WSJ Tech News Briefing

Technology from Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain implant company allowed a patient to move a cursor with his brain and play videogames. WSJ reporter Rolfe Winkler joins host Zoe Thomas to explain how the implant works and the approaches of rival companies. Plus, Google has ended a plan to eliminate cookies on Chrome. We’ll tell you what comes next. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, Uber and Lyft win a court battle to treat drivers as contractors. And online education company 2U files for bankruptcy. Zoe Thomas hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chinese scientists have become more secretive about their supercomputer development. These machines are essential to improving artificial intelligence, developing vaccines, and predicting hurricanes. But now it’s harder to determine whether China or the U.S. has the fastest supercomputers. WSJ reporter Stu Woo joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss how this happened. Plus, everyday crypto investors are donating their digital currencies to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick launches a new artificial intelligence company. And Apple is under investigation by antitrust officials in Spain. Zoe Thomas hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon sells its Echo smart speakers and other devices at low prices, expecting them to generate income for other parts of the company once they are in people's homes. It hasn’t worked out. WSJ reporter Dana Mattioli tells host Zoe Thomas why. Plus, to bring 11,000 college football players to digital life in just three months, Electronic Arts turned to artificial intelligence. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, fintech company Revolut tagrets a valuation of $45 billion ahead of a possible IPO. Zoe Thomas hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The global tech outage set off by a defective code in a CrowdStrike update is highlighting the hazards of cloud software updates. WSJ Pro Cybersecurity reporter James Rundle joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss how companies are approaching the practice in the wake of outages. Plus, to protect your photos and important documents, you shouldn’t rely solely on the cloud. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, Google is ending a plan to eliminate cookies in Chrome. And CrowdStrike warns customers about bad actors trying to exploit the tech outage caused by its software update last week. Zoe Thomas hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a growing view that electricity is the best way to power everything from cooking to driving and that America’s infrastructure is inadequate to distribute that electricity. That has startups working on larger batteries to power appliances, homes and whole neighborhoods. WSJ tech columnist Christopher Mims joins host Zoe Thomas to talk about those efforts. Plus, law firms are targeting small businesses with disability lawsuits alleging their websites aren’t ADA compliant. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, the Nasdaq falls, as do shares of CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity company behind the outage. And New York’s financial regulator hires two new leaders for its crypto unit. Zoe Thomas hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio Sen. JD Vance used his career in venture capital to promote tech startups in the Midwest. Despite efforts by him and other venture investors, the coasts still lead when it comes to startups’ ability to raise capital. WSJ Pro Venture Capital reporter Yuliya Chernova joins host Zoe Thomas to explain why. Plus, a surge in solar power is helping battery storage companies charge up on the cheap. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, Meta is in talks to buy a stake in eyewear company EssilorLuxottica. And a federal judge dismisses part of the fraud case against SolarWinds over how it dealt with a 2020 cyber breach. Zoe Thomas hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk says he plans to donate $45 million a month to a pro-Donald Trump super PAC. It’s turbocharging Silicon Valley’s support for the former president. WSJ reporter Dana Mattioli joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss what’s behind Musk and other tech leaders' support for the Republican presidential nominee. Plus, China is putting the power of the state behind Chinese companies’ AI efforts. But WSJ reporter and editor Liza Lin explains they are also handcuffing those companies with political controls. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, chip-machinery maker ASML orders beat forecasts. And tech stocks fall pulling the Nasdaq to its worst day since 2022. Zoe Thomas hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney spent years trying to attract new customers to its streaming services. Now it's making changes aimed at getting those customers to spend more time glued to the screen. WSJ reporter Robbie Whelan joins Tech News Briefing with more on how Disney is attempting to accomplish this by taking a page out of Netflix’s book. Plus, electric vehicles could help dealers rev up sales through faster replacement cycles and more frequent repairs. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, U.K. regulators launch probe into Microsoft’s partnership with startup Inflection AI. And the Trump campaign raised $3 million in crypto. Zoe Thomas hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A four-year-old startup is close to landing the tech industry’s biggest exit in years. WSJ reporter Berber Jin joins host Zoe Thomas to explain why Google parent Alphabet is in advanced talks to buy cloud cybersecurity company Wiz for $23 billion. Plus, the bankruptcy of little-known fintech startup Synapse Financial Technologies has left thousands of consumers unable to access money they thought was safely deposited at banks. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An anonymous group says it obtained thousands of documents from the entertainment giant’s internal messaging system. Plus: Rite Aid says some customer data was breached. And AT&T and Verizon are feuding over plans to expand 5G access for emergency responders. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Linda Yaccarino became CEO of X, the social media company’s owner Elon Musk said the pair would divide responsibilities. But about a year into her tenure at the company she’s learning the pitfalls of sharing power with the billionaire. WSJ reporter Alexa Corse joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss. Plus, the top 100 national-security startups win few government contracts. We’ll explain what that means for companies and the venture-capital backers. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, Elon Musk’s social media company X has been hit by EU charges over content practices. And U.S. lawmakers are seeking a probe into Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in an Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence firm. Zoe Thomas hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices