WSJ Tech News Briefing
TNB Tech Minute: Microsoft Makes New Pledges Benefiting Communities Hosting Data-Centers
13 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Thank you.
Here's your morning TNB Tech Minute for Tuesday, January 13th. I'm Julie Chang for The Wall Street Journal. Microsoft has made new pledges that would benefit the communities hosting its massive data centers for training AI models. The company has committed to paying high enough electricity rates to cover the electricity costs of its data centers so they aren't passed on to consumers.
Microsoft has also committed to replenishing more water than it withdraws locally and paying the full property tax rate. The plan confirms a social media post from President Trump yesterday. The pledges are the latest attempt by the tech sector to win public support for unpopular infrastructure that many voters fear will increase electricity prices.
Chapter 2: What are Microsoft's new pledges for communities hosting data centers?
JPMorgan Chase reported that the bank's profit fell in the fourth quarter of 2025. Last week, JPMorgan said it would be acquiring the Apple credit card program from Goldman Sachs. The move dragged down the quarter's results as it led JPMorgan to take an extra $2.2 billion charge for potential future loan losses on the roughly $20 billion in balances.
The bank's fourth quarter 2025 profit decreased by 7% to $13 billion. Revenue increased by 7% to $45.8 billion, both missing estimates. And Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is planning a significant expansion in Arizona as part of a potential trade agreement between the U.S. and Taiwan. People familiar with the matter say under the new deal, the U.S.
would lower tariffs on goods coming from Taiwan from the current 20% rate, while Taiwan would agree to more than $300 billion in foreign direct investment and other spending in the U.S. With the new pledge, TSMC would build several new fabs in Arizona, which would bring its total footprint there to roughly a dozen plants. That's your TNB Tech Minute. Join us again this afternoon for more.