The Briefing by Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

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The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

Get smarter about the day’s news in tech, media and finance by following Silicon Valley’s most-read executive newsletter.

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Recent Editions

Oracle's Larry Ellison. Photo via Getty.

Oracle’s Cash Squeeze

By Martin Peers · Mar 10, 2025 5:00pm PDT

Larry Ellison has done a remarkable job of making Oracle part of the conversation around artificial intelligence data centers alongside much bigger cloud rivals such as Microsoft and Google. But as Oracle’s February-quarter results, released on Monday night, show, the enterprise software firm is hitting the limits of what it can spend on new... Larry Ellison has done a remarkable job of making Oracle part of the conversation around...

Left to right, Mike Lewis, Ethan Perez, Summer Yue, Ronen Eldan, Rafael Rafailov, Evan Hubinger, Tengyang Xie. Images courtesy of subjects

20 Rising Stars at OpenAI and Its Rivals

By Stephanie Palazzolo, Kalley Huang, Rocket Drew, Aaron Holmes and Jon Victor · Mar 10, 2025 11:43am PDT

Sam Altman, Elon Musk and other artificial intelligence leaders dominate headlines as they raise unprecedented funds. But talent, not capital, has separated the winners and losers in generative AI. We’ve identified 20 up-and-coming researchers who have been at the forefront of their firms’ successes but whose names typically aren’t found in news... Sam Altman, Elon Musk and other artificial intelligence leaders dominate headlines as they raise...

Larry Page. Photo via Getty

Why is Google’s Owner Developing AI Outside of Google?; DeepSeek Gets Microsoft’s Attention

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Mar 10, 2025 7:00am PDT

ServiceNow is buying AI startup Moveworks for $2.85 billion, the enterprise software firm announced first thing this morning, an effort by ServiceNow to get a jump on agent-powered services. We included Moveworks in our Generative AI Takeover List, which you can see here. And now on to the rest of the column…We’ve written a lot about how... ServiceNow is buying AI startup Moveworks for $2.85 billion, the enterprise software firm...

Art by Clark Miller; photos via Shutterstock.

Eight Food and Drink Startups Primed for a Takeover

By Ann Gehan · Mar 10, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Art by Clark Miller; photos via Shutterstock.

Eight Food and Drink Startups Primed for a Takeover

By Ann Gehan · Mar 10, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Celsius’ $1.8 billion purchase of influencer-founded energy drink brand Alani Nu last month sparked fresh hope among investors in startups touting healthier versions of mainstream food and beverage brands. Among the fast-growing brands that could be the next targets for purchase are Good Culture, which sells cottage cheese packaged in single... Celsius’ $1.8 billion purchase of influencer-founded energy drink brand Alani Nu last month...

Gotion's cylindrical EV batteries. Photo: Getty

The Electric: The Chinese Companies That Want to Show Americans How to Make First-Rate EV Batteries

By Steve LeVine · Mar 10, 2025 4:30am PDT

Late next year, Massachusetts-based electrode developer 6K plans to deliver iron-based cathodes to a surprising customer—Chinese battery maker Gotion, which will turn the dark powder into batteries at an Illinois factory carved out of a former Kmart. Late next year, Massachusetts-based electrode developer 6K plans to deliver iron-based cathodes...

Bolt CEO Markus Villig.

The Big Interview

Bolt, Uber’s European Rival, Takes Aim at North America

By Alex Perry · Mar 9, 2025 8:10am PDT · 6 comments

Uber and Lyft dominate ride-hailing in North America, a position that has helped them turn cash-burning operations into moneymakers. Now Bolt, an Uber rival in Europe and Africa, is trying to undercut the two ride-hailing companies in their home markets. Earlier this year, Bolt started offering ride-hailing services in Toronto and scooter... Uber and Lyft dominate ride-hailing in North America, a position that has helped them turn...

Art by Clark Miller (Photos: Getty Images)

Altman’s Opportunism Should Worry Trump

By Abram Brown · Mar 8, 2025 7:00am PST · 1 comment

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: We know how Project Stargate begins• The Top 5: The think tanks that matter to Trump and tech• Plus, our Recommendations: Anne Frank in America; how to make a millennial LOL; and when heart cancer warms the heart In Washington, time is a malleable concept. In some moments, it seems... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: We know how Project Stargate begins• The...

Art by Clark Miller

The Most Important Think Tanks for Tech to Know

By Julia Black · Mar 8, 2025 6:00am PST

Art by Clark Miller

The Most Important Think Tanks for Tech to Know

By Julia Black · Mar 8, 2025 6:00am PST

In the new Trump era, Washington and Silicon Valley are increasingly merged together, with scores of the top tech talent decamping for the capital. And in this upended landscape, a new wave of think tanks has emerged as a critical player. Many of them have direct ties to tech through funding and board members, and all are assembling research and... In the new Trump era, Washington and Silicon Valley are increasingly merged together, with scores...

Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Photo via Getty

Google Is Still Behind in AI. Why?

By Martin Peers · Mar 7, 2025 3:00pm PST · 6 comments

Here’s an exercise: Try asking a selection of AI chatbots for a list of the big tech news stories of the day. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and xAI’s Grok both deliver a good list of specific stories—ChatGPT even offers links. Google’s Gemini, not so much: Its list is a bunch of vague bullet points with no examples. Gemini’s performance was no better when I... Here’s an exercise: Try asking a selection of AI chatbots for a list of the big tech news stories...

Cursor CEO Michael Truell. Art by Clark Miller.

The Math Behind a $10 Billion Valuation For Cursor

By Natasha Mascarenhas and Stephanie Palazzolo · Mar 7, 2025 1:51pm PST · 1 comment

Now that the word is out about the maker of Cursor, an artificial intelligence-powered coding assistant, talking to investors about a new round that would value it at $10 billion, it’s important to explain why a deal may happen at that price.The new valuation—up four times from a deal struck just three months ago—would actually be in line with... Now that the word is out about the maker of Cursor, an artificial intelligence-powered coding...

America’s Crypto Reserve, Nvidia’s $600M Hit & Digg’s Comeback

By Jessica E. Lessin · Mar 7, 2025 1:35pm PST

This week, the gang dissects Trump’s crypto reserve play, the truth about live sports and how nostalgia is sneaking back into everything. YouTube Apple Podcasts This week, the gang dissects Trump’s crypto reserve play, the truth about live sports and...

Art by Clark Miller

Inside the Start of Project Stargate—and the Startup Powering It

By Abram Brown · Mar 7, 2025 9:51am PST · 4 comments

Art by Clark Miller

Inside the Start of Project Stargate—and the Startup Powering It

By Abram Brown · Mar 7, 2025 9:51am PST · 4 comments

On the barren outskirts of Abilene, Texas, traffic had snarled to a crawl: It was shift-change time at Project Stargate, and as several hundred workers drove off the 800-acre site that contains the debut Stargate data center, plumes of dust from the red clay dirt followed the caravan of pickup trucks out of sight. Even without the oxidized haze,... On the barren outskirts of Abilene, Texas, traffic had snarled to a crawl: It was shift-change...

Art by Mike Sullivan via Midjourney

Pro Weekly: The Looming HR Software Shakeout

By Akash Pasricha · Mar 7, 2025 8:04am PST

We tallied 92 software companies that may be ripe for acquisition, based in part on how long it’s been since they last raised money. Many of the takeover candidates focus on specific industries, such as logistics or e-commerce software companies, which have been under mounting pressure for several years amid a broader downturn in those sectors... We tallied 92 software companies that may be ripe for acquisition, based in part on how long it’s...

Microsoft's Mustafa Suleyman. Image via Getty

Microsoft’s AI Guru Wants Independence From OpenAI. That’s Easier Said Than Done

By Aaron Holmes · Mar 7, 2025 6:00am PST · 2 comments

Mustafa Suleyman wasn’t getting the answers he wanted. Last fall, during a video call with senior leaders at OpenAI and Microsoft, Suleyman—who leads Microsoft’s in-house artificial intelligence unit—wanted OpenAI staffers to explain how its latest model, o1, worked, according to someone present for the conversation and two other... Mustafa Suleyman wasn’t getting the answers he wanted. Last fall, during a video call with senior...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks at the Economic Club of New York earlier today. Photo via Getty.

Bessent’s Cheap Joke; TSMC Goes on the Defense

By Martin Peers · Mar 6, 2025 5:00pm PST

What country is Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent living in? Apparently not the U.S., judging by his statement on Thursday that “access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American dream.” Really? He’s never seen the crush of people outside a store on the day after Thanksgiving, or witnessed people lining up outside sample sales in New York?... What country is Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent living in? Apparently not the U.S., judging by ...

Limited Partners Kvetch About Cash Crunch; Altimeter’s VC Returns

Limited Partners Kvetch About Cash Crunch; Altimeter’s VC Returns

By Sri Muppidi · Mar 6, 2025 4:11pm PST

Limited Partners Kvetch About Cash Crunch; Altimeter’s VC Returns

Limited Partners Kvetch About Cash Crunch; Altimeter’s VC Returns

By Sri Muppidi · Mar 6, 2025 4:11pm PST

I’ve spent the last few days at March Capital’s Montgomery Summit. The mood was pretty buoyant: preparations to go public by startups such as CoreWeave were stoking excitement among venture capitalists and their backers, who have been waiting three years for exits that can return their investments. But the chill in the Santa Monica air also... I’ve spent the last few days at March Capital’s Montgomery Summit. The mood was pretty buoyant:...

Photo by Erin Beach

Partner Content

AI Agenda Live Recap: How AI Startups Can Stand Out

By The Information Partnerships · Mar 6, 2025 2:04pm PST · 1 comment

Businesses are racing to adopt artificial intelligence solutions that will boost efficiency, increase revenue or give them a competitive edge. But with so many startups promising that their offerings will unlock these benefits, how can AI companies develop go-to-market strategies that stand out? At AI Agenda Live, Sri Muppidi, a venture capital... Businesses are racing to adopt artificial intelligence solutions that will boost efficiency,...

Photo by Erin Beach

Partner Content

AI Agenda Live Recap: IBM’s Ritika Gunnar on Where Enterprises Can Find ROI With AI

By The Information Partnerships · Mar 6, 2025 2:03pm PST

It seems that the more enterprises spend on AI, the more they have to spend on AI. Surpassing the startup costs of deploying AI models are those for maintaining the technology—from acquiring the GPUs to building out the storage centers to house all that sensitive data. In 2025, companies are adding billions of dollars of investment to the... It seems that the more enterprises spend on AI, the more they have to spend on AI. Surpassing the...

Photo via Getty

Creator Economy

TikTok’s Would-be Buyers and Video Podcasters Claim SXSW Stage

By Kaya Yurieff · Mar 6, 2025 2:00pm PST

On Friday, I’m heading to South by Southwest, the annual tech and arts festival in Austin. If you’re in town, let’s grab coffee or tacos! I’m also speaking on two panels on Sunday. One is focused on 2025 trends in the creator economy, while the other is about labor issues in the sector. Hope to see some of you there! The creator economy has... On Friday, I’m heading to South by Southwest, the annual tech and arts festival in Austin. If you...

Larry Page. Photo by AP

Larry Page Has a New AI Startup

By Jessica E. Lessin and Erin Woo · Mar 6, 2025 12:50pm PST

Larry Page. Photo by AP

Larry Page Has a New AI Startup

By Jessica E. Lessin and Erin Woo · Mar 6, 2025 12:50pm PST

Google co-founder Larry Page has formed a new company, Dynatomics, to upend manufacturing with artificial intelligence. Page and a small group of engineers are working on ways to use large language models to design flying cars and other types of planes—and then have a factory build them, according to three people knowledgeable about the... Google co-founder Larry Page has formed a new company, Dynatomics, to upend manufacturing with...