Tech News Briefing

Apple has announced a new, lower-cost entry-level phone and laptop. WSJ personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen shares an inside look at the latest colorful devices — and what they mean for Apple’s strategy going forward. Plus, companies offering prediction markets, where users can bet on anything from celebrity appearances to military strikes, are marketing to college students. Wall Street Journal...

Plus: Canada says OpenAI has agreed to take immediate steps regarding notifying police about potentially suspicious use of ChatGPT. And Netflix acquires Ben Affleck’s AI filmmaking company. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: a top South Korean lawmaker warns that a prolonged Middle East conflict could disrupt the chip industry. And the owner of the New York Stock Exchange is investing in one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: nuclear regulators gave the greenlight for a Bill Gates-backed project to begin construction. And semiconductor tool supplier ASM International posted a better-than-expected finish to its latest quarter. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Kraken becomes the first crypto firm to win access to the Federal Reserve’s core payments system. And OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended his Pentagon deal during an all-hands meeting. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Goldman Sachs report predicts artificial intelligence will displace 6% of the US workforce. And Verizon has discussed revising or exiting its NFL partnership as part of a company-wide push to reduce costs. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Elliott Investment Management invests $1 billion in Pinterest. And Ziff Davis has struck a $1.2 billion deal to sell its connectivity division to Accenture. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year, roughly 40 data centers in Virginia suddenly dropped off the power grid, threatening to crash the system. A WSJ exclusive from reporter Katherine Blunt details this growing threat to power grids as companies across the country build infrastructure to power the AI boom. Plus, WSJ reporter Sean McLain joins to discuss Amazon’s strategy for catching up in the AI race. Peter Champelli hosts...

Plus: DraftKings is planning to introduce prediction markets to its app. And investors are returning to tech stocks amid the fallout of U.S. attacks on Iran. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Nvidia is investing $2 billion in advanced optic technology companies Lumentum and Coherent. And Chinese artificial intelligence startup MiniMax’s annual revenue surged in 2025. Anthony Bansie hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Paramount wins bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix drops out. And Trump Media in talks to spin off businesses into a new publicly traded company. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wades into the standoff between Anthropic and the Pentagon. And how Jack Dorsey explained cutting nearly half of Block’s staff. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once a bankable, buoyant sector, software is turning off investors spooked by an AI-powered future. WSJ markets reporter Jack Pitcher explains how we got here. Plus, personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen is here with tips to avoid those dreaded “ storage full ” alerts. Katie Deighton hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

Plus: Nvidia stock falls after earnings, drags down shares of European chip companies. And Sam Altman’s ‘human verification’ startup leans on household brands to sell a far-out concept. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Mistral AI lands tech consulting group Accenture as latest big client. And Stellantis targets return to profit after scaling back costly EV investments. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Shares of Workday pare early losses. And Samsung releases a new line of flagship smartphones with AI features. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: DoorDash to wind down Deliveroo and Wolt operations in Qatar, Singapore, Japan and Uzbekistan. And Spain ramps up pressure on Apple and Amazon in a yearslong antitrust case. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Stripe sees more successful and high-growth businesses join its platform as AI coding tools continue to advance. And China’s BYD sees blockbuster sales growth in Europe. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Apple to move some Mac Mini desktop computer production from Asia to Houston. And Anthropic announces updates to Claude Cowork. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chip makers and other suppliers are building plants on American soil, spurred on by the promises of Big Tech’s investment in U.S. industry. WSJ reporter Rolfe Winkler takes us behind the scenes of the effort to manufacture technology onshore. Plus, how low can you go when it comes to headcount? Enterprise reporter Belle Lin explains why that’s the question all AI startups are asking in their bid t...

Plus: Financial stocks also take a hit. And Anthropic accuses three Chinese companies of siphoning data from Claude. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Renault to take full control of Flexis electric-van. And Nvidia chips for laptop computers set to hit the market this year. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Google is looking to expand the market for its AI chips to better compete with Nvidia. And India joins Pax Silica, a group of nations aiming to counter China’s influence in new technology and AI. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Apple’s foray into smartglasses could be a boon, not a threat, for EssilorLuxottica. And theft of trade secrets is on the rise. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Data centers are a booming business, and their rapid expansion is being felt across industries. On today’s show, we’re taking a look at two. In some regions of the country, big tech is buying up a lot of land to build data centers. Reporter Will Parker explains why some developers and homeowners aren’t happy. Plus, Heard on the Street columnist Jinjoo Lee tells us how every engine of the economy i...