
Engadget News + Next TikTok' US deal finalized, David Ellison extended the deadline for the WBD takeover offer, and Elon Musk said Tesla will sell humanoid robots next year
Jan 23, 2026
TikTok has finalized its U.S. deal, selling a majority stake to non-Chinese investors to dodge a ban. In a high-stakes move, David Ellison has extended his $108.4 billion takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, aiming for investor approval. Meanwhile, Elon Musk made waves at the World Economic Forum by announcing that Tesla's humanoid robots will hit the market next year, sparking excitement and skepticism about their capabilities. Each topic offers a glimpse into the ever-evolving tech landscape!
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TikTok's U.S. Ownership Restructured
- TikTok's U.S. entity will be majority-owned by non-Chinese investors while ByteDance keeps 20%.
- The joint venture promises U.S. data protection, Oracle cloud hosting, U.S. algorithm training, and U.S. content moderation.
High-Stakes Bidding For Warner Bros. Discovery
- Paramount Skydance extended its $108.4B all-cash takeover offer for Warner Bros. Discovery until February 20th.
- The bid competes with Netflix's $82.7B deal and includes lawsuits and regulatory approval concerns.
Ellison's Past Dealcraft And Political Leverage
- David Ellison previously merged Skydance with Paramount using backing from his father, Larry Ellison, and political ties.
- That earlier approval relied on promises about CBS News content and avoiding DEI programs to secure regulators.
