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

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The Briefing

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

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Recent Editions

Nat Friedman. Photo via Microsoft

Meta in Talks to Hire AI Investors Friedman and Gross, Partially Buy Out Their Venture Fund

By Kalley Huang and Cory Weinberg · Jun 18, 2025 1:57pm PDT · 10 comments

Meta Platforms is in advanced talks to hire the prominent artificial intelligence investors Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross to help lead its AI efforts, according to a person familiar with the discussions. As part of those talks, Meta is in discussions about partially buying out Friedman and Gross’ venture capital fund, NFDG, which holds stakes in... Meta Platforms is in advanced talks to hire the prominent artificial intelligence investors Nat...

From left: Morgan Absher, Host of Two Hot Takes, “The Bachelorette” star Rachel Lindsay, Jake Shane, Host of Therapuss and Roman Wasenmüller, Head of Podcast Business at Spotify. Photo by Getty Images for Spotify.

Creator Economy

Podcasters Want to Go Live On Spotify (Again)

By Kaya Yurieff · Jun 18, 2025 1:00pm PDT

Podcasters are a visible presence at Cannes Lions this year, joining the several hundred creators in attendance. I caught up with three of them—Jake Shane, Rachel Lindsay and Morgan Ashley Absher— at Spotify’s beachfront event, and asked them what features they’d like to see Spotify roll out next. Their answer surprised me: They... Podcasters are a visible presence at Cannes Lions this year, joining the several hundred creators...

Mike Cessario, CEO of Liquid Death. Photo via Getty.

Liquid Death Seeks Fresh Cash to Ramp Up Production

By Ann Gehan and Cory Weinberg · Jun 18, 2025 9:29am PDT · 1 comment

Liquid Death has been looking to raise up to $20 million in fresh cash, as the longtime initial public offering hopeful looks to expand its production capacity and keep its drink lineup stocked in stores. The canned water and tea startup has been pitching the fundraise in the form of a convertible note, according to materials sent to prospective... Liquid Death has been looking to raise up to $20 million in fresh cash, as the longtime initial...

Art by Mike Sullivan

AI Startups Continue to Masquerade as SaaS Businesses; OpenAI Lays Off Some ‘Insider Risk’ Employees

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Jun 18, 2025 7:00am PDT · 1 comment

Art by Mike Sullivan

AI Startups Continue to Masquerade as SaaS Businesses; OpenAI Lays Off Some ‘Insider Risk’ Employees

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Jun 18, 2025 7:00am PDT · 1 comment

Today, we’re talking about my favorite topic: sneaky things AI startups do to gussy up their revenue.We previously covered how some AI startups are including non-recurring consulting fees in their annual recurring revenue figures; pitching investors on their “contracted ARR” or “sales pipelines”; and using exploding revenue growth to entice... Today, we’re talking about my favorite topic: sneaky things AI startups do to gussy up their...

Art by Mike Sullivan

OpenAI Starts Selling ChatGPT at a Discount, Hurting Microsoft

By Aaron Holmes and Sri Muppidi · Jun 18, 2025 6:30am PDT · 3 comments

OpenAI has started discounting enterprise subscriptions to its ChatGPT app when customers agree to spend money on additional AI products, according to an OpenAI spokesperson and two executives at large firms that have spoken to the startup in recent weeks. The move has frustrated salespeople at Microsoft, OpenAI’s biggest business partner, which... OpenAI has started discounting enterprise subscriptions to its ChatGPT app when customers agree...

Art by Mike Sullivan

Amazon Plays Nice in AI Shopping—While Also Defending its Turf

By Theo Wayt · Jun 18, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

At Amazon, the rise of artificial intelligence tools that automate shoppers’ online purchases is raising a question: Should the company fight the startups that make these tools—or join them? The answer it’s leaning toward is maybe a bit of both. At Amazon, the rise of artificial intelligence tools that automate shoppers’ online purchases is...

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Photo via Getty

Amazon’s Andy Jassy Says the Quiet Part About AI Out Loud

By Theo Wayt · Jun 17, 2025 5:00pm PDT

The tech industry has spent the past few years telling everyone that the artificial intelligence tools they’re building are about to change the world. But until recently executives at the largest tech firms haven’t been willing to spell out what exactly that means for the hundreds of thousands of white-collar staffers at their own companies.... The tech industry has spent the past few years telling everyone that the artificial intelligence...

Photo via Getty

Venture Capitalists Tap Agents for Their Own Grunt Work

By Natasha Mascarenhas · Jun 17, 2025 4:04pm PDT · 1 comment

Photo via Getty

Venture Capitalists Tap Agents for Their Own Grunt Work

By Natasha Mascarenhas · Jun 17, 2025 4:04pm PDT · 1 comment

When venture capitalists first started using artificial intelligence in their own work, I mostly heard about the technology drafting rejection e-mails or helping with quick research. But as many firms look to operate more leanly and efficiently and as AI agents become more adept, I can imagine a new wave of experimentation among venture... When venture capitalists first started using artificial intelligence in their own work, I mostly...

TikTok employees Khartoon Weiss, Sofia Hernandez, Kim Farrell, David Kaufman and Moritz Bartsch speak at the TikTok Cannes Lions press preview today. Photo via Getty.

Creator Economy

TikTok Wants Time on Your TV Screen

By Kaya Yurieff · Jun 17, 2025 1:00pm PDT

I’m at Cannes Lions, where I spent the morning with TikTok’s marketing leaders. As YouTube has made expanding on living room screens a top priority, I’ve been curious if TikTok will follow suit. While TikTok tried launching an app for TV screens on Android a few years ago, the ByteDance-owned company hasn’t seemed to put much promotion... I’m at Cannes Lions, where I spent the morning with TikTok’s marketing leaders. As YouTube...

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering. Photo via Getty.

Developers Eye Apple’s Models for ‘Invisible’ AI Features

By Aaron Holmes and Aaron Tilley · Jun 17, 2025 10:57am PDT

Apple is by no means a front-runner in the race to develop world-changing artificial intelligence, and its annual Worldwide Developers Conference last week did little to convince anyone that its Siri assistant would catch up to ChatGPT anytime soon.Still, Apple managed to stir up excitement among mobile app developers who want AI in their apps.... Apple is by no means a front-runner in the race to develop world-changing artificial...

Satya Nadella, left, and Sam Altman. Photos by Getty

OpenAI Takes a Red Pen to its Microsoft Contract; AI Startups Fight for Cash

By Rocket Drew and Aaron Holmes · Jun 17, 2025 7:00am PDT

Last night, Sri and I broke the news of some of the latest developments in the negotiations between Microsoft and OpenAI. Chief among them is that OpenAI wants Microsoft to take just a 33% share in its business after the startup completes its conversion to a for-profit entity. That looks like a step down for Microsoft, whose $13.75 billion... Last night, Sri and I broke the news of some of the latest developments in the negotiations...

From left: Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Dario Amodei. Photos by Getty.

The Venture Investors Most Exposed to AI’s Boom—or Bust

By Rocket Drew · Jun 17, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

From left: Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Dario Amodei. Photos by Getty.

The Venture Investors Most Exposed to AI’s Boom—or Bust

By Rocket Drew · Jun 17, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Between 2022 and mid-2024, venture capitalists poured over $32 billion into artificial intelligence startups, despite the disappointing results of some high-profile bets. Not only have investors shrugged off those missteps since then—they have redoubled investments in companies they perceive as winners in their categories. Venture... Between 2022 and mid-2024, venture capitalists poured over $32 billion into artificial...

Sam Altman, left, and Satya Nadella. Photo via Getty

OpenAI Seeks New Financial Concessions From Microsoft, a Top Shareholder

By Sri Muppidi and Aaron Holmes · Jun 16, 2025 6:49pm PDT · 4 comments

Negotiations between Microsoft and OpenAI over the startup’s plan to restructure its for-profit unit, which requires Microsoft’s approval, have entered their eighth month with no end in sight and new conflicts emerging. OpenAI wants Microsoft, the startup’s biggest outside shareholder, to have a roughly 33% stake in the reshaped unit in exchange... Negotiations between Microsoft and OpenAI over the startup’s plan to restructure its for-profit...

Image via Getty

Meta’s New Way to Pay for AI Investments: WhatsApp Ads

By Kalley Huang · Jun 16, 2025 5:00pm PDT

The days of “No ads! No games! No gimmicks!” are over. That was the slogan coined by one of the founders of WhatsApp, Brian Acton, which the other founder of the messaging app, Jan Koum, used to keep taped to his desk on a sticky note. On Monday, though, WhatsApp’s owner, Meta Platforms, said the app will start showing ads for the first time in... The days of “No ads! No games! No gimmicks!” are over. That was the slogan coined by one of the...

Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang

Meta Agreed to Pay up for Scale AI but Then Wanted More for Its Money

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 16, 2025 12:37pm PDT · 4 comments

The negotiations started as just one billionaire tech founder talking to another. Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg approached Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang in mid-April about a potentially industry-shaking deal. Zuckerberg wanted Wang to join Meta and was willing to pay billions of dollars to make that happen. Zuckerberg floated a $5 billion... The negotiations started as just one billionaire tech founder talking to another. Meta Platforms...

Image by Mike Sullivan via Midjourney

AI Cleaning Robot Firm Raises $800 Million to Sell Machines For a Low Monthly Cost

By Rocket Drew · Jun 16, 2025 7:00am PDT

Image by Mike Sullivan via Midjourney

AI Cleaning Robot Firm Raises $800 Million to Sell Machines For a Low Monthly Cost

By Rocket Drew · Jun 16, 2025 7:00am PDT

Demand is rising for AI-powered robots that can clean offices or roll around moving items from one part of a building to another, allowing businesses to save on labor costs. But the upfront costs of these robots, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece, can put them out of reach.Now, financiers are stepping in to front the cost of... Demand is rising for AI-powered robots that can clean offices or roll around moving items from...

Art by Mike Sullivan.

DoorDash and Uber’s Behind-the-Scenes Delivery Battles

By Ann Gehan · Jun 16, 2025 6:00am PDT

A recent delivery dealmaking frenzy in Europe has kicked off a race between DoorDash, Uber and investment firm Prosus, as the three firms aim to grab more business in the already fiercely competitive market. Some of that has been playing out publicly, with a series of rapid-fire announcements. But behind the scenes, U.S. delivery archrivals... A recent delivery dealmaking frenzy in Europe has kicked off a race between DoorDash, Uber and...

Art by Clark Miller (photo: Getty Images)

A Poachable AI Godfather?

By Abram Brown · Jun 14, 2025 7:00am PDT · 1 comment

• The Big Read: Bret Taylor, the Salesforce heir apparent who went rogue • The Top 5: The best Red Bull replacements • Plus, our Recommendations: A jungle mystery; a Florida farce; and “Predator” catches the “Spider-Verse” bugAs you might’ve heard, Mark Zuckerberg has lined up a new AI czar for himself: Alexandr Wang, the 28-year-old... • The Big Read: Bret Taylor, the Salesforce heir apparent who went rogue • The Top 5: The ...

Art by Clark Miller

Silicon Valley’s Favorite Alternative Energy Drinks

By Ann Gehan · Jun 14, 2025 6:00am PDT · 10 comments

In Silicon Valley, cutting back on booze has been in vogue for a while. Now the tech elite is going cold turkey on something else: traditional energy drinks like Red Bull and 5-Hour Energy. That’s led to a fresh wave of beverage startups selling elixirs that purport to give an animating jolt to the system but with starkly different ingredients... In Silicon Valley, cutting back on booze has been in vogue for a while. Now the tech elite is...

A Waymo autonomous vehicle. Photo via Getty

Robotaxis Get Real

By Abram Brown · Jun 13, 2025 5:00pm PDT · 1 comment

A Waymo autonomous vehicle. Photo via Getty

Robotaxis Get Real

By Abram Brown · Jun 13, 2025 5:00pm PDT · 1 comment

Flying cars may not have arrived yet, but the long-awaited era of everyday robotaxis is here. And not just in America, if I’m correctly reading signals about the state of the industry from the last several days. They were all equally eye-opening, even if one was a little grim. In Los Angeles, a real-life “Black Mirror” moment played out,... Flying cars may not have arrived yet, but the long-awaited era of everyday robotaxis is here. And...