🌏 Let the search wars begin

Good morning, Quartz readers!

Here’s what you need to know

OpenAI is working on SearchGPT. That’s an AI search engine, and it definitely has its eyes set on Google.

Speaking of Google — its AI chatbot Gemini just got faster. The latest upgrade means users will get “quicker and more helpful responses.” Let the search wars begin.

Southwest Airlines is scraping its open seating plan. The airline carrier is doing away with the 50-year tradition as it looks to offset a massive decline in profits.

Disney and Warner Bros. launched a big new streaming bundle. The subscription starts at $16.99 a month (with ads) and gives users access to Disney+, Hulu, and Max.

CrowdStrike apologized to its partners with a $10 Uber Eats gift card. Nothing says “sorry” like a free cup of coffee or late night snack. 

Entrance to Donald Trump’s private event at the Bitcoin conference costs $800,000. Should an attendee want a photo with the former U.S. president and Republican nominee, they’ll need another $60,000.

Target wants a real-life date

Big retailers like Target want you to meet them in person.

Like any good modern dater, after wooing consumers through their online channels, retail giants want shoppers to put down their phones and make a trip to one of their stores.

But getting that meet-and-greet, and the next, largely hinges on how retailers can strike a balance between their online persona and their face-to-face impression. Here’s how Target, Urban Outfitters, and Shake Shack are doing it.

A Flamin’ Hot controversy heads to court

American businessman Richard Montañez claims he invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in 1992. But for PepsiCo, that’s a heated debate – and now the spicy fight is being taken to court. Quartz’s Francisco Velasquez has the latest on who’s dibsing the chips creation.

Friday markets haiku

It’s not flamin’ hot.
Yes, we’re talking of Big Tech.
But the chill will pass.

This week’s tech selloff may have been brutal, but it will be “short-lived,” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives predicts. That’s because while sky-high AI costs spooked investors, those same investments will be fueling further growth.

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🪙 Crypto bros say the digital currency is an ‘emotional issue’

🌯 Chipotle is beefing up its ‘generous’ portions after a social media call out

🚗 Trump 2.0 could mean big changes for the EV industry

Surprising discoveries

Bird flu is spilling out to other mammals. A new study found that the avian influenza virus has started to spread from cows to cats and a raccoon.

In other mammal news, those from the Jurassic period lived slow and died old. Researchers found that some mouse-sized critters developed at a snail’s pace compared to their modern descendants.

In other prehistoric news, a massive mechanical dinosaur was stolen! It’s worth over $100,000 and was taken from an exhibition at a mall in Mexico City.

2024’s biggest IPO of the year is basically a giant refrigerator. Lineage, a cold storage company, raised $4.4 billion, placing its Nasdaq debut valuation at over $18 billion.

“Boneless chicken wings” may have a little bit of bone. According to an Ohio Supreme Court ruling, the term does not guarantee that there will be no bones.

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Our best wishes on a safe start to the day. Send any news, comments, actually boneless chicken wings, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to talk@qz.com. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Francisco Velasquez and Morgan Haefner.