🌏 Netflix’s price hikes

Plus: Who’s buying TikTok?

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Image: Brett Carlsen (Getty Images)

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Here’s what you need to know

Netflix raised prices again, but it’s still adding subscribers at a record pace. With 19 million new sign-ups, the stock surged, pushing shares briefly to $1,000.

President Trump is backing the $500 billion ‘Stargate’ AI project. The massive initiative, supported by major tech players, including OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, is already drawing attention.

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… But even with the backing, Elon Musk has raised doubts about whether it truly has the funds to succeed.

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Trump’s tariff threats have stirred global tensions at the Davos Summit. European officials were quick to respond to the bold trade warnings, with some choosing to stay out of the fray.

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Quantum computing is set to take off, and there’s a lot to know. Quartz compiled a glossary to accompany the quantum chip boom.


Time is ticking. Who will save TikTok?

TikTok’s time is ticking. With President Donald Trump’s executive order delaying the social media platform’s U.S. ban, it now has a limited window to secure an American owner.

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As the clock ticks, big names like Elon Musk, Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, and influencers like MrBeast are rumored to be considering bids for the app and its 170 million U.S. users.

The platform, which faced a 14-hour shutdown, now has until the 75-day extension to find a solution. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, is under pressure after the Supreme Court upheld a law that could force it to sell its U.S. assets.

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With the stakes high, who could swoop in to save TikTok? Quartz’s Rocio Fabbro has the details.


Netflix keeps raising prices. How high can they go?

Netflix knows how to seize the moment, but its latest price hikes raise questions about subscriber loyalty. On Jan. 21, the streaming giant announced price increases for its plans in the U.S., Canada, Portugal, and Argentina – $7.99 for the ad-supported tier, $17.99 for the standard, and $24.99 for the premium.

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Netflix’s co-CEO Gregory K. Peters called the ad-supported tier a “highly accessible entry point,” but experts warn that rising competition could make the hikes harder to justify. To retain customers, Netflix will need to deliver strong content, or risk losing viewers to cheaper alternatives.

What else are industry experts saying about the future of Netflix and the streaming wars? Quartz’s Francisco Velasquez breaks it down.

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Our best wishes on a safe start to the day. Send any news, comments, Netflix recs, or TikToks to talk@qz.com. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Francisco Velasquez and Audrey McNamara.