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WSJ Tech News Briefing

How Biotech Is Creating Synthetic Alternatives to Coffee

WSJ Tech News Briefing

The Wall Street Journal

News, Tech News

4.31.7K Ratings

🗓️ 7 May 2024

⏱️ 11 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Climate change is making products like chocolate and coffee more expensive, even as demand grows. WSJ technology columnist Christopher Mims tells host Alex Ossola how companies are looking to recreate them in the lab using biotechnology. Plus, TikTok is courting advertisers, in spite of the platform’s looming ban or sale. WSJ reporter Katie Deighton talks about what continues to make TikTok appealing for advertisers. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Don't you wish your life came with a warning app?

0:02.0

That dog does not want to be petted.

0:04.0

Well, life doesn't always give you time to change the outcome,

0:08.0

but Pre-diabetes does.

0:09.0

Take the one minute test today at Do I Have Pre-diabetes.

0:12.0

Or brought to you by the Ad Council on its pre-diabedes awareness partners.

0:15.0

Welcome to Tech News Briefing.

0:20.0

It's Tuesday, May 7th.

0:22.0

I'm Alex Oscela for the Wall Street Journal.

0:25.0

Coming up on today's show, in spite of Tik-Tok's looming banner sale,

0:28.0

the app is courting advertisers.

0:31.0

We'll hear about what makes the platform appealing for them from

0:33.7

W.S.J reporter Katie Dayton. And then climate change is putting your

0:38.3

morning cup of coffee at risk. W.S.J. Technology columnist Christopher Mims tells us how companies are turning to biotech to create

0:46.4

synthetic versions of coffee, chocolate, and other endangered foods.

0:51.1

But first... foods.

0:58.0

But first, last week at an event called New Fronts, Tik-Tok made a pitch to advertisers.

1:00.0

It's not the first time the social media platform has done this, but this year was a little different.

1:05.0

Instead of smaller events and dinners, Tik-Tok had a more formal presentation with around 300

1:10.0

media executives in attendance.

1:12.3

And it didn't just tell advertisers about the platform's new features

1:15.3

and partnerships. It addressed the elephant in the room, the recently signed law that will force a ban or

...

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