And time for business news with Ari Rabinovich.
Hello, Ari.
Hey, Cynthia.
Hey.
We talked plenty about AI during these segments, but one
company is actually pumping the brakes on the new technology.
Yeah, we do talk a lot about it and especially
in terms of demand for processor chips and other hardware
that goes into developing the servers and the systems that
support it.
But sometimes it looks like it may just be a
little bit far behind what people expect from it in
terms of McDonald's customers.
So the the restaurant chain plans to suspend its current
test phase of artificial intelligence powered ordering systems, mainly at
Dr.
Thrus.
And it's currently at 100 restaurants in the US.
It plans to pull the plug on those, so to
speak, by the end of next month.
A report shows some some customers actually complained that their
orders were wrong.
The systems apparently may have struggled with some accents and
couldn't distinguish customer voices from background noise.
Just a couple of the areas where there still needs
to be some development in terms of how the AI
systems actually work.
But McDonald's says it's not the end.
It's just they're taking a pause until things get a
little better.
Well, I'm sure the people whose jobs could be eliminated
are relieved, at least in the short term.
Absolutely.
Now, McDonald's is backing away from the area, but that
technology is still bringing in big profits for one company
in particular.
Yeah, even if McDonald's doesn't need AI right now, one
company is definitely profiting from it in a big way.
So NVIDIA, we talk about it all the time.
And because of all this artificial intelligence demand, the company
which is known for making computer processor chips, which supports
servers that in turn support these AI systems.
It's a little bit complex, I know, but essentially the
demand for those chips, it's been so high over the
last couple of years that NVIDIA has now become the
world's most valuable company.
You heard that right.
NVIDIA, it get this, Cynthia.
It has a market cap now of $3.34 trillion with
a TAT.
Yeah, it's incredible.
Two other companies can can safely say that they have
a $3 trillion market cap, and that's Apple and Microsoft.
And NVIDIA just barely edged out Microsoft today on the
NASDAQ in a short period of time no less.
All right, Canadians are trying to return their Amazon packages
now have another option available to them.
Yeah, from here.
Like me, Cynthia, if you ever want to return something
with Amazon, it's never as easy as you think.
You have to go down to the post office, put
it in a package, make sure everything is all sealed
up nicely with the proper labels.
Well, now Staples is going to make it easier for
customers.
A new partnership with Amazon means that you can bring
your item or items into a Staples store and they
will help you pack it and ship it back to
the seller.
The two companies want to stress that customers must process
the return through their Amazon account first before bringing it
into the stores just to help expedite things along for
more smoothly, I assume, Cynthia, but it's definitely going to
mean a little more convenience for those Amazon customers.
All right, Ari, good to know and thanks for your
update.
Always love seeing you.
Pleasure as always.