WSJ Tech News Briefing

Nearly a decade ago, it seemed like the sky was the limit for Alibaba. Much more than an e-commerce company, Alibaba was a major player in digital payments, entertainment and cloud computing. But in 2020, Alibaba’s business started to turn. A regulatory crackdown, plus changing dynamics among Chinese consumers, meant Alibaba’s grip on the market was starting to slip. WSJ China tech editor Liza Lin joins host Alex Ossola to talk about what happened to Alibaba, and what it will take to right the ship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: AMD rolls out new AI chips. And New Mexico alleges in a lawsuit that Facebook and Instagram steered apparent child predators to children. Alex Ossola hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doctors and hospitals are using AI tools to communicate with patients and help make diagnoses. Except, the tools don’t always work as promised. They can introduce errors in patient notes or incorrectly predict which patients will be diagnosed with certain conditions. Now federal regulators are suggesting that AI tools come with a “nutrition label” to help healthcare providers decide how or whether to use them. WSJ tech policy reporter Ryan Tracy talks with host Alex Ossola about what such a label might include, and why not everyone thinks it’s a great idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: SoftBank Corp. takes a majority stake in Irish software provider Cubic Telecom. And Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup has filed to raise up to $1 billion in equity. Alex Ossola hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Apple and Goldman Sachs teamed up to launch the Apple Card in 2019, it was a big deal for both companies. Apple was becoming a bigger player in the payments space, and Goldman was expanding into consumer lending. According to some, it’s been a troubled marriage. Apple recently sent a proposal to Goldman to exit from the contract. WSJ reporter AnnaMaria Andriotis joins host Alex Ossola to talk about what the dissolution of the partnership could mean for both companies’ futures, and for Apple Card users. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: General Motors’ Cruise has been ordered to testify before the California Public Utilities Commission over an October incident in which a pedestrian was hit. And Spotify plans to lay off 17% of its staff. Alex Ossola hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Five months ago, Meta created a child-safety task force following a WSJ investigation that found a network of pedophilic accounts on its Instagram platform. But when the Journal ran tests to see if and how the problem was being addressed, it discovered the company is struggling to remove those problematic accounts from its platforms. WSJ reporter Katherine Blunt joins host Julie Chang to discuss why Meta’s algorithms are still promoting such content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a growing number of job postings for the role of prompt engineer, someone who writes prompts that go into generative AI chatbots to elicit the best responses. WSJ senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern applied for a prompt engineer position and joins host Julie Chang to discuss the interview process. Plus, the Telsa Cybertruck is here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People are looking beyond dating apps to find love online. WSJ personal tech reporter Ann-Marie Alcántara joins host Julie Chang to discuss how singles are making connections in some unusual places. Plus, Heard on the Street tech reporter Dan Gallagher explains why device-makers are banking on generative AI in smartphones and laptops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holiday shopping is in full force, and one place you could turn to for gift ideas is generative AI chatbots. Cordilia James from the WSJ’s personal tech team joins host Julie Chang to discuss how to use AI to make your shopping list and why you should check it twice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scientists are looking at animal data to improve the speed of some medical test results. They’re taking that data, building artificial intelligence tools and then using those tools to train diagnostic algorithms for humans. WSJ pharmaceuticals reporter Jared S. Hopkins joins host Julie Chang to explain how this tech works and which companies are involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is disrupting the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. And the company’s Starbase and rocket launches are dividing residents. WSJ space reporter Micah Maidenberg joins host Julie Chang to discuss his recent visit to the area and how residents are reacting to the changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wearable devices that can read your brain activity and then use that data to help improve your focus and productivity are on the horizon. Daniela Hernandez wrote about this for the Wall Street Journal and joins host Julie Chang to explain how these devices work. Plus, what using Instagram’s ad-free version in Europe is like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future of OpenAI remains up in the air, and investors continue to push for the return of former CEO Sam Altman. Plus, Cordilia James from our personal tech team joins host Julie Chang with some AI tools you can use to spruce up your old or damaged photographs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The majority of OpenAI’s staff has threatened to quit after the board’s ousting of former CEO and co-founder Sam Altman. Plus, Amazon is offering free AI classes. WSJ reporter Sebastian Herrera joins host Julie Chang with more on why the e-commerce giant launched the new program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A sextortion scam aimed at boys is causing emotional trauma. WSJ family and tech columnist Julie Jargon joins host Julie Chang to discuss what to do if your teen is targeted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel’s military has a technological nerve center near Gaza set up to receive thousands of data points directly from the battlefield. WSJ correspondent Dov Lieber joins host Julie Chang to discuss how that data is giving Israel a fuller, real-time picture of the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Out-of-order signs, payment errors and connection issues — these are some of the problems electric vehicle drivers encounter when trying to charge their EVs. WSJ senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern joins host Julie Chang to talk about her experience and why so many EV chargers were broken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wall Street Journal’s personal tech team has put together a list of the best tech gifts of 2023. Reporter Cordilia James joins host Alex Ossola to discuss the gadgets with AI features. Plus, WSJ’s Dalvin Brown tells us why your iPhone’s Find My app might be nagging you about items you didn’t leave behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China has invested tens of billions of dollars in building its solar panel manufacturing industry. But too many cheap parts could spell trouble for growing markets elsewhere in the world. Wall Street Journal reporter Phred Dvorak joins to explain why. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices