The AI TillAll issues · Issue #1
The AI Till #1: Square's talking order kiosk, and a scam filter for Android
Thursday 15 October 2026
Welcome to the first issue: four AI updates from the last day that a small business can actually use, each with its source.
1. Square Kiosk
What it is: a self-order kiosk with a 21.5-inch touchscreen. Customers can talk to it, asking questions and requesting swaps, and it works from your menu. Payment is by contactless or card. (The Verge)
Who it helps: cafés, takeaways and counter-service shops that already use Square.
Price: $1,999 per kiosk plus a $99 per device monthly software fee, and it needs a Square Plus or Premium subscription. This is US pricing; UK pricing is not stated.
Link: https://www.theverge.com/tech/1009086/square-kiosk
2. Stronger scam protection in Google Messages
What it is: an opt-in "enhanced protection" setting rolling out over the coming weeks. It uses Gemini to judge whether an unknown sender is a scammer and checks unfamiliar links before you open them. Google says it will also block apps from turning on call forwarding. (The Verge)
Who it helps: anyone running the business from an Android phone, especially if you deal with supplier or payment texts.
Price: not stated.
Link: https://www.theverge.com/tech/1010928/android-scam-protection-enhanced-protection-google-messages
3. Zenzap
What it is: a work messaging app built to replace staff WhatsApp groups. It has group chats, tasks, shift scheduling, AI search, and voice note transcription. (TechCrunch)
Who it helps: shift-based teams in hospitality, construction and retail who want work chat kept separate from personal phones.
Price: free tier available; paid plans from $51 per month for up to 20 users. AI agents and transcription use separate credits.
4. Pulse Local
What it is: a budgeting app for Apple Silicon Macs (in beta) whose AI chat runs on your own computer. You can ask it questions such as "what are my subscriptions?" and neither your data nor your questions are sent anywhere. Outside the US you import a CSV from your bank. (Pulse Local)
Who it helps: sole traders who want to ask questions about their spending without uploading bank data to an online AI.
Price: pay what you like (including free); bank sync, which is US-only, costs $29 a year.
Link: https://pulseos.finance
Try this today
Check that your backups actually restore. A Swedish TV show has been delayed after a whole edited season was lost. A newspaper blamed an AI agent, but the broadcaster says a backup system failed (Sweden Herald). Whichever is true, the fix is the same. Pick one important folder, restore one file from last week's backup, and open it. If you let AI tools edit your files, give them a copy, not the original.
Affiliate slot
None today: nothing fitted honestly.
See you tomorrow,
The AI Till
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