AI is shaking up more than just tech companies — it's now showing up in everyday situations like rental car returns. Several car rental companies have started using AI scanners to inspect vehicles when customers hand them back. The systems are supposed to be faster and more accurate than human checks, but renters are running into trouble. Customers say the scanners flag tiny dents and scrapes, leading to surprise charges they don't agree with. National Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has been looking into how these systems work and how renters can protect themselves from disputed bills.
On the security front, independent researchers from Hacktron AI found a way into OpenAI's systems using Anthropic's Claude chatbot. They also used OpenAI's own GPT-5.6 Sol model during the attack, which let them access employee GitHub repositories and ChatGPT accounts. OpenAI paid the team $6,500 through its bug bounty program and fixed the weaknesses they found. The researchers noted that AI tools are making complex hacking tasks much quicker.
Meanwhile, some of the biggest names in tech — including Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Dario Amodei — are publicly calling for a slower approach to AI development. They warn that the technology is powerful enough to pose real risks, from job displacement to misuse. This push for caution comes as AI continues to drive a significant share of U.S. economic growth, with AI investment accounting for roughly a third of GDP growth in 2026.
In the business world, AI spending is putting pressure on company balance sheets. Morgan Stanley analyzed five major tech companies — Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Oracle — and found their combined return on incremental invested capital sits near 40%, well above their cost of capital. But the report also warns that combined free cash flow could drop to about negative $265 billion by late 2027 before recovering.
Consumer shopping habits are also being shaped by AI. A Semrush survey of over 2,300 U.S. adults found that nearly 81% of shoppers who use chatbots have walked away from a purchase based on AI guidance. While 58% have bought something recommended by a chatbot, the same share have also been steered away from a product. More than 74% said they would be less likely to buy something if a chatbot surfaced mixed or negative reviews.
Key Takeaways
- Rental car companies are using AI scanners to inspect returned vehicles, but customers face large charges for small dents and scrapes flagged by the systems.
- Hacktron AI researchers breached OpenAI using Anthropic's Claude chatbot and OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol model, accessing employee GitHub repos and ChatGPT accounts.
- OpenAI paid the security researchers $6,500 through its bug bounty program and fixed the vulnerabilities they discovered.
- Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Dario Amodei are calling for a slowdown in frontier AI development, citing serious risks like job displacement and misuse.
- AI investment accounted for roughly a third of U.S. GDP growth in 2026, but about 95% of businesses investing in AI have failed to profit from it.
- Morgan Stanley found Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Oracle had combined ROIIC near 40% in early 2026, but combined free cash flow could fall to negative $265 billion by Q3 2027.
- Anthropic named Accenture as an independent evaluator for its frontier models, with both planning to invest at least $1 billion over five years on red-teaming and safety testing.
- Marsh's Global Talent Trends 2026 report found 63% of Indian executives see AI redesign as their top ROI initiative, but only 32% believe their workforce can combine human and machine skills well.
- A Semrush survey found 81% of consumers who use chatbots for shopping have decided against a purchase based on AI guidance, while 74% would be less likely to buy if mixed reviews surfaced.
- Okta appointed Helen Riley, CFO and COO at X, to its board as AI identity strategy gains focus, with analysts projecting $3.9 billion in revenue by 2029.
AI scanners charge rental car customers for small damage
Several rental car companies now use AI scanners to check cars for damage when they are returned. The systems are meant to be faster and more accurate. But customers say they get big bills for small dents and scrapes the computer flagged. National Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa looked into how this technology works and how renters can protect themselves from surprise charges.
AI damage checks leave renters confused over bills
AI is changing how rental cars are inspected. Reporter Rachel DePompa found that when a system flags damage, renters can be left fighting a bill they do not understand. The systems scan cars for damage the moment they are returned. Customers are upset about charges for small dents and scrapes.
Rental car AI scanners spark customer disputes
Several rental car companies now use high-tech AI scanners to check cars for damage when they are returned. The systems are supposed to make things faster and more accurate. But many customers are stuck with huge bills for small dents and scrapes the computer flagged. National Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa caught up with two women fighting these robot charges for months.
Renters battle AI flagged damage charges
AI is changing how rental cars are inspected. Reporter Rachel DePompa found that when a system flags damage, renters can be left fighting a bill they do not understand. Customers are struggling to dispute charges for small dents and scrapes detected by AI scanners.
AI rental car damage inspections raise concerns
AI is changing how rental cars are inspected. Reporter Rachel DePompa found that when a system flags damage, renters can be left fighting a bill they do not understand. Several rental car companies now use high-tech AI scanners to check cars for damage when they are returned. The systems are supposed to be faster and more accurate, but customers face huge bills for small dents and scrapes.
AI rental car scanners spark dispute over small damage charges
Rental car companies are using AI scanners to check returned vehicles for damage. The systems flag even small dents and scrapes, leading to large bills for customers. National Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa looked into two cases where customers fought these robot charges for months. The report explores how the technology works and how renters can protect themselves from surprise fees.
Hackers use Claude chatbot to breach OpenAI systems
Cybersecurity researchers from Hacktron AI hacked into OpenAI using Anthropic's Claude chatbot. They also used OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol model to carry out the attack. The team accessed employee GitHub repositories and ChatGPT accounts. OpenAI paid the researchers $6,500 through its bug bounty program. The company said it fixed the vulnerabilities that were found.
Security researchers breach OpenAI private software with Claude
Independent security researchers from Hacktron AI began hacking OpenAI on July 23, 2026. They used Anthropic's Claude to generate code and access private software caches. OpenAI paid them $6,500 as part of its bug-hunting program. The researchers said AI tools have made complex hacking tasks much faster. OpenAI narrowed permissions and revoked affected tokens to fix the issues.
Anthropic faces scrutiny over Accenture AI evaluation deal
Anthropic named Accenture as an independent evaluator of its frontier AI models, but X users flagged the connection. Anthropic and Accenture plan to invest at least $1 billion over five years on red-teaming, alignment assessments and safeguard testing. The two companies already have a commercial partnership including training 30,000 Accenture professionals on Claude. Anthropic says it funds the work directly and the deal is non-exclusive.
Tech leaders call for slower AI development amid stock losses
Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Dario Amodei are among tech leaders calling for a slowdown in AI development. Altman said the technology is so powerful that the risks are serious. Musk warned that AI is a double-edged sword that needs careful use. Amodei also stressed the need for caution in how AI is developed. Experts warn about risks including job displacement, bias and misuse.
AI's Growing Role in the Stock Market Faces New Scrutiny
Analysts are warning that AI poses risks for the stock market even though it drives much of the US economic growth. Major indexes like the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq have risen sharply this year, partly due to AI gains. AI investment has accounted for roughly a third of US GDP growth in 2026. However, about 95% of businesses investing in AI have failed to profit from it. Leaders like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk have raised serious safety concerns, while President Trump has called AI fears a hoax.
Indian Companies Must Prepare Workers Alongside AI Investment
Indian executives are adopting AI to boost productivity, but research shows technology alone is not enough. Marsh's Global Talent Trends 2026 report found 63% of executives see AI redesign as the top return-on-investment initiative, yet only 32% believe their workforce can combine human and machine skills well. India People Risk 2026 research found 49% of HR and risk professionals say companies invest in AI without properly training employees. Employee resistance and change fatigue are major challenges. The article stresses that upskilling, leadership development and clear communication are essential to get real value from AI.
AI Stocks Hit a Speed Bump but New Opportunities Are Emerging
Prominent AI leaders called for slowing frontier AI development, causing Wall Street to worry about huge investments in AI infrastructure. Analyst Luke Lango says the race to build smarter AI may slow, but the race to make money with existing AI is just beginning. He notes that inference, or using AI models in real work, could make up about two-thirds of AI computing this year. He highlights a private food-service robotics company already using AI in the real world as an example of new investment opportunities. Even if frontier AI development slows, applying current AI across industries could still create winners.
Okta Adds New Director as AI Identity Strategy Gains Focus
Okta appointed Helen Riley, CFO and COO at X and a longtime Alphabet finance executive, to its board on September 18, 2026, while Emilie Choi stepped down on September 14. Riley brings experience in global finance and AI-focused R&D. The move comes as CEO Todd McKinnon promoted AI agents as a new identity type and Okta pushed products like Okta for AI Agents. Analysts project Okta could reach $3.9 billion in revenue and $536.4 million in earnings by 2029. The key question is whether Okta's AI-driven identity products can win more enterprise and government customers against larger security platforms.
Morgan Stanley Says Rising AI Spending Needs Strong Returns
AI spending is pushing technology companies to invest billions in data centers, chips and infrastructure, creating pressure on short-term cash flows. Morgan Stanley's report uses Return on Incremental Invested Capital, or ROIIC, to measure whether new investment creates value. It found that Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Oracle had combined ROIIC near 40% in early 2026, well above their estimated 8% cost of capital. However, combined free cash flow could fall to about negative $265 billion by Q3 2027 before recovering. The report says investors should judge whether sales and profit growth can keep up with rising investment.
AI chatbots steer shoppers away from products, survey finds
A Semrush survey of 2,338 U.S. adults found that nearly 81% of consumers who use chatbots for online shopping have decided against a purchase based on AI guidance. About 58% of AI users have bought something recommended by a chatbot, but the same percentage have also been steered away from a purchase. More than 74% of consumers said they would be less likely to buy a product if a chatbot surfaced mixed or negative reviews. The survey shows AI is adding a new channel to shopping decisions rather than replacing Google or other research methods.
Sources
- InvestigateTV+ Weekend: AI changing how rental cars are inspected
- InvestigateTV+ Weekend: AI changing how rental cars are inspected
- InvestigateTV+ Weekend: AI changing how rental cars are inspected
- InvestigateTV+ Weekend: AI changing how rental cars are inspected
- InvestigateTV+ Weekend: AI changing how rental cars are inspected
- InvestigateTV+ Weekend: AI changing how rental cars are inspected
- OpenAI ‘ethically hacked’ with help of Anthropic’s Claude chatbot
- Security Researchers Use Anthropic’s Claude to Penetrate OpenAI’s Private Software Cache
- Anthropic “Community-Noted” On X For Calling Accenture An “Independent Evaluator” Of Its AI Despite Their Business Relationship
- Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Dario Amodei want AI slowed as tech stocks tumble. Is your retirement fund overexposed?
- How important is AI to the stock market? Warnings bring new scrutiny
- Transforming AI investment into business value
- AI Stocks Just Hit a Speed Bump, so Here’s Where Luke Is Looking Next
- Did AI Identity Push Just Shift Okta's (OKTA) Investment Narrative?
- AI spending is surging, but when does it create value? Morgan Stanley’s ROIIC lesson for India
- AI is telling consumers not to buy your product
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