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.
Apple has rolled out an update to its operating system this week with a feature called Stolen Device Protection. It makes it a lot harder for phone thieves to access key functions and settings, and users are being urged to turn it on immediately.
The U.S. economy grew at an unexpectedly brisk 3.3% annual pace from October through December as Americans showed a continued willingness to spend freely despite high interest rates and frustrating price levels.
Alan Becker, CEO and Investment Adviser Representative at Retirement Solutions Group and RSG Investments, shares his thoughts on the latest GDP data plus why he's not sold cryptocurrency as a long-term asset.
The Biden administration wants to ban another type of bank “junk fee," targeting fees that are typically charged by banks when a transaction is declined in real time.
Al Root, senior writer at Barron’s, breaks down everything expected from Tesla’s earnings report, from Elon Musk’s demands from the board to why the market has been looking for affordable EV options.
Online retailer eBay Inc. will cut about 1,000 jobs, or an estimated 9% of its full-time workforce. The announcement follows similar moves by other tech companies that ramped up hiring during the pandemic while people spent more time and money online.
