WSJ Tech News Briefing

Episode: TNB Tech Minute: Intel Stock Falls After Quarterly Loss
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Julie Chang

Episode Overview

In this rapid-fire "Tech Minute," Julie Chang from The Wall Street Journal covers three key stories impacting the tech and business world: Intel’s sharp stock tumble following steep quarterly losses, Uber’s plans to roll out AI-driven customer service, and the record-setting IPO of Eastern European defense firm CSG. The episode provides a snapshot of major market and technological shifts, underscoring trends from AI deployment in the service industry to the global appetite for defense stocks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Intel’s Stock Tumble and Quarterly Loss

• [00:33 - 01:10]
  • Intel stock dropped more than 17% after the company reported a larger than expected loss for the fourth quarter.
  • The stock had more than doubled in value over the previous six months, making this a significant and surprising reversal.
  • Intel attributed the loss to heavy spending on ramping up production for its latest chips while also grappling with an inventory shortage.
  • The company's forecast for the first quarter of the following year also predicted continued losses.
  • There was anticipation among investors for announcements about major clients contracting with Intel’s chip fabrication business, but, as Julie Chang reported, executives delayed these announcements until later in the year.

2. Uber Deploys AI in Customer Service

• [01:10 - 01:33]
  • Uber is moving to let AI handle customer service calls, signaling a broader commitment to automation.
  • CEO Dara Khosrowshahi discussed this shift at the WSJ Leadership Institute in Davos, Switzerland.
  • Memorable Quote [01:26]:
    • Dara Khosrowshahi: "We are empowering AIs. We're throwing away all the rules and we're telling the AI, use your common sense."
  • The AI will roll out gradually, starting in smaller markets so that inevitable mistakes are less costly and more manageable.

3. Record Defense IPO: CSG Debuts in Amsterdam

• [01:33 - 02:14]
  • Shares in CSG, a major Eastern European arms manufacturer, surged 28% on their Amsterdam trading debut.
  • The IPO valued CSG at over $37.5 billion, making it the world's largest defense IPO ever recorded.
  • CSG manufactures armored vehicles, defense electronics, ammunition, and advanced defense systems with operations in Europe, the US, and Asia-Pacific, also supplying NATO.
  • The IPO’s success is attributed to robust demand for European defense stocks following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dara Khosrowshahi on Uber’s AI Approach [01:26]:
  “We are empowering AIs. We're throwing away all the rules and we're telling the AI, use your common sense.”

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:33] – Intel's quarterly loss and stock drop
• [01:10] – Intel's delay in customer announcements
• [01:26] – Dara Khosrowshahi on Uber’s new AI approach
• [01:33] – Uber's AI rollout strategy
• [01:38] – CSG’s IPO details and its broader market context

Episode Tone

The delivery is succinct, business-focused, and informative, matching the “news at a glance” style of WSJ’s Tech Minute reports. Julie Chang provides the essentials with clarity and urgency, spotlighting how fast-changing tech trends and geopolitical events have immediate impacts on markets and strategies.

For listeners seeking a condensed yet thorough recap of major tech and business events, this episode provides invaluable insights into corporate earnings volatility, the accelerating adoption of AI, and the enduring influence of global conflict on capital markets.