Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) has hired Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of Mira Murati's AI startup Thinking Machines Lab, marking another major addition to CEO Mark Zuckerberg's aggressive push to close the gap in advanced artificial intelligence. Meta's Billion-Dollar Offer Wins Over Tulloch Tulloch left Thinking Machines Lab to join Meta after being offered a compensation package that could be worth up to ...

Walmart (WMT) stock rose nearly 5% on Tuesday to hit an all-time closing high of $107.21 after the company became the latest to announce a partnership with OpenAI (OPAI.PVT). Walmart said that customers will be able to shop and purchase items directly on the ChatGPT platform using Instant Checkout. Additionally, on the flagship Walmart website and Sam's Club website, customers will be able to interact with ChatGPT conversationally in the search bar. “For many years now, eCommerce shopping experiences hav ...

Core Viewpoint - Concerns are rising on Wall Street regarding the potential overheating of the artificial intelligence (AI) trade, with warnings that the current boom may resemble a bubble [1][2] Group 1: Market Sentiment and Risk Indicators - JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon highlighted elevated asset prices as a significant concern, indicating that when prices are high, there is a greater risk of decline [1] - The Bank of America's Global Fund Manager Survey identified an "AI equity bubble" as the top global tail risk for the first time, reflecting extreme investor exuberance [2] - Cash levels among fund managers have dropped to 3.8%, nearing the "sell" threshold of 3.7%, which historically signals peak risk appetite [3] Group 2: Institutional Investor Behavior - State Street's Risk Appetite Index shows that large institutional investors have been increasingly bullish, adding to riskier assets for five consecutive months [4] - Nicholas Colas from DataTrek Research noted that absent a significant shock, these investors are unlikely to alter their optimistic views soon [4] Group 3: Sector Correlations and Investment Trends - Correlations across sectors have reached their lowest levels since the current bull market began, a sign that investor confidence may be excessively high and could precede short-term pullbacks [5] - Companies are responding to investor confidence by significantly increasing their investments in AI, with Google announcing a $15 billion investment in India for a new data center hub [6] - Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to enhance AI-powered retail tools, while OpenAI has secured multiple chip and infrastructure deals, which some analysts believe could exacerbate bubble risks [7]

Core Insights - BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI) has experienced a share price increase of over 400% in the past year, while SoundHound AI, Inc. (SOUN) saw a surge of over 250% in the same timeframe [1][2] - Despite these gains, both companies face significant challenges, including widening losses for BigBear.ai and ongoing profitability struggles for SoundHound [2][5] BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI) - BigBear.ai has secured numerous government contracts, including deals with the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Defense, which have contributed to its growth [2] - In Q2, BigBear.ai reported revenues of $32.5 million, an 18% decline from $39.8 million in the same quarter last year, marking the steepest revenue decline in recent quarters [3][9] - The company revised its full-year revenue forecast to between $125 million and $140 million, down from a previous estimate of $160 million to $180 million, primarily due to postponed U.S. government contracts [4][9] - As of June 30, 2025, BigBear.ai has a backlog of $380 million, but only 4% of this is secured and authorized, indicating potential delays in revenue realization [4] - BigBear.ai reported a non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA loss of $8.5 million in Q2, more than double the $3.7 million loss from the same period last year, raising concerns about its long-term viability [5] SoundHound AI, Inc. (SOUN) - SoundHound reported its strongest Q2 ever, with revenues of $42.7 million, a remarkable 217% increase year over year [6][9] - The company has attracted interest from large enterprises, including a prominent global healthcare client and a major OEM in China, contributing to its revenue growth [7] - SoundHound raised its full-year revenue guidance to $160-$178 million, significantly higher than the previous year's revenue of $84.6 million [8] - As of June 30, 2025, SoundHound has a strong cash balance of $230 million with no debt, positioning it well to withstand economic challenges [8] - Despite its revenue growth, SoundHound reported a wider year-over-year loss of $0.19 per share on a GAAP basis in Q2, indicating ongoing profitability concerns [10]

Core Insights - The real estate market in China is experiencing a significant downturn, transitioning from a symbol of wealth to a burden, with properties becoming inventory rather than sought-after assets [3][5][9] - The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the economic landscape, with a shift from real estate-driven growth to data and technology-driven opportunities [7][11][19] - The focus of local governments is shifting from land sales to attracting talent and data resources, indicating a fundamental change in economic strategy [13][19] Real Estate Market - The once-booming real estate sector is now facing challenges, with unsold properties and reduced demand leading to financial strain on local governments [3][5] - The narrative of real estate as a guaranteed investment is fading, as the market becomes saturated and consumer confidence wanes [9][17] Artificial Intelligence - AI is becoming integrated into everyday life and various industries, moving beyond theoretical applications to practical implementations [7][15] - The competition is now centered around technological capabilities, with cities vying to attract tech talent and establish data centers [7][13] Economic Transition - The economic structure is shifting from real estate dependency to a focus on technology and data, with AI emerging as a new growth engine [11][19] - Job markets are evolving, with traditional real estate roles declining while AI-related positions are on the rise, emphasizing the need for skill development [11][17] Government and Policy Changes - Local governments are adapting their strategies, moving from land sales to data resource management and talent acquisition [5][13] - China's position in the global AI landscape is strengthening, with the country not only catching up but also leading in certain applications [15][19] Societal Impact - The societal perception of wealth is changing, with individuals increasingly valuing skills and opportunities over property ownership [9][17] - The transition from a real estate-centric mindset to one focused on technology and skills is becoming evident across various demographics [17][19]

NEW YORK (AP) — OpenAI is partnering with Walmart to let shoppers make purchases directly within ChatGPT, furthering the artificial intelligence company's push to turn its chatbot into a virtual merchant as it seeks to boost revenue. In an Tuesday announcement, Walmart said the new offering will give customers the option to “simply chat and buy." That means the retailer’s products would be available through instant checkout in ChatGPT — allowing users to buy anything from meal ingredients or household ite ...

Core Viewpoint - C3.ai, Inc. has experienced significant stock volatility, with a 27.7% decline over the past three months, contrasting with a 5.9% increase in the S&P 500, indicating investor concerns about the company's financial performance and execution [1][2][20] Financial Performance - In the latest quarter, C3.ai reported a nearly 20% year-over-year revenue drop, missing expectations, and widening losses, primarily due to a decline in demonstration license sales and costly initial production deployments [6][7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 indicates a projected loss per share of -1.33 and -1.02, respectively, with a year-over-year sales decline of 23.1% for fiscal 2026, followed by a growth of 12.6% in fiscal 2027 [16][17] Market Dynamics - The enterprise AI market is expanding, but C3.ai faces intense competition and customer hesitance in adopting large-scale AI projects, which creates headwinds for growth [9] - Despite strong partnerships with major cloud providers and defense clients, investor skepticism remains until consistent growth and profitability are demonstrated [9] Strategic Initiatives - C3.ai is focusing on strong partnerships and a large addressable market, emphasizing the demand for enterprise AI applications across various industries [10] - Recent contract wins and customer expansions, including partnerships with Nucor and the U.S. Army, are aimed at enhancing revenue stability [11][12] - The company is investing in new go-to-market strategies, such as the Strategic Integrator Program, to broaden its reach without bearing the full burden of direct sales [13][14] Leadership and Execution - Leadership changes are intended to improve execution, with a new CEO and reorganization of sales and services divisions expected to enhance coordination and customer outcomes [15] - Management remains optimistic about the refreshed structure and substantial cash reserves supporting long-term expansion [15] Valuation - C3.ai is currently priced at a discount relative to its industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 8.44, significantly lower than peers like Palantir Technologies and Snowflake [18]

Core Insights - Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to integrate a "Buy Now" button into ChatGPT, aiming to enhance AI-driven shopping experiences and challenge Amazon's dominance in the e-commerce market [2][3] Strategic Implications - The partnership is a strategic move to capture market share as consumer behavior shifts towards AI-driven platforms for product discovery, moving away from traditional search engines like Google [4][5] - Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon emphasized the need for a change in e-commerce shopping experiences, moving beyond simple search bars to more interactive and conversational interfaces [5] Consumer Behavior Trends - ChatGPT is becoming a primary tool for younger consumers seeking product information, with approximately 52 million daily purchase-related conversations occurring on the platform [6][7] - Users are increasingly asking ChatGPT for product recommendations, indicating a shift in how consumers engage with e-commerce [7] User Experience Enhancements - Walmart's integration with ChatGPT will provide a multimedia, personalized, and contextual shopping experience, allowing users to access videos, audio, and images alongside their searches [7] Competitive Landscape - The partnership raises questions about the integrity of product recommendations within ChatGPT, particularly regarding potential biases based on monetization [9] - Amazon remains a formidable competitor, leveraging its extensive delivery services and customer loyalty programs like Amazon Prime [10]

Core Insights - Proactive provides fast, accessible, and informative business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company focuses on medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies and broader investment stories [3] - Proactive's news team delivers insights across various sectors including biotech, mining, oil and gas, and emerging technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is committed to adopting technology to enhance workflows and content production [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Core Insights - Walmart's stock increased over 3% following its partnership announcement with OpenAI, allowing customers to shop directly on the ChatGPT platform using Instant Checkout [1] - The partnership aligns with Walmart's broader AI strategy, aiming to enhance the eCommerce shopping experience through a more personalized and contextual AI interface [2][3] Walmart's AI Strategy - CEO Doug McMillon emphasized the shift towards a more enjoyable shopping experience with the introduction of AI shopping assistant Sparky and partnerships like the one with OpenAI [3] - Walmart's e-commerce profitability has improved, with the company reporting increased profitability in the second quarter after achieving profitability in Q1 [3] OpenAI's Expanding Partnerships - OpenAI has been actively forming partnerships across various sectors, including collaborations with chipmakers like AMD and Broadcom, and e-commerce platforms such as Etsy and Shopify [4][5] - The partnership with Walmart is part of OpenAI's strategy to simplify everyday purchases for consumers [3] Market Potential - UBS analyst Michael Lasser noted that the initiative could create significant opportunities due to the growing user base of ChatGPT, which reached 700 million weekly active users as of September [5] - Lasser highlighted Walmart's proactive approach in adopting new technologies to align with evolving consumer trends [6]