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

George Osborne. Jack Taylor/Getty Images.

OpenAI Lands Its British Politician

By Martin Peers · Dec 16, 2025 5:00pm PST

What is it about former British government ministers that makes them so appealing to U.S. tech firms? Former U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is joining OpenAI to be head of OpenAI for Countries, based in London. The title is a little vague, but according to OpenAI’s chief global affairs executive, Chris Lehane, Osborne will be... What is it about former British government ministers that makes them so appealing to U.S. tech...

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Waymo to Join the $100 Billion Club

By Katie Roof · Dec 16, 2025 4:45pm PST

The boom times for startup fundraising are likely to roll into the new year. As I scooped earlier Tuesday, self-driving car service Waymo is expected to raise billions of dollars at a $100 billion valuation, more than double its last valuation.It’s the latest sign that while public markets quake, private investors are still eager to put money... The boom times for startup fundraising are likely to roll into the new year. As I scooped earlier...

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Waymo Discusses Raising Billions at More Than $100 Billion Valuation

By Katie Roof · Dec 16, 2025 2:29pm PST · 7 comments

Waymo is in early talks with potential investors to raise more money at a valuation of at least $100 billion, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. The size of the round will at least be several billions of dollars, possibly even more than $10 billion, one of the people said. The exact valuation has not been set and the funding... Waymo is in early talks with potential investors to raise more money at a valuation of at least...

Getty Images

Corporate Chatbots Gone Wild

By Kevin McLaughlin and Aaron Holmes · Dec 16, 2025 10:46am PST

Getty Images

Corporate Chatbots Gone Wild

By Kevin McLaughlin and Aaron Holmes · Dec 16, 2025 10:46am PST

Businesses such as IBM and Salesforce have long used chatbots to greet their website visitors and offer them assistance with getting more information about their products. In recent years, generative AI has livened up these chatbots so they are no longer confined to a small set of canned responses. But some technology providers are having... Businesses such as IBM and Salesforce have long used chatbots to greet their website visitors and...

Art by Mike Sullivan

Inside Apple’s iPhone Road Map, From Foldable Screens to Curved Glass Cases

By Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu · Dec 16, 2025 8:00am PST

The iPhone family is growing again. Over the next two years, Apple is planning a major expansion of its smartphone product line that could see it selling at least seven new models of its flagship device by fall 2027, up from five iPhone models today, according to multiple people working directly on the products at both Apple and its suppliers. ... The iPhone family is growing again. Over the next two years, Apple is planning a major expansion...

Art by Mike Sullivan

Why Alien Hunters Want Jensen Huang to Fund Their AI Telescope

By Rocket Drew · Dec 16, 2025 7:00am PST

While alien hunting is often associated with tinfoil hats and flying saucers, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute has established itself as a leading scientific organization since it was founded 41 years ago. As it scans the cosmos for alien life, it has published research in peer-reviewed astronomy journals and collaborated... While alien hunting is often associated with tinfoil hats and flying saucers, the Search for...

Art by Mike Sullivan

Small Bank Critical to Stablecoin Payments Tightens Risk Controls

By Yueqi Yang and Michael Roddan · Dec 16, 2025 6:00am PST

In just two years, Kansas City, Missouri–based lender Lead Bank has emerged as a major link between stablecoin startups and the traditional financial system, powering billions of dollars of payments around the world. But lately, signs have emerged that both the bank and its stablecoin clients are tightening their risk controls, potentially... In just two years, Kansas City, Missouri–based lender Lead Bank has emerged as a major link...

ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott. Getty Images.

ServiceNow Sell-Off Highlights Jittery Market

By Martin Peers · Dec 15, 2025 5:00pm PST

ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott. Getty Images.

ServiceNow Sell-Off Highlights Jittery Market

By Martin Peers · Dec 15, 2025 5:00pm PST

Talk about a jittery market. Shares of ServiceNow dropped 11.5% on Monday after a weekend report that the enterprise software firm was in “advanced talks” to buy cybersecurity firm Armis for $7 billion. The stock sell-off wiped $21 billion off ServiceNow’s market capitalization—reducing it to $159 billion—which seems something of an... Talk about a jittery market. Shares of ServiceNow dropped 11.5% on Monday after a weekend report...

Ford canceled production of its electric F-150 Lightning. Photo: Getty

Ford Halts Electric F-150 Production, Expands Use of Chinese Technology

By Steve LeVine · Dec 15, 2025 2:38pm PST · 2 comments

Ford on Monday will halt production of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup after poor sales of the vehicle, and will re-introduce it as a plug-in hybrid that uses an unusual technology to deliver more than 700 miles of range. The company also sharply cut plans to make batteries in the U.S. and, in a move likely to spark controversy in... Ford on Monday will halt production of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup after poor sales of...

The Stargate AI data center in Abilene, Texas. Photo by Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

AI Infrastructure

The ‘Bragawatt’ Data Center Era Brings Reality Checks—and Energy Breakthroughs

By Ann Davis Vaughan · Dec 15, 2025 9:30am PST · 8 comments

Welcome to AI Infrastructure, a new newsletter focused on how the data center boom is reshaping the energy sector and turning Silicon Valley into a rising industrial power.Ann Davis Vaughan has covered the intersection of energy and technology as both an investment analyst and journalist for two decades, including 14 years at The Wall Street... Welcome to AI Infrastructure, a new newsletter focused on how the data center boom is reshaping...

Elon Musk. Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Why xAI Has an Uphill Battle Selling Grok to Businesses

By Theo Wayt · Dec 15, 2025 8:00am PST · 12 comments

Elon Musk’s xAI wants companies around the world to buy its Grok AI models as it tries to build a moneymaking business. To get there, xAI has created an enterprise AI sales group over the past half-year that has expanded to more than a dozen people. But xAI’s lack of experience in selling to big businesses is holding many potential customers... Elon Musk’s xAI wants companies around the world to buy its Grok AI models as it tries to build a...

Art by Mike Sullivan.

When Will We Reach AGI—And Other Prediction Market Bets

By Rocket Drew · Dec 15, 2025 7:00am PST

Art by Mike Sullivan.

When Will We Reach AGI—And Other Prediction Market Bets

By Rocket Drew · Dec 15, 2025 7:00am PST

On Friday, I wrote about how companies are scrambling to prevent employees from using confidential company information to bet on prediction markets, sites like Polymarket and Kalshi that offer derivatives to wager on events. Opportunities to bet on AI outcomes, say a model release, have exploded in popularity—bets for the latest OpenAI model ... On Friday, I wrote about how companies are scrambling to prevent employees from using...

The People Running Apple After Its Executive Exodus

By Wayne Ma and Aaron Tilley · Dec 15, 2025 6:00am PST

For years, Apple was known for having very little turnover in its top ranks. Not anymore. In recent weeks, the company has seen a stream of high-profile executives head for the exits, at a moment when Apple is scrambling to build the AI features consumers increasingly expect from the iPhone. Today, we’re publishing a major update to our Apple... For years, Apple was known for having very little turnover in its top ranks. Not anymore. In...

A Nokia drone. Photo: Courtesy Nokia

The Electric: Nokia’s Battery Choice Reflects a Sudden Lifeline to Battery Startups

By Steve LeVine · Dec 15, 2025 4:30am PST

Thomas Eder, head of embedded wireless solutions at Nokia, was hunting for a better battery to power the Finnish company’s industrial drones, so they could stay in the air longer and be easier to recharge. Thomas Eder, head of embedded wireless solutions at Nokia, was hunting for a better battery to...

Mario Tama/Getty Images

How Netflix and the Ellisons Could Compromise on Warner

By Martin Peers · Dec 14, 2025 3:00pm PST

We’re heading into our last full working week of the year, so the news flow is likely to start quieting down. (Be on the lookout for ServiceNow’s next big acquisition, however). One story that’s likely to chug along through the holidays is the battle between Netflix and the Ellison family’s Paramount Skydance for Warner Bros. Discovery. There’s... We’re heading into our last full working week of the year, so the news flow is likely to start...

Why Elon Musk Is Suddenly Talking So Much About Space Data Centers

By Nick Wingfield and Cory Weinberg · Dec 14, 2025 8:00am PST · 16 comments

Sunday Insights

Why Elon Musk Is Suddenly Talking So Much About Space Data Centers

By Nick Wingfield and Cory Weinberg · Dec 14, 2025 8:00am PST · 16 comments

Every so often, prominent figures in tech begin amplifying the same topic so energetically that it makes you wonder if they’re all on the same group chat (or if the hive mind from “Pluribus,” the Apple TV+ sci-fi show, is a real thing). One such moment occurred this past week, when it became hard to escape the deafening online chatter about data... Every so often, prominent figures in tech begin amplifying the same topic so energetically that...

Art by Clark Miller

Silicon Valley’s Testosterone Party Could Get Bigger

By Amy Dockser Marcus · Dec 13, 2025 7:05am PST

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Cheap goods, sales gimmicks fuel WhatNot’s $11.5 billion live-shopping empire• Shopping and Style: A tech mogul’s guide to black tie • Plus, our weekly pop culture Recommendations: “Wisecrack,” “Threads of Empire” and “Jay Kelly”The FDA said at a panel this week that it is open to... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Cheap goods, sales gimmicks fuel WhatNot’...

Art by Clark Miller (Photos: Getty Images)

Style and Shopping

A Tech Mogul’s Guide to Black Tie

By Derek Guy · Dec 13, 2025 6:46am PST · 2 comments

Lately, the rich and restless of Silicon Valley have been appearing more often at the sort of formal events that call for black tie. It has not been going well. At the Breakthrough Prize ceremony in April, for instance, Sam Altman wore a shrunken dinner jacket with low-rise trousers, which exposed a bit of shirt beneath his coat’s... Lately, the rich and restless of Silicon Valley have been appearing more often at the sort of...

Getty Images

Data Center Firm Rowan Explores Capital Raising or Sale

By Anissa Gardizy and Valida Pau · Dec 12, 2025 3:24pm PST

A spike of investor interest in the data center sector has prompted one major data center developer, Rowan Digital Infrastructure, to consider whether this is a good time to raise fresh capital or possibly even sell, say people familiar with the company’s thinking. If it were to raise money or sell, it would likely be valued at more than $10... A spike of investor interest in the data center sector has prompted one major data center...

Screenshot via YouTube.

‘ChatGPT for Doctors’ Startup Doubles Valuation to $12 Billion as Revenue Surges

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Dec 12, 2025 1:35pm PST · 3 comments

Screenshot via YouTube.

‘ChatGPT for Doctors’ Startup Doubles Valuation to $12 Billion as Revenue Surges

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Dec 12, 2025 1:35pm PST · 3 comments

OpenEvidence, which operates a ChatGPT-like product for doctors to find health information from medical journals and other trusted sources, is raising $250 million in equity financing that will value the three-year-old startup at $12 billion after the investment, doubling its last private valuation from a financing announced just two months ago,... OpenEvidence, which operates a ChatGPT-like product for doctors to find health information from...