Here is a rundown of Cheddar News' top trending market stories of the day.
AI RIVALRY INTENSIFIES
Google parent Alphabet said its own version of a chatbot, called Bard, will soon be available to the general public. The announcement comes as Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT rises in popularity. Google has been developing artificial intelligence technologies for years, but has stressed the importance of proceeding "responsibly" given its size and influence. Now that the competitive stakes are rising, however, the tech giant is picking up the pace.
AMC'S TIERED SEATS
Movie theater chain AMC has announced that it is launching tiered pricing for seats based on sightline. That means those usually empty front row seats will be cheaper, while the middle of the house will be more expensive. AMC said the decision offers "another way for moviegoers to find value at the movies," while others say it's the end of an era. Just ask actor Elijiah Woods, who tweeted that the system "would essentially penalize people for lower income and reward for higher income."
EV maker Rivian might be getting into the market for two-wheeled vehicles. According to a Bloomberg report, CEO RJ Scaringe told employees that an e-bike was in the works during a staff meeting last week. The nature of said bike is still unclear, but given Rivian's line of business, some kind of motorcycle or battery-assisted ride is likely. Rivian has previously hinted that it might get into "micromobility" and currently has patents for e-bike components.
Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
Cracker Barrel is sticking with its new logo. For now. But the chain is also apologizing to fans who were angered when the change was announced last week.
Elon Musk on Monday targeted Apple and OpenAI in an antitrust lawsuit alleging that the iPhone maker and the ChatGPT maker are teaming up to thwart competition in artificial intelligence.
Hear from Gabino & Stephen Roche on Saphyre’s institutional AI platform that centralizes pre‑ and post‑trade data, redefining settlement speed and accuracy.
Elon Musk’s X has reached a tentative settlement with former employees of the company then known as Twitter who’d sued for $500 million in severance pay.
