WSJ Tech News Briefing TNB Tech Minute: Amazon to Lay Off Up to 30,000 Employees
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Oct 28, 2025 Katie Pizzolatto, Vice President at IBM Quantum Platform, dives into the fascinating world of quantum computing. She explores its potential to revolutionize drug development and materials discovery, highlighting unforeseen applications that could reshape various industries. In addition, there are major tech headlines, including Amazon's plan to lay off up to 30,000 employees, and insights into Fireworks AI's impressive $4 billion valuation and Substrate's ambitious $100 million chip manufacturing initiative in the U.S.
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Quantum's Unknown Future And Near-Term Wins
- Katie Pizzolatto recalls the unknown potential of quantum computing compared with the dawn of classical computing.
- She highlights near-term gains in drug development, materials discovery, and optimization from quantum acceleration.
Amazon Plans Large Corporate Layoffs
- Amazon will cut up to 30,000 roles as it seeks to slim down and conserve cash across corporate teams.
- The company offers most affected employees 90 days to find internal roles, indicating internal redeployment is a priority.
Fireworks AI Hits $4B Valuation
- Fireworks AI raised $254 million and is valued at $4 billion for its AI inference work connecting developers to advanced chips and models.
- The funding reflects a shift in the industry from training models to operating them for everyday use.