Business News

Mourners can now speak to an AI version of the dead. But will that help with grief?

BERLIN (AP) — Several companies have emerged in the last few years to develop grief-related technology, where users can interact with an AI version of the deceased. Among them is Eternos, which uses an in-house model as well as external large language models developed by major tech companies like Meta and OpenAI. Eternos records users speaking 300 phrases and then compresses that information through a two-day computing process capturing a person’s voice that loved ones can then access. While some have embraced this type of technology as a way to cope with grief, others feel uneasy about companies using AI to try to maintain interactions with those who have passed away. Still others worry it could make the mourning process more difficult because there isn’t any closure.

Dollar Tree looking at options for Family Dollar, including possible sale of the segment

Discount retailer Dollar Tree says it’s looking at strategic options for the Family Dollar stores that it owns, including a possible sale of the segment. Dollar Tree said Wednesday that alternatives also include a spinoff or other disposition of the business. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar nearly a decade ago for more than $8 billion after a bidding war with rival Dollar General.

Online marketplace eBay to drop American Express, citing fees, and says customers have other options

NEW YORK (AP) — Online marketplace behemoth eBay said it plans to no longer accept American Express, citing what the company says are “unacceptably high fees” and that customers have other payment options to shop online. It’s a notable blow to American Express, whose customers are often the most attractive among merchants and spend the most money per month on their cards. But it’s not the first time merchants have voiced opposition to AmEx’s business practices by walking away, most notably warehouse chain Costco nearly a decade ago.

Amazon Labor Union moves to affiliate with the Teamsters union amid struggles

The Amazon Labor Union, a grassroots labor group that won a major victory at an Amazon warehouse two years ago, has agreed to affiliate with the Teamsters union. The Teamsters union announced that its General President Sean M. O’Brien made the agreement public during the union’s general executive board meeting in Washington on Tuesday. If ratified, the agreement said members of the ALU will join the Teamsters as an “autonomous” local union that has the same rights and duties as a standard Teamsters chapter. Amazon Labor Union President Chris Smalls says the labor group was combining forces “with one of the most powerful unions to take on Amazon together.”

Disney set to invest up to $17B in Florida parks now that fight with DeSantis appointees has ended

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Months after Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees agreed to end their legal fight, the two sides are set to approve an agreement that could result in the company investing up to $17 billion into its Florida resort. It will also open the door for a fifth major theme park there. The five DeSantis-appointed supervisors who oversee the Disney World district on Wednesday gave initial approval to the development agreement that both sides had agreed to negotiate after a March settlement ended their state court lawsuits. The agreement would last for the next 15 years. A final vote is set for next week.

What will become of The Epoch Times with its chief financial officer accused of money laundering?

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors this week arrested the chief financial officer of The Epoch Times and said he directed millions of dollars gained through criminal schemes to the company and himself. The arrest cast a spotlight on a little-known news organization that has largely lived in the shadows between its founding in 2020 and a transformation during the Trump administration. Started by adherents to Falun Gong and fiercely opposed to the Chinese government, experts say the Epoch Times saw Trump as someone who could advance their cause and also make it financially more successful. Going from $4 million in revenue in 2016 to nearly $128 million five years later likely caught the eye of authorities.

Stock market today: More gains for tech send S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite toward all-time highs

NEW YORK (AP) — The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite indexes are rising toward all-time highs on Wednesday as technology stocks keep climbing. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% Wednesday and is on track to surpass its record set two weeks ago. The Nasdaq composite jumped 1.5% and was on track to set a record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 34 points. Treasury yields fell after a report showed U.S. services businesses returned to growth last month. Wall Street has been hoping the economy will slow enough to convince the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates but not so much that it causes a recession.

UN chief wants a tax on profits of fossil fuel companies, calling them ‘godfathers of climate chaos’

GENEVA (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a “windfall” tax on profits of fossil fuel companies to help pay for the fight against global warming. He calls them the “godfathers of climate chaos.” Guterres spoke in a bid to revive the world’s focus on climate change at a time when elections, inflation and conflict have seized the spotlight. One global reference for tracking world temperatures says last month was the hottest May ever, marking the 12th straight monthly record high. The burning of fossil fuels — oil, gas and coal — is the main contributor to global warming caused by human activity.

Inside NBC’s Olympics bet on pop culture in Paris, with help from Snoop Dogg and Cardi B

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NBC has partnered with several entertainers and non-Olympic athletes like Megan Thee Stallion, Dolly Parton and Peyton Manning to promote the Paris Games this summer. The network wants to build anticipation and entice more viewers after drawing lackluster ratings following the Games in Beijing and Tokyo. NBC wants attract more viewers by bringing Olympic stories to life through the most popular and diverse personalities. Some of the big names involved include Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, Kevin Hart, Lily Collins and Kelly Clarkson.

Walmart offers new perks for workers, from a new bonus plan to opportunities in skilled trade jobs

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart is offering new perks for its hourly workers. They include a new bonus plan as well as opportunities to move into skilled trade jobs within the company. The perks program announced on Wednesday comes as the nation’s largest private employer is seeing a decline in worker turnover. But Walmart, like other companies, faces a still-competitive labor market and increasing demands from its workers. The retailer’s new bonus plan for eligible part-time and full-time store workers is based on a store’s performance. The maximum bonus potential also is tied to years of experience. The training program is expected to start with 100 workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.