WSJ Tech News Briefing - podcast cover

WSJ Tech News Briefing

The Wall Street Journalwww.wsj.com
Tech News Briefing is your guide to what people in tech are talking about. Every weekday, we’ll bring you breaking tech news and scoops from the pros at the Wall Street Journal, insight into new innovations and policy debates, tips from our personal tech team, and exclusive interviews with movers and shakers in the industry.

Episodes

Trump’s Trade War With China Highlights Tech Vulnerabilities on Both Sides

Electric motors usually feature rare-earths metals to run. But WSJ tech columnist Christopher Mims writes about a new start up that excludes them, which could begin to help end the American auto industry’s reliance on China. Then, Chinese automakers are also reliant on US imports for critical chips to power their cars. WSJ deputy Beijing bureau chief Yoko Kubota explores how the trade war has shown both US and Chinese tech industry vulnerabilities to the long-running spat. Sign up for the WSJ's ...

May 07, 202513 min

TNB Tech Minute: AI Replaces Hundreds of Human Workers at IBM

Plus: DoorDash acquires Deliveroo for nearly $4 billion. And, the Department of Justice recommends Google sell two parts of its ad businesses to remedy antitrust concerns. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 06, 20253 min

To Starbase and Beyond: SpaceX Gets a Town of Its Own

For a few years, a section of land in southeast Texas has been dubbed Starbase. It's where SpaceX houses rocket production sites, launch facilities and employee housing. WSJ reporter Micah Maidenberg tells us what a weekend vote to greenlight the town’s official incorporation means for the future of SpaceX. Then: We’ll take you to Dubai, where Token2049 drew crypto industry celebrities and their followers, and ushered in “a new era of freedom” for the battered industry. Host Victoria Craig speak...

May 06, 202514 min

TNB Tech Minute: OpenAI Scraps For-Profit Plans

Plus: The European Union is looking to lure AI experts and scientists to its shores. And a C-suite shakeup at European satellite-systems company Eutelsat. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 05, 20253 min

AI Listening Devices: Handy Helpers or Legal Minefields?

Would you strap a device on your wrist that listens to your every word every day so it can send you relevant reminders and summarize your conversations? WSJ senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern did just that and shares her insights about the usefulness of such devices and the legal questions around their use. Plus: We get an update on the courtroom showdown between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission over whether the social-media company is operating a monopoly. WSJ reporter Dave Michae...

May 05, 202515 min

TNB Tech Minute: Temu Stops Shipping to U.S.

Plus: Ireland’s privacy watchdog fines TikTok over China surveillance risks. And Grand Theft Auto VI’s release is delayed until next year, sending shares of Take-Two Interactive lower. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 02, 20252 min

Fewer Perks, More Work. Tech Jobs Aren’t What They Used to Be

America’s tech industry has long been the envy of office workers everywhere thanks to its freewheeling, freebie-doling culture. But that’s starting to change. WSJ CIO Journal reporter Isabelle Bousquette explores how trends in tech are moving so fast that job titles are not only becoming more opaque and confusing, they’re going out of fashion faster than ever. Then, WSJ tech reporter Katherine Bindley tells us how management at many tech firms has shifted gears to focus less on fun and more on t...

May 02, 202513 min

TNB Tech Minute: Apple, Amazon Beat Sales Forecasts

Apple and Amazon post quarterly revenue results that beat Wall Street expectations. Plus: A WSJ exclusive story reveals Tesla’s board began searching for a successor to CEO Elon Musk. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 01, 20253 min

Could Microsoft Lose Out as the U.S. Tussles With Brussels?

Microsoft wants to grow its presence in the European Union, but the bloc worries that trade tensions with the U.S. could cause trouble down the line. WSJ reporter Edith Hancock reports from Brussels. Plus: Strain at Microsoft doesn’t end with geopolitics. A rift has been growing between its boss, Satya Nadella, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. WSJ reporter Keach Hagey has the inside scoop about what’s gone wrong. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

May 01, 202515 min

TNB Tech Minute: Meta, Microsoft Post Strong Revenue Growth

Microsoft and Meta unveil quarterly results that beat Wall Street expectations. Plus, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba takes the wraps off a super-fast delivery option. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 30, 20253 min

Meta’s Race to Popularize AI-Powered ‘Digital Companions’ Is Raising Concern

Facebook parent company Meta has been harnessing AI to power a range of chatbots it sees as the future of social media. But as WSJ technology reporter Jeff Horowitz reports, the rush to popularize the chatbots has raised red flags among some inside the company about the need to protect young users from explicit content. Victoria Craig hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 30, 202517 min

TNB Tech Minute: Amazon, White House Tangle Over Showing Tariff Fees

Plus: Spotify posts double-digit user growth and expects faster growth this year despite economic uncertainty. And: Starbucks sees early success reducing wait time thanks to new tech trials. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 20253 min

Small Tech Faces Tariffs Squeeze

Big tech companies got at least a brief reprieve from the Trump administration’s latest tariffs. But WSJ personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen explains how small tech companies and their customers could feel the squeeze. Plus, IBM has re-upped its commitment to U.S.-based manufacturing and development. Katie Deighton speaks with WSJ Heard on the Street columnist Asa Fitch about the economic challenges to IBM’s ambitions in AI. Victoria Craig hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newslette...

Apr 29, 202513 min

TNB Tech Minute: IBM Commits Billions to U.S. Operations

Plus: China’s Huawei hopes a new chip will replace the need for some Nvidia products. Then, China’s Pony AI robotaxi company moves closer to profitability. And DoorDash approaches Deliveroo about a possible takeover. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 28, 20253 min

How Do You Buy Shares in SpaceX? Ask Elon Musk’s Friends.

With a valuation of $350 billion, Elon Musk’s SpaceX remains a private company. WSJ reporter Corrie Driebusch explains how a tightknit circle of Musk allies control its shares, as well as those of the businessman’s other private companies. Plus, WSJ columnist Sumathi Reddy takes us through the painstaking decision of whether to buy her 11-year-old daughter a smartphone. Katie Deighton hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Apr 28, 202513 min

TNB Tech Minute: Digital Advertising Faces Tariff Hit

Plus: Google’s security chief heads to the investment sector. And Comcast continues to lose broadband and cable-TV customers. Katie Deighton hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 20252 min

Elon Musk Is Stepping Back From DOGE. Can He Really Stay Away?

Elon Musk says he’s going to spend less time in Washington and more time running Tesla. WSJ columnist and Musk-watcher Tim Higgins unpacks what that plan might look like in reality. Also, the WSJ’s Isabelle Bousquette takes us inside Johnson & Johnson, where employees have proven to be a little too enthusiastic in the artificial intelligence sandbox. Katie Deighton hosts. We want to hear from you! Our recent series “Chatbot Confidential” looked into privacy risks when using generative AI chatbot...

Apr 25, 202513 min

TNB Tech Minute: Alphabet Revenue Surges

Plus: Intel plans to cut management roles as its losses widen. And Huawei lobbyists are locked out of the European Commission. Katie Deighton hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 24, 20252 min

Quantum Communications Breakthrough Could Improve Online Security

Scientists have made a huge leap in a highly technical practice known as coherent quantum communications. The WSJ’s Aylin Woodward breaks down what that is and the effects it could have on everyday life. Plus, our Brussels-based reporter Kim Mackrael takes us through the trade implications of the European Union’s fines on Apple and Meta Platforms. Katie Deighton hosts. We want to hear from you! Our recent series “Chatbot Confidential” looked into privacy risks when using generative AI chatbots l...

Apr 24, 202514 min

TNB Tech Minute: Apple and Meta Slapped With EU Fines

Plus: Nvidia gets into the AI agents game. And SAP sees its stock climb as it dodges tariff hits—for now. Katie Deighton hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 23, 20252 min

Why Airbus’s Plans for a Green Jet Remain Grounded

Airbus’s bold bet on building a hydrogen-powered aircraft is unravelling, leading the plane maker to cut the project’s budget and reallocate staff. The WSJ’s Benjamin Katz explains what threw the mission off course. Plus, workplace reporter Ray A. Smith explores the brave new world of adjustable, circadian-tuned office lighting. Katie Deighton hosts. We want to hear from you! Our recent series “Chatbot Confidential” looked into privacy risks when using generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Clau...

Apr 23, 202513 min

TNB Tech Minute: Tesla Profit Slumps

Plus: Meta could see a $7 billion pullback from Chinese advertisers over tariffs, research firm says. And Verizon says it won’t cover any handset price increases due to tariffs. Katie Deighton hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22, 20252 min

Can Robots Make Sneakers? Just Ask Nike.

President Trump wants more products to be made in the U.S., pushing some companies toward robotics in a bid to avoid high labor costs. But WSJ reporter Jon Emont says Nike’s experience proves it isn’t always that simple. And, as more personal information appears online, personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen talks through the steps you can take to delete your data from the internet. Katie Deighton hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

Apr 22, 202513 min

TNB Tech Minute: Uber Sued Over Cancellation Practices

Plus: The Justice Department asks a federal judge to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser. And crypto firms swoop in on the banking world with applications for charters. Katie Deighton hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 21, 20253 min

AI and Nuclear Power and ‘Wizard of Oz,’ Oh My!

Google used artificial intelligence to re-imagine “The Wizard of Oz” for an immersive experience at the Las Vegas Sphere, and WSJ CIO Journal reporter Isabelle Bousquette got an exclusive look at the 21st century tweaks to the classic film. Plus, nuclear power is being tapped to run AI data centers, but WSJ reporter Belle Lin writes that AI could also help humans operate those same facilities. Victoria Craig hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choice...

Apr 21, 202512 min

TNB Tech Minute: Apple Knocked From Top Mobile Spot in China

Plus: The WSJ reports the EU delayed planned punishments for Apple and Meta as U.S. trade talks neared. And hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman discloses a nearly 20% stake in Hertz and floats expanding its Uber partnership. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 18, 20253 min

Could Google Be Forced to Break Up After District Judge’s Ruling?

A U.S. district judge ruled Google is too dominant in some parts of the online ad industry. WSJ business and legal affairs correspondent Jan Wolfe explains how that could result in Google being forced to sell off parts of its business. Then, at some big companies, artificial intelligence is designing ad campaigns with help from human beings, not the other way around. WSJ CMO Today reporter Patrick Coffee explains how marketers are leaning into AI-led strategies. Victoria Craig hosts. Sign up for...

Apr 18, 202514 min

TNB Tech Minute: Judge Rules Google Built Illegal Ad Monopoly

Plus: Taiwan’s TSMC says it hasn’t seen a change in customer behavior from U.S. tariffs so far. And Netflix posts higher revenue from ads and subscriptions, thanks in part to higher prices. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 17, 20253 min

Chipmakers Squeezed as Trump Ratchets Up China Trade Pressure

U.S. semiconductor companies Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices will contend with new export restrictions on specialized chips for China and other nations. WSJ reporter Asa Fitch explains how that will hit the companies’ future earnings. Then, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has tried many avenues to prevent the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case from going to trial. WSJ reporter Rebecca Ballhaus has an exclusive look at some of those efforts. Victoria Craig hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Tech...

Apr 17, 202512 min

TNB Tech Minute: Nvidia, AMD Drive Nasdaq Lower

Chipmakers’ shares tumble after the Trump administration confirms export controls on semiconductors designed for the Chinese market. Plus, Dutch chip-equipment maker ASML feels the pressure of tariffs. And Google faces a potential $6.6 billion antitrust lawsuit in the UK. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 16, 20252 min
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