Google I/O 2023: Search king adds AI to respond to Microsoft challenge

By Jeffrey Dastin and Greg Bensinger MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s Google is rolling out more artificial intelligence for its core search product, hoping to create some of the same consumer excitement generated by Microsoft Corp’s update to rival search engine Bing in recent months. At its annual I/O conference in Mountain View,…

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Explainer: How is the new Google AI search different from Bard chatbot?

By Anna Tong (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s Google on Wednesday demonstrated an updated core search product that embeds more AI in its answers as the company looks to banish doubts that it is losing ground to Microsoft Corp’s OpenAI-powered Bing search. Google already has a Bard chatbot that competes with ChatGPT, the chatbot from OpenAI…

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Disney shares slip as streaming losses narrow but some subscribers leave

By Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Walt Disney Co reduced streaming losses by $400 million from the prior quarter but also shed subscribers, the company reported on Wednesday as quarterly earnings landed in line with Wall Street expectations. Shares of Disney fell 4.4% in after-hours trading. A price increase and reduced…

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Bittrex approved to borrow $7 million bankruptcy loan in bitcoin

By Dietrich Knauth (Reuters) – Bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex Inc received court permission Wednesday to borrow $7 million in bitcoin to fund the start of its Chapter 11 case. Seattle-based Bittrex filed for bankruptcy Monday, saying it intended to return customer funds and wind down its U.S. operations. The company’s international affiliates will continue to…

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Robinhood jumps in extended trade after rev beat, 24-hour trading announcement

By Stephen Culp NEW YORK (Reuters) – Shares of Robinhood Markets Inc were last up 2.4% in extended trading after the company beat quarterly revenue forecasts and confirmed it would launch 24-hour trading services. The financial services platform, which came to the fore in 2021 amid the retail trading frenzy surrounding so-called meme stocks, also…

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Southeast Asian leaders pledge crackdown on human traffickers online scams

By Kate Lamb LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (Reuters) – Southeast Asian leaders pledged on Wednesday to crack down on online scams operated by human traffickers to prey on vulnerable job seekers, particularly in the poorest countries of the region. Meeting in Indonesia for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the leaders called for…

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Airbnb’s gloomy forecast weighs on hotel, airline stocks

By Chibuike Oguh NEW YORK (Reuters) – A gloomy forecast from vacation rental firm Airbnb weighed on travel-related stocks on Wednesday as an expected slowdown in bookings signaled an impending slump in travel demand with consumers seeking cheaper accommodation amid inflation and recession fears. Airbnb, which reported a 20% rise in quarterly revenue on Wednesday,…

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