Business

Anthropic and OpenAI are publicly warning about AI safety risks while simultaneously working to influence how the technology will be regulated. The report highlights a growing tension: the leading AI firms are both raising alarms about powerful systems and positioning themselves as authorities on control measures. Critics and observers are debating whether companies building the technology should have such a large say in the rules that govern it.

Tech companies are competing to develop dedicated hardware for artificial intelligence, and Meta believes it has produced a winning device. NPR reports on the race, noting that Meta considers its offering a standout in a crowded field where rivals are also rushing to ship AI-focused gadgets to consumers.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher are set to present Australia's final budget outcome, with attention fixed on the bottom line ahead of a possible Reserve Bank interest rate hike. A stronger-than-expected result could ease pressure on borrowing costs, while a weaker one could reinforce expectations the RBA will raise rates, making the fiscal figures a key input into the rate debate.

The US federal government's move to reschedule marijuana is set to change how medical marijuana businesses are taxed and run. Reclassification could ease the current tax burden that prevents cannabis companies from deducting normal business expenses, while also altering operational and banking rules. Business analysts say companies in the medical cannabis sector will need to adapt their finances and compliance practices as the new federal framework takes effect.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a former business litigator has become the Justice Department's lead official directing legal action against gender-affirming care for transgender people. The profile highlights how a career focused on commercial disputes placed him at the center of one of the most contested policy battles in the US, drawing attention to the department's strategy and the official's personal and professional background.

Canadian farmers, particularly in Ontario, are confronting growing uncertainty as trade negotiations between Canada and the United States continue. Ongoing tariff disputes and the threat of a wider trade war are leaving agricultural producers unsure about market access, prices and planning for the coming seasons, with the farming sector warning of economic consequences.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is scheduled to have dinner with President Trump. The meeting draws attention because Anthropic, a leading artificial intelligence company, has often clashed with the administration on AI regulation. Observers are watching for signals about the company's political positioning and possible shifts in White House policy toward the AI industry.

OpenAI is reportedly paying a broad network of social media influencers to promote ChatGPT and shape the perception that the company is 'good for the world'. According to Business Insider, the strategy spans sponsored posts, ads and creator partnerships on platforms like Instagram. Critics view the campaign as an effort to manage public opinion as the company faces growing scrutiny over its societal impact.

YouTube and Meta have reversed their earlier decisions and will now accept advertising for the 'Musk' trailer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The shift means promotional material for the film can run on both major digital platforms, and the reversal is drawing attention as a notable about-face by two of the biggest players in online advertising.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has avoided direct questions about the Heathrow third runway, a project now reportedly facing a four-year delay. The Heathrow expansion has long divided Labour figures, with Burnham among the party's prominent opponents of airport expansion, and his refusal to comment is drawing attention amid fresh questions over the scheme's timetable and the government's growth-versus-climate balancing act.

Apple has been hit with a $5.7 billion verdict over allegations that it infringed a patent, according to a report by Engadget. The ruling, if it stands, would be one of the largest patent judgments against the company, and attention is turning to whether Apple will appeal.

Meta is positioning AI agents as tools for ordinary consumers, not just corporate customers, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The move signals that conversational AI assistants are moving into everyday personal use, widening the market beyond enterprise software and putting consumer-facing agents at the center of the company's AI strategy.

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and Tumblr, has announced a new board of directors following an unsuccessful attempt to place its CEO on leave. The episode has drawn attention to internal governance tensions at the company, which has faced scrutiny in recent years over its leadership and its disputes within the WordPress ecosystem. Details about the new board members' identities remain limited.

Milan is hosting an exhibition tracing the business and creative evolution of the Armani fashion house, one year after the death of its founder Giorgio Armani. The showcase highlights how the Italian luxury brand has developed its identity and operations, and it arrives at a moment of reflection on the company's future direction and legacy following the loss of its iconic designer.

A question is being raised across Europe about whether minimum wages have kept pace with rising food prices. With food inflation having surged in recent years, the debate focuses on whether statutory wage increases have preserved workers' purchasing power, and how the gap varies between countries with higher and lower minimum wage levels.

Meta says it will now accept advertisements for a documentary about Elon Musk, reversing an earlier refusal. The decision, reported by TechCrunch, matters because ad rejections involving Musk draw scrutiny of Meta's content moderation and platform policies. Critics and supporters of the company are weighing in on whether the reversal reflects public pressure or an internal policy correction.

Oil-field service companies are preparing to report quarterly results that are expected to show how the war has affected their business. Investors and analysts will be watching the earnings season in the energy sector for signs of how conflict-driven costs, supply disruptions and shifting demand for drilling and oilfield services have filtered through to the bottom line of major providers.

JioHotstar, the streaming service formed by the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, is drawing attention in India this week. Entertainment coverage, including listings of what to watch on OTT platforms, is driving searches around the service as audiences look for new films and series available to stream.

A reporter has tested the player-protection measures that DraftKings, one of the largest US sports betting operators, says it has in place to guard against problem gambling. The findings are prompting discussion about how effective self-exclusion tools, deposit limits and identity checks really are, and whether regulators should tighten requirements on the fast-growing online betting industry.

Reports say Dario Amodei, chief executive of AI company Anthropic, is having a one-on-one dinner with Donald Trump. The meeting is drawing attention given Anthropic's safety-focused stance and past tensions between parts of the tech industry and the administration, with observers speculating about what it could mean for AI regulation and policy.

With more grandparents remaining in the workforce past retirement age, Japanese employers are beginning to offer 'grandchild leave', allowing older workers to take time off to help care for their grandchildren. The shift reflects both Japan's childcare shortage and the growing number of older people who want to keep their jobs while supporting working-age children.

Hong Kong is stepping up efforts to strengthen economic and professional links with Central Asia. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, together with the city's Department of Justice, led the Collaborate2Win campaign across Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, promoting Hong Kong's financial, legal and professional services as it seeks new markets and partners in the region.

The debate over data centers is drawing attention, with communities and policymakers weighing their economic benefits against concerns over energy consumption, water use, and strain on local power grids. Talk Business & Politics highlights the issue as data center expansion accelerates, prompting arguments over zoning, tax incentives, and infrastructure costs in the regions competing to host these facilities.

Federal prosecutors have charged the owner of a semi-truck business in connection with an alleged investment fraud scheme worth $105 million. Details of the charges and the accused's identity remain limited in initial reports. The case adds to a series of federal actions against fraud in the freight and trucking sector, and industry watchers are tracking what further disclosures may follow.

Major US airlines are waiving change fees for travellers across the Northeast as a nor'easter brings disruptive winter weather to the region. The waivers let passengers rebook flights without paying the usual change charges, a standard move ahead of storms expected to cause cancellations and delays. Travellers in affected airports are being urged to check their flight status and take advantage of the flexibility while it lasts.

OpenAI has published guidance identifying the workplace skills it considers most valuable in the AI era. The company's findings are drawing attention from businesses and workers assessing how artificial intelligence is reshaping job requirements, with details of the report carried by Business Insider.

American companies are beginning to receive refunds on tariffs, and many are finding unconventional ways to use the incoming money. The refunds follow legal and policy changes that required duties collected by the US government to be returned to importers. Businesses are reportedly allocating the funds in creative ways rather than straightforward reinvestment, drawing attention to how trade policy shifts are affecting corporate balance sheets.

A psychologist says business leaders are suffering under the pressures created by artificial intelligence, according to a Forbes report. Leaders face constant pressure to adopt AI tools, keep pace with rapid change, and answer to boards and employees expecting an AI strategy. The piece suggests this sustained demand is taking a measurable toll on executives' mental wellbeing.

Saturday Night Live has aired a comedy sketch spoofing Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, portraying him with the line 'AI is the devil and I its maker.' The bit pokes fun at the contradictions of an AI executive publicly warning about the technology's dangers while building it, a tension that has drawn growing commentary as AI leaders continue to issue stark warnings about their own products.

Meta's data center expansion is drawing construction and operations workers to communities near its facilities, and purpose-built workforce housing is emerging to accommodate them. Reports describe how these housing developments serve the influx of employees tied to large-scale data center projects, highlighting the local economic ripple effects of the tech industry's infrastructure boom.

Sherline Tools, the California-based maker of small precision lathes and milling machines long favored by hobbyists, model engineers, and small workshops, is shutting down and ending its US production. Word of the closure is spreading among machining and maker communities, where the company's American-made equipment has been a staple for decades. Enthusiasts are discussing what the loss means for the hobby-scale tool market and for anyone who depended on Sherline parts and support.

Meta has spent months working to turn Muse into a successful product, according to a Business Insider report. The story details the internal effort behind the project, though the report is new and specific claims about Muse's development and reception have not yet been widely picked up by other outlets.

David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of the Ruby on Rails web framework, has announced it is 'pencils down' on writing code by hand, a striking statement from one of software's most prominent advocates of handcrafted programming. The declaration suggests he now believes AI-assisted coding has reached the point where developers should step back from writing code themselves.

Taiwan's foreign minister has left for official visits to Belize and Guatemala, two of the island's remaining diplomatic allies in Central America, accompanied by a business delegation. The trip signals Taipei's efforts to deepen trade and investment ties with its few remaining partners and shore up relations amid ongoing diplomatic pressure.

MacKenzie Scott, the philanthropist and novelist who divorced Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019, has released her first novel since the split. A Business Insider reviewer who read it says the book left them with more questions than answers, reflecting curiosity about how much of her own life and marriage is woven into the fiction.

Saturday Night Live aired a sketch mocking the relationship between Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani, the New York politician frequently at odds with the president. The bit played on their public sparring and unlikely dynamic, drawing attention across entertainment and political media. CNN Business covered the sketch, reflecting continued interest in how late-night comedy frames the Trump-Mamdani rivalry as Mamdani's national profile rises.

Morris Ballen, a music industry figure known for helping independent artists get their music distributed and heard by wider audiences, has died at the age of 88. The news is being noted in music and business circles, with obituary coverage highlighting his role in opening doors for indie musicians throughout his career.

JioHotstar is trending in India as the streaming platform's weekly lineup draws attention, including the Aneet Padda-led series Hunkkaar and Don't Be Shy, produced by Alia Bhatt. Indian Express's weekly OTT watchlist feature is driving viewers to check what is new across streaming services, with JioHotstar among the most searched names.

Meta's data center construction projects are drawing large numbers of workers to communities near its facilities, straining local housing supply. New reporting features photos of workforce housing developments built or expanded to accommodate the influx of construction and operations staff, highlighting how big tech infrastructure investment is reshaping small-town housing markets across the United States.

American Express has introduced new business savings and payroll tools for its customers, according to a report carried by Yahoo Finance. The move expands the company's offering for small and mid-sized business clients, adding cash management and payroll capabilities alongside its existing card and payments services. Details on pricing, availability and how the tools will be bundled with current Amex business accounts were not provided in the report.

The Greater Bay Area Conference 2026 brought together nearly 300 government officials, consular representatives, business executives, academics and policy specialists in Hong Kong on 3 September. Discussions focused on how Hong Kong can serve as a connector between Guangdong and international markets within the Greater Bay Area development, with participants weighing the city's role in regional economic integration.

The union representing about 150 doctors at Allina Health's Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and its Unity campus in Fridley, Minnesota, announced Wednesday that it has reached a tentative agreement on a first contract with the health system. The deal follows a four-day strike by the physicians earlier this month, and union members are expected to vote on ratifying the agreement.

Alabama teenagers are set to receive their own version of TikTok as part of a sweeping $100 million deal, according to Fox Business. Details about who is funding the initiative, what the app will offer, and how it will differ from the popular short-video platform have not been disclosed, but the announcement is drawing attention as states weigh responses to TikTok's prominence among young users.

Jim Ukrop, the former chief executive of Richmond-area grocery chain Ukrop's Markets, has died at the age of 89. He is being remembered as a prominent business and civic leader in central Virginia, where the family-run supermarket was a local institution for decades before its sale in 2010.

Nearly 333 pounds of tuna sold under the Buckhead brand is being recalled across five states after testing found elevated levels of scombrotoxin, a compound that can cause scombroid food poisoning with symptoms like flushing, headache and rapid heartbeat. The recall covers a small quantity of product, and consumers are advised to check their purchases and discard affected tuna.

Richard Manoogian, who led building-products maker Masco for decades as chairman and chief executive, has died at age 90. He was also a major patron of the Detroit Institute of Arts, where his family's support helped shape the museum's collections and funding. Business and civic leaders in Michigan are remembering him as one of Detroit's most influential industrialists and philanthropists.