This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss how AI is transforming our local tech giants, changing the fundamental nature of work, and blurring the lines between human and machine.

We dive into the memo that has Amazon employees either signing up for AI training or updating their resumes; unpack why you're answering emails at 10 p.m.; and explain how one of us ended up quizzing his dentist's office assistant (or was it an AI chatbot?) about whether he or she (or it?) was human. Then we ask the new Alexa+ what it (she?) thinks about the exchange. 

Related stories
Andy Jassy’s long game: Amazon’s reinvention enters its 5th phase as AI upends the workforce
Amazon CEO: AI will shrink corporate workforce in coming years
The ‘infinite workday’ is here — and Microsoft says AI will make it worse if we’re not careful

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

 

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss how AI is transforming our local tech giants, changing the fundamental nature of work, and blurring the lines between human and machine.
We dive into the memo that has Amazon employees either signing up for AI training or updating their resumes; unpack why you're answering emails at 10 p.m.; and explain how one of us ended up quizzing his dentist's office assistant (or was it an AI chatbot?) about whether he or she (or it?) was human.&nbsp;Then we ask the new Alexa+ what it (she?) thinks about the exchange.&nbsp;
Related stories
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/andy-jassys-long-game-amazons-reinvention-enters-its-5th-phase-as-ai-upends-the-workforce/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Andy Jassy&rsquo;s long game: Amazon&rsquo;s reinvention enters its 5th phase as AI upends the workforce</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/amazon-ceo-says-ai-push-will-shrink-corporate-in-next-few-years">Amazon CEO: AI will shrink corporate workforce in coming years</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/the-infinite-workday-is-here-and-microsoft-says-ai-will-make-it-worse-if-were-not-careful/">The &lsquo;infinite workday&rsquo; is here &mdash; and Microsoft says AI will make it worse if we&rsquo;re not careful</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.
&nbsp;

GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

GeekWire reporters John Cook, Todd Bishop and guests talk about the latest tech news and trends.

GeekWire

Amazon, Microsoft, and the new realities of AI at work

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, our guest is Hanson Hosein — an Emmy Award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and communication strategist who has spent his career making sense of the world in times of change.

His latest project is American Dignity, a short documentary that follows the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement from Seattle to Selma to Washington D.C., and considers what those lessons mean for America today.

He started out as an NBC News correspondent, reporting from conflict zones in the Middle East and the Balkans. Later, he founded the Communication Leadership program at the University of Washington and became an early voice for digital storytelling, using technology to find new ways of reaching audiences.

We visit his self-contained studio on the former site of a chicken coop, and talk about how he made this film as a one-person operation, what he learned along the way, and where he thinks media is headed. We also dig into how AI is changing the creative process and what it takes to tell meaningful stories in this new world.

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton. 

 

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, our guest is <a href="https://storytelleruprising.com/hanson-hoseins-bio/">Hanson Hosein</a> &mdash; an Emmy Award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and communication strategist who has spent his career making sense of the world in times of change.
His latest project is <a href="https://storytelleruprising.com/2025/02/25/american-dignity-film/">American Dignity</a>, a short documentary that follows the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement from Seattle to Selma to Washington D.C., and considers what those lessons mean for America today.
He started out as an NBC News correspondent, reporting from conflict zones in the Middle East and the Balkans. Later, he founded the Communication Leadership program at the University of Washington and became an early voice for digital storytelling, using technology to find new ways of reaching audiences.
We visit his self-contained studio on the former site of a chicken coop, and talk about how he made this film as a one-person operation, what he learned along the way, and where he thinks media is headed. We also dig into how AI is changing the creative process and what it takes to tell meaningful stories in this new world.
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The front lines of creativity: Journalist and educator Hanson Hosein on AI and the art of solo storytelling

A message from GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop: This episode of the GeekWire Podcast is unlike any we’ve done before. It touches on some of the most contentious and disputed issues in the tech industry, and in the world more broadly. 

It started with my curiosity and desire to understand something that happened in March, at GeekWire’s independent Microsoft @ 50 event. I was on stage interviewing Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith when the conversation was interrupted by a protester. 

The group behind the protest, called No Azure for Apartheid, represents current and former Microsoft employees who want the company to end its cloud computing and AI contracts with the Israeli military. They cite concerns over how they believe their work is being used by Israel.

Addressing the larger issues raised by the group, Microsoft said in a May 15 post that it conducted internal and external reviews and “found no evidence to date that Microsoft’s Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza.” 

After covering Microsoft’s statements and the group’s response — and seeing the continued protests unfold at Microsoft events — I decided to dig deeper and learn more. 

As part of that, I invited one of the organizers of No Azure for Apartheid to join me on this podcast, for a conversation about the motivations behind the group, their views on Microsoft’s responsibilities, and how the tech industry intersects with international conflicts. 

Our guest is software engineer Hossam Nasr, who was fired by Microsoft last year related to protests on the Microsoft campus. In fact, he was the first to protest inside the GeekWire event.

What followed was a complex conversation — one that at times went beyond Microsoft’s role into broader political and ethical criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza. 

These are deeply polarizing issues, and we know there are strong, divergent opinions about them. I’ve added context conveying Microsoft’s responses, and noting areas where statements and characterizations about Israel, Palestine, and Gaza are the subject of dispute. 

The conversation includes detailed descriptions of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and some historical comparisons that some listeners may find disturbing or offensive. And lastly, we recorded this conversation in late May, before the latest developments in the Middle East.

Related Links: 
Microsoft:Statement on the Issues Relating to Technology Services in Israel and Gaza
Associated Press: As Israel uses US-made AI models in war, concerns arise about tech’s role in who lives and who dies
AP:Microsoft fires employees who organized vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza
+972:Leaked documents expose deep ties between Israeli army and Microsoft
The Verge: Microsoft blocks emails that contain ‘Palestine’ after employee protests
Guardian:Microsoft deepened ties with Israeli military to provide tech support during Gaza war

Editing by Curt Milton. Read more at GeekWire.com.

A message from GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop: This episode of the GeekWire Podcast is unlike any we&rsquo;ve done before. It touches on some of the most contentious and disputed issues in the tech industry, and in the world more broadly.&nbsp;
It started with my curiosity and desire to understand something that happened in March, at GeekWire&rsquo;s independent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft50-recap-company-faithful-mark-first-50-years-and-look-to-future-at-geekwire-event/">Microsoft @ 50 event</a>. I was on stage interviewing Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith when the conversation was interrupted by a protester.&nbsp;
The group behind the protest, called <a href="https://noazureforapartheid.com/">No Azure for Apartheid</a>, represents current and former Microsoft employees who want the company to end its cloud computing and AI contracts with the Israeli military. They cite concerns over how they believe their work is being used by Israel.
Addressing the larger issues raised by the group, Microsoft said in <a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/05/15/statement-technology-israel-gaza/">a May 15 post</a> that it conducted internal and external reviews and &ldquo;found no evidence to date that Microsoft&rsquo;s Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza.&rdquo;&nbsp;
After <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-no-evidence-israeli-military-used-its-technology-to-harm-civilians-reviews-find/">covering</a> Microsoft&rsquo;s statements and the group&rsquo;s response &mdash; and seeing the continued protests unfold at Microsoft events &mdash; I decided to dig deeper and learn more.&nbsp;
As part of that, I invited one of the organizers of No Azure for Apartheid to join me on this podcast, for a conversation about the motivations behind the group, their views on Microsoft&rsquo;s responsibilities, and how the tech industry intersects with international conflicts.&nbsp;
Our guest is software engineer Hossam Nasr, who was fired by Microsoft last year related to protests on the Microsoft campus. In fact, he was the first to protest inside the GeekWire event.
What followed was a complex conversation &mdash; one that at times went beyond Microsoft&rsquo;s role into broader political and ethical criticisms of Israel&rsquo;s actions in Gaza.&nbsp;
These are deeply polarizing issues, and we know there are strong, divergent opinions about them. I&rsquo;ve added context conveying Microsoft&rsquo;s responses, and noting areas where statements and characterizations about Israel, Palestine, and Gaza are the subject of dispute.&nbsp;
The conversation includes detailed descriptions of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and some historical comparisons that some listeners may find disturbing or offensive. And lastly, we recorded this conversation in late May, before the latest developments in the Middle East.
Related Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Microsoft: <a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/05/15/statement-technology-israel-gaza/">Statement on the Issues Relating to Technology Services in Israel and Gaza</a></li>
<li>Associated Press: <a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/best-of-the-week/first-winner/2025/as-israel-uses-u-s-made-ai-models-in-war-concerns-arise-about-techs-role-in-who-lives-and-who-dies/">As Israel uses US-made AI models in war, concerns arise about tech&rsquo;s role in who lives and who dies</a></li>
<li>AP: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-fired-workers-israel-palestinians-gaza-72de6fe1f35db9398e3b6785203c6bbf">Microsoft fires employees who organized vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza</a></li>
<li>+972: <a href="https://www.972mag.com/microsoft-azure-openai-israeli-army-cloud/">Leaked documents expose deep ties between Israeli army and Microsoft</a></li>
<li>The Verge: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/672312/microsoft-block-palestine-gaza-email">Microsoft blocks emails that contain &lsquo;Palestine&rsquo; after employee protests</a></li>
<li>Guardian: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/23/israeli-military-gaza-war-microsoft">Microsoft deepened ties with Israeli military to provide tech support during Gaza war</a></li>
</ul>
Editing by Curt Milton. Read more at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/">GeekWire.com</a>.

Inside the Microsoft protests: Fired engineer on Palestine, Israel, AI, and big tech

Fifteen years ago, Steve Jobs and Apple had just introduced the first iPad, Steve Ballmer’s Microsoft had been left for dead, and nerdy online bookseller Jeff Bezos was still getting Amazon settled into its South Lake Union HQ. That’s when we started this podcast.

This week, we’re going back to 2010, revisiting clips from the earliest days of the show. We remember what was happening with Amazon, Microsoft, and Seattle’s startup scene, and try to wrap our heads around all the things that have changed since then.

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

Audio editing by Curt Milton.

 

Fifteen years ago, Steve Jobs and Apple had just introduced the first iPad, Steve Ballmer&rsquo;s Microsoft had been left for dead, and nerdy online bookseller Jeff Bezos was still getting Amazon settled into its South Lake Union HQ.&nbsp;That&rsquo;s when we started this podcast.
This week, we&rsquo;re going back to 2010, revisiting clips from the earliest days of the show. We remember what was happening with Amazon, Microsoft, and Seattle&rsquo;s startup scene, and try to wrap our heads around all the things that have changed since then.
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.
Audio editing by Curt Milton.
&nbsp;

Amazon, Microsoft, and the new realities of AI at work

In 1 playlist(s)

GeekWire

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips