WSJ Tech News Briefing

As we look ahead to next year, CEOs are doubling down on AI spending despite growing investor fears of a bubble. We break down the latest data and trends on AI with WSJ tech reporters Belle Lin and Chip Cutter, along with enterprise technology bureau chief at the WSJ Leadership Institute Steven Rosenbush. Plus, we discuss the next major battlegrounds for AI regulation, growing energy demands, and preview the impact on the job market. Danny Lewis hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: China's gaming market could continue to grow in 2026. And Louis V. Gerstner Jr., former IBM CEO, dies at 83. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Psychiatrists say using AI chatbots might be linked to psychosis. And some audiobooks are outselling hardcovers. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Nvidia and Coupang shares jump. And analysts say Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix could benefit from DRAM demand. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: China sanctions U.S. defense companies and executives including Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Palmer Luckey over Taiwan arms sale. And Google will let users change their Gmail address. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles purchases expired in September, some consumers are questioning whether the battery-powered cars are really worth their price tags. WSJ reporters Imani Moise and Ryan Felton join us to talk about how automakers—and buyers—are rethinking their EV strategies as the industry landscape shifts. Isabelle Bousquette hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Layoffs are expected across the marketing industry as leaders face pressure over AI savings, according to a survey by Spencer Stuart. And Samsung is set to acquire ZF Group's ADAS unit for about $1.76 billion. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: China's BYD logs another month of strong sales growth in Europe. And the U.S. bans new China-made drones. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Technology like the Dadss alcohol-detection system uses sensors to measure a driver's blood alcohol level, but there are some major barriers standing in the way of widespread adoption. WSJ reporter Ryan Felton discusses the tech and what's holding it back. Plus, WSJ reporter Katie Bindley explores why some of today's tech founders aren't just young—they're in their teens. Belle Lin hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Coinbase to acquire The Clearing Company to become an “everything exchange.” And Italy fines Apple roughly $115 million over the company's app tracking policy. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Larry Ellison provides personal guarantee for Paramount's bid for Warner Bros. Discovery as Netflix lines up bank financing for its own offer. And Baidu partners with Uber and Lyft for robotaxis in the U.K. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: BioMarin Pharmaceutical to acquire biotech Amicus Therapeutics for about $4.8 billion. And high-speed trading firm Jump Trading is accused of contributing to the collapse of Terraform Labs. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: TikTok signs deal to create new U.S. joint venture. And Meta Platforms is developing a new image and video-focused AI model. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we close out 2025, the IPO market is already heating up. And it's going to get hotter next year, with some major tech IPOs on the horizon. WSJ reporter Corrie Driebusch shares what's ahead. Plus, WSJ Heard on the Street columnist Dan Gallagher explains why Micron's blowout results could mean higher prices for anyone buying a new phone or PC next year. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: An Iran-linked hacker group targeted a former Israeli prime minister. And defense group Rheinmetall partners with satellite operator ICEYE to supply German armed forces with space reconnaissance. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Accenture sales rise on AI bookings. And DoorDash teams up with OpenAI to offer grocery shopping in ChatGPT. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: a star witness in FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's criminal trial leaves prison early. And the Oscars are going to YouTube. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Shares of Chinese AI chip startup MetaX skyrocket on their first day of trading. And California gives Tesla 90 days to change its Autopilot advertising. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: The data-center boom is helping prop up the labor market. But AI bonds stay under pressure. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Invictus Growth Partners to acquire Informed.IQ, an AI-based fraud detection company. And PayPal applies to establish its own bank. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The estate of victim Suzanne Eberson Adams is suing OpenAI for wrongful death, alleging that ChatGPT played an active role in turning her killer, Stein-Erik Soelberg, against her. Wall Street Journal family and tech columnist Julie Jargon discusses the lawsuit. Plus, WSJ contributor Lisa Ward explains why you might be safer surfing the web on your phone rather than your computer. Belle Lin hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Ford to take $19.5 billion charge to write down EV investments. And Xerox seeks new debt financing backed by intellectual property. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: CEOs plan to keep spending on AI, despite spotty returns. And the maker of Roomba declares bankruptcy. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: The Trump administration conditionally approves plans for new cryptocurrency-focused national banks. And bond markets signal growing risk about a potential AI bubble. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Broadcom stock is poised for its largest drop since April. And OpenAI releases GPT-5.2. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SpaceX and Blue Origin are trying to move the trillion-dollar data-center boom into orbit, but getting there will take a whole lot of cash. Wall Street Journal reporter Micah Maidenberg lays out what's ahead in this new space race. Plus, WSJ reporter Ellen Gamerman explains what's next for Tilly Norwood, the AI actress who's shaking up Hollywood. Katie Deighton hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Ford Motor and SK Group end their partnership to produce EV batteries in the U.S. And regular companies are finally beating tech stocks. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Oracle stock is on pace for its worst day since January. And smartphone and laptop makers will face a squeeze from the renewed rise in memory prices, warns research firm TrendForce. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Investors bet that a higher bid for Warner Bros. is coming. And YouTube TV will offer cheaper, pared-down channel bundles. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Amazon and Microsoft are set to pour over $50 billion into India. And a new poll found CEOs are all in on AI. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Walmart's new AI era. And Canada ramps up its military satellite communications capabilities. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Anthropic and Accenture strike a three-year partnership to sell AI services to businesses. And the EU has opened an antitrust investigation into Alphabet's Google. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russian President Vladimir Putin has often proclaimed that the country must lead the world in artificial intelligence, yet the country is currently stuck on the sidelines as other nations pull ahead. Wall Street Journal foreign correspondent Georgi Kantchev explains why. Plus, the arrival of AI agents is transforming work already—debugging code, designing products, and delivering ROI. Steven Rosenbush, chief of the enterprise technology bureau, details how companies like Walmart and BNY are already seeing results. Julie Chang hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: NextEra Energy announces partnerships with Google Cloud and Exxon Mobile. And Apple's chips chief says he's staying put. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: IBM strikes $11 billion deal for Confluent. And President Trump says he will sign an executive order targeting state AI laws. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: The EU fines X $140 million over breaches of Digital Services Act. And shares of Moore Threads, a Chinese competitor to Nvidia, soars in its market debut. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Meta Platforms plans cuts to its metaverse division. And The New York Times escalates battle against Perplexity with new lawsuit. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump hopes to build factories around the country to power the manufacturing of AI components. Eliot Brown reports that SoftBank's Masayoshi Son is closing in on a deal that would help make that happen. Plus, Marc Vartabedian reports on why venture capitalists aren't taking AI startups at their word when it comes to revenue. Patrick Coffee hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Paramount raises concerns about Netflix's bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. And Snowflake stock drops. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: The European Union plans to launch a formal bidding process for AI gigafactories early next year. And Democratic lawmakers press tech companies about White House ballroom donations. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Micron will wind down its Crucial brand to focus on AI and data-center market. And as trade tensions with China mount, the EU launches a $3.5 billion plan to secure raw materials. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Svedka's first Super Bowl ad will be made primarily with AI. And Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the AI data-center boom will drive down power costs. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices