Top stories for the morning: OpenAI builds ecosystem, Tesla cuts prices, Trump raises duties

OpenAI has announced that it's turning its ChatGPT artificial intelligence into a full-fledged digital hub where users can interact directly with apps like Spotify, Zillow and Expedia, and developers can create native AI agents through its new AgentKit platform. Tesla, in a bid to regain lost sales, is likely preparing a more affordable version of the Model Y priced below $30,000. Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced a 25% duty on imports of medium and heavy trucks. On these and other topics - in our review of key events for the morning of October 7.

OpenAI introduced a new ChatGPT feature, Talking to Apps, that allows users to directly interact with apps like Spotify, Zillow, Figma, Expedia and Booking.com without leaving the chat room, Bloomberg writes. It's now possible, for example, to create a playlist or pick up accommodations through built-in integrations. According to COO Brad Lightcap, companies will be able to develop native apps right inside ChatGPT.

The announcement was made at the annual developers' conference, where OpenAI also presented AgentKit - a set of tools for creating autonomous AI-agents capable of performing tasks without human intervention. According to Sam Altman, such solutions are already being used by Albertson's, Box, and Canva. The company has also released compact models for voice and images, and OpenAI's open source models have garnered more than 23 million downloads on Hugging Face.

OpenAI, which already has more than 800 million weekly ChatGPT users, forecasts revenue growth to $13 billion in 2025. However, the company remains unprofitable due to massive investments in computing power and infrastructure, a phase that Altman calls "the growth and investment phase."

Tesla will unveil a more affordable version of its popular Model Y electric crossover on Tuesday to stem a sales slump and strengthen its position amid growing competition, Reuters writes. The new variant will build on existing production and design platforms, without creating an entirely new model. According to Reuters, the price of the car should be under $30,000 including tax credits, although those subsidies in the U.S. recently ended, effectively raising the cost of cars by $7500.

The company has already published teasers of the future model, and analysts are waiting for the official announcement. Elon Musk previously admitted that "the desire to buy Tesla is great, but people don't have enough money," so affordable cars will be the key to growth. Production was promised to start by June, but so far only the first samples have been made; sales are scheduled for the end of the year.

Tesla is facing falling demand and increased competition, especially in China and Europe. The company has updated the Model Y and is working on a simplified version of the Model 3. Affordable models are considered central to Musk's strategy to produce 20 million electric vehicles over a decade and meet targets for a $1 trillion compensation package, the agency points out.

The U.S. will impose a 25 percent tariff on imports of medium- and heavy-duty trucks starting November 1, 2025, Donald Trump said on Truth Social, Freightwaves reports. The decision follows a Department of Commerce investigation into Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which allows duties on goods important to national security. The measure is aimed at protecting U.S. manufacturers, including PACCAR (Peterbilt and Kenworth brands), whose shares rose after the announcement.

The US imports the majority of these trucks from Mexico, which exported more than 159,000 units in 2024, 95.5% of them to the US. The new duty could even affect manufacturers from USMCA (free trade agreement between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada) countries if their vehicles do not meet the rules of origin requiring up to 70% North American content.

The duty fits into Trump's broader tariff policy aimed at strengthening domestic production and reducing dependence on foreign supplies, the portal notes.

The price of gold rose to $3977 per ounce, setting a new all-time high, Bloomberg writes. Investors are looking for a "safe haven" against the background of the U.S. government shutdown, which for the second week paralyzes the publication of economic data, and the political crisis in France, where Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned because of the budget impasse. Changes in Japan and expectations of a Fed rate cut also contributed to strengthening demand.

According to MKS PAMP, both institutional and retail investors, especially in Europe and Japan, are supporting the growth. Pepperstone strategist Ahmad Assiri said gold is becoming "a key element of diversified portfolios" and the best protective asset amid an overheated stock market.

Since the beginning of the year, the metal has risen about 50% thanks to Donald Trump's geopolitical moves and active buying by central banks. Goldman Sachs raised its forecast for December 2026 to $4900 per ounce, expecting further inflows into gold ETFs.

- Japan's broad Topix index rose by 0.41%. Benchmark Nikkei 225 - by 0.6%.

- In South Korea, the stock exchanges are closed.

- Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.22%.

- Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 futures were little changed, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.16%.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor