WSJ Tech News Briefing: TNB Tech Minute – Waymo Is Headed to the Big Apple

Date: August 22, 2025
Host: Julie Chang

Overview

This episode of the WSJ Tech News Briefing’s “Tech Minute” delivers a rapid roundup of major stories in tech—including Waymo’s autonomous vehicle expansion to New York City, TikTok’s global layoffs amid an AI content moderation shift, and the latest on streaming rights negotiations involving Major League Baseball, ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Netflix.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Waymo Begins Driverless Vehicle Testing in NYC

• Summary:
  Waymo, owned by Alphabet (Google's parent company), has been granted a permit to test up to eight self-driving vehicles in parts of Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn until late September, with a possibility for an extension.
• Regulatory Context:
  The announcement comes from both New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the NYC Department of Transportation.
• Industry Context:
  • NYC previously hosted Mobileye’s autonomous vehicle testing in 2021, though those tests were suspended the following year.
  • This development positions Waymo as the lead player in resuming self-driving car tests in the city.

Memorable Moment:
[00:27] Julie Chang: “Waymo is headed to New York City. The self-driving car company owned by Google parent Alphabet received a permit to begin testing up to eight autonomous vehicles in parts of Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn until late September.”

2. TikTok Cuts Workforce as AI Takes Over Content Moderation

• Summary:
  TikTok, owned by ByteDance, is laying off hundreds of workers in the UK as a part of a global restructuring effort that extends to South and Southeast Asia.
• Technology Shift:
  The layoffs are directly linked to TikTok’s move toward automating content moderation using artificial intelligence.
• Industry Trend:
  While social media giants once ramped up human content moderation teams, there is now a pivot toward automation and a scaling back of manual oversight.

Notable Quote:
[00:51] Julie Chang: “The move comes as the video platform turns to artificial intelligence to automate content moderation.”

3. Streaming Rights & MLB: ESPN Joins the Negotiations

• Summary:
  ESPN has entered advanced negotiations with Major League Baseball (MLB) for a three-year streaming deal valued at approximately $1.65 billion.
• Current Landscape:
  Previously, it was reported that MLB was nearing agreements with NBCUniversal and Netflix; ESPN is now being added to the mix.
• Potential Changes:
  As per sources, the deal isn’t finalized and terms could still change, but one provision would incorporate MLB TV’s streaming service into ESPN’s digital platform.

Key Segment:
[01:21] Julie Chang: “The two are in advanced talks for a three-year deal worth around $1.65 billion. As part of the agreement, the MLB TV streaming service would be incorporated into ESPN’s streaming service.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:16 — Episode begins, main headlines introduced
• 00:27 — Waymo’s permit and NYC testing details
• 00:51 — TikTok layoffs and AI content moderation development
• 01:21 — MLB streaming rights update with ESPN and implications
• 02:06 — Episode content ends

Notable Quotes

• [00:27] Julie Chang: “Waymo is headed to New York City. The self-driving car company owned by Google parent Alphabet received a permit to begin testing up to eight autonomous vehicles...”
• [00:51] Julie Chang: “The move comes as the video platform turns to artificial intelligence to automate content moderation.”
• [01:21] Julie Chang: “The two are in advanced talks for a three-year deal worth around $1.65 billion.”

Tone & Delivery

The episode maintains the typical brisk, matter-of-fact tone of WSJ’s Tech Minute, delivering news updates efficiently and with minimal commentary, focused on clarity and key facts.

Takeaways

• Waymo’s entry into NYC signals renewed momentum for autonomous vehicle pilots in challenging urban spaces.
• Social media platforms such as TikTok are accelerating the shift from human to AI-powered content moderation, reshaping their workforce.
• The sports streaming landscape could shift once more, with ESPN joining forces with MLB, NBCUniversal, and Netflix for a substantial new deal.

This recap ensures you’re up to speed on the key developments without having to listen to the entire episode.