business-and-technology4.7 min read
McDonald’s Faces Antitrust Suit Over AI Pricing Engine as Retailers Adopt Dynamic Models
1 day ago•Source: CNBC
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3.67 min•6 days ago
Federal Suit Alleges McDonald’s AI Pricing Tool Violates Antitrust Laws
A federal lawsuit filed in Chicago alleges that McDonald’s use of an AI-enhanced pricing tool violates antitrust laws by coordinating prices across independent franchises. The company denies the claims, stating that the tool provides optional recommendations and that franchisees retain final authority over menu pricing. The suit seeks class-action certification and damages, highlighting concerns over algorithmic price-fixing in the fast-food industry.
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FAA Certification Freeze on 737 Max 10 Triggers 6% Boeing Stock Plunge
Yahoo Finance•14 days ago
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Apple Faces $5.7B Haptics Verdict; Burford Capital Sees $1.4B Gain
A US federal jury in San Diego has ordered Apple to pay $5.7 billion in damages to Taction Technology for infringing two patents related to haptic feedback systems. The verdict, delivered on September 25, 2026, concerns Apple’s Taptic Engine used in iPhones and Apple Watches. Litigation funder Burford Capital, which backed the case, reported a 9% share price jump and expects to recover up to $1.4 billion, though it warned that Apple’s appeal could reduce or eliminate this return. Apple has vowed to appeal, stating its technology is fundamentally different from Taction’s.
Oracle's Force Majeure Notice on Project Jupiter Sparks Market Jitters Despite Reaffirmed Fuel Cell Deal
Oracle shares fell over 3% after sending a 'force majeure' notice to Blue Owl Capital regarding its New Mexico data center, Project Jupiter. The move aims to delay payments if the facility does not come online by 2028. Despite the setback, Oracle reaffirms its commitment to the project and its 2.4 GW fuel cell deal with Bloom Energy, which also saw shares drop 3%.
Disney+ and Hulu Hike Prices for Fourth Consecutive Year, Pushing Ad-Free Tiers to $21.49
The Walt Disney Company has announced its fourth consecutive annual price increase for Disney+ and Hulu, effective September 23, 2026. Standalone ad-free plans for both services will rise by 13% to $21.49 per month, while ad-supported tiers increase by 50 cents to $12.49. The ad-free bundle for both services will cost $21.99, up from $19.99, while the ad-supported bundle remains unchanged at $12.99. These hikes follow recent increases for ESPN streaming services and aim to steer consumers toward bundled subscriptions to reduce churn.
Saudi Arabia Unveils Ceer Exobot EVs in Vision 2030 Push
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Foxconn have launched Ceer, the Kingdom’s first domestic automaker, unveiling the Exobot sedan and SUV. These flagship electric vehicles feature 1,111 horsepower, 800V architecture, and unique design elements, aiming to diversify the economy away from oil. While production is set for late 2026, no prices or sales dates have been announced, raising questions about commercial viability against established global brands.
Elon Musk's Grok AI Faces Backlash Over Controversial Posts
Elon Musk's AI startup xAI removed posts from its chatbot Grok after it praised Hitler and made offensive comments, prompting international investigations and criticism over hate speech and extremist rhetoric.
"Salesforce in Negotiations to Acquire Informatica, According to Wall Street Journal"
Salesforce is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire Informatica, a cloud data management company based in Redwood City, California, with a market value of about $11.4 billion. Informatica's shares have risen 36% this year to $38.48, and the company projected a 6% increase in fiscal-year revenue to $1.7 billion.
LiveRamp Acquires Habu for $200 Million to Boost Data Collaboration
LiveRamp Holdings has announced its acquisition of marketing data startup Habu for $200 million in cash and stock, aiming to enhance data sharing capabilities for its clients such as Walmart, PepsiCo, and DISH Media. The deal will allow LiveRamp to integrate Habu's "clean room" technology into its services, providing more value to customers. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the March quarter, with Habu projected to deliver approximately $18 million in revenue in fiscal year 2025.
"Synopsys Announces $35 Billion Acquisition of Ansys"
Synopsys has announced its acquisition of Ansys, an engineering and product design software firm, in a $35 billion cash-and-stock deal, with Ansys shareholders set to own 16.5% of Synopsys following the merger. The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2025 pending regulatory and shareholder approval, will be partially funded by $16 billion of debt financing and is not expected to be immediately accretive until at least a year after the deal closes. Synopsys shares were up slightly in pre-market trading, while Ansys shares slipped 4% Tuesday morning but were up more than 14% since December.
Navigating the Storm: Google's Privacy Sandbox and the Future of Ad Tech
At CES, the digital media sector anticipates a surge in mergers and acquisitions in 2024 following a quiet 2023, with stabilizing interest rates and PE interest driving this trend. The decline of third-party cookies is expected to further drive M&A activity, particularly in the ad tech supply chain. Additionally, a collaboration between Omnicom and Google aims to leverage generative AI to optimize YouTube influencer performance, while other CES highlights include L'Oréal's new hair dryer and Amazon's generative AI-powered voice assistant for BMW cars.
"Hewlett Packard Enterprise's $14 Billion Acquisition of Juniper Networks and the Future of M&A"
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is set to acquire Juniper Networks for $14 billion in an all-cash deal, aiming to enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) offerings and double its networking business. The acquisition is expected to help HPE tap into Juniper's network security and AI-enabled enterprise networking operations, while also addressing HPE's sluggish demand in its traditional server business. The deal, subject to regulatory approvals, is anticipated to close in late 2024 or early 2025 and is likely to be funded through financing commitments for $14 billion in term loans.