This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss Amazon's efforts to compete with Trader Joe's, and the related tactics revealed in "The Everything War," the new book by Dana Mattioli of the Wall Street Journal. We also revisit last week's episode with Mattioli and share some of the reactions to the discussion.

Plus, the FTC probes Amazon's internal use of Signal's disappearing messages feature, a newly disclosed email shows how Microsoft scrambled to catch up in artificial intelligence, and a new report says that Bill Gates is still a highly influential figure inside Microsoft, especially when it comes to the company's AI strategy.

Finally, we go inside the Seattle courtroom where a prominent figure from the cryptocurrency world, Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, received a controversial prison sentence this week.

Other stories discussed on the show:

• Amazon stock rises as Q1 earnings top estimates with $143.3B in revenue; AWS sales up 17%
• DoorDash rips Seattle over minimum wage law; reports record quarterly revenue of $2.5B
• Prudential to shut down Assurance, the insurance tech startup it acquired for $2.35B in 2019
• KING5: Binance founder Changpeng Zhao sentenced to 4 months for allowing money laundering
• Business Insider: Bill Gates is still pulling strings at Microsoft, overseeing AI ideas
• Internet Archive: Full text: An epic Bill Gates rant