OpenAI unveils desktop option for ChatGPT and latest GPT-4o model: It’s offering the latest upgrades for free. A short-term revenue hit could be worth longer-term site traffic.
Travel demand accelerates: 43.8 million people will travel over the Memorial Day travel period, a 4% increase over last year and the highest number in nearly 20 years.
The back-to-school season generates revenues brands and retailers count on, as the second-highest shopping volume of the year ahead of holiday. This year, though, back-to-school growth will be harder to come by as spending in key channels slows.
Target won’t sell Pride Month merchandise in some stores: The move comes at a time when right-wing groups are pushing shareholders to scrutinize companies’ DEI and ESG efforts.
Sale talk is boosting its stock value amid broader carrier consolidation trends
Amazon expands into new markets: The retailer opens its marketplace in South Africa, and plans to launch an Irish version of its platform next year.
Planet Fitness lowers outlook while wealthy shoppers buoy Life Time: The two companies’ diverging earnings highlight the growing rift between cost-conscious and affluent consumers.
Profitability proves elusive for Gopuff: The company lost $400 million last year as initiatives like its ad business failed to cover its hefty operating expenses.
Controversial Apple ad leads to rare apology: Bold campaigns are fine; alienating your core audience of creatives is not.
This milestone opens Mastercard up to a massive new market and gives it a competitive edge against Visa. But it will face stiff domestic competition
The report claims issuers create misleading marketing materials and block or delay earned benefits. Issuers are already fighting back
The alt-credit model can help expand financing to credit invisibles, which should help boost account openings
Maryland further complicates state-level privacy laws: Two measures protecting consumers’ data were opposed by the ad industry as a federal bill looms.
Patients frequently go out of network for mental healthcare vs. medical care: The No. 1 factor driving this discrepancy? Lack of coverage options. The Biden administration is calling on insurers to change that, though.
New DOJ task force investigates anticompetitive behavior in healthcare: The feds want to rein in vertical integration in healthcare. UnitedHealth Group will likely be under the spotlight first.
Positive experiences are the key to retaining patients: We dive into new study results showing why US consumers switch providers and insurers and unpack what both need to do to stop customers from jumping ship.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss how bad "serial churning" has gotten and how to fix it, whether inventing new sports tournaments can work, if Perplexity's "search engine" will threaten Google, the use case for AI computers in your ears, where you can see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our forecasting writer Ethan Cramer-Flood, forecasting analyst Zach Goldner, and director of forecasting Oscar Orozco.