Latest news with #ArianaAspuru
Wall Street Journal
30-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
TNB Tech Minute: Amazon to Pay New York Times at Least $20 Million a Year in AI Deal - Tech News Briefing
Full Transcript This transcript was prepared by a transcription service. This version may not be in its final form and may be updated. Ariana Aspuru: Here's your morning TNB Tech Minute for Wednesday, July 30th. I'm Ariana Aspuru for the Wall Street Journal. A few exclusives for you this morning. Amazon will pay the New York Times between 20 and $25 million a year in an AI deal. That's according to people familiar with the matter. The companies announced their deal in May and said it gives Amazon access to content from the Times News, cooking products, and its sports property, the Athletic. Amazon can use this to train AI models and feature Times excerpts in its products, including Alexa. This is the first AI-related licensing pact for the Times and Amazon's first such agreement with the publisher. Also, the AI finance app Ramp says it has raised $500 million in its latest funding round in the Series E-2 funding round led by Iconiq Growth with participation from existing investors, including Founders Fund and D1 Capital Partners said it values the startup at $22.5 billion. The startup uses AI to automate corporate finance tasks and says it has about 40,000 businesses using it, including Fortune 100 companies. The company's platform is built on AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and others. Elsewhere, LG Energy Solutions has secured a $4.3 billion contract to supply Tesla with lithium iron phosphate batteries for three years. The company's US factories will produce LFP batteries for Tesla's energy storage systems amid growing demand. This deal comes as South Korea looks for a trade agreement with the US and LG Energy counters slowing EV demand. LG Energy didn't identify the client due to a confidentiality agreement. A person familiar with the contract said the customer was Tesla. Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. That's your TNB Tech Minute. Join us again this afternoon. Meta and Microsoft are set to release their earnings after the bell.
Wall Street Journal
29-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
TNB Tech Minute: PayPal Raises Full-Year Guidance After Gains From Active Accounts and Venmo - Tech News Briefing
Full Transcript This transcript was prepared by a transcription service. This version may not be in its final form and may be updated. Ariana Aspuru: Here's your afternoon TNB Tech Minute for Tuesday, July 29th. I'm Ariana Aspuru for The Wall Street Journal. PayPal has raised its full-year guidance after a strong second quarter. This comes after total payment volumes jumped 6% in the second quarter to more than $443 billion. Active accounts increased 2% to 438 million. PayPal is focusing on profitable growth through its branded checkout options, unbranded processing business, and branded offline checkouts from its PayPal and Venmo credit and debit cards. Venmo's revenue alone was up 20%. Plus we have a pair of exclusive stories. Palo Alto Networks is in talks to acquire CyberArk Security Software, an Israeli cybersecurity provider. This would mark one of the biggest technology takeovers so far this year according to people familiar with the matter. The deal could be finalized later this week and could value CyberArk well above its $20 billion market value. Today, Palo Alto Networks has a market value of almost $140 billion, with its share price up roughly 14% year to date. Finally, JP Morgan Chase is nearing a deal to take over Apple's credit card program. This would potentially replace Goldman Sachs as Apple's card partner according to people familiar with the matter. We previously reported that JPMorgan and Apple have been negotiating since early last year. Still, the deal hasn't been signed and there are chances that talks could unravel because of a number of challenges associated with the Apple program. And that's a wrap on your TNB Tech Minutes. For a deeper dive into what's happening in tech, check out our Tech News Briefing podcast on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Wall Street Journal
18-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
TNB Tech Minute: White House Prepares Executive Order Targeting ‘Woke AI' - Tech News Briefing
Full Transcript This transcript was prepared by a transcription service. This version may not be in its final form and may be updated. Ariana Aspuru: Here's your afternoon TNB Tech Minute for Friday, July 18th. I'm Ariana Aspuru for the Wall Street Journal. White House officials are preparing an executive order targeting tech companies with what they see as woke artificial intelligence models. This is according to people familiar with the matter, and it's the latest effort to go after diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The order would mandate that AI companies getting federal contracts be politically neutral and unbiased in their AI models. "This is to combat what the administration sees as a liberal bias in some models," the people said. Because nearly all major tech companies are competing for their tools to be used by the federal government, the order could have far-reaching impacts. People familiar with the matter also said the executive order would be one of several expected to be released next week, where Trump is outlining his vision for winning the AI race with China. Plus, UBS analysts say that Netflix is looking to boost user engagement with a new slate of content and programming. Engagement was up 1.8% in the first half of this year compared with a 4.5% increase in the second half of last year. Analysts also say that Netflix's range of content and investment in live programs should support more engagement. Finally, Australian Mining Company, Fortescue is looking to buy already operational green energy projects in the US, but will be holding back on them because of President Trump's policies, including tariffs. This is according to the company's executive chairman, Andrew Forrest, who also criticized Trump's views on climate change. And that's a wrap on your TNB Tech Minutes. For a deeper dive into what's happening in tech, check out our Tech News Briefing podcast on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Wall Street Journal
08-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Trump: No Extensions to Aug. 1 Reciprocal Tariff Deadline - Minute Briefing
Full Transcript This transcript was prepared by a transcription service. This version may not be in its final form and may be updated. Ariana Aspuru: Here's your midday brief for Tuesday, July 8th, I'm Ariana Aspuru for the Wall Street Journal. President Trump said he's sticking to his August 1st date to impose so-called reciprocal tariffs on many US trading partners. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said quote, "No extensions will be granted." This comes a day after sending letters to various countries warning them of the levies. Rescue teams in Texas patrolled by foot and by airboat in search of those still missing from flash floods that struck parts of the state over the holiday weekend, leaving more than 100 confirmed dead. As the death toll climbed in several counties late yesterday, an unknown number of people were still missing. The National Federation of Independent Business said today that its Optimism Index, which is a gauge of sentiment among small firms, edged down 0.2 points to 98.6 in June. The NFIB said excess inventories were a key factor in the decline. And Kirk Tanner will be stepping down as Wendy's CEO later this month to assume the top role at Hershey succeeding Michele Buck as president and CEO of the chocolate company effective August 18th. Ken Cook, Wendy's CFO will be interim CEO while the board finds a permanent successor. We'll have a lot more coverage of the day's news on the WSJ's What's News podcast. You can add it to your playlist on your smart speaker or listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Wall Street Journal
04-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Podcast: Nike, Lululemon Shares Rise After Trump Touts Vietnam Trade Deal
Elsewhere in the markets, Centene shares tumble after the healthcare company says its earnings will fall short of expectations. Modelo brewer Constellation Brands expects President Trump's new tariffs to increase its costs by $20 million this fiscal year. 🎧 Listen: Ariana Aspuru hosts the WSJ's Minute Briefing podcast.
