The Information's TITV TikTok’s Shocking $14B Valuation, Google Antitrust Case, $10B Enigma of Mira Murati | Sep 26, 2025
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Sep 26, 2025 Join Catherine Perloff, an advertising reporter at The Information, as she unpacks the intriguing developments in the Google antitrust case, discussing the implications of a potential breakup on the ad market. Steve LeVine, the electric-vehicles correspondent, sheds light on the Trump administration's strategy to invest in critical minerals and how it may impact the EV supply chain. They also delve into the mysterious $10 billion startup by Mira Murati, exploring its ambitious goals and the factors drawing significant investor interest.
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TikTok Valued Far Below Earlier Estimates
- The US-approved TikTok U.S. deal values the business at $14 billion, far below past expectations and peak implied values.
- National-security pressure and negotiation timing likely forced ByteDance to accept a steep discount, per Katie Roof.
Deal Likely Hybrid Ownership With Unclear Terms
- Reports say Chinese shareholders may retain a non‑majority stake while U.S. entities control security, suggesting a hybrid ownership structure.
- Key deal details like exact ownership percentages and board control remain unresolved and fluid.
Breakup Versus Behavioral Fixes In Google Case
- The government seeks a structural remedy: selling Google's publisher-facing ad tech, while Google wants behavioral fixes instead.
- The judge is actively questioning whether a breakup will help or hurt a shrinking web-ad market.