Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
Taiwan’s deadly earthquake stopped chipmaking at TSMC. Any pause at the world’s largest semiconductor foundry is likely to have ripple effects across the entire global supply chain.
Google just hired a former OpenAI executive to boost its AI efforts.... It’s just the latest example of Big Tech poaching AI talent from their competitors.
…meanwhile, Amazon is laying off hundreds of employees in its cloud division. The decision comes as sales growth for Amazon Web Services has slowed in recent quarters and adds to this year’s bad year for tech layoffs.
Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug Zepbound is officially in a shortage. The drug will be in short supply through at least the end of April due to increased demand.
Big Tech’s biggest AI investments, so far
Big Tech is swallowing up AI companies, with Apple quietly leading the pack. Meta, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, and Apple have closed acquisitions of 88 AI and machine learning companies over the past two decades, according to PitchBook data reviewed by Quartz.
While Apple is leading the pack with the number of companies it has acquired, Microsoft takes the cake in terms of money spent — though overall, values are well below their 2021 peak.
We made a cool searchable table of all the closed deals so far, check it out here!
The future of VR headsets is boring — but that’s exciting
VR headsets’ emerging practical applications are less thrilling than we originally imagined — training workers, helping in healthcare, making the workplace less stressful. All of these are reasons to celebrate, and show that VR headsets actually do have a place in every home and office, without being a means to escape them.
Host Gabriela Riccardi speaks to Quartz reporter Laura Bratton about the exciting (and surprisingly old!) history — and excitedly boring future — of the headwear somebody, somewhere is using to learn how to fry chicken right now. Check out VR headsets: We’re practically there.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple | Pandora
👓 Read the full transcript here
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Surprising discoveries
Blame audiobooks for Spotify’s price increases. The streaming service has to pay for letting subscribers access the recordings (which we’re obsessed with) somehow!
Two mansions on an exclusive Miami island isn’t enough for Jeff Bezos. Third one’s the charm!
Chevron has $60 billion riding on 11 words detailing a big dispute with Exxon. That’s a lot of money and not a lot of words!
The Moon may get its own time zone. Seconds move fast there!
Eggs, they’re getting more expensive! Thanks, bird flu!
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Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, a third mansion, and Moon watches to talk@qz.com. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Morgan Haefner.