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Hertz Rental Car
(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Hertz’s AI damage scanner appears to be charging customers big bucks for minor dings

In April, Hertz said it would roll out more than 100 AI-powered rental vehicle scanners by the end of this year.

When Hertz announced back in April that it was partnering with AI startup UVeye to install more than 100 AI-powered damage scanning systems at its US airport locations this year, many customers reacted skeptically. An “MRI for cars”? What could go wrong?

Now, we’re beginning to get the answer.

According to some renters interviewed by auto newsletter The Drive and others posting on Reddit, the AI tech rollout has resulted in hefty charges for minor damages that a human employee likely wouldn’t bother charging for.

One customer said they were charged $440 for a one-inch scuff on a wheel, broken down as $250 for damages, $125 for processing, and a $65 administrative fee. On Reddit, another post says that a barely-visible ding led to a $195 charge. Whether these minor damages were actually caused by the renters in question appears to be up to the AI to deduce.

Posts from the hertzrentals
community on Reddit

The Drive reports that customers with questions or concerns about AI-discovered damages have to first bring those concerns to the company’s AI chatbot, which doesn’t allow a human agent to enter the chat.

UVeye’s damage discovery tool sure seems like it could be a big moneymaker for Hertz, which posted a loss of $2.9 billion last year. The rental company reported its sixth consecutive losing quarter last month, shedding another $443 million.

Hertz’s rental rivals, including Avis and Enterprise, are also reportedly weighing AI inspection tech.

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Starbucks issues apology after viral “Bearista” cup meltdown

Holiday cheer turned into chaos this week for Starbucks after the coffee giant’s new “Bearista” holiday cup sent fans into a frenzy. 

Dropped alongside its 2025 holiday menu, the $30 beanie-wearing glass bear tumbler sparked long lines, sellouts, and even in-store scuffles before Starbucks stepped in with an apology.

“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations,” the company said in a statement to People. “Despite shipping more Bearista cups to our coffeehouses than almost any other item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast.”

Within hours of launch, frustrated fans flooded Starbucks’ social media pages and even store hotlines. Some customers waited in line before dawn and others said their stores received only a handful of cups. In one Houston location, the craze even turned physical, with police reportedly called to break up a brawl. Meanwhile, the cup is already reselling on sites like eBay, with listings topping $600.

“We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused,” Starbucks said. While in-store customers may be upset, investors seem happy about the viral hit, as the stock has risen over 3% on Friday.

If you’re still hoping for a Bearista at market price, that may not be on order: the chain didn’t disclose how many cups were made or whether a restock is planned.

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Target tells workers to smile, wave, and greet shoppers if they come within 10 feet of them

Target just rolled out a new rule for store employees: smile, make eye contact, and greet or wave when a shopper comes within 10 feet — and if they get closer, within four feet, ask whether they need help or how their day is going, according to a new Bloomberg report.

Dubbed the 10-4 program internally, the rule mirrors rival Walmarts own 10-foot policy, formalizing behavior Target had previously only encouraged.

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Monster surges on energy drink buzz, while Celsius sinks on distribution concerns

Shares of Monster Beverage climbed 5% after the bell on Thursday, and held most of those gains into early trading on Friday, following strong Q3 results.

The energy drink giant topped market expectations, with quarterly sales up 17% year over year to $2.2 billion and adjusted net profits growing 41% to $524.5 million — 11% ahead of Wall Street’s estimates. In the report, Monster highlighted its zero-sugar line and new product launches, with a stack of novel flavors already released this year, as bright spots.

During a call with analysts, Chief Executive Hilton Schlosberg said that the global energy drink category “remains healthy with robust growth,” The Wall Street Journal reported, adding that demand for more affordable caffeinated drinks is rising as coffee has become “really expensive.”

Meanwhile, rival beverage business Celsius saw shares fall as much as 23% on its Q3 results yesterday — despite beating expectations, with revenue jumping 173% — largely due to concerns about a change in the company’s distribution channel, as its newly acquired Alani Nu brand joins the PepsiCo distribution network.

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