This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we look at how Amazon is positioning itself in the emerging era of generative artificial intelligence. We play and assess clips of Amazon CEO Andy Jassy explaining the company's AI strategy on its earnings call this week.

We also discuss the history of AI usage by startups, and consider advice from investors and startup leaders at Seattle Tech Week for emerging tech companies looking to stand out with their own AI applications and solutions.

And finally, we reconsider our approach to interacting with machines and contemplate the possibility of artificial intelligence reflecting not just the worst but the best of humanity.

Related links and headlines
Amazon’s online store sales dip below 40% of net sales for first time, and other earnings notes
Leaked email shows Amazon formed a new group to work on the 'most ambitious' AI models
How Seattle startups are ‘supercharging’ internal operations with AI
Why Using a Polite Tone with AI Matters

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we look at how Amazon is positioning itself in the emerging era of generative artificial intelligence. We play and assess clips of Amazon CEO Andy Jassy explaining the company's AI strategy on its earnings call this week.
We also discuss the history of AI usage by startups, and consider advice from investors and startup leaders at Seattle Tech Week for emerging tech companies looking to stand out with their own AI applications and solutions.
And finally, we reconsider our approach to interacting with machines and contemplate the possibility of artificial intelligence reflecting not just the worst but the best of humanity.
Related links and headlines
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2023/amazons-online-store-sales-dip-below-40-of-net-sales-for-the-first-time-in-its-history/">Amazon’s online store sales dip below 40% of net sales for first time, and other earnings notes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-oversees-group-most-ambitious-ai-models-2023-7">Leaked email shows Amazon formed a new group to work on the 'most ambitious' AI models</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2023/how-seattle-startups-are-supercharging-internal-operations-with-ai/">How Seattle startups are ‘supercharging’ internal operations with AI</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/why-using-a-polite-tone-with-ai-matters">Why Using a Polite Tone with AI Matters</a></li>
</ul>

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's AI strategy, how AI startups can stand out, and hope for AI and humanity

Amazon's decision to bring its employees back to the office five days a week is a window into the challenges facing the e-commerce and technology giant, and CEO Andy Jassy's larger plan to get the company to operate like "the world's largest startup" again.

Plus, GeekWire's John Cook gets into the back seat of a driverless car for the first time since 2018, and has a very different experience.

Coverage of Amazon's announcement:
Amazon ‘will return to being in the office the way we were’ before the pandemic, CEO tells employees
‘The way we were’: Amazon tries to rekindle its future by rediscovering a spark from the past
Thoughts on Amazon’s full return to the office from a CEO who knows the value — and the trade-offs
A ‘home run’ or a ‘cowardly’ decision? Amazon’s new in-person work policy elicits cheers and jeers
Amazon’s new back-to-office mandate fuels debate over remote work and productivity

Waymo links and related stories:
NPR: Armed with traffic cones, protesters are immobilizing driverless cars
GeekWire in 2018: We rode in Uber’s self-driving car, and now we’re less confident in the future of autonomous vehicles
Video of John's Waymo ride this week.
The Verge: Waymo and Uber expand their robotaxi partnership to Austin and Atlanta

With John Cook and Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

Amazon's decision to <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/amazon-will-return-to-being-in-the-office-the-way-we-were-before-the-pandemic-ceo-tells-employees/">bring its employees back to the office five days a week</a> is a window into the challenges facing the e-commerce and technology giant, and CEO Andy Jassy's larger plan to get the company to operate like "the world's largest startup" again.
Plus, GeekWire's John Cook gets into the back seat of a driverless car for the first time <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2018/rode-ubers-self-driving-car-now-less-confident-future-autonomous-vehicles/">since 2018</a>, and has <a href="https://youtu.be/e-_Yd8xuhMw">a very different experience</a>.
Coverage of Amazon's announcement:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/amazon-will-return-to-being-in-the-office-the-way-we-were-before-the-pandemic-ceo-tells-employees/">Amazon ‘will return to being in the office the way we were’ before the pandemic, CEO tells employees</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/the-way-we-were-amazon-tries-to-rekindle-its-future-by-rediscovering-a-spark-from-the-past/">‘The way we were’: Amazon tries to rekindle its future by rediscovering a spark from the past</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/thoughts-on-amazons-full-return-to-the-office-from-a-ceo-who-knows-the-value-and-the-trade-offs/">Thoughts on Amazon’s full return to the office from a CEO who knows the value — and the trade-offs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/a-home-run-for-downtown-amazons-change-in-its-in-person-work-policy-elicits-cheers-and-jeers/">A ‘home run’ or a ‘cowardly’ decision? Amazon’s new in-person work policy elicits cheers and jeers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/amazons-new-back-to-office-mandate-adds-to-debate-over-remote-work-and-employee-productivity/">Amazon’s new back-to-office mandate fuels debate over remote work and productivity</a></li>
</ul>
Waymo links and related stories:
<ul>
<li>NPR: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/26/1195695051/driverless-cars-san-francisco-waymo-cruise">Armed with traffic cones, protesters are immobilizing driverless cars</a></li>
<li>GeekWire in 2018: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2018/rode-ubers-self-driving-car-now-less-confident-future-autonomous-vehicles/">We rode in Uber’s self-driving car, and now we’re less confident in the future of autonomous vehicles</a></li>
<li>Video of <a href="https://youtu.be/e-_Yd8xuhMw">John's Waymo ride this week.</a></li>
<li>The Verge: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/13/24243397/waymo-uber-austin-atlanta-robotaxi-partnership">Waymo and Uber expand their robotaxi partnership to Austin and Atlanta</a></li>
</ul>
With John Cook and Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

Amazon's quest to become a startup again; Driverless cars, 6 years later

Our guest this week is Anupreeta Das, author of the new book, "Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World." Das is the South Asia correspondent for The New York Times. This week's guest host, Ross Reynolds, is an interviewer and moderator who is well-known in the Seattle region from his 34 years at KUOW, the public radio station from which he retired in 2021.

Edited by Curt Milton.

Our guest this week is <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anupreetadas">Anupreeta Das,</a> author of the new book, <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Billionaire-Nerd-Savior-King/Anupreeta-Das/9781668006726">"Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World."</a> Das is the South Asia correspondent for The New York Times. This week's guest host, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossrey/">Ross Reynolds</a>, is an interviewer and moderator who is well-known in the Seattle region from his 34 years at KUOW, the public radio station from which he retired in 2021.
Edited by Curt Milton.

Who is the real Bill Gates? Examining the evolution of a tech icon

The market for E Ink tablets reached a pivotal moment this week with reMarkable's unveiling of its new Paper Pro — now with color E Ink, not just black-and-white. Now the big question is whether Amazon will join the trend with a color Kindle e-reader or Kindle Scribe. The technology enabling the shift from black-and-white to color is the Gallery 3 color display, from E Ink Holdings, a company that spun out of the MIT Media Lab in 1997. On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we learn more from Timothy O’Malley, associate vice president of U.S. operations at E Ink, about the evolution of the technology and the growing applications for E Ink displays. 

Related links:
Challenged by Amazon, reMarkable unveils new ‘Paper Pro’ color tablet.
Launch event video for the reMarkable Paper Pro.
Here's the color-changing car mentioned by Tim on the show.

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop

The market for E Ink tablets reached a pivotal moment this week with reMarkable's <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/challenged-by-amazon-remarkable-unveils-new-paper-pro-color-tablet/">unveiling of its new Paper Pro</a> — now with color E Ink, not just black-and-white. Now the big question is whether Amazon will join the trend with a color Kindle e-reader or Kindle Scribe. The technology enabling the shift from black-and-white to color is <a href="https://www.eink.com/brand/detail/Gallery_3">the Gallery 3 color display</a>, from <a href="https://www.eink.com/">E Ink Holdings</a>, a company that spun out of the MIT Media Lab in 1997. On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we learn more from <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-o-malley-27a1881/">Timothy O’Malley</a>, associate vice president of U.S. operations at E Ink, about the evolution of the technology and the growing applications for E Ink displays. 
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/challenged-by-amazon-remarkable-unveils-new-paper-pro-color-tablet/">Challenged by Amazon, reMarkable unveils new ‘Paper Pro’ color tablet.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcuoqE3Qumk">Launch event video</a> for the reMarkable Paper Pro.</li>
<li>Here's the <a href="https://www.bmw.com/en/digital-journey/bmw-i5-flow-nostokana-with-color-change-technology.html">color-changing car</a> mentioned by Tim on the show.</li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop

Amazon's AI strategy, how AI startups can stand out, and hope for AI and humanity

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