Toymaker Hasbro and scientists at Brown University have received a three-year, $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to find ways to add artificial intelligence to Hasbro’s ‘‘Joy for All’’ robotic cat. The cat, which has been on the market for two years, is aimed at seniors and meant to act as a ‘’companion.’’ The project is aimed at developing additional capabilities for the cats to help older adults with simple tasks. 

Hamburger chain Jack in the Box announced months ago that it was considering strategic options for Qdoba, including a possible sale. The company acquired Qdoba in 2003 when it had only 85 locations in 15 states and $65 million in sales. Jack in the Box grew Qdoba into a national brand with 700 restaurants in 47 states and 2017 fiscal-year sales of more than $820 million. But Qdoba has stumbled in recent quarters.

One of the key brand pillars for Chick-fil-A has been a faith-based refusal to open its doors on Sundays because it’s the Christian Sabbath. But in a spirit of altruism and lending a helping hand at a trying time of year, Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy opened on Sunday to come to the aid of travelers who were stuck by the power outage at Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport. Atlanta-headquartered Chick-fil-A served about 2,000 meals to passengers.

Tesla has another new high-profile customer, UPS, which has placed the largest order yet for Tesla Semi advance reservations. The shipping giant pre-ordered 125 Tesla Semi trucks, besting PepsiCo’s 100-vehicle order from last week. UPS has a fleet of around 8,500 alternative fuel vehicles already in service around the world and has made a commitment to reduce its overall greenhouse gas emissions footprint by 12% by 2025.

Three-time NBA champ Dwayne Wade and WNBA champ Candace Parker have been enlisted to serve as ambassadors for a global first-of-its-kind youth basketball tournament. The NBA will reach more than 26 million youth in 71 countries through a variety of camps, clinics, skills challenges, league play and outreach events. The league aims to develop a lifelong passion for the game of basketball in boys and girls ages 6-14.

Campbell Soup Company is acquiring Snyder’s-Lance for nearly $5 billion, and the Hershey Company is buying Amplify Snack Brands in a deal valued at about $1.6 billion. Snyder’s-Lance is home to Snyder’s of Hanover, Lance, Kettle, Cape Cod, Pop Secret, and Late July. Amplify, meanwhile, is the company behind the likes of Skinny Pop, Tyrrells, Oatmega, and Paqui. More than 90% of Americans snack every day.

Lindt & Sprüngli AG is extending its promotional partnership with 19-time tennis Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer, who has served as a Lindt brand ambassador since 2009. Lindt executives say the partnership strategically enhances its brand awareness globally and helps gain footholds in emerging markets.

Ford and Alibaba, who are teaming up on a venture to enter China’s electric vehicle market, plan to open two fully automated vending-machine stores in January in Shanghai and Nanjing. The entire transaction can be handled online, without any human interaction. First, when a consumer sees a car they like on the street, they take a picture of it using the Taobao app. To schedule a test drive, they add their vital info and snap a selfie.

A one-time banker who led investors to put growth capital into Annie’s Homegrown in 1999, John Foraker became CEO of Annie’s Inc. in 2004 then took the company public in 2012, before its 2014 sale to General Mills. Well respected in the organic industry, Foraker announced in September he was returning to his entrepreneurial roots as CEO of Once Upon a Farm, a 2-year-old organic baby food company he’d invested in at its inception.

Chevrolet unveiled its new 2019 Silverado pickup and the brand’s talk is all about steel — whether it’s the truck’s steely-eyed front-end appearance or the metal that lines its bed. Chevy, which has previously attacked the Ford F-150’s truck bed in comparison ads, touts that the ’19 Silverado’s use of “a higher-grade (steel) alloy is used in the roll-formed, high-strength-steel bed floor, contributing to a bed that is more functional and lighter weight.”