OpenAI is working on SearchGPT - Quartz Daily Brief
Good morning, Quartz readers!
OpenAI is working on SearchGPT. That’s an AI search engine, and it definitely has its eyes set on Google.
Speaking of Google — its AI chatbot Gemini just got faster. The latest upgrade means users will get quicker and more helpful responses. Read more here.
Southwest Airlines is scraping its open seating plan
The airline carrier is doing away with the 50-year tradition as it looks to offset a massive decline in profits. Read the full story here.
Disney and Warner Bros. launched a big new streaming bundle
The subscription starts at $16.99 a month (with ads) and gives users access to Disney+, Hulu, and Max. Learn more here.
CrowdStrike apologized to its partners with a $10 Uber Eats gift card
Nothing says “sorry” like a free cup of coffee or late night snack. Details here.
Entrance to Donald Trump’s private event at the Bitcoin conference costs $800,000
Should an attendee want a photo with the former U.S. president and Republican nominee, they’ll need another $60,000. Read more here.
Big retailers like Target want you to meet them in person
Like any good modern dater, after wooing consumers through their online channels, retail giants want shoppers to put down their phones and make a trip to one of their stores. Here’s how Target, Urban Outfitters, and Shake Shack are doing it. Learn more here.
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos controversy
American businessman Richard Montañez claims he invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in 1992. But for PepsiCo, that’s a heated debate. Get the latest update here.
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Technology news
This week’s tech selloff may have been brutal, but it will be “short-lived,” according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. Read more here.
🔎 Feds are investigating United Airlines’ new sick leave policy
💚 EU’s medical regulator is backing Wegovy because it lowers heart risks
🛵 E-bike and e-scooter injuries have soared in recent years. Read more here
🪙 Crypto bros say the digital currency is an ‘emotional issue’. Learn more here
🌯 Chipotle is beefing up its ‘generous’ portions after a social media call out. Read the full story here
🚗 Trump 2.0 could mean big changes for the EV industry. Find out more here
Discoveries in the animal kingdom
Bird flu is spilling out to other mammals. A new study found that the avian influenza virus has started to spread from cows to cats and a raccoon. Read more here.
In other mammal news, those from the Jurassic period lived slow and died old. Researchers found that some mouse-sized critters developed at a snail’s pace compared to their modern descendants. Learn more here.
Other interesting news
In other prehistoric news, a massive mechanical dinosaur was stolen! It’s worth over $100,000 and was taken from an exhibition at a mall in Mexico City. Read the full story here.
2024’s biggest IPO of the year is basically a giant refrigerator. Lineage, a cold storage company, raised $4.4 billion, placing its Nasdaq debut valuation at over $18 billion. Read more here.
“Boneless chicken wings” may have a little bit of bone. According to an Ohio Supreme Court ruling, the term does not guarantee that there will be no bones. Details here.
