WSJ Tech News Briefing: TNB Tech Minute – Snap’s AR Glasses Subsidiary Partners with Qualcomm

Date: April 10, 2026
Host: Julie Chang
Podcast: WSJ Tech News Briefing

Episode Overview

This episode of the WSJ Tech News Briefing covers the latest developments in the technology sector, with a special focus on the announcement that Snap’s augmented reality glasses subsidiary, Spex, has entered a significant partnership with Qualcomm. Other news highlights include Palantir’s stock reaction to comments from President Trump and a surge in European semiconductor stocks following TSMC’s strong quarterly results.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Snap’s AR Glasses Subsidiary Spex Partners with Qualcomm

[00:30–01:07]

• Spex-Qualcomm Partnership:
  • Spex (Snap's AR glasses subsidiary) has established a multi-year partnership with Qualcomm Technologies.
  • The collaboration will have Spex’s upcoming AR glasses run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon system on a chip.
  • Both companies are working to integrate “on device AI, advanced graphics, and other features.”
• Agentic Experiences:
  • Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon notes that the integration aims “to deliver agentic experiences into daily life.”

    “The integration aims to deliver agentic experiences into daily life.” – Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon [00:46]

• Significance:
  • Qualcomm previously powered earlier versions of Spex’s AR hardware.
  • The deal reaffirms Snap CEO Evan Spiegel’s commitment to the AR glasses business, even amid pressure from an activist investor to close or sell Spex.

2. Palantir Stock Moves After Trump’s Online Endorsement

[01:09–01:34]

• Stock Movement:
  • Palantir stock, after falling over 7% previously and another nearly 6% in morning trading, pared some losses following praise from former President Trump on Truth Social.
  • At the time of reporting, the stock was down about 2%.

    “The company has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment. Just ask our enemies.” – Donald Trump, via Truth Social (paraphrased by Julie Chang) [01:13]

• Investor Concerns:
  • The company faces skepticism over whether new AI technologies could make its platforms obsolete, despite reporting record fourth-quarter revenue.

3. Semiconductor Stocks Jump on TSMC’s Strong Results

[01:46–02:20]

• TSMC Performance:
  • TSMC, the world’s largest contract chip maker, reported first-quarter revenue growth of more than 35% year-over-year, beating analyst expectations.
• Industry Impact:
  • Shares of European semiconductor companies climbed in reaction:
    • ASML Holding and ASM International up over 2%
    • Infineon Technologies up ~1%
    • STMicroelectronics up ~3.7%
  • TSMC’s results are seen as an industry bellwether, especially for AI demand and chip manufacturing.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Agentic AI for Business:

  “The potential of agentic is to rethink how work gets done. Overall, it challenges all sorts of traditional orthodoxies around how organizations execute the work at hand.”
  – Jason Gorzadis, Deloitte US CEO [00:00]

• On AR Glasses Innovation:

  “The integration aims to deliver agentic experiences into daily life.”
  – Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm CEO [00:46]

• On Palantir’s Defense Capabilities:

  “The company has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment. Just ask our enemies.”
  – Donald Trump, via Truth Social (as reported by Julie Chang) [01:13]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:30] Snap's AR subsidiary Spex’s partnership with Qualcomm announced
• [01:01] Snap’s commitment to AR business despite investor pressure
• [01:09] Palantir stock news and Trump’s endorsement recap
• [01:46] TSMC quarterly results; European semiconductor market reaction

Summary

This TNB Tech Minute focused on significant developments in AR wearables, with Snap doubling down on its AR glasses business in partnership with Qualcomm to bring agentic AI and advanced graphics closer to everyday life. The episode also tracked major market moves, notably Palantir’s rebound following high-profile endorsement from Donald Trump and a positive ripple effect across semiconductor stocks thanks to TSMC’s impressive revenue. The episode provides a concise yet insightful snapshot of current tech trends and industry dynamics as reported by the Wall Street Journal.