WSJ Tech News Briefing

A quick rundown of AMD’s stellar quarter and its surprising stock dip despite strong AI-driven data‑center forecasts. A look at Uber’s fourth‑quarter profit decline and the accounting hit behind it. Big funding news as ElevenLabs raises $500 million and outlines aggressive growth plans in conversational AI.

A quick rundown on Walmart hitting a $1 trillion market cap thanks to online growth, automation and AI. Coverage of Anthropic's new AI tools and their impact on legal publishing stocks. A widening tech selloff that drags down major data providers like S&P Global and FactSet.

SpaceX buys xAI and the combined company is pegged at a $1.25 trillion valuation. France raids a major social platform over alleged algorithm bias and deepfake scandals. Spain plans to bar under-16s from social media and push legal accountability onto platform leaders.

Amrith Ramkumar, a WSJ tech and crypto policy reporter, outlines the clash between Coinbase and major banks and Brian Armstrong's role. Angus Loten, a WSJ cybersecurity reporter, explores rising insider threats and how attackers recruit and exploit employees. They cover bank-crypto friction, stablecoin tensions, recruitment tactics, and the costs of insider breaches.

Chris Lyon, a technology executive at Twilio who focuses on AI-driven customer personalization, joins to discuss how AI tailors customer journeys at scale. He also comments on Starlink restricting unauthorized use by Russian drones and the coordination behind whitelisting terminals. Short takes touch on U.S. plans for a rare-earth stockpile and Saks winding down its Amazon storefront.

Chris Lyon, tech industry spokesperson at Twilio, explains how AI analyzes user data to create personalized customer experiences. He discusses scalable recommendations and the role of AI in tailoring interactions. Short, clear takes on AI-driven personalization and its impact on customer engagement.

Christoph Beck, a business executive at Ecolab who advises on sustainability and water-efficiency for data centers. He appears in the sponsored segment. Short takes cover NYC ordering Uber Eats to pay $3.5M for delivery worker pay issues. Other briefs include Tesla share moves tied to merger reports and Charter’s subscriber shifts.

Christoph Beck, Chairman and CEO of Ecolab, offers a quick perspective on data-center water and sustainability practices. The segment touches on plunging cryptocurrency prices and market volatility. It also covers Apple’s tight iPhone inventory due to chip constraints and LG Electronics’ recent quarterly loss.

Ed Ballard, WSJ energy and mining columnist, outlines efforts to recycle rare earths from electronic waste. Dan Gallagher, WSJ market columnist, breaks down why Meta and Microsoft’s AI spending produced different stock reactions. They discuss recycling methods versus mining, supply implications, and contrasting corporate AI strategies in short, punchy segments.

Christoph Beck, Chairman and CEO of Ecolab, a leader in water and sustainability solutions, provides commentary on data-center sustainability and water-efficiency practices. He explains challenges in cooling and conserving water in large facilities. The segment highlights practical approaches and industry trends in making tech infrastructure greener.