FRANKFURT/LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Investor concerns over the potential threat posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the business models of internet and software companies eased somewhat on Thursday. The reason was a report by "The Information," an online publication specializing in the tech sector, stating that AI-focused software company OpenAI is scaling back its plans to introduce a shopping feature directly into its ChatGPT chatbot.
As a result, shares of online fashion retailer Zalando rose by 3.6 percent at the close of trading in Frankfurt, topping the otherwise weak German benchmark index Dax. SAP shares were also in demand, gaining 2.2 percent.
Further down the stock listings, Delivery Hero climbed 1.2 percent and Hellofresh surged 4.6 percent. The report also had a positive impact on the media sector, which has also been shaken by AI concerns; in London, for example, WPP shares jumped 6 percent.
Analyst Marcus Diebel of US bank JPMorgan described the news as mildly positive. However, he remains cautious for now. The expert still sees potential for structurally higher investment levels in the future. The sector, he noted, remains vulnerable to negative news related to AI./la/jha/
