OpenAI releases ChatGPT search engine | Microsoft builds data centers with engineered timber 

• Meanwhile, OpenAI on Thursday unveiled a ChatGPT search engine, directly competing with Microsoft Bing and Google’s core search business. Read more.

• Microsoft’s shares were down more than 5% in trading Thursday morning, due to weaker-than-expected guidance for its second fiscal quarter. Demand for AI helped the company beat expectations in its earnings report Wednesday afternoon. Read more.

More earnings news:

• Amazon’s cloud business growth and retail segment margins are in the spotlight for its third quarter earnings report — read our preview, and check GeekWire.com later today for updates. 

• Remitly stock spiked after the Seattle-based digital remittance company reported its first profitable quarter. 

Bringing order to mobile orders: On his first earnings call with analysts, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol laid out a plan to help the coffee giant improve the mobile ordering experience. Read more.

Microsoft is building two data centers with engineered timber products that reduce the amount of steel and concrete, helping the company curb its carbon footprint. Read more.

Home-inspection services startup Inspectify raised $5.3 million to grow its platform for real estate brokerages, property managers, insurance carriers, and others. Read more.

Seattle-area startup Starfish Space won another contract for work relating to its Otter spacecraft, which is designed to inspect and hook up with other satellites in orbit. Read more.

Rover is getting its paws on another pet-sitting marketplace with the acquisition of Cat in a Flat, a cat care community that will help fuel Rover’s growth across Europe. Read more.

Hot Links:

• Scoot to the polls: Lime and Bird are offering free scooter and e-bike rides to incentivize people to get their election ballots dropped off on time. (SDOT via X)

• Nintendo created a music app that lets Switch Online users listen to classic gaming tunes spanning the last few decades. (The Verge) 

• Carbon removal startup Myno Carbon received a $20.4 million grant to build a first-of-its-kind facility in Port Angeles, Wash., to turn waste into biochar. (Myno Carbon)

• Fuel cost savings from switching to electric vehicles is estimated to be greater in areas with higher numbers of Republican voters than in areas with more Democrats. (Coltura)