Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), a leading payment technology and software company that powers commerce for businesses of all sizes worldwide, announced an AI-first Genius™ handheld designed for both the physical demands of frontline environments and AI advances that are transforming how businesses run. Sleek and rugged, the ultra-thin handheld slips easily into standard aprons and pockets while delivering the capability to seamlessly communicate with intelligent agents that can help drive faster, smarter operations.

The innovative handheld will feature groundbreaking new AI-powered voice ordering technology, which will allow servers to have real conversations with customers while the POS quietly builds the ticket in the background – even in high-noise environments. AI-powered voice ordering will help take the stress out of recording orders, empowering servers to spend more time interacting with customers.

Thanks to its advanced computing power, the AI-first handheld POS will also enable a range of opportunities to use the device for improving operations, including real-time upsell prompts at the device, natural language commands for updating pricing and menus, and more.

"We designed a next-generation handheld, purpose built with advanced hardware and intelligent software to power the next evolution of AI-driven commerce for restaurants," said David Rumph, president of SMB for Global Payments. "By pairing mobile technology with the flexibility to support a range of AI-driven workflows, we will help servers spend less time on transactions and more time with guests — elevating the dining experience for customers while giving staff the tools to work smarter. It's one of the ways we are activating our expertise to deliver solutions built for the future of merchant operations."

The handheld which provides versatility across a range of use cases from table service to line busting, food trucks, pop-up stores and more -- will be previewed at the National Restaurant Association Show (NRA) in Chicago, May 16 to 19, 2026. NRA marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of Genius, which has served an increasingly broad set of use cases and geographies since it was first introduced, securing impressive client wins and accelerating adoption with partners.

Key handheld features will include:

• Advanced computing power: Neural processing capability handles inference workloads locally, enabling AI features to run on the device rather than relying solely on the cloud, enabling smarter, faster operations.
• Multiple built-in microphones: Microphones are built into the design to support servers with order taking, leveraging natural language processing and understanding to support voice-driven workflows like spoken order entry – and other use cases.
• Always-on connectivity: 5G capability and offline mode ensure payments can be made anywhere, anytime. EMV and NFC payments are built in with optional magnetic stripe reader (MSR).
• Faster charging and all-day reliability: USB-C fast charging, plus multi-bay stations to support full-service shifts, keep your fleet rotating through peak hours without downtime.
• Ultra-thin design: The device ranks among the thinnest handheld POS devices of its kind on the market. Thin profile and palm-sized footprint are designed to fit in a server's apron pocket.
• Intuitive UX: Smartphone-style interface helps to shorten onboarding for new and seasonal staff.

Global Payments Unveils Self-Service Kiosks

At NRA, Global Payments will also showcase its new Genius kiosk configurations that extend the flagship POS and business management platform into self-service. Highlights include:

• Unified design and platform: Shared design language, payments stack and platform architecture across the Genius portfolio allow front-of-house and back-of-house systems to run on common infrastructure.
• Modular mounting: Counter, floor-standing and panel-mount configurations fit varied restaurant footprints.
• Multi-size displays: Options include 21.5-inch counter/floor standing all-in-one, 10-inch all-in-one and 21.5-inch panel PC.

"Our unified hardware strategy enables us to offer an end-to-end solution with a seamless user experience across a wide range of solutions,” Rumph added. “These new kiosks share the same payments and design DNA as our countertop and handheld devices, so operators can deploy self-ordering without managing a second stack.”