WSJ Tech News Briefing

Code Written by AI May Be Too Much of a Good Thing

02 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A growing number of Fortune 100 companies are using generative artificial intelligence to write computer code. But chief information officers worry al...

Big Tech Relies on Outsourcing. Lawsuits in Africa Could Upend That.

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook content moderators hired by a third-party contractor in Kenya are suing over working conditions. The contractor involved denies the allegatio...

While Some Warn About AI Extinction Risk, Nvidia Sees Valuation Soar

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

AI developers and tech executives are warning that artificial intelligence could threaten human life as we know it. WSJ AI reporter Deepa Seetharaman ...

What Is the Future of Identity Verification?

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The CEO of secure identity company Clear says in the future verifying your age, employment history, and even hotel booking will be much easier using b...

Schools and Learning in an AI-Enabled World

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How will generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, change the education system? That’s the question on a lot of parents' and teachers’ minds. At this yea...

Governments Want Kids Off Social Media. Why Aren't Platforms Doing It?

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Local and national governments in the U.S. and Europe want social media companies to do more to keep children off their platforms. Efforts to require ...

Elon Musk Opens Up About His Hopes and Challenges for Twitter

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk opened up about his goals for Twitter, balancing advertiser concerns with his desire to support free speech and interviewing presidential ca...

How an Antiabortion Group Used Cellphone Data to Send Targeted Ads

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Until last year, an antiabortion group was using location data gathered from cellphones to send people who visited Planned Parenthood targeted adverti...

It’s Gamers vs. Government in Hunt for Classified U.S. Documents

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A global scavenger hunt for classified documents is underway and it's pitting the U.S. government against online gamers. WSJ national security reporte...

The Executive Keeping Tesla Rolling Isn’t Elon Musk

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tesla’s CFO Zach Kirkhorn has a reputation for working quietly behind the scenes to execute Elon Musk’s vision for the electric carmaker. But as M...

TikTok Still Fills Teens' Feeds With Dark Content

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Montana’s Governor signed the county’s first statewide ban of TikTok on Tuesday. And calls are growing to ban the app nationwide. But a bigger wor...

OpenAI Boss Calls for AI Safety Standards at Senate Hearing

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

 Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI the company behind ChatGPT, told lawmakers they should create licensing and safety standards for advanced artificial intel...

Elon Musk Is Running Twitter Like SpaceX. Will It Work?

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk is trying to run his social media company, Twitter, like his rocket company, SpaceX. WSJ aerospace reporter Micah Maidenberg joins host Zoe ...

Apple Takes New Approach With Mixed-Reality Headset

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk has named a new CEO to replace him at Twitter. WSJ reporter Alexa Corse joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss why he chose an advertising exec. P...

Social-Media Shopping Scams Target Young People

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A growing number of young people are being hit by online shopping scams that originated on social media. WSJ family and tech columnist Julie Jargon jo...

Google Takes On Rivals in AI and Foldable Devices

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Google is making a show of force to its rivals in the hardware and artificial-intelligence sectors. At its developer conference, the company unveiled ...

Virgin Galactic Struggles to Launch Its Space Tourism Business

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Billionaire Richard Branson founded Virgin Galactic nearly two decades ago. But despite sending him to the edge of space and selling tickets to would-...

Will AI Gold Rush Lead Investors to Risky Bets?

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The potential of generative artificial intelligence has venture capitalists racing to invest. But in their rush to get in on the ground floor, are inv...

TikTok Users Who Watched Gay Content Put on List, Former Staff Says

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For at least a year, some employees at TikTok were able to access what they described internally as a list of users who watched gay content on the app...

Lawmakers Fight for Child Vloggers to Be Compensated

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For children who appear in monetized content online, like vlogs and social media posts, there are currently no laws to protect them or ensure they get...

Meta Faces New Sanctions; Political Turmoil Hits Tech Hub

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The FTC proposes barring Meta’s from earning money on the data it collects on young users. TikTok launches a new advertising product. Also, Israel’...

Uber Picks Up More Riders; Bluesky Adds Users; AI for Daily Tasks

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Marissa Mayer, CEO of Sunshine, says artificial intelligence can be used to help improve more mundane tasks. The former Yahoo boss spoke at this year’...

Your AI Clone Can Fool Family, Your Bank, But Not Your Video Meeting

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You can pay companies to create video and audio versions of yourself using generative artificial intelligence. But how well does it work? WSJ senior p...

Apple Partnership was “Kiss of Death” Smaller Rivals Claim

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Smaller rivals say meeting with Apple ended with the tech giant releasing products that resemble their own. Some say Apple used the U.S. patent system...

How to Secure Your Digital Life Before You Die

28 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Your digital footprint lives on after you pass away. WSJ family and tech columnist Julie Jargon joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the best way to pass ...

Regulator Blocks Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Deal

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

U.K. antitrust regulator rejects Microsoft’s $75 billion deal to buy game maker Activision Blizzard, saying it would hurt competition in videogame i...

Lyft to Cut at Least 1,200 Jobs, Struggles to Keep Up with Rival Uber

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ride-hailing company Lyft plans to cut at least 30% of its workforce. It comes days after a new CEO officially took over. Can the changes and new lead...

What’s Going on With Twitter’s Blue Check Marks?

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Twitter is changing which users get blue check marks. Some celebrities have lost then regained them, despite claiming they aren’t paying for Twitter...

When AI Gets It Wrong, Who’s on the Hook?

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Generative artificial-intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT are known to get things wrong sometimes, a process known as “hallucinating.” But can anyo...

iPhone Security Feature Helps Criminals Lock Users Out of Accounts

21 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Thieves in cities across the U.S. who steal iPhone passcodes along with the devices, are also using another Apple security feature to lock victims out...

Why More People Are Pivoting to Help Influencers on Social Media

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A growing number of people who once chased social media stardom are turning to new roles, helping others become influencers. And the opportunities for...

To Become a Tech Hub, Tulsa Recruits Ukrainian Workers

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Oklahoma businesses are recruiting Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion. They hope the new workers will turn Tulsa into a regional tech hub. WSJ imm...

The Unexpected Reason iPhones Dominate the Market

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Apple controls more than half of the U.S. smartphone market. One big reason for that dominance isn't the company’s marketing strategy or its cool fa...

Artists Worry About Survival as AI Changes the Game for Creative Work

17 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The threat that technology will replace workers is something more people are grappling with due to the introduction of new tools powered by generative...

What’s Slowing Down Self-Driving Car Technology?

14 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Car and tech companies have promised for years that fully self-driving cars were just around the corner. But experts say the technology is far from wh...

Virtual Reality Helps Trauma Patients Confront Fears

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Virtual reality can help transport users to new worlds. But a growing number of doctors are using it to help patients confront trauma in therapy. WSJ ...

Moms Push for New Laws Making Social Media Sites More Accountable

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A group of mothers, who say their sons’ and daughters' lives were devastated by social media, is pushing for new laws that would hold the platforms ...

Uber’s CEO Became a Driver and Learned a Lot

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After five years leading Uber, the company’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi decided to get into the driver's seat last September. WSJ ride-hail and food deli...

AI Hallucinations to Befriending Chatbots: Your Questions Answered

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There is so much changing in artificial intelligence right now and generative AI is raising a lot of new questions. WSJ tech reporter Karen Hao joins ...

The Hottest Tech Topics Among Older Adults

07 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A retirement community in Lancaster, Pa., is integrating tech more and more into the lives of their residents, proving what experts on aging have been...

How the CEO of OpenAI Is Navigating Development and Risk

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sam Altman, the CEO of startup OpenAI, is navigating the challenges of being at the forefront of the most buzzed about technologies in decades. WSJ te...

Should Digital Devices Be Given Genders?

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is it a good idea to give robots traditionally male or female names and voices? Some researchers say that reinforces stereotypes. But a new paper expl...

Apple Tries to Improve Streaming for Classic Music Fans

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fans of classical music have long complained that streaming services don't make it easy to find their favorite pieces. Apple has set out to fix the is...

Artificial Intelligence 101: Why It’s Different This Time

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There is so much being said about artificial intelligence these days. In order to understand this latest wave of AI, it is important to know how it wo...

U.S. Military Prepares for Space Warfare With New Tech

31 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Pentagon is gearing up for a future conflict in space. It comes as China and Russia deploy missiles and lasers that can take out satellites and di...

Hospital ‘Black Boxes’: the New Tech in Operating Rooms

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hospitals are turning to new technology that allows them to record everything going on in the operating room. These new surgical “black boxes” off...

Samsung Is Betting on AI for Smartphone Innovation

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Innovation and new technology are often driving factors to convince customers to upgrade their smartphones. Samsung is looking to artificial intellige...

Uber Eats to Cut Thousands of Listings as It Moves to Declutter App

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Uber Eats plans to take down thousands of listings for online-only brands. WSJ restaurants reporter Heather Haddon joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss ho...

Online Publishers Want AI Chatbot Makers to Pay Up

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A battle between the makers of artificial intelligence chatbots and publishers of online content is brewing. Publishers say they should be compensated...

U.S. Lawmakers Grill TikTok CEO About China Ties and Security Risks

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew defended his company as U.S. lawmakers questioned whether the app’s ties to China made it a national security risk. WSJ ...

Those Pesky Password Rules Are Actually a Security Risk, Experts Say

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cybersecurity researchers say systems that force users to change their passwords often actually could be creating security risks. But lots of companie...

How European Regulators Are Thinking About Emerging Tech

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As more new technologies like artificial intelligence and the metaverse become mainstream, how are European Union officials approaching regulation? Sp...

Skilled Workers Shortage Threatens Biden’s Plans For U.S. Chipmaking

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chipmaker Micron will have to overcome a massive shortage of skilled workers in order to open its planned semiconductor-manufacturing campus in the su...

Tech Execs and Lawmakers Build Anti-China Alliance

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Silicon Valley leaders and Capitol Hill lawmakers are developing an unusual bicoastal alliance . The group is pushing against China's presence in the ...

Could ChatGPT Help Land Your Next Job?

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

More job seekers are turning to artificial-intelligence chatbot ChatGPT for help improving their resumes. But some bosses are trying to figure out how...

For Chinese AI Chatbots, Politics Is Off-Limits

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As companies all over the world race to develop their own versions of generative artificial intelligence chatbots, developers in China have a particul...

TikTok’s New Hyper-Realistic Effect Sparks Beauty Debate

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Two new effects on TikTok can give users sculpted cheekbones, plumped lips, or a younger look with the push of a button. But this hyper-realistic imag...

Startups Look to Change After Silicon Valley Bank Collapse

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has rattled the startup sector that was so reliant on it. Now venture investors are combing through the aftermath,...

How Silicon Valley Bank Collapsed

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Silicon Valley Bank shut down suddenly on Friday. The lender’s customer base was made up of many startups and venture-capital firms, particularly in...

Energy Breakthrough Opens Up Possibility for Better Battery Power

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A team of researchers from the University of Rochester think they have found the holy grail of energy transmission. And in the next decade, it could c...

Did Google’s Caution Give Microsoft a Lead in AI?

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Google has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence and even had its own AI chatbot years before ChatGPT went viral. But inside the company, ...

Your Face Can Get You in the Door. Then What Happens to Your Data?

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Facial-recognition tech is being used more often. Supporters say it is a safe and convenient way to confirm identity. But skeptics say it possesses se...

As Twitter Slashes Staff, Silicon Valley Watches to See How It Works

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter, the company has made massive layoffs. Others in tech are watching to see how a significantly smaller staff is runni...

Qualcomm CEO Says AI and VR Are Future of Business

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chip makers, like Qualcomm, have been hit by the slowdown of smartphone sales. But the company's CEO says focusing on more sophisticated computing tas...

Tesla’s Ambitious Goals Come With a Big Price Tag

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tesla wants to become the world’s biggest car maker by volume. But at its investor day this week it offered little details on plans for new car mode...

Salesforce’s Family Mentality Hit by Pressure to Be More Profitable

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Software giant Salesforce grew massively during the pandemic and prioritized the well-being of its workers. But as economic conditions have changed, t...

Electric Vehicles Could Be Targeted by Hackers

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cybersecurity experts are raising the alarm about possible hacks of electric vehicles. What kinds of attacks are they concerned about and why do EVs p...

Social Media Platforms Roll Out Subscriptions, But Will Users Pay?

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are among the social media platforms hoping their users will sign up for subscriptions. But will people want to pay fo...

Criminals Are Using iPhone Passcodes to Take Over Phones in Minutes

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A basic feature of iPhones helps criminals steal a victim's entire digital life, including photos and debit card information, in a matter of minutes. ...

Smartphones Emerge as Key Tool for War in Ukraine

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is already the most intensely documented war in history, thanks to smartphones. The devices are also playing a role in ...

Supreme Court Hears Cases That Could Reshape the Internet

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Two cases before the Supreme Court this week challenge a pillar of how the internet is run. At the heart of both is whether platforms like YouTube and...

Ransomware Payments Decline as New Cyber Defenses Take Effect

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hackers are seeing a decline in the ransomware payments they can extract from companies, as businesses take more precautions and authorities roll out ...

Tech Layoffs Put H1B Visa Workers on Deadline to Find New Jobs

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Layoffs sweeping the tech industry have not spared workers on temporary visas, known as H1Bs. They have just 60 days to find a new visa sponsored posi...

How Algorithms Play a Role in Child Sexual Exploitation on TikTok

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok’s popularity with young people and ability to know what users like has made it a growing venue for child sexual exploitation, according to la...

Canadian Creators Don’t Want to Be Labeled Canadian

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A new law set to pass in Canada would require platforms like Netflix, YouTube and TikTok to show a certain amount of domestic content. But some conten...

Virtual Reality Becomes Next Battleground for Social-Media Companies

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is rapidly growing its share of the global market for virtual-reality headsets. That puts it squarely in comp...

How Dating Apps Find Your Next Valentine

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A growing number of people are meeting their long term partners on dating apps. But the technology that these apps use can feel as much of a mystery a...

Meta Revamps Its Metaverse App to Attract Younger Users

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook parent Meta has struggled to attract users to Horizon Worlds, its metaverse platform. But the company has plans for updates that it hopes wil...

Twitter Looks for Super Bowl Win With ‘Fire Sale’ for Advertisers

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter, the platform has struggled to retain advertisers. But the company is hoping to score points with steep discounts on...

Google Shows Off ChatGPT Rival

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Google showed off its latest artificial intelligence features at an event in Paris. WSJ tech reporter Sam Schechner joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss h...

Microsoft's New Bing Search, Now With AI From ChatGPT

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Microsoft is combining the artificial intelligence from OpenAI’s ChatGPT with its own search engine Bing. CEO Satya Nadella spoke with WSJ’s senio...

Smart Appliance Makers Want More People to Connect Their Devices

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The makers of internet-connected smart appliances, like washing machines and ovens, are betting big on these devices, hoping they will change the scop...

AI Is Already Transforming Healthcare

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The healthcare sector is already being transformed by the use of artificial intelligence. But what are the drawbacks to its use and what developments ...

Can TikTok’s Transparency Ease Lawmakers’ Concerns?

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok has taken another step to try to ease lawmakers' concerns about its ties to China. Its new transparency center lets visitors see how the app mo...

Microsoft’s Push to Become an AI Leader

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Microsoft is positioning itself to be at the forefront of artificial intelligence, spending billions to invest in OpenAI. But how does it plan to inco...

What the ‘Menswear Guy’ Tells Us About Twitter’s Future

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Twitter’s “For You” feed has been showing a lot of users posts from one men’s fashion commentator. But it isn’t because they all suddenly ca...

AI Could be Key to Facebook Parent Meta’s Turnaround

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, had one of its toughest years in 2022. It's facing fierce competition and a hit to its advertising...

In Africa, FTX Promised Stability and Swag

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Across Africa FTX used brand ambassadors and glitzy events to attract new users . Many customers saw cryptocurrency as a way to protect against inflat...

Tech to Block Scam Calls Still Defrauding Older Adults

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Phone scams may seem like a thing of the past, but nearly a quarter of older adults who reported losing money in a scam last year said it all started ...

Apple Avoids Layoffs Hitting the Rest of Tech, for Now

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Apple has so far been able to avoid the huge layoffs other big tech firms have announced. What is the iPhone maker doing differently than its counterp...

DOJ Slaps Google With Antitrust Lawsuit Over Its Digital Ad Business

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Justice Department has sued Google seeking to break up its digital advertising business. Google has had a foothold in nearly every part of the onl...

In the Battle Between Microsoft and Google, What Role Could AI Play?

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Microsoft is deepening its partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and Dall-E. That has investors and analysts speculating whether Microso...

China’s Tech Crackdown Winds Up

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Beijing appears to be nearing the end of a two-year crackdown on the county’s big tech companies. Some of China's most well-known and influential in...

Lasers Could Help Deflect Danger From Lightning Strikes

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A test of giant lasers shot from a mountaintop in Switzerland is helping scientists develop ways to guide lightning. It could be a first step in defen...

The 3-D Printing Revolution Is Quietly Under Way

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

3-D manufacturing was once only suited for creating prototypes and models. Now advances in the tech are leading to changes in manufacturing and quietl...

TikTok Offers More Transparency to Win Over U.S. Regulators

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok is trying a new tactic in its efforts to reach a deal with U.S. regulators that would allow it to keep operating in the county: more transparen...

Space Industry Races to Increase Launches and Defense Capabilities

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This year the space sector is expected to focus less on human space travel and more on government defense and satellite launches. But that doesn't mea...

How to Make 5G Feel Like Less of a Letdown

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cellular carriers advertised 5G as a game changer for connectivity. But for many of us, the promised changes and improvements are hard to notice. WSJ ...

Can Deepfakes Be Regulated? China Is Giving It a Shot

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

China is implementing new rules aimed at limiting the production of deepfakes, or artificial-intelligence-generated video, audio and pictures that imi...

To Boost EVs, New York Has to Decide Where to Put the Chargers

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest challenges to getting more electric vehicles on the road is giving drivers a place to charge them. New funding from the federal gov...