A New York Times writer, Amy Lipscomb, encountered such frustrating AI customer service while trying to cancel a Walmart delivery subscription that she spent over an hour attempting to reach a human before ultimately deleting her account. This incident highlights a significant problem with AI-first customer service, as surveys indicate a strong consumer preference for the option to speak with a human agent, with many willing to leave companies that trap them in automated loops. The author suggests that small businesses can gain market share by prioritizing human interaction in their customer service.

The Massachusetts Lottery has expanded its iLottery platform by launching Inspired Entertainment's virtual sports games, making Inspired the first third-party provider on the new platform. Inspired has initially rolled out its virtual horse racing product, Post Time Payout, through an integration with Aristocrat Interactive. This expansion is a significant milestone for Inspired, demonstrating the growing opportunity for virtual sports in the North American lottery market.

Garmin launched its Edge 1060 cycling computer on October 20, 2026, ahead of its third-quarter earnings release scheduled for October 28, 2026. The company's stock was trading at EUR 263.00 on October 23, 2026, with analysts expecting third-quarter earnings per share of USD 2.73 and full-year earnings of USD 10.08. Garmin aims to maintain double-digit revenue growth and meet earnings estimates, building on its strong second-quarter performance.

InterDigital's Joseph Levy was elected to the IEEE Standards Association Board, reinforcing the company's focus on wireless and video standards, which underpins its patent licensing model. While this role is more reputational in the short term, it feeds the longer-term patent pipeline. Analysts forecast modest revenue growth and increased profit margins for InterDigital, projecting a significantly higher market value by 2029 based on its licensing, enforcement, and cash deployment strategies.

E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB significantly reduced its stake in Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FTNT) by 33.2% in the third quarter, selling 84,980 shares and holding 170,639 shares worth $30.5 million. Other institutional investors also adjusted their positions, while Wall Street analysts maintain a "Hold" consensus rating with a price target of $161.75. Fortinet reported strong quarterly earnings, beating analyst estimates, and insiders have sold over $36 million in stock in the last three months.

Marilyn Matz, a director at Teradyne, Inc. (NASDAQ:TER), sold 400 shares of common stock for a total of $140,000 on October 21, 2026, pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. This transaction leaves Ms. Matz with 12,640.675 shares. The sale comes amidst mixed sentiments for Teradyne, as the company recently reported strong Q2 results driven by AI and data-center demand, but also faced a downgrade to Neutral from Baird due to valuation concerns.

Vest Financial LLC significantly increased its stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 44,137 shares, bringing its total to 171,806 shares valued at approximately $11.0 million. This move comes as HPE reported strong quarterly earnings, beating estimates with $1.11 per share and achieving a 33.7% year-over-year revenue increase to $12.21 billion. Analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating for HPE, citing its growing focus on AI infrastructure and recent strategic collaborations, despite some divided opinions on its valuation following a strong stock performance.

E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB reduced its stake in Microchip Technology Incorporated by 13.3% during the third quarter, selling 44,200 shares to hold a total of 288,167 shares valued at $22.41 million. Other institutional investors also adjusted their positions in the semiconductor company. The article also details the company's financial performance, dividend announcement, and recent insider stock sale by CFO James Bjornholt.

Argus has raised its target price for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) to $289.00, up from its previous target. The report, published on October 21, 2026, highlights Paycom's role as a human capital management software-as-a-service provider offering solutions for payroll, talent acquisition, HR management, and time and labor. The current stock price for PAYC is $272.61.

Microchip Technology has expanded its L-Series of timing devices with the new LX-820 Radiation-Tolerant Quartz Oscillator, designed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and other space applications. This new oscillator provides satellite developers with a solution that combines performance and radiation tolerance with improved supply chain accessibility and reduced costs, addressing common challenges in the space industry. The LX-820 offers precise timing for critical satellite functions while meeting demanding environmental and operational requirements.