WSJ Tech News Briefing
Episodes
Google Prepares to Defend Search Dominance in Landmark Case
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A landmark antitrust case between the Justice Department and Google is set to get underway today. The legal team defending the search giant was instru...
The Pentagon Plans to Build a Vast AI Fleet
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Pentagon plans to build a vast network of artificial-intelligence powered technology , drones, and autonomous systems. WSJ national security corre...
Elon Musk Is Running Twitter on His Impulses
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When Elon Musk bought Twitter he promised to run the platform with fairness and transparency. But, Wall Street Journal reporting shows that, nearly a ...
The High Cost of High-Speed Internet in Rural America
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Officials are doling out billions to install high-speed internet in rural parts of the country. However, the high costs of laying down fiber optic cab...
How Worried Should You Be About an AI Apocalypse?
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Leaders in artificial intelligence, including Sam Altman and Elon Musk, are debating what the biggest risks created by the technology are. Could it wi...
The EV Boom: How China, the South and Investors Are Cashing In
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this EV-focused episode, we look at how the electric-vehicle boom is playing out across industries and continents —sparking investment in the Ame...
Musk Makes Twitter X: The Deal, the Superfans & the 2024 Election
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this all-Twitter episode, Tech News Briefing discusses newly revealed details from Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk, examines the Twitter...
Tech Added to an Epidemic of Myopia. Can It Help Fix It Too?
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Screens and a lack of sunlight are harming children’s vision. Half the global population is expected to be nearsighted b y 2050, according to the Wo...
Streamflation: Netflix, Disney and More Bet You’ll Pay Up
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you noticed the cost of streaming services going up? Reporter Robbie Whelan explains what’s behind “streamflation.” Plus, scientists say na...
EV Road Test: Picking the Best ‘Computer on Wheels’
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Choosing an electric vehicle has become a lot like comparison shopping for the latest tech gadget. WSJ’s senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern...
AI in Education Attracts Startups and Cash
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If generative artificial intelligence is going to upend learning, then startups and investors want to be part of it. Varun Gulati, CEO of LitLab, desc...
AI Jobs Are Paying Up to $900,000
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Companies are willing to pay eye-watering salaries to fill artificial-intelligence roles. WSJ reporter Chip Cutter explains why businesses outside of ...
AI’s Thorniest Issues Will Be Addressed in Court
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Congress is discussing ways to regulate artificial intelligence. But while they debate the best approaches, courts may be the ones to decide some of t...
Microsoft Offers Big Concession to Secure Activision Deal
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft has offered new concessions to win over U.K. regulators as it tries to close its $75 billion deal for games publisher Activision Blizzard. W...
Biden Administration Taps Wall Street to Help Revive Chips Industry
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To bring semiconductors production back to the U.S. the Biden administration has tapped Wall Street insiders to help it allocate $39 billion in taxpay...
Teachers Adapt to New AI Era
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Teachers worry that generative AI programs may interfere with the way students learn. For the second installment of our special series Reading, Writin...
What It's Like Inside One of San Francisco’s Self-Driving Taxis?
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More autonomous taxis are about to hit the roads of San Francisco. But will residents of the country’s tech capital be quick to hitch a ride in a dr...
How Pink Floyd Is Helping Scientists Hear People's Thoughts
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists have gotten one step closer to reading people’s minds using a combination of advanced computer models and a Pink Floyd song. WSJ reporter...
Why AI Is Botching Headshots
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More people are using artificial intelligence image generators to produce professional looking headshots. But for some people of color, the results ca...
Why Many 911 Centers Struggle to Locate Cellphone Callers
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many 911 call centers throughout the country still rely on decades-old technology that uses landlines. That means dispatchers can have a hard time loc...
AI Joins the Classroom When Students Return
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Students across the country are preparing to head back to class and many of them will likely use generative artificial intelligence to help with their...
AI Makes Hacking Easier, Even for Non-Hackers
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Generative artificial intelligence tools, like ChatGPT, are opening up new avenues for cybercriminals, even ones without traditional hacking skills. W...
ChatGPT Is Getting Dumber at Math. What Does It Mean For AI’s Future?
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An updated version of ChatGPT has gotten worse at basic math, according to new research. The finding underlines a bigger problem for the development o...
Your New Best Friend Is an AI Chatbot. What Are the Risks?
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More people are forming relationships with generative artificial intelligence chatbots. A hospital security guard shares his story of developing an AI...
Why Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Aren’t Catching On
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook parent Meta has big plans for the metaverse. But it needs people to buy its hardware to help that become a reality. WSJ reporter Salvador Rod...
The Battle Over What Is Used to Teach AI Intensifies
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Authors, artists, and internet publishers are increasingly demanding compensation from companies that make generative AI programs. They claim their co...
How Much Is Too Much AI in Hollywood?
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The use of artificial intelligence is one of the major sticking points in the biggest Hollywood strike in 60 years. Studios and the unions representin...
How President Biden Views AI
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The White House is facing many challenges as it looks for ways to address the impacts of AI. WSJ White House reporter Sabrina Siddiqui joins host Zoe ...
Uber’s Green Goals Hit Roadblocks in London
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Uber set an ambitious target to have all its London drivers in electric vehicles by 2025. But the company is running up against some surprising obstac...
Apple Admits to Bug in Parental Controls
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A bug in Apple’s Screen Time controls has some parents scrambling for new ways to set limits for kids. WSJ family and tech columnist Julie Jargon jo...
Smart Guns Are Coming. Will People Buy Them?
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A gun that uses fingerprint and facial recognition to ensure it is only fired by an authorized user is set to hit the market. WSJ reporter Zusha Elin...
Netflix Wants More Ads and It Has a New Plan to Get Them
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Netflix is reworking its deal with Microsoft and changing its prices for advertisers in an effort to jump-start its ad-supported tier. WSJ deputy medi...
AI vs. the Drive-Through Customer
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best places to see how artificial intelligence is affecting our lives and jobs may be at a fast-food drive-through. WSJ senior personal tec...
Why More Electric Trucks Aren’t Hitting the Roads
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Commercial trucks are huge emitters of greenhouse gases. But battery-powered trucks face challenges that electric cars don’t. WSJ contributor Bart Z...
The Human Toll of Making ChatGPT Safe for Users
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Generative AI programs rely on human workers to train them to filter out harmful content, including violent and sexual material. WSJ reporter Karen Ha...
Google Co-Founder Returns to Help With AI Efforts
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Google co-founder Sergey Brin is back in the company’s office working directly with members of the artificial intelligence team. WSJ reporter Miles ...
How Apple Maps Found Its Way
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Changes to Apple Maps have made some users love the once hated product. WSJ personal tech reporter Ann-Marie Alcántara joins host Zoe Thomas to expla...
Why Some Tech Leaders Support Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for President
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tech leaders are among those supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his bid to be the Democratic presidential nominee. But Kennedy has voiced support for...
Microsoft and Meta Team Up to Offer New AI Software
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft announced a new artificial intelligence partnership and pricing for its AI-powered workplace software. WSJ Microsoft reporter Tom Dotan join...
AI and Streaming Play Leading Roles in Hollywood Strike
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Actors and writers say artificial intelligence and streaming have upended the film and TV industry. WSJ media and entertainment reporter Joe Flint joi...
Could Twitter Become Irrelevant?
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Twitter is facing new challengers that threaten to take over the platform’s position as the global town square. WSJ tech columnist Christopher Mims ...
School Districts Are Experimenting With AI-Enabled Robots
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
ChatGPT is being investigated by federal regulators. Plus, more school districts are considering using robots to patrol campuses. WSJ reporter Megan T...
The FTC Keeps Taking on Big Tech, and Losing
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan is taking on the world’s biggest tech companies and losing. WSJ reporter Dave Michaels joins host Zoe T...
A Platform Popular With Gamers Adds Parental Oversight
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Discord, the chat app favored by teen gamers, is introducing parental oversight tools. WSJ family and tech columnist Julie Jargon joins host Zoe Thoma...
Why Lawmakers Might Ban the Sale of Cellphone Location Data
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Massachusetts lawmakersare weighing a near total ban on the selling of location data from mobile devices . The proposed law would go further than any ...
How Meta Fell Behind in AI and How It Plans to Catch Up
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meta was a leader in artificial intelligence about a decade ago, but it’s lost its edge since then. WSJ social-media reporter Salvador Rodriguez exp...
Elon Musk and the $1 Billion ‘Bad Deal’ in Buffalo
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York spent nearly $1 billion on a new solar-panel factory in Buffalo, hoping Elon Musk and Tesla would use it to transform the local economy. But ...
Twitter’s Challenges Heat Up With Meta Copycat
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meta has launched a new microblogging app called Threads. WSJ reporter Salvador Rodriguez joins host Zoe Thomas to explain why Meta could be Twitter’...
Why Twitter’s Limit of Post Views Is a Bigger Risk Than You Think
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Elon Musk is limiting how many posts Twitter users can read in a day, to stop artificial intelligence companies from scraping data off the platform. W...
Euclid Space Telescope Has Launched to Study the Dark Universe
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The European Space Agency has launched a new first-of-its-kind space telescope. The Euclid space telescope was designed to study dark matter and dark ...
How AI Is Being Used to Help Scout Upcoming Baseball Players
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The 2023 MLB Draft is around the corner, and scouts have a new artificial intelligence tool at their disposal. The tool is said to generate data that ...
Investors Warm-Up to Clean-Energy Stocks Again
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shares of clean-energy companies are rising after an 18-month downturn. Companies and investors are now watching to see if the rally will help sustain...
Mushrooms. LSD. Ketamine. Psychedelics Are Powering Silicon Valley.
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Drug use has long been a part of Silicon Valley. But recently, routine drug use has moved from an after-hours activity into corporate culture, with so...
How TikTok Trends Are Disrupting American Companies
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
TikTok trends have been impacting businesses, from restaurant menu hacks to beauty product finds and fashion tips. But, going viral on the video-shari...
Google’s Latest AI Flex: An Anti-Money-Laundering Tool for Banks
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Google Cloud has a new artificial-intelligence tool that tackles money laundering for banks. But how does this product differ from those already on th...
AI Apps to Try for Work and Leisure
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many new AI-powered programs out there. Deciding which ones to try can be overwhelming. But worry not! WSJ personal-tech reporting assist...
AI Could Improve Ads on Social Media, Snap CEO Says
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Snapchat launched an AI chatbot recently. And as users flooded to the feature, CEO Evan Spiegel says he discovered users’ embrace of AI could improv...
Is America Ready for the EV Takeover?
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More people are driving electric vehicles. But is the U.S. ready for an EV takeover? WSJ tech columnist Christopher Mims says the answer is: No. He sh...
The EU’s AI Act: What It Is and Where It Stands
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The surge in artificial intelligence tools have led to increased calls for regulation. And one place where those rules are beginning to take shape is ...
Uber vs. Japan’s ‘Taxi Prince’
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Uber aims to have all taxis worldwide registered on its app by 2025. But a man known as the ‘Taxi Prince’ is throwing off those plans. WSJ Tokyo-b...
The Awkward Partnership Between Microsoft and OpenAI
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI is helping to lead the boom in artificial intelligence. But the pair doesn’t always have an easy relati...
Startups Wonder Where All the VC Went
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After years of venture capital flowing freely into early-stage tech companies, investors are getting pickier. That’s forcing founders to make tough ...
Microsoft Activision Deal Could Benefit From FTC's Move to Block It
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Federal Trade Commission has asked a judge for a temporary restraining order to stop Microsoft from clinching its $75 billion deal to buy Activisi...
What to Do if Dozens of Your Passwords Have Been Hacked
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Password managers can inform you if your login credentials have been stolen. But what if you've used the same password for multiple sites? WSJ reporte...
How the CEO of YouTube Plans to Win Over Anyone Watching TV
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
YouTube’s CEO Neal Mohan has a strategy to fill the platform with short videos and TV offerings, as the company faces a growing amount of competitio...
How Instagram’s Algorithm Connects and Promotes Pedophile Network
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Instagram, through its system of fostering communities with sets of narrow interests, has helped guide users to illegal child sex content. Instagram's...
Twitter Missed Dozens of Images of Child Sexual Abuse, Researchers Say
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers at Stanford University found dozens of images of known child sexual abuse material on Twitter during a two-month period earlier this year....
What Makes Apple’s AR Headset Stand Out From Competitors
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Apple unveiled its first major new product in a decade, an augmented-reality headset. The device launches Apple into a new market but it’s taking so...
Why Call of Duty Could Stand in the Way of a $75 Billion Deal
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Global regulators are concerned that if Microsoft acquires games publisher Activision Blizzard it could have an unfair advantage in the videogame indu...
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...