WSJ Tech News Briefing

Episode: TNB Tech Minute: Amazon May Invest Up to $50 Billion in OpenAI

Date: January 29, 2026
Host: Julie Chang, The Wall Street Journal

Episode Overview

In this Tech Minute episode, WSJ reporter Julie Chang highlights significant breaking news: Amazon is reportedly in talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, potentially making it the largest contributor to the AI company’s latest fundraising round. The episode also covers two other top tech stories: a federal probe into Waymo after a robo-taxi hit a child, and Apple’s record-breaking iPhone sales. Brief context is provided throughout, with concise, fact-focused updates for business and tech leaders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Amazon’s Potential $50 Billion Investment in OpenAI

[00:16 – 01:13]

• Negotiations Led by Leadership:
  • Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is personally leading the talks with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
  • The final terms of the deal remain undetermined and could “still change”.
• Industry Implications:
  • If completed, the investment would make Amazon OpenAI’s largest fundraising round contributor.
  • Amazon is already an investor in OpenAI’s rival Anthropic.
  • The move underlines Amazon’s determination to lead in AI infrastructure, despite cost-cutting measures in other divisions.
• Context on AI Licensing:
  • News Corp., the owner of WSJ, has a separate licensing deal with OpenAI for content.
• Quote:
  • Julie Chang:

    “Investing up to $50 billion could make Amazon the biggest contributor to the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing fundraising round.” [00:42]

2. Waymo Robo-Taxi Under Federal Investigation After Accident

[01:14 – 01:59]

• Incident Summary:
  • A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, on January 23. The child sustained only minor injuries.
  • The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating how Waymo’s self-driving system handles school zones.
• Waymo’s Response:
  • Waymo claims their technology detected the child and reduced speed from 17 mph to under 6 mph before the collision.
  • Peer-reviewed models suggested a human driver would have hit the child at a higher speed (approx. 14 mph).
• Quote:
  • Julie Chang:

    “The company said the autonomous driving tech detected the child and slowed the vehicle’s speed from 17 miles an hour to less than 6 miles per hour.” [01:34]

3. Apple’s Record iPhone Sales and Profits

[01:59 – 02:15]

• Financial Highlights:
  • Apple posted “blowout” iPhone sales in the December quarter: $85 billion, up 23% from the previous year.
• Market Trends:
  • iPhone 17 spurred rapid upgrades and strong performance, especially in China, traditionally a volatile market for Apple.
  • Weak sales for the iPhone Air contrasted with flagship success.
• Quote:
  • Julie Chang:

    “Customers excited by the new iPhone 17 lineup upgraded their smartphones faster than usual. Sales were particularly strong in China, where Apple’s results have been uneven in recent years.” [02:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Amazon Investment News:
  • “Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is leading the negotiations with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. They say the exact shape of a deal, if one is reached, could still change.” — Julie Chang [00:31]
• Waymo Safety Comparison:
  • “Waymo said its peer-reviewed model showed that a fully attentive human driver in the same situation would have made contact at approximately 14 miles per hour.” — Julie Chang [01:47]
• Apple Market Dynamics:
  • “But one sore spot in the smartphone lineup was the iPhone Air, which hasn’t sold well.” — Julie Chang [02:12]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Amazon and OpenAI Investment News: 00:16 – 01:13
• Waymo/NHTSA Investigation Details: 01:14 – 01:59
• Apple iPhone Sales Performance: 01:59 – 02:15

Summary

This episode delivers a rapid-fire update on some of the biggest tech stories of the week, with Amazon’s potential $50 billion move into OpenAI at the center. Other highlights include federal scrutiny of self-driving cars after an accident and Apple’s continued dominance in the smartphone market. The reporting style is direct, data-driven, and keeps a keen eye on how these developments shape the competitive tech landscape.