More than half of Americans are on TikTok. But for the first time in the app’s history, its user growth is stagnating—just as TikTok finds itself mired in battles with U.S. lawmakers and the world’s biggest music company. Stalling growth could be bad news for the company, which relies on advertising for its revenue. WSJ technology reporter Meghan Bobrowsky tells host Alex Ossola what this means for TikTok’s business.



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Why TikTok’s User Growth Is Stagnating

Tech News Briefing is your guide to what people in tech are talking about. Every weekday, we’ll bring you breaking tech news and scoops from the pros at the Wall Street Journal, insight into new innovations and policy debates, tips from our personal tech team, and exclusive interviews with movers and shakers in the industry. Hosted by Zoe Thomas

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Tasks like streaming movies or generating answers from artificial intelligence systems require a lot of computing power. So more, bigger data centers are cropping up in an effort to meet the demand. And that means more energy. Local energy companies are turning to natural gas and even coal to keep them going. WSJ energy reporter Jennifer Hiller tells host Alex Ossola what that means for the country’s energy transition. Plus, rebooting your device works for everything from computers to trains. WSJ personal tech reporter Cordilia James talks about why it became our go-to tech fix.

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To Power Huge Data Centers, Utilities Are Turning to Fossil Fuels

Plus: Chinese EV makers post higher sales. And Doordash posts record revenue. Alex Ossola hosts.

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TNB Tech Minute: Nvidia-Backed AI Startup Triples Valuation to $19 Billion

Last week, President Biden signed a law requiring the sale or ban of TikTok. But lawmakers’ concerns go back much farther. Some lawmakers and former employees of TikTok say that TikTok executives, particularly CEO Shou Chew, could have done more to prevent this outcome. WSJ tech reporter Georgia Wells tells host Alex Ossola about Chew’s missed opportunities to woo lawmakers. Plus, it’s a trend on TikTok to get AI systems like ChatGPT to talk to people like a boyfriend would… even if the systems weren’t designed that way. WSJ senior platform editor Julia Munslow undertook an experiment to find out just how hard it is to get the system to be R-rated.

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Inside TikTok’s Missed Opportunities in Washington

Plus: Binance founder is sentenced to four months in jail. And the European Union is investigating Meta over disinformation. Alex Ossola hosts.



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TNB Tech Minute: Amazon Posts Record First-Quarter Sales

Investments in artificial intelligence startups are heating up. Last year, investors poured more than $20 billion dollars into generative AI deals. But some of these companies, some of which have billion-dollar valuations, haven’t turned a profit or don’t have a product. WSJ venture-capital reporter Berber Jin tells host Alex Ossola more about this ecosystem, and why some are already concerned that it could be a bubble. Plus, scammers are using AI to target recent college grads looking for jobs. WSJ workplace reporter Ray Smith talks about how to stay safe online.



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Why TikTok’s User Growth Is Stagnating

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