This week in business: Cinnamon scares, AI badges, and gold's big glow-up

Group 1: FDA and Consumer Safety - The FDA has expanded its warning on ground cinnamon products due to elevated lead levels, urging consumers to discard affected items. Sixteen products are now on the list, with specific lots and best-by dates identified [6][7]. Group 2: Financial Services and Credit Cards - Fintech startup Karta has launched a premium credit card with a $300 annual fee for affluent non-residents, which does not require a Social Security number. The card offers perks similar to high-end travel cards and is managed via WhatsApp with AI assistance, backed by $5.4 million in seed funding [8]. Group 3: Education and Student Loans - Notices for student loan forgiveness under the Income-Based Repayment plan have resumed for eligible borrowers who have reached the 20- or 25-year payment thresholds, following a pause due to system updates and litigation [9]. Group 4: Retail and Technology - Walmart is enhancing its shopping experience by integrating AI through a partnership with OpenAI, allowing customers to make purchases via natural language in ChatGPT. This initiative aims to streamline the checkout process and improve personalization [14]. - Additionally, Walmart plans to deploy millions of battery-free IoT sensors across its supply chain to track inventory, which will enhance data accuracy and operational efficiency [16]. Group 5: Market Trends - Bitcoin has experienced a significant decline, reaching a four-month low, while gold has gained traction as a preferred investment amid macroeconomic uncertainties [12]. - Zillow indicates that the average 30-year mortgage rate would need to drop to approximately 4.43% to make median homes affordable for median-income buyers, highlighting ongoing challenges in the housing market [13].