OpenAI Secures Chat.com in a Million-Dollar Move

OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman made waves with a single tweet, revealing that ChatGPT now has a new home at the ultra-sleek domain, chat.com. The four-letter URL didn’t come cheap—Altman acquired it from Dharmesh Shah, cofounder of HubSpot, who purchased the domain in 2023 for an “8-figure sum” (over $15 million). Shah, who believes chat-based software is the “next big thing,” initially bought chat.com for its simplicity and relevance in an increasingly chat-focused world. However, when OpenAI came knocking, he didn’t hesitate to part ways with it.

Shah revealed a few details about the sale in a fun, ChatGPT-style prompt, noting his long-standing friendship with Altman and joking that he didn’t want to “profit off his friends.” He also hinted that he may have accepted OpenAI shares instead of cash, suggesting he’s betting on OpenAI’s future as well. In true philanthropic style, Shah donated $250,000 of the sale proceeds to Khan Academy, a nod to his commitment to giving back.

• The Price Tag: Shah originally paid $15.5 million for the domain in 2023, foreseeing its value in the evolving tech landscape.

• Terms of Sale: Shah hinted that he didn’t seek profit, implying he may have accepted OpenAI shares rather than cash.

Though the exact sale terms are still under wraps, the big takeaway is clear: OpenAI has secured a memorable, perfectly branded URL that could make ChatGPT even more accessible to users worldwide. With chat.com, Altman is betting on a simplified entry point for users, paving the way for ChatGPT’s continued evolution and growth.

Nvidia Joins the Dow as AI Takes Center Stage

Nvidia is set to make waves on Wall Street as the newest member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, officially joining the index on November 8. The AI chip giant will replace Intel, marking a historic shift for the semiconductor industry and underscoring the importance of artificial intelligence in the U.S. economy. Nvidia’s inclusion highlights the massive role AI now plays in shaping tech and business innovation.

Shares of Nvidia have soared over 180% this year, driven by surging demand for its high-powered processors, which fuel generative AI applications. In contrast, Intel—a longtime staple in Silicon Valley—has struggled to keep up, with shares down nearly 50% as the company grapples with the rapid shift toward AI.

The Dow’s unique structure also plays a role here. Unlike the market-cap-weighted S&P 500, the 30-stock Dow is price-weighted, giving higher-priced stocks more sway. This setup allows the Dow to carefully balance sectors, which is why major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, and IBM make the cut, while giants like Amazon and Meta are left out.

By adding Nvidia, the Dow is acknowledging the growing influence of AI-driven technology in the broader economy. As the landscape shifts, this move signals a fresh focus on the next wave of American innovation, with Nvidia at the forefront.

Google Maps Gets a Smart AI Makeover

Google Maps is leveling up with a big AI boost, powered by Google’s Gemini technology, to go beyond navigation and become a full-on city guide. This update, rolling out in the U.S., lets users chat with Maps to get recommendations on restaurants, bars, and other local attractions, complete with years of compiled reviews. It’s a significant leap for the app, which just surpassed 2 billion monthly users, and shows Google’s push to make Maps an all-in-one tool for both commuting and exploring.

Miriam Daniel, Google Maps’ general manager, called this “a new era of maps,” as Google aims to make travel more seamless with features like lane guidance for smoother turns and detailed parking info. Developers will also soon have access to Gemini’s language models, allowing users to get fact-checked answers about destinations, like apartments or eateries, within seconds. Google says it’s working to prevent “hallucinations”—a tech term for incorrect AI answers—with a grounding process to keep responses reliable.

Even Waze is getting a dose of AI, letting users report hazards through conversational prompts as they drive. By adding AI to its maps, Google hopes to keep up with the fast-paced demands of modern navigation while reducing missteps (like its infamous pizza-glue suggestion).

OpenAI Hits Roadblocks on the Path to New Releases

Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg is betting big on AI-generated content as the next evolution in our social feeds. Moving beyond friends and influencers, Zuckerberg envisions a future where Facebook, Instagram, and Threads are filled with AI-crafted posts designed to keep us engaged. During Meta’s latest earnings call, he described this as a “whole new category of content” that AI will help create, summarize, and reimagine. He’s confident it will be a major trend in the coming years.

Central to this shift is Meta’s AI model, Llama, which currently powers the Meta AI chatbot used by over 500 million people monthly. Zuckerberg sees Llama’s reach expanding into business tools, ad tech, and the social feeds themselves, where AI-driven content could offer entirely new experiences. Meta is actively testing these ideas, though Zuckerberg admits they’re still figuring out what resonates best.

This AI-powered future is already making waves on Facebook, where “AI slop” — viral, often bizarre, AI-generated posts — is becoming increasingly common. From fake accounts like the “#1 restaurant in Austin” with AI-generated food pics to other strange creations, Meta’s AI shift is clearly underway.

• New Content Frontier: Meta’s feeds are evolving to feature more AI-generated posts.

• Llama Power: Meta’s AI model Llama will play a key role in generating content across platforms.

• AI Experimentation: Meta is testing various formats to see what works best for social feeds.

• Rise of “AI Slop”: Bizarre, AI-created posts are already going viral on Facebook.

• Fake Profiles Gain Traction: AI-generated accounts, like the fictional Austin restaurant, are attracting real followers.