Katherine Blunt
@KatherineBlunt
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@WSJ reporter covering Google/Alphabet and more. Author of California Burning. Articles, book reviews: https://t.co/94UrJsEars @katherineblunt.bsky.social
San Francisco, CA
Joined January 2012
Some news: I am taking on a new role within WSJ covering Google/Alphabet and the way AI is changing how we search for info. My focus is shifting, but power will continue to be a big part of the story. Expect more from me on the data center boom and its implications for the grid.
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Hell of a pair of books to read in sequence though that was not intentional- both are timely and so well written- I highly recommend 🔥 🔥 #CaliforniaBurning #FireWeather
@KatherineBlunt @JohnVaillant
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Artificial-intelligence startup Perplexity on Tuesday offered to purchase Google’s Chrome browser for $34.5 billion as it works to challenge the tech giant’s web-search dominance @KatherineBlunt
https://t.co/o07emKwP1e via @WSJ
wsj.com
In mounting an unsolicited bid for Google’s browser, the AI startup seeks to take advantage of uncertainty over a pending antitrust ruling.
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Scoop - Google is paying $2.4 billion to license Windsurf's technology and hire key employees. OpenAI had offered $3 billion but talks stalled after disagreements with Microsoft over IP sharing w/ @KatherineBlunt
https://t.co/EmXDEmxqKT
wsj.com
The deal comes after acquisition talks between startup Windsurf and OpenAI broke down.
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New today: Google is beginning a rollout of AI Mode to everyone in the U.S. to more directly compete with the wave of chatbots that threaten the old search model. It's a substantial change to search as competition heats up. More to come from I/O! https://t.co/lRIUo4HYpg
wsj.com
The company is rolling out a feature that will answer search queries in a chatbot-style conversation without the classic blue links.
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This Friday, I'm giving a lunch hour talk at Stanford GSB about wildfire challenges in California and beyond. Come join us, or register to watch online. https://t.co/k9ELuLrmUV
casi.stanford.edu
Register to Attend In Person Register for Zoom Link
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Our story today is my swan song. I'm excited to dive into the fast-moving world of tech. Please reach out: katherine.blunt@wsj.com https://t.co/VjIMmHWox4
wsj.com
A backlog of renewable energy projects is waiting to connect to the U.S. power grid. Tariffs on steel, aluminum, solar panels and battery components are adding to costs and delays.
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The 6+ years I've spent on the power/utilities beat have been immensely fun, challenging and gratifying. The WSJ energy team is simply the best. It's been a special privilege to work so closely with @Jennifer_Hiller, who will continue to keep an eye on all things power-related.
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And of course DeepSeek threw power stocks for a loop. @Jennifer_Hiller and I explain why the data center boom isn't likely to slow any time soon. https://t.co/8S8WqQqjVg
wsj.com
The efficiency gains of DeepSeek’s AI models startled the power industry, which is set to invest billions in electricity projects.
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Here's a deep look at what went wrong in Altadena when it became clear the Eaton Fire was a major threat to life and property (with @marcvarta, @katherinesayre, Jennifer Calfas, @sara_randazzo and @JBFlint, plus amazing graphics and data whizzes) https://t.co/QGziXnH5d0
wsj.com
Amid January’s historic fire, Los Angeles County sent evacuation alerts to some parts of suburban Altadena too late.
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A lot has happened in the power space lately. Some updates (1/3): Yesterday, Edison said it may be possible that an inactive transmission line caused the Eaton Fire. This would be unusual, but not impossible. Power can jump from active to inactive lines. https://t.co/0mHe35GTm6
wsj.com
Southern California Edison is examining the role of an idle transmission line near the area where the fire started.
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It remains to be seen whether power lines played a role in the fires in LA, but as the winds picked up this week, the utilities in the area took different approaches. SCE proactively cut power. LADWP did not. It doesn't have a plan for that. My latest: https://t.co/qtus7JIVWS
wsj.com
One of the utilities delivering electricity to fire-ravaged areas hasn’t developed a plan to proactively shut off parts of its system during windstorms to reduce the risk of sparks from its power...
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Friends & followers, find me on Bluesky. I'll still post here occasionally, but I thought I'd see what things look like over there https://t.co/rzrJzuNBDE
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How the Microsoft-Constellation deal to restart Three Mile Island came together. Latest story w/ @KatherineBlunt: https://t.co/buN77NylYl
wsj.com
AI’s thirst for energy sealed the deal between Microsoft and Constellation on the plant, where memories of a partial meltdown in 1979 still resonate.
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Congratulations to @WSJ's @JeffHorwitz and @KatherineBlunt on winning a Gerald Loeb Award (@LoebAwards) for their exceptional reporting on how networks of pedophiles connected on Instagram and Facebook, and how Meta failed to stop it. Read here:
wsj.com
Key articles from The Wall Street Journal’s 2023 investigation into how Instagram and Facebook connected networks of pedophiles.
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Such an honor to share with @JeffHorwitz
.@uclaanderson Presents The 2024 Loeb Award For The Beat Reporting Category To: TWO WINNERS! “THE MUSK INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX” FROM: @Reuters & “THE DARK SIDE OF META’S ALGORITHMS” FROM: @WSJ
#LoebAwards
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The Loeb awards are such an honor. I’m so pleased that @JeffHorwitz and I are finalists for our work on child safety issues. All of the reporting here is excellent.
The 2024 #LoebAwards competition finalists and career achievement honorees have been announced by the Loeb Foundation & @uclaanderson! Join us as the winners are revealed LIVE during the banquet & celebration at the Rainbow Room in NYC on October 10.
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PG&E's power lines have ignited 62 fires in HFTD so far this year, compared to 65 in all of 2023. Twenty-nine occurred in the weeks after the July heat wave. The company has set up a task force as we head into peak wildfire season. New from me: https://t.co/WtiSY1IYdu
wsj.com
The California utility company has reported to state regulators 62 ignitions in high-threat fire areas so far this year, compared with 65 for the entirety of 2023, according to company executives.
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Appreciate Doug pulling from the book in this very comprehensive thread about Centerpoint’s appearance in front of the TX Senate today. PG&E’s story is relevant for the whole utility industry, and everyone trying to better understand it.
There was a lot of confusion about how utilities make money. Let's make it simple, channeling @KatherineBlunt in California Burning about PG&E's bankruptcy after massive liabilities bc they didn't maintain their system which caused the Camp fire... (cont)
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