WSJ Tech News Briefing

Netflix's aspirations in videogames are taking shape. But its dominance in streaming is no guarantee of success in the competitive field of gaming. Reporter Sarah Needleman joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss why Netflix is taking on this challenge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The algorithm TikTok uses to serve up engaging videos has been the source of much speculation. Now an investigation by The Wall Street Journal reveals how the technology behind the fastest-growing social-media platform works. Senior Personal Tech Columnist Joanna Stern joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the findings and what they mean for users. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The metal gallium is enabling a surprising array of new technologies, taking over for the old standby of silicon in some use cases. Tech columnist Christopher Mims joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the potential for this novel material to help transform our electrified world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos is set to take a trip to the edge of space, making him the second billionaire to do so in less than two weeks. Reporter Micah Maidenberg joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss how the business models of the companies involved could shape the development of the private space industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A team of California scientists backed by Facebook say they successfully tested an experimental brain implant that turned brain signals into words on a computer screen. Tech reporter Rolfe Winkler joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss how it worked and why private companies are so interested in the space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The global chip shortage has yet another consequence: a rash of fake semiconductors from scammers targeting manufacturers that are desperate for components. Reporter Stephanie Yang joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss why companies are falling for the fakes, and what they're doing about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After some high-profile failures a decade ago, investors and governments soured on clean-technology companies. Now they're back, funding a new wave of green startups. Reporter Scott Patterson joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss whether this time will be different. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bad actors online can take an emotional and, in some cases, financial toll on their victims. Now some insurance agencies are offering policies to protect against the impact of cyberbullying. Family & Tech columnist Julie Jargon joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss how cyberbullying insurance works, plus ways of warding off bullies online in the first place Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A panel of experts assembled by the World Health Organization is recommending global standards for gene-editing technology. The proposed rules aim to prevent inequitable and potentially dangerous uses of techniques for altering DNA. Health reporter Amy Dockser Marcus joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the recommendations and how they aim to address various ethical dilemmas posed by the emerging tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since their inception, Uber and Lyft have struggled to balance the pursuit of fast growth with demands for profitability. Now, as the cost of ride-hailing services soars amid a driver shortage, the companies are turning to some old strategies to attract and keep drivers and customers. Will they work this time? Reporter Preetika Rana joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the road ahead for ride-hailing companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This weekend, Richard Branson hopes to head to space on a flight with his company Virgin Galactic. Just over a week later, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos plans to board one of his Blue Origin spacecraft. So what do the billionaires' trips mean for the burgeoning space-tourism sector, and when will the rest of us get a chance? Reporter Micah Maidenburg joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn...

YouTube has made a lot of changes in the past year to limit the problematic videos it recommends to viewers. But a new study suggests the company's efforts have a way to go. Reporter Tripp Mickle joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the challenges YouTube and other social platforms face in weeding out harmful content without censoring diverse points of view. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Russian hacking group REvil is demanding $70 million to unlock computers that were swept up in a widespread ransomware attack affecting a program from enterprise software provider Kaseya. Cybersecurity reporter Dustin Volz joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the attack and what makes it different from some other recent high-profile attacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if Abraham Lincoln could address Congress today? Or if you could have dinner with your deceased ancestors? Researchers and entrepreneurs are exploring ways that artificial intelligence could create digital versions of people's personalities that would endure long after they themselves die. But the innovations come with potential pitfalls. Tech reporter Asa Fitch joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next week Jeff Bezos is set to step down as CEO of Amazon, the company he founded and built into a sprawling e-commerce juggernaut. So what does Amazon look like post-Bezos? WSJ's Amazon reporter, Dana Mattioli, joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the company's history and future. Production help this week came from Amanda Lewellyn. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

The White House says half of the country's highest-priority electric grid operators have taken steps to prevent cyberattacks, or will soon. The government hopes the sector's approach could act as a blueprint for protecting other critical infrastructure in the U.S. Cybersecurity reporter David Uberti joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge dismissed two antitrust lawsuits against Facebook, in a victory for the social-media giant even before the cases got off the ground. What does the ruling mean for the government's efforts to rein in Big Tech? Legal-affairs reporter Brent Kendall joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wildfire season in the western U.S. is shaping up to be especially active this year, but some authorities are testing ways of using artificial intelligence to detect and respond to fires before they grow out of control. WSJ Pro Artificial Intelligence deputy editor John McCormick joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A network of gig workers around the world is unwittingly providing basic intelligence to the U.S. military, using a consumer smartphone app called Premise. Reporter Byron Tau joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss how the app works, and how it's one of a growing number of companies that take advantage of the proliferation of mobile phones. Plus, a note about a big change coming to Tech News Briefing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft rolled out a new version of its Windows operating system yesterday. On today's show, a conversation between CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella and our Senior Personal Tech Columnist Joanna Stern. Amanda Lewellyn hosts. Production help this week came from Zoe Thomas. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices