WSJ Tech News Briefing
Episodes
Driverless Cars Finally Start Losing the Drivers
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Waymo plans to set its fully autonomous vehicles loose on the streets of San Francisco. It marks the first time the company’s driverless cars will o...
QR Codes Attract Scanners… and Scammers
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic made using QR codes ubiquitous, but does our unquestioning willingness to scan them put us at risk of scams? Authorities think so. WSJ co...
Pro-Russia Hacking Group’s Inner Workings Exposed by Leaker
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A trove of leaked documents has revealed the inner workings of a ransomware group with ties to Russia. What role did politics and national pride play ...
Tech Pushes for Supply Chains to Be Less Global and More Local
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic, trade wars and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have shown how fragile the global supply chain can be. Now tech companies are looking to u...
Uber Teams With NYC Cabbies as Old Foes Become Friends
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ride-hailing once threatened to disrupt the taxi industry. But now Uber has reached a deal with New York City’s taxi alliance to list yellow cabs on...
An End to Passwords? Big Tech Says an Alternative Is Near.
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A tech alliance whose members include Apple, Google and Microsoft says it is readying a system that could let users ditch their online passwords. But ...
Banks’ Use of A.I. Raises Risk of Cyberattacks by Russia, Experts Say
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. has warned critical businesses to be prepared for cyberattacks from Russia. But experts say the growing use of artificial intelligence is rai...
How War in Ukraine Is Interrupting Space Missions
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, governments around the world have worked together to explore space and build a greater understanding of the universe. But Russia’s inva...
Telegram Thrives Even as Russia Drops Digital Iron Curtain
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Russia has been taking steps to block news and social media amid its war in Ukraine. But the app Telegram has remained a place where both sides can st...
Introducing ‘As We Work’
19 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“As We Work” is a new podcast from the Wall Street Journal about the changing workplace and what you need to know to navigate it. Every week, we’...
Investors Want Green Startups to Deliver on Promises
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Clean-technology startups received billions of dollars in funding last year, but investors want to make sure they are delivering on the sustainability...
Could Play-to-Earn Games Change How Online Ownership Works?
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Play-to-earn videogames are allowing gamers to make money by owning and selling NFTs. Some see this as the future of the digital economy, others as a ...
Private 5G Networks Power China’s Industrial Sites
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
China’s ambitious 5G plans are helping fuel the use of high-speed networks by private businesses there, allowing them to rely more heavily on automa...
Women Celebrities Take On Male-Dominated Crypto World
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Reese Witherspoon, Paris Hilton and Gwyneth Paltrow are among the celebrities pushing to see more women in the crypto space. But what kind of advice a...
Amazon’s Lobbying Strategy Wins It Few Friends in Washington
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon is facing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators in Washington, D.C. But its efforts to deal with Capitol Hill often have fallen short or been ...
TikTok’s New Moderation Challenge: Ukraine War Videos
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to an influx of war-related videos on TikTok. WSJ Asia tech reporter Liza Lin joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss ...
Chinese Tech Companies Consider Opportunities as the West Drops Russia
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As western tech companies pull out of Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, Chinese firms are weighing up the opportunity to expand in that m...
Tapping Electric Cars to Power the Electric Grid
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The US power grid is under pressure, forcing energy companies to look for new solutions. One place they are looking at is the nation’s growing fleet...
What YouTube Learned When It Built a Platform for Kids
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As more social-media platforms look for ways to draw in younger users, one of the biggest hurdles is figuring out how to moderate what content they se...
How Tech Companies Are Rethinking Office Work After Two Years Away
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It has been two years since companies sent their employees home due to the pandemic, and over that time tech has dramatically changed the way we work....
Ukraine’s Tech Workers Help War Effort While Still Churning Out Code
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ukraine’s tech sector is carrying on despite the Russian invasion. IT workers across the country are churning out code for clients, while at the sam...
Crypto in Wartime: Bitcoin’s Role in the Russia-Ukraine Crisis
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Russia-Ukraine crisis has caused major disruptions to both countries’ financial systems. But bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are offering a d...
Hacktivists Engage in Cyber ‘Street Fights’ in Defense of Ukraine
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A loosely organized group of hackers has been taking down Russian websites and launching information campaigns in hopes of creating confusion and infl...
In Ukraine Conflict, Social Media Is a Key Weapon
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the Ukrainian army squares off against invading Russian forces, both sides are trying to control the war’s narrative on social media. Tech report...
Is It Time to Change the Rules for Big Tech? Experts Weigh In.
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Regulators in the U.S. and abroad are looking at ways to reign in or even break up big tech companies. But experts disagree on whether shrinking the...
Hackers Targeted Ukraine With Malware Ahead of Russian Invasion
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, cyberattacks and hacking were already part of the conflict. Now cybersecurity experts worry such attacks could spi...
How Crypto Investors Plan to Change Real-Estate Buying
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A group of investors wants to simplify real-estate buying and eventually even set up a city in Wyoming using blockchain technology. WSJ cryptocurrency...
With App Store Bill, Apple Is in an Unusual Position: Playing Defense
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Big tech rivals, app developers and now lawmakers have trained their focus on how Apple runs its App Store. Tech reporter Tim Higgins joins host Zoe T...
Big Tech Agrees to Make Smart Home Devices More Compatible
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Setting up a connected home can be difficult because many smart devices require their own apps or only connect to certain hubs like Amazon Alexa or Ap...
What Comes Next in El Salvador’s Bitcoin Experiment?
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Last September, El Salvador adopted bitcoin as legal tender. The news got a lot of attention, but a few months in, the cryptocurrency has yet to catch...
Google Follows Apple in Plan to Limit Tracking on Smartphones
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Google said it plans to change the way users are tracked across apps on its Android operating system. It marks the latest shakeup for the mobile ad in...
DoorDash Shows Need for Speed With New McDonald’s Fees
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the food-delivery industry, where time is money, DoorDash has come up with a new way to charge McDonald’s restaurants if they move too slowly. WS...
NFT Fakes Challenge Crypto-Goods Marketplace OpenSea
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The NFT marketplace OpenSea has seen huge growth over the past year, but it is struggling with how to protect users from buying fake versions of the d...
Predicting Climate Change Pushes Limits of Computer Models
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To prepare for the impacts of climate change, policy makers are looking for more accurate and precise climate models. But scientists are running up ag...
How the Government Traced Billions in Stolen Bitcoin
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. government said it recovered roughly $3.6 billion in stolen bitcoin this week and arrested two people it said were laundering it. But trackin...
Would You Pay for a String of Emojis? If So, Yats Are for You.
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Some celebrities and investors are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on Yats, unique strings of emojis that can be used as URLs. Some say Yats...
After Nvidia and SoftBank’s Major Chip Deal Fell Through, What’s Next?
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Japanese investor SoftBank and semiconductor manufacturer Nvidia have scrapped their planned $40 billion deal for the chip design specialist Arm. WSJ ...
What Will Working in the Metaverse Be Like?
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Supporters of the metaverse say it will change how we shop, hang out with friends and even how we work. So how would being employed in the metaverse c...
After Covid-19 Vaccines, What Else Can mRNA Tech Do?
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were the first products using mRNA tech to get approved for use. Now scientists and researchers are look...
Facebook’s Metaverse Growing Pains Give Investors a Reality Check
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook’s parent company Meta wants to reposition itself for the metaverse, and it’s spending heavily to do so. But for the moment it’s still a...
Grocery Delivery Startups Rack Up Losses in Bid for Dominance
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Startups aiming to deliver groceries in a matter of minutes are losing lots of money, and fast. Yet venture capitalists keep the investment dollars po...
Crypto Trial Could Reshape How the Industry Is Regulated
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A lawsuit between the Securities and Exchange Commission and crypto startup Ripple Labs will test just how far regulators can go in enforcing old fina...
Social Media Is Making Connected Moms Feel More Lonely
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For Generation X moms, social media used to be the place they could turn to find support. But since the pandemic, they’ve been reporting that it’s...
Who Really Won in the Meme Stock ‘Revolution’?
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many saw the run-up in meme stocks like GameStop and AMC last year as a way for small investors to turn the tables on Wall Street. But a year later, i...
Covid Tests From Tech Startups Promise Accuracy Without the Wait
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Health-tech startups have created lab-like molecular Covid-19 tests that you can use from the comfort of your own home. WSJ Senior Personal Tech Colum...
Threat of Cyberwar in Ukraine Has Companies Preparing for Attacks
27 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As diplomats try to convince Russia to pull troops back from Ukraine's border, companies are preparing for the possible fallout of cyberattacks agains...
How Gen Z Is Reshaping Fintech
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Generation Z has grown up with online banking, payment apps and digital investing platforms. Now as the generation comes of age, financial firms find ...
Facebook’s Free Internet Programs Charged Users Millions of Dollars
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To grow its user base in developing countries, Facebook offered free internet access. But internal company documents show users were charged fees by c...
Nanotech Promised to Change the World. It Already Has.
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, scientists have predicted that nanotechnology would change our world. It may already have. As microchips have gotten smaller, the machine...
Ancestry CEO on DNA Testing, Hybrid Work and Women in Tech
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Deb Liu, CEO of genealogy company Ancestry.com, discusses the challenges women face rising in the tech industry, ways to get ahead and the sometimes d...
Bills to Rein In Big Tech Face Fierce Lobbying Ahead of Key Meeting
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Senate Judiciary Committee is meeting on Thursday to discuss two bills that could rein in the power of big tech, and both the tech giants and thei...
Microsoft to Buy Activision Blizzard… and Its Troubles
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft said it plans to acquire Activision Blizzard, the publisher of games such as World of Warcraft and Candy Crush. Since last year, Activision ...
China’s Tech Sector Attracts Record Investment Despite Crackdown
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
China cracked down on its biggest tech companies last year, but that didn't stop investors from pouring record amounts of funding into the nation’s ...
How Some TikTok Stars Out-Earn Top CEOs
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The highest-earning TikTok star made more last year than the average CEO of an S&P 500 company. WSJ reporter Joseph Pisani joins host Julie Chang to e...
What Apple’s Texting App Tells Us About Its Strategy to Attract Users
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The must-have social network for teens is… iMessage? Apple has created an ecosystem on its iPhone that attracts more than 70% of young smartphone us...
Tech Giants Battle for Metaverse Workers
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Big tech companies have set their sights on building the metaverse as the next digital realm for work, play and shopping. But first they have to build...
Tech to Locate Any Object, Unlock Car Doors, and Eliminate Passwords
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Location technology is getting better and better … and ultra-wideband could soon make it easier to unlock doors, turn on smart devices and even limi...
How Trump’s Social Media Ban Impacted Him, Platforms
09 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
January 8th marked one year since Twitter permanently banned former president Donald Trump from its platform. Other social media companies soon follow...
The US Military's Battle Against Hobby Drones (Armed With Explosives)
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. military’s newest and most-concerning tactical threat is cheap hobby drones rigged with explosives. WSJ’s Middle East correspondent Steph...
EVs Take Center Stage at CES Tech Show
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
General Motors, Chrysler and electronics giant Sony unveiled their visions for the future of electric cars at the tech conference CES. WSJ reporter Mi...
CES Kicks Off With Robot Tables, Smart Remotes And Self-Driving Boats
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The annual consumer tech trade show CES opens to the public in Las Vegas on Wednesday. For decades, the event has been the place to reveal devices tha...
Theranos Founder Holmes Found Guilty on Four Counts in Fraud Trial
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a mixed verdict, Elizabeth Holmes, founder of defunct blood testing startup Theranos, has been found guilty of four of the 11 fraud and conspiracy ...
The New Tech Trends For 2022!
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As 2022 kicks off, how will technology shape the coming year? Will robots, cheaper electric vehicles and drone deliveries change our lives? WSJ’s Te...
Tonal CEO Bets on Fitness Personalization
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Aly Orady, founder and CEO of fitness company Tonal, says artificial intelligence is better and safer than a human trainer. At the WSJ's Tech Live eve...
The TikTok Spiral, Part 3: Escape the Algorithm
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When TikTok users start to feel that the videos being shown to them are harmful to their well-being, how easy is it to disengage? And what responsibil...
The TikTok Spiral, Part 2: Stuck. Together.
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to TikTok videos that discuss mental health, eating disorders and self-harm, deciphering what is helpful and what is harmful can be hard...
The TikTok Spiral, Part 1: Descent
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
TikTok’s powerful algorithm is exceptionally good at engaging users. But what happens when the endless scroll on the app turns into a stream of pote...
Next Week: The TikTok Spiral
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Starting Monday, Tech News Briefing will be bringing you a special series on the potentially devastating impacts of social media, in particular TikTok...
How NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Will See Into Deep Space
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After more than a decade of delays, the most powerful space telescope ever built is set to be launched this weekend. Once in action, the James Webb Sp...
Digital Tricks to Buy Hard-to-Get Items Online
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bots, Facebook groups, 3 a.m. notifications… There are various online tools available to help you sidestep this shopping season’s widespread suppl...
Oracle Wants to Buy Itself a Bigger Spot in the Cloud
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Oracle said it would purchase electronic-medical-records company Cerner for roughly $28 billion. Medical data is one of the top drivers of growth for ...
Could ‘Web 3.0’ Democratize the Internet?
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Some investors, engineers and tech dreamers are developing plans for what they hope will be a better version of the internet. In their vision, “Web ...
How Computer Makers Aim to Cut E-Waste
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Companies are working to develop "circular" manufacturing processes to reduce waste, bring down costs and make electronics easier to repair. But there...
Hackers Backed by Foreign Governments See Opportunity With Log4j Bug
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A major software flaw has cybersecurity experts worried, and now Microsoft and some cybersecurity firms say they have found hackers tied to China and ...
Space Industry's Banner Year: What Comes Next?
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There have been more human space flights this year than any other, and private companies with paying customers are starting to make their mark on the ...
Facebook Shareholders Want More Power Following Investigations
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Shareholders of Facebook parent Meta are calling for a range of changes to how the company operates, following revelations that internal research show...
Google's Plans for Artificial Intelligence Without Bias
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Google's VP of Engineering shares her thoughts on the challenges of developing responsible artificial intelligence and avoiding AI bias with WSJ Colum...
Amazon Upends the Labor Market
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon's growing need for warehouse workers means the company is dominating the hiring market. WSJ reporter Sebastian Herrera joins host Zoe Thomas to...
Musicians Turn to Data to Court Superfans
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic opened up whole new ways for musicians and recording artists to collect data on their audience. Now they are using that data to connect w...
Elon Musk on Federal EV Support, Telepathy and Reusable Rockets
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the electric-vehicle market would be better off without government support or intervention. He spoke with the WSJ's Senior Pe...
Your Data Is Worth a Lot. Should You Get a Cut?
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us unknowingly give away our data for free every time we go online. But a growing number of startups want to help people better manage their p...
How Spies Are Adapting in a Tech-Filled World
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Surveillance cameras, biometrics and smartphone data all make it harder for spies to remain in the shadows. National-security reporter Warren Strobel ...
Nuclear Fusion: The Future of Energy or Just an Investor Fad?
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists have been working for decades to replicate the sun's nearly limitless energy on Earth through nuclear fusion. Now investors are pouring bil...
How One South Korean App Is Helping Asia Embrace the Metaverse
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
SoftBank is investing in Zepeto, a South Korean app popular with young women, where they can buy their 3-D avatars virtual versions of luxury fashion ...
Tech Gifts Sold Out? We've Got Your Backup Plan
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The perfect tech gift might not be easy to come by this holiday shopping season, thanks to supply-chain issues and shipping backlogs. WSJ personal-tec...
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Is Leaving. What Legacy Does He Leave Behind?
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is stepping down as CEO. WSJ Heard on the Street columnist Laura Forman joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the reasons be...
How NASA Plans to Defend Earth: Crash a Probe Into an Asteroid
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
NASA is testing a system designed to protect the Earth from a massive meteor strike. WSJ science writer Robert Lee Hotz joins host Zoe Thomas to discu...
Best Gadgets and Tech Gifts for the Holiday Shopping Season
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal's personal tech team has compiled a list of their favorite gadgets to give as presents this year, beyond laptops, gaming devic...
Venture Capitalist Sarah Guo on the New Challenges Facing Startups
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Guo, a general partner at the venture-capital firm Greylock, speaks with host Zoe Thomas about diversity in Silicon Valley, cybersecurity and ho...
Hulu Caught in Crossfire as Streaming Wars Intensify
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal reports exclusively that NBCUniversal is considering pulling its content from Hulu and keeping it solely on its own streaming ...
Crypto Thieves Target Small-Time Investors
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As more people invest in cryptocurrencies, hackers are targeting retail investors, emptying their digital wallets and making off with their holdings. ...
Inside the Secret Service's Training Lab for Cyber Crime Fighters
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. Secret Service teaches law enforcement officers from across the country how to combat cybercriminals at a training center in Alabama. WSJ Pro...
Roblox Sees Path to Metaverse Through Classrooms
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Videogame platform Roblox is spending $10 million to help develop educational games. Reporter Sarah Needleman joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss why the...
Activision Boss Knew for Years About Sexual Misconduct Accusations
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Employees at Activision Blizzard staged a walkout after a Wall Street Journal investigation found CEO Bobby Kotick knew for years about allegations of...
Bitcoin's Mysterious Creator Could Be Uncovered by Florida Jury
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A trial in Florida is seeking to determine the true identity of the mysterious creator of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, and who is entitled to a digital ...
In Holmes Trial, Ex-Theranos Workers Describe Secretive Culture
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Prosecutors in the trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes are likely to rest their case as soon as this week. In court testimony, some employees h...
Alibaba Looks to Grow 'Singles Day' Amid Mounting Pressures
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is facing a variety of hurdles, from increased regulation to supply-chain constraints. How have those affected the co...
Infrastructure Bill Includes Big Wins for Tech
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The nearly $1 trillion infrastructure bill that's expected to be signed by President Biden contains money for various tech industries and could have a...
Are Solar Cars Ready for Their Moment in the Sun?
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Solar-powered cars could reduce a driver's carbon footprint without leaving them stranded far from a charging station. But when will the technology be...
Your 'Facebook Files' Questions Answered
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal's "Facebook Files" series brought to light many of the social-media giant's failings. WSJ reporter Jeff Horwitz joins host Zoe...