Easy as ABC: OpenAI’s latest chatbot is a quick study, with the ability to better reason through complex tasks involving math or science, and scored higher* than previous tech on standardized tests.

The generative AI company raised $6.6 billion* in its latest funding round, at a valuation of $157 billion. The deal marks the largest venture capital round ever, in an industry predicted to add $19.9 trillion to the global economy through 2030.

As AI companies compete to innovate the fastest, many Americans also feel the pressure to keep up with the Joneses: 23% say they spend more than they make trying to do so, according to new Empower research.

— The Editors 

⚡ A… win for AWS: Intel shares jumped 8%* after the company announced it’ll provide custom artificial intelligence chips for a “multibillion-dollar customer” – Amazon’s cloud-services unit, AWS. Nvidia currently holds around 70% - 95%* of the AI chip market but other big names are talking about AI: 210 of the companies in the S&P 500 (more than 40%* of the index) mentioned AI during their Q2 earnings calls, an uptick from 199 companies earlier this year.

🔎 B… is for Browser boosts: Startup Hello Wonder raised $2.1 million* from investors for its AI-powered browser companion to help kids safely navigate the internet. Parents can control what kind of content – from videos to games – their children are viewing while using the app. Being vigilant can help prevent security risks and online scams, at any age: Americans lost a record $12.5 billion* in 2023. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so make sure to take steps to protect your wealth.

🩺 C… Calling Dr. Chatbot: One in six adults* are using an AI-powered chatbot to seek medical advice, according to new reports, enabling people to get a virtual opinion before scheduling a visit with a doctor. Still, experts caution people to be wary of taking advice from bots. Healthcare spending in the U.S. grew by 4.1%* in 2022 to $4.5 trillion, or nearly $13,500 per person. Maximizing options like a health savings account can help ease the cost of care.

🏗️ D… Data center demand: There are nearly 3,000* U.S. data centers that power AI systems, with more on the way. A 2,100-acre site near Phoenix recently sold for $136 million* and is expected to become one of the largest data-center complexes in the nation. The global market demand for these data powerhouses is on the rise and expected to top $371 billion* by 2030. Today, more than half of states* offer some type of tax break for data centers to attract big tech.

When the “C” in CEO stands for “Celebrity”

What comes first, the fame or the fortune? Many celebrities have rolled their fame into thriving businesses. Data shows that the sales of celebrity-owned lines increased by 57.8%* to $1.1 billion in 2023, while the total market grew by just 11.1% during the same period. Read this article on The Currency: “Main character energy: The business of celebrity brands.”

E... Employees’ AI essentials

Nearly 4 in 5 employees (77%*) say they don’t know how to use AI in their jobs, and software giant Salesforce says it can help bridge the gap – no costs attached.

Through the end of 2025, premium AI content and credential programs are free for anyone* through the company’s online platform, where it has served more than 5 million* people since 2014.

Job seekers with generative AI skills can often expect an average salary bump of 47%* compared to candidates without AI knowledge. Nearly 70%* of leaders say they won’t hire someone without AI skills and would rather hire a less experienced candidate with AI know-how than a more experienced person without those skills.

In addition to a bigger paycheck, making that educational move may help people become more financially independent. Empower research finds that nearly a third of people (27%) need to financially rely on others due to their career choices.

F... Friend at your fingertips

Can AI be your friend IRL?

A $99* AI companion dubbed “Friend” is designed to be worn like a necklace and features an always-on Bluetooth microphone. It can respond via text message to on-demand questions and can send unprompted messages depending on what it hears and learns over time.

Also, Meta is setting its sights on new features* for its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses later in the year: The specs (which currently retail for $299* and up) will sport real-time AI video features, allowing wearers to ask questions about what they can see around them (such as a city skyline) and quickly get a verbal answer.

G... Games bring in the bots

The studio behind the megahit Candy Crush Saga seems to have found a sweet spot. With 5 billion* downloads and counting, the game hit $20 billion in revenue in 2023.

Its developers use AI tools to playtest over 1,000* simulated games in a matter of minutes to understand each challenge and quickly tweak designs.

Last year, the global video game market generated more revenue than the combined sales of other media, leveling up to $196 billion.*