WSJ Tech News Briefing
TNB Tech Minute: Microsoft Plans to Invest $10 Billion on Japan’s AI Infrastructure
03 Apr 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Here's your morning TNB Tech Minute for Friday, April 3rd. I'm Danny Lewis for The Wall Street Journal.
Chapter 2: What are Microsoft’s plans for investing in Japan's AI infrastructure?
Microsoft says it plans to invest $10 billion in Japan to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity initiatives. The tech giant says it will invest the money over the next four years and will partner with Internet service providers, including SoftBank and Sakura Internet, to support the development of domestic large language models and other applications.
Microsoft says it will also strengthen its ties with Japan's cybersecurity office to help the government and businesses detect cyberattacks early or preempt them.
Chapter 3: How is Amazon's new fuel surcharge affecting independent sellers?
As the Iran war enters its second month, Amazon is imposing a 3.5% fuel surcharge on independent merchants who use its warehouses and delivery systems to store inventory and ship orders. Starting April 17th, the temporary fee will apply to U.S. and Canadian sellers using the e-commerce giant's Fulfillment by Amazon option.
Chapter 4: What are the implications of the fuel surcharge for consumers?
Sellers using the Buy With Prime and multi-channel fulfillment services will see the surcharge starting May 2nd. An Amazon spokeswoman says the company has so far absorbed higher fuel and logistics costs stemming from the war, but needs to implement the surcharge in order to recover some of its costs. How much of these costs are then passed on to consumers is up to the sellers.
Amazon didn't provide a time frame for when the fuel surcharge would end.
Chapter 5: How is U.S. venture fundraising changing in 2023?
And after a multi-year decline, U.S. venture fundraising began to strengthen in the first quarter, but most of the capital went to a handful of large firms.
According to market data firm PitchBook, venture funds raised about $47.8 billion this year through March. That's a significant recovery from 2025, when venture funds collected just $66.7 billion for the entire year.
But so far this year, established firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Thrive Capital have raised the vast majority of this quarter's funds, widening the gap between the top of the market and the rest.
Chapter 6: What trends are emerging in venture capital investment this year?
PitchBook's director of U.S. venture research says institutional limited partners are being pushed to focus on proven fund managers as they deal with shifting regulations, geopolitical tensions, and over-allocation to venture capital. And that's your TNB Tech Minute. We'll be back this afternoon with more.