Better Batteries Could Soon Come to a Phone Near You

Summary

WSJ Tech News Briefing: "Better Batteries Could Soon Come to a Phone Near You"

Release Date: June 26, 2025
Host: Victoria Craig
Author: The Wall Street Journal

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1. The Quest for Longer-Lasting Batteries

Victoria Craig opens the episode by addressing a common frustration among smartphone users: batteries that don't last the entire day. She introduces the promising advancement of solid-state batteries, which could potentially eliminate the need for carrying multiple chargers and cables. Craig sets the stage for an in-depth discussion on the hurdles and breakthroughs in solid-state battery technology.

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2. The Challenges and Innovations in Solid-State Batteries

Guest: Christopher Mims, WSJ Tech Columnist and Co-host of the Bold Names Podcast
Timestamp: [01:30]

Christopher Mims describes solid-state batteries as the "holy grail" of battery technology, highlighting their potential for faster charging and higher energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, he points out significant challenges:

"The problem is that as the lithium ions moving around in a solid-state battery do their thing, they actually make the battery expand and contract. It breathes and the battery will just crack itself apart or it has to be in this crazy metal enclosure to keep it from expanding and contracting too much." (01:30)

Mims explains that the solid structure causes physical stress, unlike the gel-like electrolyte in conventional batteries that accommodates ion movement without expanding or contracting.

Breakthrough by Ion:

Timestamp: [02:20]

Mims discusses Ion’s innovative approach to solid-state batteries:

"They borrowed technology from fuel cells... put this elegant ceramic, like the ceramic in your coffee mug, and it's full of tiny holes where the lithium ions can hang out as they're moving back and forth between the two poles of a battery." (02:20)

Ion's design uses a ceramic matrix that mitigates the expansion and contraction issue, maintaining stability without requiring new manufacturing facilities. This allows for the integration of solid-state batteries into existing production lines for lithium-ion batteries.

Real-World Performance:

Timestamp: [03:33]

Discussing real-world applications, Mims shares that Ion has shipped test batches to major consumer electronics companies and the Department of Defense (DoD):

"The Department of Defense found that across many charge and discharge cycles, these batteries held up... the DOD said we got these batteries, they worked as promised." (03:33)

The DoD’s positive feedback underscores the reliability and durability of Ion's solid-state batteries under rigorous testing conditions.

Potential Impact on Consumer Electronics:

Timestamp: [04:18]

Mims elaborates on the implications for everyday technology:

"You could have your smartphone last 50% longer, or you could have things like smart glasses which last all day long." (04:18)

With Ion already producing batteries and undergoing testing, the introduction of solid-state batteries into consumer products is anticipated within the next 18 months to two years, potentially revolutionizing battery life in smartphones and other portable devices.

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3. The Future of Enterprise AI

Speaker: Hrithika Gunner, IBM’s General Manager for Data and AI
Timestamp: [05:35]

Gunner discusses the integration of generative AI in handling unstructured data within enterprises:

"Generative AI has allowed us to unlock the opportunity to be able to take the 90% of data that is buried in unstructured formats... which is essential for organizations as we go forward." (05:35)

She emphasizes the importance of defining AI data strategies, enforcing privacy and security policies, and continuously updating AI governance to build trustworthy and effective AI solutions.

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4. Rising Threats in Tech Support: Hackers Exploiting Call Centers

Reporter: Robert McMillan, WSJ Computer Security Reporter
Timestamp: [06:30]

Robert McMillan sheds light on a growing cybersecurity threat where hackers exploit call centers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information:

"Hackers are weaponizing tech support... pretending to be employees of companies they don't actually work for." (06:30)

Mechanism of the Attack:

1. Social Engineering: Hackers impersonate high-level executives to trick call center employees into granting access to company networks.
2. Bribery: Employees are bribed to provide sensitive information such as account numbers and Social Security numbers.

Impact on Companies and Customers:

In the case of Coinbase, hackers obtained sensitive customer information by bribing call center employees, leading to significant financial losses through fraudulent activities. Customers receive deceptive calls claiming to be from Coinbase security, prompting them to take urgent actions that result in financial loss.

Preventative Measures:

McMillan advises customers to remain vigilant and verify the authenticity of any unsolicited communications:

"If you're ever doing anything related to cryptocurrency in a panic, you need to stop and really think very hard about what you're doing and why you're doing it." (09:30)

He recommends:

• Conducting independent verification of the entity's contact information.
• Avoiding sharing sensitive information over unsolicited calls.
• Contacting the official company directly to confirm any security concerns.

Company Response:

Coinbase has implemented measures such as relocating operations to the US, securing call center computers, and discontinuing partnerships with vulnerable call centers to mitigate these threats.

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Conclusion

This episode of WSJ Tech News Briefing delves into groundbreaking advancements in battery technology with solid-state batteries poised to enhance battery life significantly. Concurrently, it highlights critical cybersecurity challenges where hackers exploit tech support systems, emphasizing the need for robust security measures and vigilant consumer behavior. Additionally, the role of AI in managing unstructured data underscores the evolving landscape of enterprise technology.

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For more insights and updates, subscribe to WSJ Tech News Briefing.

Transcript

[Hrithika Gunner]

As companies create AI powered solutions, how can they ensure they're effective and trustworthy? Join IBM at the break to hear how companies can build trust in their AI with Hrithika Ghanar, IBM's general manager for data and AI.

[Victoria Craig]

Welcome to Tech News Briefing. It's Thursday, June 26th. I'm Victoria Craig for the Wall Street Journal. Hate it when your cell phone dies before the day is done. Join the club. A battery that lasts 50% long, finally in production. But what are the hurdles to getting it into our devices then? Hackers are all over the web now. They're turning the helpful army of tech support agents against us. We'll tell you what you need to know. But first, every day I tote around a fairly heavy little bag of battery chargers and their corresponding cables, just because you never know when you might need some extra juice, if work runs late or you decide to grab dinner out before heading home. And in this day and age, the last thing any of us wants is to be running around without access to our cell phones. But there soon might be a day that heavy little bag is no longer needed because the elusive technology of solid state batteries might soon make their way into our consumer electronics. Christopher Mims, a WSJ tech columnist and co host of the Bold Names podcast, has been digging into this topic. Christopher, why are solid state batteries such a difficult innovation to tackle?

[Christopher Mims]

Solid state batteries, they are the holy grail of batteries. They're in theory, the fastest charging, the most energy dense we can possibly make. The problem is that as the lithium ions moving around in a solid state battery do their thing, they actually make the battery expand and contract. It breathes and the battery will just crack itself apart or it has to be in this crazy metal enclosure to keep it from expanding and contracting too much. And you don't have that problem in regular batteries like in your phone because it's a liquid in there. So the lithium ions kind of have this gel that they can swim around in.

[Victoria Craig]

So you have been to the factory floor of a company called Ion. What is it doing that could be a potential game changer in this solid state battery space?

[Christopher Mims]

Ion came up with a a new kind of solid state battery. They borrowed technology from fuel cells, like hydrogen fuel cells, and they said, what if instead of the usual kind of crystal chunky granola matrix that's inside a solid state battery, we put this elegant ceramic, like the ceramic in your coffee mug, and it's full of tiny holes where the lithium ions can hang out as they're moving back and forth between the two poles of a battery. And what do you know? This battery does not expand or contract the way that a normal solid state battery does. It's very stable and it can be manufactured in factories that already make regular lithium ion batteries. So very importantly, it doesn't require any kind of new gigafactories to be built.

[Victoria Craig]

So Ion told you that it has shipped test batches of this battery to quote every consumer electronics company you can think of, and it's also sent some to the Department of Defense. So how have these batteries actually held up and performed when put through their paces in a real life setting?

[Christopher Mims]

The Department of Defense found that across many charge and discharge cycles, these batteries held up. And that's a big deal because typically with batteries, if they can hold more charge, they just don't last as long or they have some other weird special requirement like they can only operate at certain temperatures. But the DOD said we got these batteries, they worked as promised. And then when I asked them about it, they said, and we're not going to tell you anything else, but the stated purpose is to make it so that soldiers don't have to carry as much weight weight into battle.

[Victoria Craig]

So for consumer electronics, what does this mean? In what ways could it revolutionize the way that we use everyday technology and.

[Christopher Mims]

How soon could that happen if Ion's promises bear out? And keep in mind that, you know, it's rare that we get a fundamentally new battery technology, so no one should be surprised if they completely flame out. But if what they claim proves true in the real world, you could have your smartphone last 50% longer, or you could have things like smart glasses which last all day long. And realistically, given that Ion is already producing batteries and they're being tested within 18 months to two years, you could see the first consumer product with one of their batteries in it.

[Victoria Craig]

That was Christopher Mims, WSJ tech columnist and co host of the Bold Names podcast. Coming up, we rely on tech support operators around the globe to help us with all kinds of device related issues. But our reporter warns some might be working against us. We'll have that story after the break.

[Hrithika Gunner]

Enterprise AI is an unstructured data problem at scale. How does generative AI address it? Hrithika Gunnar, general manager for data and AI at IBM, explains, Think of this.

As emails PDF PowerPoint decks that sit in an organization. Generative AI has allowed us to unlock the opportunity to be able to take the 90% of data that is buried in unstructured formats, which really unlocks a new level of driving data and insights of that data into your workflow flows into your applications, which is essential for organizations as we go forward.

[Victoria Craig]

As technology gets smarter, so do hackers looking to exploit it. Recently, bad actors have targeted low level workers who staff call centers to pressure them to hand over sensitive information the criminals need to commit crimes. WSJ reporter Robert McMillan covers computer security, hackers and privacy, and he's written about how hackers are weaponizing tech support. Bob, how does this kind of hack work exactly?

[Robert McMillan]

Well, there are two problems with call centers, and they've been going on for a long time. The first problem is what's known as social engineering, which is when people call up call centers and they basically talk the employees into doing things they shouldn't do. Now, the corporate security problem here is this. You get locked out of your computer network, you call tech support and they get you back in. What hackers are doing is they're calling, calling up tech support at call centers, and they're pretending to be employees of companies they don't actually work for. So they'll call up and say, I'm the CEO of this company, I need to get on the corporate network to finish a important business deal and you need to help me right now. They are then using that access to install ransomware and extorting companies. And it's become a really big problem. The other thing they're doing is they're just paying off employees, they're just bribing people in these call centers. In the story I wrote, the employees of call centers that were working for Coinbase were being bribed, and those people were providing the sensitive information, the account numbers, the Social Security numbers, the phone numbers that could then be used for fraud.

[Victoria Craig]

And that's what's so interesting, is that it doesn't just end at hackers stealing this information from coins companies. In your story, you talk about, in this Coinbase example, they go to the customers, the real people that the information belongs to, and then they scan the individuals out of millions of dollars.

[Robert McMillan]

That's right. Somebody calls you and the phone number looks like it's from Coinbase, and they have information that only Coinbase would have on you because they've literally bribed employees to get this information. And then that person tells you there's a security concern around your account and your crypto may be in danger. And they convince you that you need to take some steps. Right now that Coinbase Security is calling you and they've identified a potential hack of your account. You need to do this stuff right away to prevent yourself from Losing all of your money, people freak out. And they have lost very large amounts of money with these social engineering attacks. Tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of dollars have been stolen this way.

[Victoria Craig]

In your piece, you spoke with Coinbase's chief security officer. What did he have to say about how the company is dealing with stuff like this?

[Robert McMillan]

They've already taken a bunch of steps to minimize the risk. So the call center computers, for example, it's pretty difficult to get a ton of information off of them if you're a hacker. But what they've done is they're actually moving some of their operations back into the US they have locked down the computers at the call centers, and they've also just stopped working with some of these call centers.

[Victoria Craig]

Now, if you're a customer on the other end of one of these calls to try to get information from you and then money from you, is there a rule of thumb to know how to protect yourself from something like this?

[Robert McMillan]

If you're ever doing anything related to cryptocurrency in a panic, you need to stop and really think very hard about what you're doing and why you're doing it. So if you find yourself at a ATM that's selling you cryptocurrency, stop and reconsider why you're doing that. You may be the victim of a scam. If you find yourself creating a digital wallet online with a sense of panic, stop and ask yourself, is the person that I'm talking to really who they claim to be? This is a huge problem on the Internet right now. It's very easy to fake a trusted identity. We don't know who we're talking to on the phone. We don't know who we're talking to when we send email messages or chats. So. So anytime you find yourself kind of in a panic about losing money, just stop. Do a Google search for the entity you're supposed to be talking to. Maybe it's Coinbase, maybe it's your banking institution. And then call the number you know is the right number for them, and then try and talk through your problem. If they've called you, that's a red flag.

[Victoria Craig]

That was computer security reporter Robert McMillan there. And that's it for Tech News Briefing. Today's show was produced by Julie Chang with supervising producer Melanie Roy. I'm Victoria Craig for the Wall Street Journal. We'll be back this afternoon with TNB Tech Minute. Thanks for listening.

[Hrithika Gunner]

How can companies build AI they can trust? Here again is Hrithika Gunner, general manager for data and AI. @ IBM.

A lot of organizations have thousands of flowers of generative AI projects booming. Understanding what is being used and how is the first step. Then it is about really understanding what kind of policy enforcement do you want to have on the right guardrails on privacy enforcement. The third piece is continually modifying and updating so that you have robust guardrails for safety and security. So as organizations have not only a process, but the technology to be able to handle AI governance, we end up seeing a flying wheel effect of more AI that is actually built and infused into applications, which then yields a better, more engaging, innovative set of capabilities within these companies.

Visit IBM.com to learn how to define your AI data strategy.

[Victoria Craig]

Custom Content from WSJ is a unit of the Wall Street Journal Advertising Department.

[Hrithika Gunner]

The Wall Street Journal News Organization was.

[Victoria Craig]

Not involved in the creation of this content.