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

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

Art by Clark Miller

Smart Glasses, OpenAI and the Hollow Castles

By Abram Brown · May 24, 2025 7:00am PDT

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: How the ‘Technology Brothers’ seized Silicon Valley • The Arena: The WNBA and sports have an online abuse problem—and few good options• Policy: 5 ideas for fixing the FAA • Plus, our Recommendations: A journalist’s guilt trip; the secret of superkids; and a humorous,... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: How the ‘Technology Brothers’ seized...

Art by Clark Miller

How to Fix the FAA? 5 Ideas From Sebastian Thrun and Other Tech Leaders

By Theo Wayt, Sylvia Varnham O'Regan and Evan Robinson-Johnson · May 24, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Judging by the ongoing disruptions at Newark Liberty International and other airports across the country, the Federal Aviation Administration faces enough issues to fill up a 747 jet. And the agency’s responsibilities are only going to grow in the coming years as startups push out of Earth’s atmosphere amid the intensifying commercial space... Judging by the ongoing disruptions at Newark Liberty International and other airports across the...

Art by Clark Miller.

The WNBA and Sports Have an Online Abuse Problem—and Few Good Solutions

By Sara Germano · May 24, 2025 6:00am PDT · 2 comments

Last Saturday, the WNBA’s Indiana Fever hosted the Chicago Sky for their 2025 season opener, a highly anticipated matchup between archrival stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. It was a hard-fought game until the third quarter, when everything went off the rails. Clark, who is white, committed a flagrant foul on Reese, who is Black, leading to a... Last Saturday, the WNBA’s Indiana Fever hosted the Chicago Sky for their 2025 season opener, a...

Trump’s Tariff Threat Shouldn’t Panic Apple Investors

Trump’s Tariff Threat Shouldn’t Panic Apple Investors

By Martin Peers · May 23, 2025 3:15pm PDT

Trump’s Tariff Threat Shouldn’t Panic Apple Investors

Trump’s Tariff Threat Shouldn’t Panic Apple Investors

By Martin Peers · May 23, 2025 3:15pm PDT

Woo-hoo—it’s Memorial Day weekend, which means summer is just around the corner. And in a typical year, we would expect to soon see tech reviewers telling consumers not to upgrade their iPhones now, because new models will be coming in September. Not surprisingly, the June quarter is typically Apple’s weakest for iPhone sales. But this year,... Woo-hoo—it’s Memorial Day weekend, which means summer is just around the corner. And in a typical...

Art by Clark Miller. Portraits courtesy of TBPN.

How the ‘Technology Brothers’ Seized Silicon Valley

By Abram Brown · May 23, 2025 9:02am PDT · 4 comments

In recent months, John Coogan and Jordi Hays, co-hosts of “TBPN,” a daily tech news talk show that has captured the attention of Silicon Valley’s investors and founders, have followed the same morning routine. The two men meet in downtown Los Angeles at the members-only Jonathan Club to work out, then sauna together while reading print... In recent months, John Coogan and Jordi Hays, co-hosts of “TBPN,” a daily tech news talk...

Pro Weekly: Tech Bulls Are Back

Pro Weekly: Tech Bulls Are Back

By Akash Pasricha · May 23, 2025 8:00am PDT

The Information’s readers are suddenly feeling much rosier about prospects for the tech sector. In our latest exclusive survey, 54% said they expect conditions for tech companies will improve over the next six months. That’s a stark reversal from last month, when 65% of respondents said they expected conditions to worsen. The Information’s readers are suddenly feeling much rosier about prospects for the tech...

Art by Mike Sullivan

How Netflix Is Winning Over YouTubers

By Kaya Yurieff and Sahil Patel · May 23, 2025 6:00am PDT

Hollywood used to shrug off social media influencers. But in the last year, five big streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, between them have announced or released more than 25 new shows featuring creators, ranging from reality TV series to scripted comedies to licensing deals. And streaming services hope to strike... Hollywood used to shrug off social media influencers. But in the last year, five big streaming...

Sam Altman. Photo via Getty

The Flaw in Altman’s Thesis for AI Devices

By Martin Peers · May 22, 2025 5:00pm PDT

Sam Altman. Photo via Getty

The Flaw in Altman’s Thesis for AI Devices

By Martin Peers · May 22, 2025 5:00pm PDT

Is it animal, mineral or vegetable? OpenAI’s public declaration of its plan to roll out AI-specific hardware devices—as a result of its $6.5 billion purchase of Jony Ive’s startup, io—has sparked the predictable rush of people speculating on what the first such device will be. And we’re not just talking about journalists. Taiwan-based analyst... Is it animal, mineral or vegetable? OpenAI’s public declaration of its plan to roll out...

Elad Gil. Photo via Getty.

Elad Gil’s Latest AI Bet

By Miles Kruppa · May 22, 2025 3:31pm PDT · 1 comment

Elad Gil, the prolific investor known for placing early bets on Airbnb and Stripe, says he’s been backing ventures buying mature businesses and incorporating artificial intelligence into their work. Now we know the identity of one of them.Gil recently led a funding round in Enam Co., a one-year-old AI startup focusing on worker productivity,... Elad Gil, the prolific investor known for placing early bets on Airbnb and Stripe, says he’s been...

Alice Ma, co-founder and CEO of Mad Realities. Photo via Mad Realities.

Creator Economy

A Startup Aims to Create Online Shows for TV Studios

By Kaya Yurieff · May 22, 2025 2:45pm PDT

Hollywood has found a new source of inspiration on YouTube. In the latest deal to bring the internet onto living room screens, “Transformers” director Michael Bay is making the viral “Skibidi Toilet” meme into a movie. Hollywood studios are also trying to figure out how to gain fans on the internet, which can ultimately drive viewership of shows... Hollywood has found a new source of inspiration on YouTube. In the latest deal to bring the...

AI Agents Are Popular, but Accuracy Concerns Linger

By Akash Pasricha · May 22, 2025 10:30am PDT · 2 comments

Artificial intelligence agents that can carry out tasks like coding, customer service or scheduling with little human oversight are generating a lot of hype. Tech users are generally eager to try them out—and say they’re mostly happy with the results. Three in four of our readers have used an AI agent, and most said they are at least... Artificial intelligence agents that can carry out tasks like coding, customer service or...

Satya Nadella on stage at Microsoft Build 2025. Photo via Getty

Can AI Really Replace Human Developers?

By Aaron Holmes · May 22, 2025 10:00am PDT · 1 comment

Satya Nadella on stage at Microsoft Build 2025. Photo via Getty

Can AI Really Replace Human Developers?

By Aaron Holmes · May 22, 2025 10:00am PDT · 1 comment

I’m in Seattle this week for Microsoft’s annual Build conference, where the software behemoth has announced a slate of new artificial intelligence–infused products meant to get developers to build and purchase AI agents from Microsoft’s Azure cloud.Specifically, Microsoft is leaning into the idea of advanced AI chatbots that are capable of... I’m in Seattle this week for Microsoft’s annual Build conference, where the software behemoth has...

Art by Clark Miller; Abilene image via Getty.

JPMorgan to Lend More Than $7 Billion For OpenAI Data Center

By Anissa Gardizy · May 22, 2025 8:02am PDT

JPMorgan Chase has agreed to lend more than $7 billion to the firms building OpenAI’s giant artificial intelligence data center campus in Abilene, Tex., according to two people with direct knowledge of the deal. The deal with JPMorgan, which has not been previously reported, reflects continued interest from lenders and investors in backing the... JPMorgan Chase has agreed to lend more than $7 billion to the firms building OpenAI’s giant...

Jony Ive, left, and Sam Altman. Photos by Getty

The Coming Culture Clash for Jony Ive’s Io and OpenAI

By Stephanie Palazzolo · May 22, 2025 7:00am PDT

OpenAI’s been on a shopping spree.First, a $3 billion bid for Windsurf, the maker of a popular AI coding assistant formerly known as Codeium. And now, a whopping $6.5 billion acquisition of io, the AI device startup OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple design chief Jony Ive have been working on for a couple of years.That second deal shouldn’t... OpenAI’s been on a shopping spree.First, a $3 billion bid for Windsurf, the maker of a popular AI...

Startup Employee Stock Sales Set to Surge With IPOs Uncertain

By Natasha Mascarenhas · May 22, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Last year, startup employees and early investors sold billions of their shares to other investors in private transactions—more than the amount raised by tech public offerings. With the public markets choppy, keeping initial public offerings at a minimum, that dynamic is expected to repeat this year. Defense startup Anduril, which arranged... Last year, startup employees and early investors sold billions of their shares to other investors...

Jony Ive and Sam Altman. Photo via OpenAI

What OpenAI’s Jony Ive Deal Means For Altman—And Apple

By Martin Peers · May 21, 2025 5:00pm PDT

Jony Ive and Sam Altman. Photo via OpenAI

What OpenAI’s Jony Ive Deal Means For Altman—And Apple

By Martin Peers · May 21, 2025 5:00pm PDT

Sam Altman seems to be trying to set a new world record for creating a vertically integrated tech company in as little time as possible. The deal he and former Apple design chief Jony Ive announced Wednesday, under which OpenAI will buy Ive’s AI hardware startup io at a valuation of $6.5 billion, is striking on a number of levels. And not just... Sam Altman seems to be trying to set a new world record for creating a vertically integrated tech...

Art by Mike Sullivan

Nike to Sell on Amazon for First Time Since 2019

By Theo Wayt and Sara Germano · May 21, 2025 2:15pm PDT · 1 comment

Six years after Nike stopped selling through Amazon in favor of going direct to customers through its own stores and website, the two companies are getting back together. Amazon plans to start selling Nike products with supplies coming directly from the company, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday. Winning back one of the world’s... Six years after Nike stopped selling through Amazon in favor of going direct to customers through...

The Italian Embassy in Washington. Photo via Flickr

Creator Economy

Why the Italian Embassy Wants to Work With Creators

By Kaya Yurieff · May 21, 2025 2:00pm PDT

I spent Tuesday evening at the Italian Embassy in Washington, where I moderated a discussion about the growth of the creator economy and how governments should be thinking about working with influencers. The convergence of politics and creators has been building slowly over time. Case in point: 10 years ago, Michelle Obama invited Vine... I spent Tuesday evening at the Italian Embassy in Washington, where I moderated a discussion...

Sundar Pichai on stage at Google I/O. Photo by Getty

Google Gets Its Act Together

By Stephanie Palazzolo and Erin Woo · May 21, 2025 7:00am PDT

Google seems to have finally learned its lesson about announcing products that aren’t yet ready for release to the public. At its annual I/O developer conference on Tuesday, the company launched a flurry of products, many of which—including its chatbot-style search tab AI Mode, its new Veo video model and its coding assistant Jules—were... Google seems to have finally learned its lesson about announcing products that aren’t yet ready...

Art by Clark Miller.

Banks Are Shifting Quickly to Crypto as New Rules Loom

By Yueqi Yang · May 21, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Art by Clark Miller.

Banks Are Shifting Quickly to Crypto as New Rules Loom

By Yueqi Yang · May 21, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Banks are racing to embrace cryptocurrencies, triggered by pending legislation in Washington that could set off the biggest shift toward crypto yet in the traditional financial system. Banks and the companies whose technology underpins much of the finance industry say the shift could become clear as soon as this summer, when banks’ business... Banks are racing to embrace cryptocurrencies, triggered by pending legislation in Washington that...