Amazon and Shopify present contrasting investment profiles for 2026. Amazon reported nearly $717 billion in revenue for FY 2025, up 12.4%, with net income of $77.7 billion. However, the company plans to spend approximately $200 billion in capital expenditure for 2026 to expand AI and cloud infrastructure, pressuring free cash flow. Shopify achieved $11.6 billion in revenue for FY 2025, growing 30.1%, with $1.2 billion in net income. The company generated $2 billion in free cash flow whilst carrying zero debt and maintaining a 6.0x current ratio. Amazon faces regulatory scrutiny, including Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuits. Shopify contends with class action suits over consumer data practices and depends on third-party partners for payments and cloud hosting. The Motley Fool analyst favours Shopify, citing faster growth, capital efficiency, and financial flexibility despite Amazon's diversification and scale.

Affirm and Shopify launch Shop Pay Installments in Australia. 3 mins read Australian merchants on Shopify can now give their customers a flexible way to pay over time, with no late fees. SYDNEY-BUSINESS WIRE- Affirm expands its global partnership with Shopify to launch Shop Pay Installments in Australia. Powered exclusively by Affirm, it provides Australians the added flexibility to pay over time with no hidden fees, using the Shop Pay button they already trust. Millions of shoppers have made billions of dollars in purchases since Shop Pay Installments launched in 2021, making it one of Shopify's most popular payment options across the US, Canada, and the UK. The launch marks Affirm's return to Australia, bringing its global partnership with Shopify to Australian merchants. "Australians helped shape Buy Now, Pay Later as we know it, which is why we expect more from it than most," said Nitin Kashid, Australia Country Manager at Affirm. "In partnership with Shopify, Affirm built Shop Pay Installments for the future - a way to pay with even more flexible terms and no late fees, ever." "Shop Pay is the world's highest-converting checkout, adopted by over 250 million buyers globally," said Rohit Mishra, VP of Product, Payments & Cross-Border at Shopify. "With Affirm, our merchants can extend that value by offering consumers a simple, fast, and trusted way to pay over time. Bringing Shop Pay Installments to Australia unlocks even more flexibility and choice, helping our merchants continue to meet consumers where they are and how they like to shop." Shop Pay Installments lets eligible shoppers split their purchases into fortnightly or monthly payments. If approved, shoppers can choose from interest-free or interest-bearing payment plans and see exactly what they'll pay before committing. Affirm underwrites every transaction individually, making a real-time credit decision and only approving shoppers after an assessment of their ability to repay. Because Affirm charges no late fees, account fees or compounding interest, Affirm only succeeds when shoppers repay. The result is Shop Pay Installments, an option merchants can put their name behind and customers can rely on. For Shopify's Australian merchants, getting started is simple. Shop Pay Installments can be switched on in a few clicks through the Shopify admin dashboard. It gives businesses of every size another way to lift conversion and grow basket sizes. In North America, more than 90% of Affirm purchases come from repeat customers, a sign of how a fair, transparent experience keeps people coming back. Shopify and Affirm are continuing to bring Shop Pay Installments to additional countries where fair, high-performing pay-later options are in demand from merchants and consumers. About Affirm Affirm's mission is to provide honest financial products that improve lives. By building a payment network based on trust, transparency and putting people first, Medianet empower consumers to spend responsibly and give businesses the tools to fuel their growth. Unlike some credit cards or other pay-over-time options, Medianet underwrite every transaction, provide clear and upfront disclosures, and never charge late or hidden fees. Affirm is a form of credit provided by Affirm Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 86 648 970 629), Australian Credit Licence 569362. Credit is subject to eligibility, assessment and approval. Interest may apply and will be disclosed upfront. Affirm does not charge hidden fees or late fees. Payment options vary by merchant and purchase amount. See https://www.affirm.com/en-au/terms for details. Disclaimer Shop Pay Installments is made available by Shopify Commerce Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Shop Pay) (Credit Representative Number 000580369) as a credit representative of Affirm Australia Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence 569362). Credit is provided by Affirm Australia Pty Ltd. Available to approved applicants only. Terms and conditions apply Contact details: Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple. Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.

LinkedIn voices: Rowan Cheung. Rowan Cheung combines AI media, executive interviews, and practical education through The Rundown, helping millions understand emerging technology and its impac Wiam Asmar Blog Editor - Aug 27, 2026 Rowan Cheung sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, media, and practical technology education. As the Founder and CEO of The Rundown, he has built a career around translating complex AI developments into accessible insights, combining technology journalism, executive interviews, and education to help professionals understand how emerging tools are reshaping work and productivity. Name & professional identity. Rowan Cheung is the Founder and CEO of The Rundown, an AI-focused media and education platform based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in January 2023, The Rundown has grown from a daily AI newsletter into a broader ecosystem covering artificial intelligence, technology, and robotics. Cheung combines technology curation, original interviews, commentary, and education, with a focus on explaining what emerging developments mean and how they can be applied in work and everyday life. Niche & specialization. Rowan Cheung focuses on making fast-moving developments in AI and technology easier to understand and apply. His work spans several areas: * Daily curation and explanation of major AI developments, tools, and industry shifts. * Exclusive conversations with technology executives and AI leaders about models, agents, product development, and the future of work. * Practical AI education through courses, workshops, guides, and community-based learning. * Commentary on emerging technologies and discoveries across science, history, productivity, and everyday life. Rowan Cheung's target audience. Cheung's content primarily appeals to professionals, knowledge workers, creators, and technology enthusiasts who want to keep up with AI without following every development themselves. He also reaches business leaders and decision-makers exploring AI adoption, workplace applications, and professional development. Through The Rundown's educational offerings, his audience can move from understanding emerging tools to applying them in practical settings. Career journey & achievements. Cheung founded The Rundown in January 2023 after initially building an audience by sharing what he was learning about AI and technology on social media. He grew the newsletter to 250,000 subscribers organically during its first year. By 2024, it had surpassed 800,000 subscribers and launched AI University as an EdTech product. The Rundown has since expanded into a broader newsletter ecosystem reaching more than 2,000,000 readers, alongside courses, live workshops, guides, tools, an AI job board, and AI University. Cheung has also developed a strong interview platform, hosting conversations with influential technology leaders including Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Demis Hassabis, and Mustafa Suleyman. The Rundown has established partnerships with more than 350 major AI and technology brands and institutions, including Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, IBM, Siemens, Shopify, MongoDB, and Stanford University. In 2026, Cheung was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Education category, adding industry recognition to his work in AI media and education. Content strategy & teaching approach. Cheung's content strategy centers on turning complex technology developments into concise, practical insights. The Rundown combines the latest AI news with context and applications, helping readers understand not only what has changed, but why it matters and where it can be useful. His interviews add a first-hand perspective to this approach. Conversations with leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg and Satya Nadella explore AI agents, open-source development, AI-generated code, workplace transformation, and the industry's direction. His personal LinkedIn content extends beyond AI announcements to cover emerging technologies and discoveries, including transparent Micro LED displays, scientific research, and the use of machine learning to recover information from ancient Herculaneum scrolls. Together, these formats give Cheung's content a broad technology focus while maintaining a consistent emphasis on relevance, accessibility, and practical understanding. Metrics & impact. 104,000+ followers on LinkedIn and more than 1,000,000 followers across broader personal social platforms. * 2,000,000+ readers across The Rundown's newsletter ecosystem. (therundownai.beehiiv.com) * More than 1,000,000,000 views across his personal tweets and newsletters. (Rowan Cheung) * Partnerships with 350+ major AI and technology brands and institutions. * A growing education ecosystem that includes AI University, courses, workshops, guides, and community resources. (therundownai.beehiiv.com) Media Appearances Why he matters? Rowan Cheung's significance goes beyond the size of his audience. His work demonstrates how technology media can evolve into a practical education layer for an industry changing faster than traditional learning and publishing models can easily follow. The Rundown combines three elements that are often separated: rapid technology curation, direct access to influential industry figures, and structured education. This creates a content ecosystem that does more than report what happened in AI. It helps audiences understand why a development matters and where it could have practical value. That distinction becomes particularly important as AI moves from an emerging technology into an everyday professional tool. Cheung's content sits between technology journalism and professional education, giving people a way to follow the pace of change while building a clearer understanding of how new capabilities can affect their work. His interviews strengthen that position by bringing first-hand perspectives from figures such as Zuckerberg, Nadella, Pichai, and other leaders shaping the industry. Combined with the educational infrastructure behind The Rundown, these conversations give his audience both context and access. Cheung has therefore created a role that extends beyond being an AI commentator. He operates as a media entrepreneur and educator who helps a large professional audience navigate one of the most significant technological shifts of the current decade. Profile summary. * Startup: The Rundown, an AI media and education platform * Mission: To make AI accessible, understandable, and practical by helping people understand emerging technology and apply it to work and everyday life * Recognition: Forbes 30 Under 30, Education, 2026