WSJ Tech News Briefing

Plus: Disney hires Character.AI CEO as entertainment company’s first chief technology officer. And AI startup Manus seeks to raise $500 million and weighs Hong Kong IPO. Julie Chang hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Hackers used Anthropic’s Claude tools to hack OpenAI. And Coinbase is seeking approval to list perpetual futures. Danny Lewis hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman once referred to combining ads and AI as “uniquely unsettling.” But now, the tech giant is rapidly building an advertising business. The Journal’s advertising editor Suzanne Vranica dives into OpenAI’s ad rush. Plus, AI voice-cloning tools have gotten so good that they can now replicate accents . WSJ contributor Heidi Mitchell explains why your accent might suddenly be a security vulnerability. Julie Chang hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Two senators ask FTC to probe Amazon and Walmart on how chatbots handle “Made in the USA” data. And Costco expands same-day delivery with Uber and DoorDash partnerships. Julie Chang hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Mastercard and Alchemy are partnering on AI shopping tools. And Nokia partners with Microsoft to offer agentic support for telecommunications companies. Danny Lewis hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: The House Ways and Means Committee advances bipartisan crypto bill. And ByteDance’s revenue grows but AI spending pressures profits. Julie Chang hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Novo Nordisk teams up with Anthropic to speed up drug discovery. And Mistral aims to grow AI consumer base through Mozilla partnership. Julie Chang hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Crypto exchange CoinEx, which was a hub for illicit Iran cash, shutters. And federal regulators probe if Tesla’s Cybercab conflicts with safety standards. Julie Chang hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: China implements new restrictions on leaving the country amid intensifying tech race. And OpenAI quietly bought a smartphone camera startup. Danny Lewis hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AI industry engineers and leaders are warning their own tech could spell the end of humanity as we know it. WSJ Deputy Tech & Media Editor Sam Schechner dives into the AI doom debate and what steps companies could take to stop it. Plus, worried your EV might run out of juice before you find a plug? WSJ reporter Chistopher Otts tells us about a new solution automakers are betting on: extended range EVs . Julie Chang hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: New York City council members want to ban YouTube in schools. And a new coalition by Amazon, Netflix and YouTube will advocate for consumer choice in online content. Julie Chang hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Chip stocks tumble. And Airbnb sets up $250 million housing development fund. Danny Lewis hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The millions of Americans living with mental illness—as well as people dealing with life’s everyday stresses—often struggle to see a therapist when they need one. That’s a big reason why many people have started turning to AI tools such as ChatGPT for emotional support. But as a number of high-profile lawsuits show, that can sometimes lead to devastating outcomes. Companies creating AI for mental health say they can do better. Today, we’re bringing Tech News Briefing listeners Part 1 of “The AI Therapist,” a special What’s News series we think you’ll enjoy. In this episode, host Alex Ossola and WSJ audio producer Pierre Bienaimé explore the growing field of these purpose-built tools, and how people are already using them. The AI Therapist: A WSJ Podcast Series Further Reading: Chatbots Are Replacing Therapists With Little Scientific Evidence Behind Them Teens Seek Mental-Health Help From Chatbots. That’s Dangerous, Says New Study. How AI Advice Is Undermining Eating-Disorder Therapy When There’s No School Counselor, There’s a Bot Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs new laws to protect children online. And AI is boosting the U.K. economy. Julie Chang hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: The Pentagon is in talks to lend $5 billion to AI startup Fluidstack. And former OpenAI executive Fidji Simo joins Nscale’s board. Imani Moise hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apple is betting its new iPhone Duo can bring foldable phones into the mainstream. WSJ personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen shares her first impressions of the nearly $2,000 device. Plus, WSJ reporter Micah Maidenberg explains how the sharp uptick in satellites and debris in low-Earth orbit is fueling concerns about potential collisions. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Boston Scientific restores key operations after cyberattack. And Mistral partners with Cloudera to grow its enterprise customer base. Julie Chang hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: AI chip startup Positron valued at $5 billion in new funding round. And laser fusion tech could play a new role in modern warfare. Imani Moise hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Anthropic researcher quits over AI fears. And the Department of Justice requests additional information on Fox’s acquisition of Roku. Julie Chang hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: U.S. security agencies accuse Chinese firms of exploiting American AI models. And Google to spend more than $15 billion on AI infrastructure in Finland. Imani Moise hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.