WSJ Tech News Briefing – TNB Tech Minute: Amazon to Lay Off Another 16,000 Corporate Employees

Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Julie Chang, The Wall Street Journal

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major tech news, focusing on significant workforce reductions at Amazon, robust semiconductor demand as reflected in ASML’s record orders, new layoffs at ASML, and exclusive reporting on SoftBank’s potential multi-billion dollar investment in OpenAI. The episode also briefly touches on the sustainability push in data center operations, emphasizing innovation in water and energy efficiency.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Amazon Announces Additional Layoffs

• Amazon’s Layoff Details
  • Amazon will lay off 16,000 corporate employees.
  • Follows an earlier round in October where 14,000 white-collar employees lost jobs.
  • The company originally targeted around 30,000 job cuts (roughly 10% of its corporate workforce).
  • Company rationale: Streamlining operations and reducing bureaucracy.
  • Announcement made by the Senior Vice President of People, Experience, and Technology in a company blog post.
• Insight: Reflects Amazon’s continued internal optimization amid shifting market pressures.

Julie Chang (00:23): “Amazon said it would cut around 16,000 corporate employees, the latest step in the tech giant’s efforts to slim down its workforce… part of Amazon’s strategy to streamline operations and reduce bureaucracy.”

2. ASML’s Record-Breaking Quarter & Layoffs

• Exceptional Business Performance
  • ASML Holding logged record quarterly orders of about $15.85 billion in Q4.
  • Orders surpassed analyst forecasts considerably, driven by demand for semiconductor equipment powering the AI boom.
  • Major clients: TSMC, Samsung Electronics, Intel.
• Planned Layoffs
  • Despite performance, 1,700 jobs to be cut in tech and IT operations.
• Insight: The AI-driven chip demand boosts sales, but companies are still seeking greater efficiency.

Julie Chang (00:41): “ASML… logged record quarterly orders. It’s a sign that spending to produce semiconductors behind the AI boom remains strong.”

3. SoftBank’s Potential Major Investment in OpenAI

• Investment Talks
  • SoftBank is reportedly in talks to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI.
  • SoftBank already holds an 11% stake in OpenAI.
  • OpenAI is seeking to raise up to $100 billion in new capital, potentially bringing its valuation to $830 billion.
  • Deal terms not finalized; negotiations ongoing.
• Insight: The potential deal underscores continued high investor enthusiasm for AI platforms and related technologies.

Julie Chang (01:10): “We exclusively report that SoftBank Group is in talks to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI… The ChatGPT maker is seeking to raise up to $100 billion in new capital, which could value the company at as much as $830 billion.”

4. Data Centre Sustainability & Innovation (Sponsored Segment)

• Industry Leaders Embracing Sustainability
  • Data centers powering AI are energy- and water-intensive.
  • The trend is toward circular/innovative sustainability solutions in water use and overall efficiency.
  • Christophe Beck of Ecolab highlights how leading high-tech operators (“Mach 7 or the Mach 4”) are passionate about trying new things and pushing environmental innovation.
  • Optimism that industry-wide progress will accelerate in coming years.

Christophe Beck (02:15): “They have the means, they have the mindset, they have the passion for innovation and they're really open to try new things as well because everything is new with AI and with that technology as well… innovation that’s coming up right now is working much better than we thought, and it’s really thinking in circular ways.”

Notable Quotes

• Julie Chang (00:23):
  “Amazon said it would cut around 16,000 corporate employees, the latest step in the tech giant’s efforts to slim down its workforce… part of Amazon’s strategy to streamline operations and reduce bureaucracy.”

• Julie Chang (00:41):
  “ASML… logged record quarterly orders. It’s a sign that spending to produce semiconductors behind the AI boom remains strong.”

• Julie Chang (01:10):
  “We exclusively report that SoftBank Group is in talks to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI… which could value the company at as much as $830 billion.”

• Christophe Beck (Ecolab CEO) (02:15):
  “They have the means, they have the mindset, they have the passion for innovation and they're really open to try new things as well because everything is new with AI and with that technology as well... innovation that’s coming up right now is working much better than we thought, and it’s really thinking in circular ways.”

Important Timestamps

• [00:16] – Amazon’s workforce reduction announcement
• [00:41] – ASML’s record quarterly orders and upcoming layoffs
• [01:10] – SoftBank’s ongoing investment discussions with OpenAI
• [02:10] – Ecolab CEO Christophe Beck on sustainability in data centers

Tone and Style

• The episode maintains a brisk, fact-focused tone, typical of WSJ's news summaries.
• Quotes and reporting are clear and concise, offering both data and context for business leaders and tech professionals.

Summary:
This TNB Tech Minute zeroes in on the ongoing waves of tech workforce adjustments, surges in semiconductor industry momentum, and the continuous investor enthusiasm for AI, while also touching on the pressing issue of sustainability in data-intensive sectors. It provides a focused, authoritative pulse check on the day’s most consequential tech news.