WSJ Tech News Briefing

Why Harvard Is Trying to Smooth Things Over with Silicon Valley

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Elite universities have struggled with how to respond to the October 7 attacks on Israel. Critics say schools didn’t move quickly or forcefully enou...

TNB Tech Minute: Chip Maker TSMC Faces New Delays at Arizona Site

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Germany’s new car market fell dramatically in December, led by a dropoff in EV sales. And the European Union’s competition watchdog plans to...

What Shein’s Cybersecurity Probe Means for Its IPO Dreams

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

China’s powerful internet regulator has opened a cybersecurity review of fashion giant Shein. Though the company is based in Singapore and doesn’t...

TNB Tech Minute: Apple Loses Attempt to Delay Smartwatch Ban

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Software developers are outraged at Apple’s new App Store payment policies. And Hyundai Motor sells a factory in China. Alex Ossola hosts.  ...

Coinbase Faces Its First Big Legal Test

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After a series of high-profile meltdowns at FTX and Binance, crypto exchange Coinbase is one of the last big digital-asset companies standing. Not jus...

TNB Tech Minute: The Supreme Court Turns Down Apple’s Appeal

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Uber is shutting down alcohol-delivery service Drizly. And Synopsys agrees to acquire Ansys in a $35 billion cash-and-stock deal. Alex Ossola ho...

In Factories, Robots Struggle to Do What Humans Do

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You've heard it before: Robots are coming for our jobs. But are they really? It turns out that robots aren’t as common in U.S. factories as you migh...

TNB Tech Minute: Tesla Halts Production in Europe After Shipping Delays

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Crypto brokerage firm Genesis Global Trading has agreed to pay $8 million to settle with New York financial regulator. And customers of financia...

The CES Gadgets Worth Knowing About

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CES, the annual electronics trade show, comes to a close today. There were thousands of vendors—Google, GE and LG among them—showing off the lates...

TNB Tech Minute: Microsoft Briefly Dethrones Apple

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: EBay agrees to pay a $3 million criminal penalty after harassment of two critical bloggers. And Amazon missed a deadline to offer remedies to th...

A Biotech Startup Betting on a New Kind of Genetic Medicine

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Biotech startup Moonwalk Biosciences has been operating quietly since 2022. It recently raised $57 million in venture capital. It’s one of a handful...

TNB Tech Minute: Amazon Lays Off Hundreds at Prime and Twitch

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: SEC okays bitcoin ETFs for mainstream investors. German software company SAP will pay over $220 million to settle foreign bribery charges. Alex ...

Chinese Customers Don’t Want Nvidia’s Lower-Powered Chips

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After U.S. regulations barred Nvidia from selling its most advanced semiconductors in China, engineers at Nvidia quickly pivoted to making lower-power...

TNB Tech Minute: SEC Says X Account Was ‘Compromised’ After False Bitcoin Tweet

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: X announces three new shows coming to the platform. And NASA delays two crewed lunar missions. Alex Ossola hosts. Learn more about your ad choi...

Why Elon Musk Wants MrBeast’s Videos on X

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, is one of YouTube’s most popular creators. His videos rack up hundreds of millions of views. Elon Musk has...

TNB Tech Minute: Apple’s Mixed-Reality Headset to Become Available Feb. 2

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: The Vulcan Centaur rocket blasts off for the first time, but moon lander runs into trouble. And chipmaker Nvidia’s stock closes at a record hi...

Why the U.S. Says China Is Stealing AI Secrets to Turbocharge Spying

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

China and the U.S. have been locked in a battle for supremacy in artificial intelligence. U.S. government officials say hackers linked to the Chinese ...

TNB Tech Minute: Netflix Considers Monetizing Videogames

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Design-software companies Synopsys and Ansys near $35 billion deal. And Tesla recalls 1.6 million vehicles in China. Alex Ossola hosts. Learn m...

Why OpenAI’s Customers Are Eyeing Its Competitors

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Major companies like Walmart have already embraced AI tools and made them an important part of their business operations. And OpenAI, the company behi...

TNB Tech Minute: Startup Perplexity Challenges Google With AI Search

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Peloton partners with TikTok. And EV maker Fisker abandons the direct-to-consumer sales model. Alex Ossola hosts. Learn more about your ad choi...

Making Chips Is No Longer Just Technical—It’s Political

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

AI is increasingly important to national security, and governments are paying more attention to the companies that make the chips behind AI. Dozens of...

TNB Tech Minute: SpaceX Accused of Violating Labor Law

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Beijing removes key videogame official. And Thermo Fisher Scientific says it no longer sells DNA-based human-identification products in Tibet. A...

Why the Plan for a Tech-Backed City Could Face Scrutiny

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a group of investors trying to create a new city just north of San Francisco. The project, known as California Forever, is backed by some of...

TNB Tech Minute: BYD Beats Out Tesla in Quarterly EV Sales

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Apple shares drop after an analyst downgrade. And the Dutch government blocks ASML from exporting some chip-making tools to China. Alex Ossola h...

Who Is Yi He, the Queen of Binance?

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Binance is still the world’s largest crypto exchange, but last year was anything but tranquil at the firm. A yearslong federal investigation into Ch...

Tech in 2024: Apple Takes a Bite of Something New

29 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re bringing you tech predictions for 2024. Apple has teed itself up for a big year. Its new mixed reality headset is expected to go on ...

Tech in 2024: Wearable Devices Enter a New Era

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re bringing you tech predictions for 2024. It’s been nearly 10 years since the Apple Watch came out, and the device can now track not...

Tech in 2024: Why AI Will Become ‘Unavoidable’

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re bringing you tech predictions for 2024. And near the top of the list: artificial intelligence. 2023 saw big advances in AI for busin...

Tech in 2024: How Big Tech Can Stay Resilient

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re bringing you tech predictions for 2024. The tech industry faced some challenges in 2023 with layoffs across companies and efforts to...

TNB Tech Minute: China Regulator Proposes Curbs for Online Gaming

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Activision Blizzard and a California regulator file paperwork to settle gender-discrimination claims. And people inside Meta warned of risks for...

How TikTok Serves War Videos to Some of Its Youngest Users

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

More younger people are getting their news from TikTok. For information about conflicts like the Israel-Hamas war, some of the videos that the app’s...

TNB Tech Minute: Blue Origin and Cerberus Bid on SpaceX Rival

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Austin police officer charged in killing of tech entrepreneur. And Peacock bets fewer ads on NFL games will mean more long-term subscription mon...

Behind the Buy Now, Pay Later Boom

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Buy now, pay later services like Afterpay, Affirm and Klarna have been around for a while, but they exploded in popularity during the pandemic. Now, c...

TNB Tech Minute: Alibaba CEO Takes Control of Domestic E-Commerce

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Electric scooter company Bird files for bankruptcy. And a settlement with the FTC bans Rite Aid from using facial recognition for five years. Al...

What Epic Games’ Legal Win Means for the Videogame Industry

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Videogame company Epic Games has been waging a legal battle against Google and Apple, alleging that their app stores have monopolistic control over mo...

TNB Tech Minute: Google Pays $700 Million to Settle Antitrust Suit

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Comcast says nearly 36 million Xfinity accounts were compromised in a hack. And buy now pay later company Affirm expands its relationship with W...

Why a Vietnamese EV Maker Is Building a U.S. Factory

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

VinFast, the Vietnamese EV startup, has ambitions to be come a major global carmaker. It started selling its vehicles in the U.S. in March, and its ro...

TNB Tech Minute: Apple to Halt Watch Sales to Comply With Import Ban

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Elon Musk’s social media platform faces European probe over illegal content. And Nikola founder Trevor Milton gets four years in prison for fr...

Can AI Combat Climate Change? Google’s CSO Thinks So.

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Processing all of the data needed to run artificial intelligence can take a lot of energy. But according to Google Chief Sustainability Officer Kate B...

TNB Tech Minute: Activision Blizzard Will Pay Millions to Settle Lawsuit

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: DocuSign explores a sale. And U.S. government researchers seek to identify hackers based on the code they use. Alex Ossola hosts.  Learn more ...

How Google’s AI Search Tool Threatens News Publishers

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Where’s the latest place you might encounter generative AI? Google search. The company is experimenting with a search engine tool that offers an AI-...

TNB Tech Minute: Elon Musk Likely Has to Cooperate With SEC Probe, Judge Says

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: GM’s self-driving car company Cruise lays off 24% of its workforce. And Meta’s Threads goes live in Europe. Alex Ossola hosts.  Learn more...

Why Chinese EV Makers Are Expanding Into ‘Asia’s Detroit’

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

China has become the world’s top electric vehicle market. And homegrown car companies like BYD have dominated. Now, as Chinese EV makers look to sel...

TNB Tech Minute: Tesla Recalls Millions of Vehicles Due to Autopilot

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: OpenAI reaches a deal to pay Axel Springer for use of its content. And Etsy plans to lay off 11% of its marketplace workforce amid a restructuri...

FTX Wants to Give Users a Cash Payout. Customers Aren’t Happy.

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crypto is rallying, but FTX customers aren’t reaping the benefits. As the crypto exchange moves through bankruptcy, customers are realizing there’...

TNB Tech Minute: Apple Releases Setting to Protect User Data in Stolen iPhones

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: Microsoft looks to nuclear energy to power its artificial intelligence operations. And Netflix releases its first report on the full viewership ...

Tesla’s Cybertruck Is Here. Some People Are Underwhelmed.

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a truck, it’s a sports car, it’s sci-fi inspired—Tesla’s long-awaited Cybertruck is finally here. But amid the hype, not all first impr...

TNB Tech Minute: ​​New York Joins IBM, Micron in $10 Billion Chip Facility

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: TikTok lands deal to re-enter Indonesian e-commerce market. And Oracle says revenue falls short of expectations. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more ...

Why Hackers Are Targeting Schools and Hospitals

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve seen the headlines. High-profile companies are hit by a cyberattack, and customer information is stolen. But some hacks don’t make headline...

TNB Tech Minute: World’s First Crispr Drug Approved by FDA

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: X eyes a partnership to bring Amazon businesses in as advertisers. And U.K. regulators examine the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI. Ale...

Apple Ramps Up iPhone Production in India

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Since the early days of the iPhone, Apple has made most of them in one country: China. It has the skilled labor and a network of suppliers necessary f...

TNB Tech Minute: Blackstone, Digital Realty to Develop Data Centers

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: U.S. and U.K. governments jointly accuse Russian intelligence of a long-running global hacking campaign. And internet propagandists aligned with...

How Chinese Tech Giant Alibaba Lost Its Mojo

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly a decade ago, it seemed like the sky was the limit for Alibaba. Much more than an e-commerce company, Alibaba was a major player in digital pay...

TNB Tech Minute: Google Announces New AI System Gemini

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: AMD rolls out new AI chips. And New Mexico alleges in a lawsuit that Facebook and Instagram steered apparent child predators to children. Alex O...

AI Is Already in Healthcare. Regulators Want More Transparency

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Doctors and hospitals are using AI tools to communicate with patients and help make diagnoses. Except, the tools don’t always work as promised. They...

TNB Tech Minute: Airbnb Appoints New CFO

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: SoftBank Corp. takes a majority stake in Irish software provider Cubic Telecom. And Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup has filed to r...

Behind Apple’s Split With Goldman Sachs

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When Apple and Goldman Sachs teamed up to launch the Apple Card in 2019, it was a big deal for both companies. Apple was becoming a bigger player in t...

TNB Tech Minute: AT&T Drops Nokia for Ericsson in $14 Billion Deal

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus: General Motors’ Cruise has been ordered to testify before the California Public Utilities Commission over an October incident in which a pedes...

Why Meta Can’t Seem to Rid Its Platforms of Pedophiles

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Five months ago, Meta created a child-safety task force following a WSJ investigation that found a network of pedophilic accounts on its Instagram pla...

Prompt Engineer: Talking to Chatbots Is Now a $200K Job

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a growing number of job postings for the role of prompt engineer, someone who writes prompts that go into generative AI chatbots to elicit ...

Singles Are Finding Love in Unusual Places Online

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

People are looking beyond dating apps to find love online. WSJ personal tech reporter Ann-Marie Alcántara joins host Julie Chang to discuss how singl...

Holiday Shopping: Using AI for Gift Ideas

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Holiday shopping is in full force, and one place you could turn to for gift ideas is generative AI chatbots. Cordilia James from the WSJ’s personal ...

How Pet Data Could Help Speed Up Your Health Tests

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists are looking at animal data to improve the speed of some medical test results. They’re taking that data, building artificial intelligence...

How SpaceX Is Transforming a Corner of Texas

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is disrupting the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. And the company’s Starbase and rocket launches are dividing residents. WSJ space ...

Wearable Devices That Can Read Your Brain And Enhance It

24 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wearable devices that can read your brain activity and then use that data to help improve your focus and productivity are on the horizon. Daniela Hern...

Holiday Shopping: Using AI to Revive Old Family Photos

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The future of OpenAI remains up in the air, and investors continue to push for the return of former CEO Sam Altman. Plus, Cordilia James from our pers...

OpenAI’s Staff Threatens to Quit After Sam Altman Firing

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The majority of OpenAI’s staff has threatened to quit after the board’s ousting of former CEO and co-founder Sam Altman. Plus, Amazon is offering ...

A Sextortion Scam Is Preying on Teenage Boys

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A sextortion scam aimed at boys is causing emotional trauma. WSJ family and tech columnist Julie Jargon joins host Julie Chang to discuss what to do i...

How Israel Uses Battlefield Data to Fight Hamas in Gaza

17 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Israel’s military has a technological nerve center near Gaza set up to receive thousands of data points directly from the battlefield. WSJ correspon...

The Problem With EV Chargers

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Out-of-order signs, payment errors and connection issues — these are some of the problems electric vehicle drivers encounter when trying to charge ...

Holiday Shopping: AI Edition

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Wall Street Journal’s personal tech team has put together a list of the best tech gifts of 2023. Reporter Cordilia James joins host Alex Ossola ...

Solar Power is Booming. Could a Glut of Cheap Parts Make It a Bust?

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

China has invested tens of billions of dollars in building its solar panel manufacturing industry. But too many cheap parts could spell trouble for gr...

Firefighters vs. EVs: Why EV Fires Are Harder to Put Out

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Firefighters are finding out that fires caused by electric vehicles last longer and are more difficult to put out. WSJ reporter John Keilman joins hos...

Can Congress Stop Celebrity Deepfakes on Social Media?

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A growing number of celebrities like Tom Hanks and Gayle King say scammers are using AI deepfakes of their likeness to hawk sketchy items on social me...

Why Diamonds Could Be the Key to Making Microchips Faster

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Engineers are experimenting with some surprising materials to cool down microchips. WSJ tech columnist Christopher Mims joins host Julie Chang to expl...

Meta’s Approach to Protecting Teens Isn’t Working, Says Former Engineer

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A former Meta employee says executives at the company are failing to protect minors on its platforms. WSJ reporter Jeff Horwitz joins host Julie Chang...

AI Used to Spread Fake Nudes of Students at a New Jersey High School

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The latest form of online harassment is powered by artificial intelligence. WSJ family and tech columnist Julie Jargon joins host Julie Chang to discu...

The Global Hunt for Crypto’s Most Wanted Man

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When cryptocurrencies TerraUSD and Luna collapsed, it wiped out $40 billion from the crypto market and set off investigations into the tokens’ found...

AI Risks Take Center Stage at Global Summit

03 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

World leaders and the executives from artificial intelligence companies met in the U.K. this week to discuss how to defend against the risks created b...

Lidar Is Latest Tech in the Middle of U.S.-China Tensions

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

National security officials in the U.S. are raising concerns about a Chinese company that’s a key maker of laser sensor technology. WSJ reporter Hea...

Toyota Tried to Create a Tech Startup. Things Went Wrong Fast.

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, launched a startup to help it become a leader in software and other cutting-edge tech. But getting a startup m...

Tech Testimony: Google CEO and FTX Founder Testify in Separate Cases

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Google CEO Sundar Pichai defends deals that the government argues gave the company a monopoly in search. And prosecutors begin cross-examination of Sa...

Why Cruise Self-Driving Pause May Be Setback for Whole Industry

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

General Motors’ self-driving car unit Cruise has paused its U.S. operations after California regulators called its vehicles unsafe. WSJ reporter Rya...

Why Cruise Self-Driving Pause May Be Setback for Whole Industry

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

General Motors’ self-driving car unit Cruise has paused its U.S. operations after California regulators called its vehicles unsafe. WSJ reporter Rya...

Preserving Black Twitter’s Legacy and Future

27 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An effort to archive Black Twitter is underway but recent changes at Twitter, now X, have led to some challenges. This special episode looks at the i...

Why Apple Can’t Make iPhones Without This Chinese Company

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Apple has been trying to reduce its dependence on China as geopolitical and economic pressures mount. But the iPhone makers’ ties to Chinese manufac...

States Sue Meta Over Alleged Harm to Young Users

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook and Instagram parent Meta, is facing lawsuits from a group of more than 40 attorneys general. The lawsuits claim the social giant built its p...

Does AI ‘Think’? We’re Still Figuring That Out

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Generative artificial intelligence technology is still in the early stages of development. Some researchers are debating whether the tools that exist ...

Tech’s New Rivalry: TikTok vs. Amazon

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A new rivalry is forming between TikTok and Amazon. Both companies want to dominate the burgeoning market for “social shopping” in the U.S. WSJ re...

Tech Live 2023: Is Crypto Dead?

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a rough year for the crypto industry. But supporters say the sector is down not out. Financier Anthony Scaramucci and crypto-compliance advo...

Tech Live 2023: How Meta Plans to Connect You to AI Friends

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Meta, known for its social-media platforms Facebook and Instagram, wants users to connect not just with friends but with artificial-intelligence chatb...

Tech Live 2023: What’s Next for OpenAI?

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The company at the center of the generative artificial intelligence revolution took the stage at the WSJ’s Tech Live event. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altma...

Tech Live 2023: Roblox CEO Shares How the Gaming Platform Is Evolving

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The gaming platform Roblox is working to expand its base of older users and is turning to artificial intelligence and traditional gaming consoles to d...

AI Takes Center Stage at Tech Live 2023

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

WSJ’s Tech Live will feature some of the biggest names in artificial intelligence including the CEOs of OpenAI and Arm. WSJ Live Journalism news edi...

New AI Tools Offer Path to Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis

13 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is the eye the window to Alzheimer’s? WSJ reporter Vipal Monga joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss some of the AI tools that are in the works to help d...

AI Struggles to Generate Money, Despite Hype

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The big tech companies behind new artificial intelligence tools are struggling to make money off them. WSJ reporter Tom Dotan joins host Zoe Thomas t...

How Adobe Plans to Stand Out From the AI Pack

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adobe’s SVP of Digital Media joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the company's new AI products and how it is handling issues of copyright and misinform...

How War in Israel and Tensions With China Threaten the Tech Sector

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As Israel goes on the offensive following deadly surprise attacks by Hamas militants over weekend, Israeli tech startups and their investors prepare f...

AI and Work: AI for Jobs, Startups and Everywhere Else

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Developments in artificial intelligence have some worried the technology could replace them in their jobs. But AI also offers the prospect of new jobs...

AI Matchmakers: Dating Apps for Hookups, Breakups and Date Planning

06 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence is being used to power new dating tools, helping people find love and understand what happens when it falls apart. In this rom...