.

In April 1972, his father told him that he had tickets to see the visiting Chinese table tennis team play an exhibition match at the University of Maryland.

“We got to see this incredible exhibition of talent, people like Liang Geliang and Zheng Minzhi, playing a quality of ping pong that I’d never seen before,” he said.

The next day at school, he told his friends what he had witnessed. About an hour later, one of them came running into his classroom and said, “You are not going to believe this. A player from the Chinese team is next door at the shopping mall. They’ve set up a table, and she’s happy to play against anybody. You should go play.”

He ran out of the high school, went next door, and played against her.

“I don’t remember who it was, but she hit the ball harder than I’d ever encountered before. It was thrilling, and that, I guess, was the beginning of my connection to China,” he said.

By 1998, Lehman was dean of the University of Michigan Law School. That year, the US and Chinese governments agreed to bring four deans of American law schools to China to meet with their Chinese counterparts and discuss the rule of law. Lehman was invited to join the delegation.

“That was my first trip to China, and it was astonishing for me. It was life-changing. I came over for one year, and one year became two years, and three years, and four years,” he said.

In 2012, New York University, East China Normal University, and the governments of Shanghai and the Pudong New Area invited him to relocate to Shanghai to help launch NYU Shanghai.

Today, NYU Shanghai has students from about 80 countries. The university has a rule that every freshman must have at least one roommate who holds a passport from a different country.

Lehman believes this approach encourages genuine cross-cultural communication among students.

“We will continue to do our best to ensure that our students become deeply educated about the world so that, as they take on positions of leadership in their countries, they will be able to share their actual experiences and knowledge of the rest of the world with fellow leaders back home,” he noted.

“Follow your curiosity wherever it leads. It’s a big world out there, and don’t pull back. Always pursue new opportunities to learn wherever they are,” he added.

Ping-pong diplomacy

Ping pong diplomacy began in early April 1971 at the World Table Tennis Championships in Nagoya, Japan, when US player Glenn Cowan accidentally boarded a bus carrying the Chinese team, leading to an unexpected encounter with Chinese player Zhuang Zedong.

In the days that followed, the Chinese government invited the US table tennis team to visit China. On April 10, 1971, the team arrived in Beijing, becoming the first US delegation to enter the country since 1949.

The visit became a powerful symbol of goodwill, signaling a willingness on both sides to improve relations.

A year later, in April 1972, the Chinese table tennis team paid a return visit to the US, further strengthening emerging cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries.

To learn more about the historic episode and the broader story of China-US exchanges, please visit:

https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-PingPongDiplomacy55/index.html

SHANGHAI, April 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hanshow, a global leader in electronic shelf labels (ESLs) and digital retail solutions, today announced the completion of its full acquisition of HARB Data, a retail-focused AI and big data solutions company. Following the transaction, HARB Data becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Hanshow.

This acquisition significantly strengthens Hanshow’s core capabilities in in‑store data governance, analytics, and AI algorithms, enabling the company to deliver more efficient and smart technical support for retail customers across store operations, intelligent marketing, consumer experience optimization, and digital energy management.

As AI rapidly reshapes value creation in physical retail, data has become the foundational enabler—not only for AI deployment, but also for breaking physical boundaries and driving intelligent, scalable growth. As a key enabler of in‑store digital infrastructure, Hanshow continues to accelerate the development of its data services through multi‑scenario AIoT smart terminals. Following the acquisition, Hanshow’s intelligent hardware portfolio will be deeply integrated with HARB Data’s tech capabilities, enabling a closed-loop upgrade from intelligent sensing to intelligent decision‑making. This integration marks a fundamental shift from experience‑based operations toward AI‑driven growth.

Founded in 2015, HARB Data is an AI and big data solutions provider specializing in the retail and consumer sectors. Its core capabilities span precision marketing, full‑funnel business intelligence, and predictive analytics, supported by mature data‑modeling frameworks and proven expertise in advertising attribution and measurement.

This strategic integration goes beyond business expansion. By combining retail scenarios with advanced data and AI technologies, the acquisition strengthens Hanshow’s data capabilities across environment coverage, data collection, campaign execution, and performance attribution. More importantly, it reinforces Hanshow’s commitment to an open ecosystem—working closely with partners to co-create value and drive sustainable, data-driven growth.

In practical deployment, Hanshow leverages IoT touchpoints, including electronic shelf labels, in-store digital displays, and smart carts to collect first-party data such as customer traffic, user interactions, and transaction conversions in real time. HARB Data applies its proprietary AI algorithms and big‑data analytics to standardize data processing, generate actionable consumer insights, construct high‑fidelity customer profiles, and establish closed-loop attribution models. Together, these complementary strengths significantly enhance Hanshow’s data service capabilities and create a differentiated, defensible competitive advantage.

Looking ahead, Hanshow will continue to deepen the integration of technology and retail scenarios, working closely with ecosystem partners to advance store digitalization into a new phase of high‑quality, AI‑driven development.

Contact：
info@hanshow.com 

SINGAPORE, April 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Synpulse, a leading global management consultancy and technology partner to financial institutions, has successfully supported Infront Assetmax, an integrated wealth management software solution in becoming OpenWealth‑ready in Asia‑Pacific (APAC). The milestone positions Assetmax’s wealth management platform to deliver standardised, API‑based connectivity between external asset managers (EAMs) and custody banks across the region.

By adopting the OpenWealth API standard in APAC, Assetmax enables seamless, secure data exchange for custody services, trading, and client lifecycle management addressing long‑standing industry challenges around fragmented data, manual processes, and costly bespoke integrations. Powered by the OpenWealth standards established by the OpenWealth Association, co‑founded by Synpulse, the integration marks a notable milestone for Assetmax as OpenWealth adoption continues to accelerate across the Asia‑Pacific region.

Supported by Synpulse, Assetmax is now OpenWealth‑ready to support APAC financial institutions with scalable, future‑proof connectivity. This development allows EAMs to integrate more efficiently with participating custody banks, access consolidated position and transaction data, and place orders through standardised interfaces accelerating onboarding timelines and reducing operational complexity.

“Adopting the OpenWealth API standard in APAC is a strategic step forward for Assetmax and a clear commitment to the future of wealth management. It enables greater interoperability, openness, and scalability which are key foundations for delivering seamless, client‑centric solutions. In a fast‑evolving APAC market, OpenWealth positions firms to innovate faster, collaborate more effectively, and support advisors and institutions as they navigate increasing complexity.” Said Raphael Bianchi, President of OpenWealth Association (OWA) and Senior Partner at Synpulse.

As APAC markets accelerate the move toward open finance and API‑driven, digital‑first wealth models, OpenWealth adoption continues to build momentum. Assetmax now becomes part of a growing regional ecosystem of technology providers and financial institutions united by a common industry standard.

“Having helped shape OpenWealth in Europe, we’re proud to be among the first to bring that expertise to Asia-Pacific. Through our work with Synpulse, who share our commitment to open standards, EAMs across the region can now benefit from greater autonomy, simpler connectivity and enhanced operational efficiency. We’re excited to be at the forefront of wealth management’s next chapter in APAC.” – Sebastian Manthei, Head of Sales, Infront Assetmax. For custody banks across APAC, OpenWealth unlocks a standardised, secure approach to API‑based service exposure driving more seamless collaboration with EAMs and wealth‑tech providers. For EAMs, it reduces integration complexity across multi‑custody environments while elevating data consistency, transparency, and resilience.

“Assetmax’s OpenWealth adoption highlights the strong momentum behind open standards in APAC. By bringing this connectivity to our Wealth Cockpit platform, we’re helping EAMs unlock new possibilities and building the foundation for a more connected, future‑ready wealth management ecosystem,” said Yves Roesti, CEO and Managing Partner of Synpulse.

About Synpulse

Synpulse is a global management consultancy and a trusted partner to financial institutions. We deliver end-to-end transformation for financial institutions, combining deep industry expertise with technology across strategy, design, implementation, and operations. With a network of over 100 ecosystem partners and our technology division Synpulse8, we co-create innovative digital solutions that deliver value-creating impact. Our team of 1,000+ professionals from more than 20 locations is united by a shared commitment to excellence and client success.  

Further information www.synpulse.com.

About Infront Assetmax

Infront Assetmax is an integrated wealth management software solution for external asset managers, family offices and banks. Developed in Switzerland, Infront Assetmax combines deep experience in portfolio management and software development to create a solution that delivers efficient process automation, reduces operational risks, optimises costs, and supports our clients in staying compliant according to local rules and up to date with regulatory requirements. Assetmax is part of Infront, the European leader in financial market data and investment management solutions.

New study highlights urgent priorities for Japan’s digital transformation, with industry signaling shared 6G ambition through the Tokyo Accord

TOKYO, April 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Japan must take bold, coordinated action to translate its world-class technological strengths into global digital leadership, according to new GSMA report launched at the Digital Nation Summit Tokyo.

The Digital Nations 2026: Accelerating the Digital Leap in Japan report finds that while Japan remains a leader in next-generation connectivity and applied innovation, structural challenges continue to limit productivity growth and economy-wide digital impact. Addressing these constraints will be critical if Japan is to shift from a cautious technology adopter to a confident global standards setter.

Reflecting this ambition, the Tokyo Accord was signed at the Summit by Japan’s mobile network operators – KDDI, NTT DOCOMO, Rakuten Mobile and SoftBank – alongside the three APAC 6G Alliances, Globe and LG U+. The Accord signals a shared commitment to shaping 6G era through open, interoperable and trusted digital ecosystems, driving coordination between industry and policymakers.

Report identifies 2026 as an inflection point. While targeted interventions have helped ‘digital cliff’ risks, deeper structural issues persist, including stagnant productivity, a widening digital services deficit and challenges in scaling innovation.

As global momentum builds around 5G and 6G, report highlights Japan’s opportunity to lead by aligning spectrum strategy, R&D investment and international standards engagement with broader digital transformation goals.

Priority areas for immediate action:

• Completing the 5G journey: Accelerating nationwide deployment of 5G standalone (SA) to unlock advanced capabilities and support future 6G evolution.
• Closing the grey digital divide: Addressing digital inclusion challenges among ageing populations, with internet usage dropping significantly among those aged 70+.
• Strengthening digital trust: Tackling rising fraud and scam activity, which reached JPY324.1 billion ($2.1 billion) in losses in 2025, through stronger safeguards and cooperation.

Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at GSMA, said: “Japan has many of the foundations required for digital leadership. The challenge now is execution.”

At the Summit, GSMA’s Leadership Team – Vivek Badrinath, John Giusti, Lara Dewar all reinforced the need for coordinated action across industry and government.

Report outlines three strategic pathways for Japan’s next phase of digital development: building on strengths in advanced connectivity and frontier technologies; accelerating deployment through global best practices; and deepening international cooperation across AI, cybersecurity and connectivity. 

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