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Hegseth plans to eliminate roughly 160 general and admiral posts while creating a command focused on AI-powered drones and robotics, as regulators investigate OpenAI and Anthropic over consumer risks.

Meanwhile, second-quarter growth is revised sharply higher, inflation cools to 3.4%, and Paramount’s $111 billion Warner Bros. takeover gets final approval.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the military will cut 20% of its generals and admirals by Jan. 1, 2027, across roughly 800 posts. That doubles the 10% reduction he ordered last spring for flag and general officer positions across every branch of the military. At Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, he also unveiled a new Autonomous Warfare Command to speed up buying AI-powered drones and robotics.

He called the cuts "accountability and long overdue" and invited states to pitch for what he called the next great American military base. The overhaul comes as the US military remains seven months into a war with Iran, with no clear end in sight.

The Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into OpenAI, Anthropic and other AI developers over dangers their technology may pose to consumers. Separately, Sen. Josh Hawley said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declined to testify at Wednesday's Senate subcommittee hearing on the risks of rogue AI.

OpenAI said Altman received the invitation only five days before the hearing, while the New York Post reported the FTC probe has run for months. AI companies have recently disclosed examples of their agents going beyond human instructions, finding their way onto the internet and hacking external websites.

The US economy grew at a 2.2% pace from April through June, well above the Commerce Department's earlier 1.5% estimate, on strong consumer spending. Meanwhile, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge rose 3.4% in August from a year earlier, below the 3.7% economists expected, with core prices up 3%.

Stocks bounced on the cooler inflation news, then slipped as the strong growth data kept bond yields high, with the Dow shedding 443.87 points. Prices still remain above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, keeping the cost of living in focus just over a month before the midterm elections.

At least 52 civilians were killed during three days of heavy fighting around Alamata in Ethiopia's Tigray region, hospital sources said, as government troops eyed a push toward Mekelle.

About a thousand protesters are camped in Madrid over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home of seven decades, pressuring Spain's government ahead of Friday's housing vote.

Britain scrapped its "one in, one out" migrant deal with France after around 1,500 people were removed in over a year, though the Home Office says return flights will continue.

Tennessee's execution of Christa Pike was halted just over an hour before it was due, after Sixth Circuit judges said they needed more time to weigh arguments in her case.

Tropical Pacific moisture soaked the central US, dropping up to 2 inches of rain from Colorado to Iowa, as new Hurricane Rachel spun far offshore, posing no threat.

The Trump administration is weighing cuts to the border project in Big Bend, a plan for the Texas national park that has drawn bipartisan opposition, as a construction pause ends.

Micron blew past Wall Street's estimates, reporting fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $54.23 billion against $51.07 billion expected, as the memory maker rode soaring demand for the chips powering artificial intelligence.

Meta shares wrapped their best month since 2022, closing Wednesday at $725.18 per share, a 27% jump from August's close as investors cheered the company's momentum in artificial intelligence.

DoorDash is pushing deeper into fashion, partnering with Macy's, Anthropologie and Vans for orders in as little as an hour, with a $7.99 return service going nationwide in November.

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Google unveiled Gemini 4 Argon on Wednesday, calling it its most advanced model, touting record software engineering scores and giving trusted cybersecurity partners first access in a phased rollout.

Isle Royale's relocated wolves should survive, according to a new study giving the population better than an 80% chance of lasting 20 years, despite inbreeding and growing isolation.

WhatsApp is rolling out parental controls for teens, letting parents set privacy options, though messages stay encrypted and one analyst called the optional setup an "obvious weakness."

Manchester City's punishment could include expulsion after an independent commission found the club guilty of breaking Premier League financial rules for nearly a decade, a verdict City has rejected.

Cristiano Ronaldo walked out of Portugal's camp shortly after coach Jorge Jesus said he would not start the 41-year-old against Denmark, promising to explain his reasons in due course.

Green Bay receiver Jayden Reed's season is over, with coach Matt LaFleur confirming neck surgery for the Week 2 injury, though it is not expected to end his career.

David Fincher isn't renewing his Netflix deal after six years with the streamer, though the "Fight Club" director isn't signing elsewhere, leaving room for future Netflix projects.

Lady A singer Charles Kelley has cancer, as the 45-year-old co-founder of the country trio behind "Need You Now" and "American Honey" revealed a blood cancer diagnosis.

"24 Jump Street" finally has a date, with Sony slating the comedy sequel for Dec. 10, 2027, a month after Hugh Jackman's "Treasure Island" remake opens Nov. 11.

What it is: A federal judge approved Paramount's settlement with 12 state attorneys general, removing the last barrier to its $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, the priciest takeover in Hollywood history. Paramount has tentatively set Tuesday, Oct. 6, to formally close the deal, which regulators in 68 jurisdictions worldwide, including the Justice Department, had already signed off on.

The detail: The combined company must release at least 30 theatrical movies in its first two years, spend an extra $300 million yearly on US film production, and keep 45-day theatrical windows. It also cannot sell the Paramount or Warner Bros. lots in California for five years, and a news editorial independence board will set guiding principles for CNN and CBS News.

Paramount also tapped Mattel's Ynon Kreiz as co-CEO alongside David Ellison, while Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav is expected to exit with more than $550 million.

Why it matters: The merger puts HBO Max, Paramount+, CBS, CNN, TBS and Food Network, plus franchises from Harry Potter and the DC Universe to "Yellowstone" and "Top Gun," under one roof. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong had pushed for spinning off CNN and CBS News, and the judge noted "meaningful grounds for disappointment" while still approving the settlement.

What to watch: Look for the Oct. 6 closing, the still-unrevealed company name, and how HBO chief Casey Bloys reshapes the merged streaming business after Paramount+ head Cindy Holland's exit. Ownership will draw scrutiny too, since sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will hold 38.5%, with Larry Ellison personally guaranteeing $46.7 billion in equity.

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A shark cruised down a flooded New Jersey street during a nor'easter on Long Beach Island, before a shark expert identified the uninvited visitor as a smooth dogfish.

A hungry bear crashed Aspen's Saturday Market, helping itself to fresh-baked bread at the Louis Swiss booth during setup before Aspen police hazed it and a wildlife officer rushed over.

A Maryland Lottery player won $50,000 by playing his old Queens zip code, 11694, in a Pick 5 drawing, proof that some addresses keep paying off long after you move.

That’s today in five minutes. See you tomorrow morning for everything worth knowing.

—The Five Minute Daily Team