Amazon Invests Up To $4B In ChatGPT Competitor, Hollywood Writers Accept Preliminary Deal, ChatGPT Challenges Siri And Alexa With Introduction Of Verbal Responses: Today's Top Stories

Benzinga

Ford Of Canada, Union Reach Collective Agreement With Wage Boosts, Pension Improvements; U.S. Negotiations Continue

• As Detroit-based automaker Ford Motor Co F continues to reel under the impact of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union's strike in the U.S., Canada's Unifor union has ratified a new agreement with Ford of Canada.
• Unifor said that most of its Ford members voted in favor of a new three-year collective agreement with Ford of Canada that includes a base hourly wage increase of up to 25%. Under the new contract, general wages would increase 10% in the first year, 2% in the second, and 3% in the third.

Hollywood Writers Accept Tentative Deal, Including Pay From Steamers: What About Actors?

• The Writers Guild of America (WGA), representing over 11,000 screenwriters, has taken a monumental step towards ending Hollywood's crippling 146-day strike.
• In a historic move, WGA members reached a tentative agreement with entertainment companies that could reshape the industry landscape.
• The deal, if accepted, will bring much-needed relief to a sector reeling from production shutdowns.

PhonePe Challenges Google With Zero-Fee Indus AppStore

• PhonePe, the Walmart Inc WMT backed fintech giant, unveiled the Indus AppStore Developer Platform, underscoring a significant move to attract Android developers in India.
• This initiative directly challenges Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL Google's dominance in the app store market — especially in India — where Android holds a significant market share.

Amazon Invests Up To $4 Billion In ChatGPT Competitor, AI Startup Anthropic

• Amazon.Com, Inc AMZN has announced a strategic investment of up to $4 billion in Anthropic, an emerging AI company, as the e-commerce giant seeks to harness the potential of artificial intelligence in diverse applications across its business.
• As part of this groundbreaking deal, Anthropic will leverage Amazon's custom-designed chips to develop and roll out its AI software. Amazon also intends to integrate Anthropic's cutting-edge technology into various products within its expansive portfolio.

Redefining Roadprints: Goodyear Revamps Presence In Asia-Pacific With Strategic Shake-Up

• The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company GT has unveiled its intentions to redefine its operational presence in the Asia Pacific region, emphasizing Australia and New Zealand. The tire behemoth aims to transition from owning its establishments to embracing a third-party distribution and retail model.
• This strategic shift will culminate in the shedding of around 700 roles, exit of nine warehouse sites, and the divestment or cessation of nearly 100 retail and fleet outlets. The company intends to share its broader plan with investors during the fourth quarter.

CDC Backs Pfizer's RSV Infection Maternal Vaccine During Pregnancy As Protection For Infants

• Friday, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for pregnant people to protect their newborns from severe RSV illness.
• This is the first fall and winter virus season, where vaccines are available for the three major respiratory viruses –COVID-19, RSV, and flu.
• This new vaccine, Pfizer Inc's PFE bivalent RSVpreF vaccine (Abrysvo), has been shown to reduce the risk of RSV hospitalization for babies by 57% in the first six months after birth. Pfizer's vaccine, Abrysvo, is already approved and available in the U.S. for adults ages 60 and up.

Revving Up Payments: Mercedes Joins Forces With Mastercard For In-Car Digital Transactions

• Mercedes Benz Group AG MBGAF has partnered with Mastercard Inc MA to introduce embedded in-car payments at the point of sale.
• Through the facility, customers will be able to use a fingerprint sensor in their car to make convenient and secure digital payments at more than 3,600 service stations in Germany.

Novartis Sandoz Prepares For Public Debut With Strong Sales Record And Plans for New Biologic Drugs

• Novartis AG NVS confirmed its plans for a 100% spin-off of the Sandoz business on October 4 after shareholders approved it earlier this month.
• Novartis also said key regulatory approvals have been obtained, including the approval by SIX Exchange Regulation for listing the Sandoz shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The Sandoz shares will have the symbol SDZ, Novartis said.

Japan Approves Biogen/Eisai's Alzheimer Treatment Leqembi

• Eisai Co Ltd ESALY ESALF and Biogen Inc BIIB announced that humanized anti-soluble aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) monoclonal antibody Leqembi Intravenous Infusion (200 mg, 500mg, lecanemab) has been approved in Japan as a treatment for slowing progression of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• Leqembi's approval is based on Phase 3 data from the global Clarity AD clinical trial, in which Leqembi met its primary endpoint and all key secondary endpoints with statistically significant results and confirmed the clinical benefit.

Aluminum Giant Alcoa Ushers In A New Era: William Oplinger Steps Up As CEO

• Alcoa Corp AA disclosed the appointment of William F. Oplinger as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of its Board of Directors, effective September 24, 2023. 
• Oplinger succeeds Roy C. Harvey, who will serve as Strategic Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer until December 31, 2023.

Why Is Brain Cancer Focused TransCode Therapeutics Stock Trading 300% Higher Today?

• TransCode Therapeutics Inc RNAZ shares are trading higher after the company announced results with its lead therapeutic candidate, TTX-MC138, in murine models bearing human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumors. 
• The therapeutic candidate showed lasting activity and significantly inhibited miRNA-10b, a driver of tumor progression in glioblastoma.

 

NewYork Times

Tyson, Perdue Farms Under Investigation Over Disturbing Child Labor Allegations

• The U.S. Labor Department has launched an investigation into alleged child labor violations at poultry-processing behemoths Tyson Foods TSN and Perdue Farms.
• The federal inquiry is examining whether the companies used migrant children to clean slaughterhouses, a hazardous job banned for minors by federal law.
• The federal probe was triggered by a New York Times Magazine article detailing the employment of migrant children as young as 13 in overnight shifts at the companies' plants in Virginia. 

 

Bloomberg

ChatGPT Introduces Verbal Responses, Challenging Siri And Alexa

• OpenAI, the pioneering artificial intelligence firm, has unveiled a new feature for its ChatGPT application, enabling the chatbot to respond to user queries verbally. 
• The enhancement will likely transform user interactions with the chatbot, making them more immersive and human-like.
• The update, scheduled for rollout in the forthcoming weeks, will allow users to select from five distinct voice personas, including "Juniper," "Breeze," and "Ember." 

Apple's iOS 17 Update Challenges Google's Search Engine Dominance

• John Giannandrea, previously a high-ranking executive at Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL Google and now leading Apple Inc's AAPL artificial intelligence division, highlighted a subtle shift in the recent iPhone software update. 
• This change allows users to opt for a search engine other than Google's while using the internet in private mode.
• The introduction of iOS 17 on Monday brought forth an option to select from multiple search engines, John Giannandrea mentioned during his testimony in a Washington federal court as part of the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Google by the Justice Department.

Court Ruling Questions Lufthansa Offshoot Austrian Airlines' Dubious Environmental Claims

• In a recent court ruling, Austrian Airlines AG, a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG DLAKY, faced backlash for making inaccurate environmental claims, specifically misleading eco-conscious passengers into believing their flights were wholly sustainable.
• The controversy was sparked earlier this year when an Austrian consumer-protection body filed a lawsuit against Austrian Airlines. The airline's advertising suggested that its flights to an art exhibition in Venice, Italy, would be operated using 100% sustainable aviation fuel.