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SOUTHWEST AIRLINES LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND U.S. AIRLINE PLUGIN IN CHATGPT

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Customers can discover Southwest destinations and plan flights in an experience powered by OpenAI and Amazon Web Services 

DALLAS, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today launched a first-of-its-kind U.S. airline plugin in ChatGPT, marking the first step in a phased AI-powered booking approach with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services (AWS) that allows travelers to discover and shop for Southwest flights in ChatGPT.

By launching the Southwest® plugin in ChatGPT, the airline can appear earlier in the Customer journey and offer a simpler, more direct path from inspiration and discovery to booking options with Southwest.

“Customers are evolving how they plan their travel, and Southwest is helping to shape what comes next,” said Sabrina Callahan, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at Southwest Airlines®. “It is a meaningful example of how we test and learn with AI innovation to continue the Customer-first approach that defines our brand.”

“We’re putting the right technology in place to support what our Customers need today with flexibility to build what they’ll need tomorrow,” said Lauren Woods, Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer at Southwest Airlines. “By creating a secure, scalable foundation for AI, we can add new capabilities more quickly and thoughtfully, making it easier to serve Customers across their journey.”

Southwest is working with OpenAI and AWS to combine leading AI and cloud technologies with Southwest’s deep understanding of its Customers. With OpenAI and AWS, Southwest is creating more intuitive travel planning while thoughtfully expanding AI-powered capabilities over time.

Learn more about the Southwest plugin in ChatGPT at Southwest.com/chatgpt.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world’s most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 120 airports across 12 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline¹. By empowering its more than 73,000². People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 134 million Customers carried in 2025. Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. 

1. Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey as of Q4 2025.
2. Fulltime-equivalent active Employees as of June 30, 2026.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to the Company’s expectations with respect to its digital evolution, technology capabilities, including artificial intelligence capabilities, and Customer needs and expectations. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current estimates, intentions, beliefs, expectations, goals, strategies, and projections for the future and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the impact of geopolitical conflicts, fears or actual outbreaks of diseases, extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, actions of competitors (including, without limitation, pricing, scheduling, capacity, and network decisions, and consolidation and alliance activities), governmental actions, consumer perception, consumer uncertainties with respect to trade policies, tariffs, or government shutdowns, economic conditions, fears or actual acts of terrorism or war, sociodemographic trends, and other factors beyond the Company’s control, on consumer behavior and the Company’s results of operations and business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (ii) the Company’s ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, operate, maintain, and protect the technology systems, cybersecurity measures, artificial intelligence and other emerging technology capabilities, and infrastructure necessary to support its operations and initiatives; (iii) the Company’s ability to effectively execute and evolve its strategic plans, initiatives, product offerings, and policies, including related consumer behavior and response; (iv) the impact of fuel price changes, fuel price volatility, and fuel availability on the Company’s business plans and results of operations; (v) the impact of the Federal Aviation Administration and other governmental regulations and actions, including with respect to government shutdowns and Air Traffic Control staffing shortages and inefficiencies, as well as the Company’s ability to obtain any required governmental approvals, on the Company’s business plans, results, and operations; (vi) the Company’s dependence on The Boeing Company (“Boeing”) and Boeing suppliers with respect to the Company’s aircraft deliveries, fleet and capacity plans, operations, maintenance, strategies, and goals; (vii) the Company’s dependence on other third parties, including with respect to technology, revenue management, distribution channels, operational reliability, fuel supply, maintenance, and the impact on the Company’s operations and results of operations of any third-party delays or nonperformance; (viii) the impact of labor matters on the Company’s business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (ix) the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain adequate infrastructure and equipment to support its operations and initiatives; (x) the Company’s dependence on its workforce, including its ability to employ and retain sufficient numbers of qualified Employees with appropriate skills and expertise to effectively and efficiently maintain its operations and execute the Company’s plans; (xi) the cost and effects of the actions of activist shareholders; and (xii) other factors, as described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.

 

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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

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Real Time Automation Announces New 435NBX-S2E Gateway with Expanded ASCII to Allen-Bradley PLC Connectivity

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October 7, 2026

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PEWAUKEE, Wis., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Real Time Automation, Inc. (RTA), today announces its release of the new 435NBX-S2E hardware module, a single serial ASCII and single Ethernet port protocol gateway that directly communicates to Allen-Bradley PLCs including CompactLogix, ControlLogix, FlexLogix, MicroLogix, SLC 5/05, PLC-5E, Micro820, Micro850 and Micro870 PLCs.

“Integrators can jump straight in with the familiar 435NBX configuration workflow they already trust, moving raw ASCII data from a scanner, scale, printer or RFID reader straight into the PLC with minimal PLC code,” said John Rinaldi, RTA CEO. “What’s new under the hood is native Micro800 support and automatic PLC discovery built right into the browser configuration page, so you can find your controller, map your data and walk away without extra hardware.”

Key Benefits:

Saves Engineering Time: Built-in PLC discovery and zero required ladder logic (no MSG instructions, no EDS/AOP configuration) cut commissioning from hours of custom coding to a five-minute browser setup.

Reduces Hardware & BOM Costs: Native Micro800 support eliminates the need for external serial plug-in modules, extra protocol converters or paying for unused secondary ports.

Eliminates Training Curves: By utilizing the identical tag-handshake architecture field engineers already know, existing standard code templates remain completely intact with zero retraining required.

What’s New:

Micro800 Support: Manufacturers can leverage serial ASCII data in small-scale applications without having to write tedious custom messaging logic or buying expensive, complex communication cards.

Cost-Effective Design: A streamlined hardware footprint and single-port design offer a cost-effective option for high volume and OEM customers.

Automatic PLC Discovery: Automatically discover networked Allen-Bradley PLCs using the built-in browser-based configuration page, eliminating the need for engineers to know the IP address of their PLCs or purchase any extra hardware that would enable discovery.

Trusted ASCII Functionality

The S2E carries the same 435NBX functionality that controls engineers, integrators and OEMs already trust onto a new hardware platform that expands functionality while keeping core ASCII string manipulation unchanged. The 435NBX provides:

Full serial ASCII handling on RS-232 and RS-485

Flexible message parsing by character length, bus idle time or custom delimiters

Configurable leading and trailing delimiters for outbound strings

Simple browser-based web interface that matches the classic 435NBX workflow

Availability

The 435NBX-S2E is now RTA’s standard single-port ASCII gateway, succeeding the 435NBX-NNA1 which has officially transitioned to end-of-sale status. The 435NBX-S2E is available to order immediately.

About Real Time Automation

Real Time Automation (RTA) builds industrial connectivity products that move machine data between serial devices, PLCs, networks, historians, and higher-level systems. Founded in 1989 and based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, RTA supplies protocol gateways, edge historians, and embedded connectivity source code used by system integrators, OEMs, and manufacturers.

Products are configured in a browser, ship from stock, carry a five-year warranty and have no licenses or subscriptions. Support is from RTA engineers in the United States.

For more information about the 435NBX serial ASCII to Allen-Bradley PLC gateway, visit: https://www.rtautomation.com/product/435nbx/, call us at 800-249-1612 or email us at solutions@rtautomation.com.

Media Contact:
Valerie Harding
PR for RTA, Ripple Effect Communications
Tel: 617-536-8887
Email: Valerie@RippleEffectPR.com

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Fast Company Honors World-First Fleet-Capable Downward Drilling Robot; DEWALT Is the Only Tool Manufacturer Recognized in 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards Program

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October 7, 2026

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DALE™, developed in collaboration with global mobile robotics leader August Robotics, honored among 1,000 applicants across more than 30 categoriesThe groundbreaking robot was recognized for redefining data center construction by delivering concrete drilling with unmatched speed, safety, and efficiency to the world’s hyperscalersDALE drills at speeds up to 10 times faster than traditional methods, reduced project timelines by more than 300 weeks across 44 data center construction phases, and achieved over 99% accuracy drilling more than 385,000 holes

TOWSON, Md., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand renowned for relentless innovation on the jobsite, today announced that the world’s first fleet-capable, downward drilling robot, DALE™, has been named a winner in Fast Company’s 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards. The awards recognize innovative technologies developed by established companies, startups, and research teams that are making meaningful progress toward transforming the lives of consumers, businesses, and society. This year’s innovations demonstrate the potential to create significant impact in the years ahead.

As the only tool manufacturer represented in the program, DALE was recognized in the “Enduring Impact: 15+ Years in Business” category honoring companies with an established track record of navigating history, culture, and evolving product lines to continue driving tomorrow’s progress.

After earning strong industry attention at World of Concrete earlier this year, the robot has entered the market as a breakthrough solution optimized for data center construction. As data center development accelerates at an unprecedented pace, rapid execution has become a key advantage for hyperscalers working to bring new computing capacity online. Designed to dramatically improve how concrete drilling is performed, DALE brings a new level of speed, safety, and operational efficiency to the jobsite. Its arrival marks a major step forward for the industry, raising the bar for innovation at a time when faster, smarter building methods are more critical than ever.

“It is incredibly meaningful to see this work acknowledged by Fast Company,” said Bill Beck, President, Tools & Outdoor, Stanley Black & Decker. “Our teams set out to address a major challenge facing large scale infrastructure projects: how to help crews move faster without compromising consistency, safety, or control. This recognition reflects the strength of that effort and the value of bringing advanced automation to one of the most demanding construction environments. Working alongside August Robotics, we have introduced innovation that helps customers increase output, simplify execution, and better support the pace of modern building.”

During the pilot program, the downward drilling robot achieved drilling speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional methods, helped reduce schedules by more than 300 weeks across 44 phases of data center construction, and delivered over 99% accuracy across more than 385,000 holes. With fast-swap batteries and remote monitoring, DALE™ is built to maximize uptime and support continuous drilling operations. Features such as automatic dust extraction and AI-driven quality assurance help leave sites clean and ready for immediate MEP installation, accelerating downstream work. Built on August Robotics’ advanced autonomous, fleet-ready platform, DALE™ provides efficient, high-volume drilling for server rack stops and MEP supports, while strengthening DEWALT’s broader data center offering alongside its PERFORM AND PROTECT™ tools and ICC anchoring solutions.

Over 1,000 applicants across more than 30 categories participated in the Fast Company 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards. To learn more about this year’s honorees visit: https://www.fastcompany.com/next-big-things-in-tech/list.

To learn more about the robot and DEWALT’s industry-leading solutions for jobsite professionals, visit www.dewalt.com.

For information on August Robotics and its autonomous mobile robotics solutions for construction, visit www.augustrobotics.com.

About DEWALT
DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, celebrates 100 years in business by continuing to provide our customers with total jobsite and outdoor solutions. By applying its latest technology to the challenges of today’s skilled trades, DEWALT is leading the charge for the jobsite of the future and is pioneering the next generation of tools, outdoor equipment and forward-looking technologies. DEWALT products. GUARANTEED TOUGH®. For more information, visit www.dewalt.com or follow DEWALT on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About Stanley Black & Decker
Founded in 1843 and headquartered in the USA, Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) is a worldwide leader in Tools and Outdoor, operating manufacturing facilities globally. The Company’s approximately 41,000 employees produce innovative end-user inspired power tools, hand tools, storage, digital jobsite solutions, outdoor and lifestyle products, and engineered fasteners to support the world’s builders, tradespeople and DIYers. The Company’s world class portfolio of trusted brands includes DEWALT®, CRAFTSMAN®, STANLEY®, BLACK+DECKER®, and Cub Cadet®. To learn more visit: www.stanleyblackanddecker.com or follow Stanley Black & Decker on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

About August Robotics
August Robotics is a leading international mobile robotics company that builds robots to improve lives and boost productivity by automating dirty, dangerous and dull jobs. Founded in 2017, August Robotics has expanded worldwide and partners with market leaders to develop new robotic applications across industries including construction, commercial and industrial fit-outs, and exhibitions. For more information, visit www.augustrobotics.com, or follow August Robotics on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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Vidu Launches Q4 Preview, Making Flagship AI Video Creation Accessible to Everyone

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October 7, 2026

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SINGAPORE, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vidu today launched Q4 Preview, the first public preview of its next-generation flagship model for expressive audio and video. The model delivers improvements in character performance, camera work and visual effects. With launch pricing starting at $0.014/sec, Vidu Q4 Preview brings flagship AI video generation within reach of a broader creative community, opening new possibilities for visual storytelling.

Vidu Q4 Preview supports up to 15 image references, up to 3 audio references, and 2K or 4K output with 10-bit color depth. It is designed for independent creators, small studios and production teams working across narrative and commercial projects.

A production-ready shot often takes more than one attempt. Creators may need to refine a character’s expression, compare camera angles or test different openings before a scene works. Vidu Q4 Preview makes that process more affordable.

“Advanced video models should prove themselves beyond carefully selected demos. Every improvement in efficiency should ultimately give creators the freedom to try one more shot or make one more version,” said Yihang Luo, co-founder and CEO of Shengshu Technology.

Authentic Acting. Perfectly in Character.

Vidu Q4 Preview is designed to better coordinate facial expression, emotion, body movement and voice. From a quiet glance to a full-scale action sequence, the model aims to make performances feel more natural and give characters greater emotional range.

The model’s performance and reference capabilities include:

Character performance: More nuanced expressions, clearer emotions, and more natural movement.Voices that stay in character: Up to 3 reference audio clips to guide voice consistency and emotional delivery.Multi-image reference: Up to 15 reference images to define characters, wardrobe, props, products and environments within one creative setup.

These reference capabilities help creators keep visual and vocal choices aligned across a scene. For narrative shorts, that means more deliberate control over how a scene is staged and how its characters perform.

Cinematic Storytelling. Electrifying VFX.

Vidu Q4 Preview improves coordination between camera movements, cuts and on-screen action. In chase scenes, fights and other dynamic sequences, camera work is designed to follow the action more coherently, while explosions, fireworks, particles and other effects fit more naturally into the surrounding scene.

Key improvements include:

Impactful VFX: Explosions, fireworks, particles, and more—with striking visual impact.Masterful camera control: More coherent cuts and dynamic camera movements in complex action sequences.Premium visual quality: 2K and 4K support, with improvements in lighting and aesthetics.

With multiple output resolutions, including 2K and 4K, Vidu Q4 Preview supports different stages of production, from early creative tests to high-resolution delivery.

More takes. Better shots.

Launch pricing starts at $0.014/sec, with output options spanning 540p, 720p, 1080p, 2K and 4K. Vidu Q4 Preview enables up to five times as much output for the same budget under comparable output specifications and billing conditions.

For independent creators and small studios, lower iteration costs can mean more opportunities to develop an idea beyond its first attempt. Advertising teams can compare creative concepts and opening sequences; e-commerce teams can develop variations for different products and audiences; and filmmakers can test character performances, storyboards and pacing before moving further into production.

Built with creators, from Day One.

Vidu is releasing Q4 Preview ahead of the full Q4 model, so creators can use it in real creative projects and help shape the final release. Feedback on performance, creative control and everyday production needs will help inform further improvements.

Vidu Q4 Preview reflects Shengshu Technology’s commitment to helping more creators explore ideas, refine their work and bring their stories to life.

Vidu Q4 Preview is now available through Vidu’s web product and API platform. Launch promotional pricing starts at $0.014/sec. Final pricing, supported resolutions, feature availability and usage terms may vary by plan and region. Full pricing details and promotional terms are available on the official Vidu website.

About Shengshu Technology

Shengshu Technology is an AI company developing world models that bridge the digital and physical worlds, with research spanning video generation and embodied intelligence. Its Vidu AI video generation platform helps creators turn text, images and audio references into videos for storytelling and commercial content production, with tools for guiding character performance, camera movement and visual effects. For more information, visit Shengshu Technology official website.

 

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SOURCE ShengShu Technology

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