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Tech News Briefing is your guide to what people in tech are talking about. Every weekday, we’ll bring you breaking tech news and scoops from the pros at the Wall Street Journal, insight into new innovations and policy debates, tips from our personal tech team, and exclusive interviews with movers and shakers in the industry.
President Trump has stated he will direct the US Trade Representative's office to investigate new tariffs on the European Union. This action is in response to the EU's announcement of a $1 billion fine against Alphabet's Google for breaching digital competition rules. The investigation will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Verizon Communications reported a 0.7% year-over-year decrease in second-quarter revenue, amounting to $34.25 billion, which fell short of analyst expectations. The company cited a nearly 20% drop in equipment revenue due to longer device holding periods. Verizon is exploring new revenue streams, including AI infrastructure, and announced a deal with Google worth over $1 billion for dark fiber usage.
Charter Communications experienced its fourth consecutive quarterly revenue decline, with second-quarter revenue down 1.7% to $13.5 billion. The company reported a profit of $1.29 billion, below expectations, and lost 172,000 internet subscribers and 20,000 video customers during the quarter. This decline is attributed to competition from fixed wireless and fiber services, as well as cord-cutting.
Dave Brown, a top executive from Amazon Web Services, is reportedly leaving Amazon to join Meta. Brown will bring his extensive experience in cloud infrastructure to Meta, focusing on the company's data center expansion. This move signals Meta's increasing investment in computing resources amid soaring AI usage.
Chinese AI startup Moonshot AI has launched a new AI model named Kimi K3, which the company claims outperforms some leading US AI systems. Moonshot AI plans to release Kimi K3 as an open-source model later this month, describing it as the world's largest open-source model with 2.8 trillion parameters.
Data analytics software provider Data Bricks is reportedly nearing a valuation of $188 billion following a new $3 billion funding round led by Coatue Management. This new valuation represents a 40% increase since December and marks a rare Series M funding round for the startup.
Meta is planning to spend up to $145 billion on capital expenditures this year, with a significant portion dedicated to building out AI data centers. This investment is driven by the continuous surge in AI usage and Meta's expanding ambitions in computing resources.
The Japanese government announced plans to buy 27,500 Nvidia AI chips to establish its own domestic AI ecosystem. These chips will support a computing hub launching in 2028, aimed at developing "physical AI" that enables machines to interact with the real world. This move is part of Japan's broader strategy for technological independence.
The UK's media watchdog, Ofcom, is investigating TikTok's age verification processes due to concerns they may fail to adequately prevent children from accessing harmful content. Under the Online Safety Act, social media firms are required to use effective age assurance methods. TikTok maintains confidence in its compliance and plans to work with Ofcom.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported quarterly earnings that surpassed Wall Street's expectations and announced an additional $100 billion investment in the US. This new commitment increases TSMC's total planned US investment to $265 billion, which its CEO described as the largest direct foreign investment in US history. The company's performance signals the continued strength of the AI boom.
SpaceX shares dipped below their initial public offering price of $135 for the first time, trading as low as $132 before a slight recovery. The rocket maker's stock performance is being watched closely, especially with an upcoming Starship rocket test flight. Investors are also considering the company's investments in Starship for its AI and satellite communications ambitions.
Australia plans to implement new standards for AI providers and large data centers, requiring them to underwrite their own electricity and water supplies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the government will soon introduce these rules to prevent data centers from impacting consumer energy bills. The National Cabinet will discuss these standards in August, with legislation anticipated early next year.
A group of current and former Meta employees are suing the company, alleging that its use of AI during recent layoffs resulted in discrimination against workers with disabilities or those on protected leave. This federal lawsuit is among the first in the U.S. to examine AI's role in termination decisions. Meta has denied the allegations, asserting that human decision-making, not AI, determined workforce management.
Cheap USB-C chargers and cables are causing an increase in broken iPhones, according to WSJ's Natalie Kaufman. The lack of proper safeguards and voltage regulation in inexpensive chargers can damage a device's motherboard and touchscreen functionality.
The U.S. government, through the Trump administration, has become Intel's largest shareholder, raising concerns about the role of government intervention in the tech industry. Reporter Robbie Whelan explains that this involvement goes beyond financial support, with the administration actively influencing potential customers to partner with Intel.
Intel's recent turnaround is attributed to a combination of factors, including the AI boom and significant support from the Trump administration. Reporter Robbie Whelan highlights that the administration converted federal grants into an equity stake and leveraged personal relationships to secure deals for Intel.
Robbie Whelan discusses the risks associated with government involvement in corporate affairs, particularly concerning taxpayer money allocation. He notes that Intel's recent struggles in the AI chip industry present an execution risk, where failure could lead to significant losses for both the company and the government.
K.J., co-founder of GenSpark, emphasizes the critical role of collaboration with trusted partners, such as Anthropic, in the success of his AI workspace startup. He states that openness and deep mutual trust are key to a successful partnership with a tight feedback loop.
OpenAI's number two executive, Fjii Simo, plans to step down from her full-time role after an extended medical leave due to a worsening condition. She will transition to a part-time advisor role at the ChatGPT maker, which is preparing for its IPO and competing with rivals like Anthropic.
A European Union regulator has preliminarily found that Meta Platforms breached the Digital Services Act by failing to adequately protect users' health from addictive platform designs. The European Commission's findings could lead to significant fines if confirmed.
A coalition of record labels and artist groups is urging streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music to implement new labels for AI-generated music. The proposed tags would distinguish between tracks with human involvement using AI and those entirely created by AI, including AI-generated lead vocals.
The Digital Media Association, representing companies including Spotify and Apple, has stated its openness to implementing more detailed and accurate AI metadata on music tracks. This follows a proposal from artist and label groups for clear labeling of AI-generated music.
Rami Rahim from HPE highlighted the necessity of AI-powered self-driving networks to manage the increasing complexity of modern enterprises and combat cyber threats. He emphasized that manual management is no longer feasible due to the vast number of connected devices and AI agents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has formally requested that robotaxi manufacturers enhance how their autonomous vehicles interact with emergency personnel. The agency cited instances where self-driving cars obstructed emergency scenes and failed to recognize critical safety cues like flashing lights and smoke. NHTSA plans to meet with companies by month's end to discuss their proposed solutions.
Chinese officials are reportedly discussing potential restrictions on the export of their AI models, which are increasingly utilized by U.S. companies as cost-effective alternatives to Western AI. Measures under consideration include stricter regulatory reviews and limitations on foreign investment. These discussions are said to be in their initial stages.
Research firm IDC indicates that demand for personal computers may remain weak for the remainder of the year, with over half of surveyed partners reporting clients delaying hardware upgrades. Global PC shipments fell 3.6% in the second quarter, attributed to rising memory and storage costs that increased retail prices by 20-40%.
Ramy Raheem from HPE emphasizes the necessity of AI-powered self-driving networks to manage the escalating complexity and cyber threats of modern connectivity. He states that manual intervention is no longer feasible due to the sheer volume of connected devices and AI agents. AI is essential for network deployment, issue identification, and remediation.
China's National Vulnerability Database has identified security vulnerabilities in Anthropic's Claude code, released between April and June. The government agency stated that the AI tool's monitoring mechanism could send sensitive user information, such as location and identity, to remote servers without consent. China has advised users to uninstall the software or update to the latest version.
Apple plans to invest over $30 billion with Broadcom in the next five years for U.S.-made chips. This new deal is expected to produce more than 15 billion chips domestically and represents the largest specified investment to date as part of Apple's $600 billion pledge to invest in the U.S. over four years.
Apple's appeal against the EU's classification of its iOS operating system and App Store under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has been rejected by Europe's General Court. The DMA classifies major tech companies as gatekeepers and imposes rules for the European digital economy. Apple can still appeal the decision to the Court of Justice of the EU.
Amazon is preparing to issue at least $25 billion in new US dollar bonds, following a significant $37 billion issuance in March and over $20 billion in foreign currency bonds recently. The company, alongside other tech giants like Alphabet, Meta, and Nvidia, is leveraging the bond market to fund its investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has announced plans to sell 75 million shares of common stock. The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including meeting equity requirements for a US Department of Energy loan aimed at supporting the construction of its new EV manufacturing facility in Georgia.
Rivian has recently started selling its new R2 SUV, which features a lower price point than its previous models. The company is aiming to achieve the same mainstream sales success that Tesla experienced with its Model Y as it advances its autonomous driving technology.
The US trade deficit saw a significant increase of over 42% in May, reaching its highest point since March 2025. This widening is attributed to increased imports of products such as pharmaceuticals, vehicles, and semiconductors, fueled by the AI boom, while exports declined.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons, also known as "killer robots," stating they are morally repugnant. This call comes amid growing concerns about the use of AI in military applications and public backlash against the potential negative societal impacts of AI, such as job displacement and increased electricity prices.
Microsoft is laying off more than 3,000 employees from its Xbox video game division and plans to sell or spin off several game development studios. This move reflects a broader trend of layoffs across the video game industry, which experienced aggressive expansion during the pandemic followed by a slowdown as consumer behavior shifted.
SpaceX is set to be officially added to the Nasdaq 100 index tomorrow, prompting index-tracking funds with $800 billion in assets to prepare for significant share purchases. While this inclusion is expected to provide a short-term boost to SpaceX's stock price, long-term gains are not guaranteed.
Scott Wu, CEO of AI startup Cognition, discussed the company's AI software engineer, Deven, which aims to accelerate software development globally. Wu highlighted how their collaboration with Anthropic's Claude AI model has enabled them to deliver advanced capabilities and usher in a new era of software engineering.
The Federal Aviation Administration is reportedly preparing to mandate the use of technology that helps pilots detect nearby aircraft. This move comes in response to a deadly mid-air collision last year and would likely require most aircraft to use ADS-B systems, though industry groups are divided on cost and implementation flexibility.
A consortium of major companies, including Google, Coinbase, and BlackRock, is planning to launch a stablecoin named Open USD later this year. The stablecoin will be available on multiple blockchains, including Base, Solana, and others, and has already attracted support from 140 companies like Visa, Stripe, and Mastercard.
Siemens Energy's shares increased by over 5% following strong demand for its grid technologies, particularly from AI data centers. The company reported a record order backlog in May and raised its full-year guidance, with its grid technologies division showing significant growth and profitability.
Taiwanese authorities are intensifying their investigation into the alleged illicit export of advanced AI servers, manufactured by Super Microcomputer and equipped with Nvidia chips, to China. The probe has led to charges against six individuals for offenses including document forgery and breach of trust, stemming from a May investigation into three alleged exporters. Super Micro has stated its cooperation with officials to safeguard its technology.
Australia's consumer watchdog has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the company used unfair contract terms to introduce advertising to its local streaming service for over 850,000 customers. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission claims Amazon unilaterally altered service terms without customer compensation, specifically concerning the addition of ads in 2024. The commission seeks financial penalties and customer redress.
Luxshare Precision Industry, an assembler of iPhones and other Apple products, is exploring a $3.1 billion listing in Hong Kong, potentially the largest of the year. The Chinese company has secured significant backing from cornerstone investors, including Temasek and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Luxshare intends to use the proceeds for production expansion and research, anticipating substantial growth in its data center business.
Sharing passwords for AI chatbots like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT can lead to significant privacy and security risks, exposing sensitive personal information. Unlike sharing Netflix accounts, chatbot data can reveal details about work, health, and personal life, with potential for wider exposure through screenshots.
Sharing AI chatbot accounts can degrade performance as the AI is trained on diverse and potentially conflicting data from multiple users. This can lead to confused outputs and a less effective user experience, according to users who have experienced this issue.
OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, explicitly discourages users from sharing their accounts, recommending individual sign-ups and highlighting a group chat feature for collaboration. The company emphasizes that account sharing impacts data security and the personalization of the AI model.
Major tech companies are increasingly using AI agents to handle multi-step tasks, moving beyond simple summarization or drafting. Employees in these firms act as fact-checkers, reviewing the AI's output, which provides an early look at how white-collar work may evolve.
Google's finance team is utilizing an AI agent for invoice validation, a task that involves reviewing invoices against contract terms for discrepancies. This AI implementation is projected to save the company approximately $200 million per year by preventing overpayments on incorrect invoices.
Companies like Google are using AI to increase output without increasing headcount, maintaining a flat workforce while producing more. OpenAI's legal team is leveraging AI for tasks previously done by junior associates, with incoming hires expected to focus on more advanced AI oversight.
Implementing AI agents can lead to friction between departments, as different teams may have conflicting views on AI's role in tasks like contract review. Furthermore, the efficiency of AI can create new operational challenges, such as backlogs of flagged issues that require further human or AI intervention.
Strategy announced a significant financial maneuver today, planning to repurchase up to $1 billion of its preferred shares and $1 billion of its common stock to restore market confidence. The company, led by Michael Saylor, also indicated it might sell Bitcoin valued at up to $1.25 billion to cover dividend payments, debt interest, and fund its repurchase program.
European aerospace giant Airbus is set to receive a record-breaking $3.4 billion loan from the European Investment Bank. This substantial financing aims to bolster the company's research and development efforts through 2030, focusing on commercial aviation, security, and defense.
Satellite pay TV provider Dish DBS is reportedly on the verge of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as early as Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the matter. The unit of Echostar has faced prolonged struggles with significant debt and declining subscriber numbers.
Comcast plans to separate its media and connectivity businesses into two publicly traded companies. The cable giant intends to spin off NBCUniversal and Sky to create a pure-play media company. This move comes as broadband businesses face challenges from cell phone carriers and media companies invest heavily in streaming services without achieving sufficient scale.
The South Korean government announced that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will invest over $500 billion in a new chip-making hub. This initiative aims to create four new memory chip plants in the southwest region, a shift from their current production centers in the Seoul region. Both companies are the world's largest memory chipmakers, with market capitalizations exceeding $1 trillion.
Rocket Lab has agreed to purchase space infrastructure company PCI for $800 million. The acquisition will provide Rocket Lab with control over a satellite fleet and access to wireless resources to better compete with SpaceX. This deal aims to combine Rocket Lab's launch and manufacturing capabilities with PCI's global reach and spectrum holdings.