This week on the Geekwire Podcast: Google prepares to say goodbye to Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, we get ready to say farewell to Skype; and we take a quantum leap with one of Microsoft's top technical leaders in the field: Chetan Nayak, technical fellow and corporate vice of quantum hardware for the company.

Related stories and links:
End of an era: Microsoft to shut down Skype, shifting users to Teams, 14 years after $8.5B deal
Microsoft quantum breakthrough promises to usher in the next era of computing in ‘years, not decades’
Amazon’s new quantum chip joins race to enable next era of computing
Google sets long-term plan to exit Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, consolidate in South Lake Union
Tech investors on why AI makes this a great moment for startups — with one caveat

With GeekWire's Taylor Soper and Todd Bishop; Audio editing by Curt Milton

 

This week on the Geekwire Podcast:&nbsp;Google prepares to <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/google-sets-long-term-plan-to-exit-seattles-fremont-neighborhood-consolidate-in-south-lake-union/">say goodbye to Seattle's Fremont neighborhood</a>, we get ready to <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/end-of-an-era-microsoft-to-shut-down-skype-shifting-users-to-teams-14-years-after-8-5b-deal/">say farewell to Skype</a>; and we take a <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-quantum-breakthrough-promises-to-usher-in-the-next-era-of-computing-in-years-not-decades/">quantum leap</a> with one of Microsoft's top technical leaders in the field: <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/people/cnayak/">Chetan Nayak</a>, technical fellow and corporate vice of quantum hardware for the company.
Related stories and links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/end-of-an-era-microsoft-to-shut-down-skype-shifting-users-to-teams-14-years-after-8-5b-deal/">End of an era: Microsoft to shut down Skype, shifting users to Teams, 14 years after $8.5B deal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-quantum-breakthrough-promises-to-usher-in-the-next-era-of-computing-in-years-not-decades/">Microsoft quantum breakthrough promises to usher in the next era of computing in &lsquo;years, not decades&rsquo;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/amazons-cutting-edge-quantum-chip-joins-the-quest-to-enable-a-powerful-new-era-of-computing/">Amazon&rsquo;s new quantum chip joins race to enable next era of computing</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/google-sets-long-term-plan-to-exit-seattles-fremont-neighborhood-consolidate-in-south-lake-union/">Google sets long-term plan to exit Seattle&rsquo;s Fremont neighborhood, consolidate in South Lake Union</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/tech-investors-on-why-ai-makes-this-a-great-moment-for-startups-with-one-caveat/">Tech investors on why AI makes this a great moment for startups &mdash; with one caveat</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire's Taylor Soper and Todd Bishop; Audio editing by Curt Milton
&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

Hanging up on Skype; Google's future in Seattle; Inside Microsoft's quest for a quantum leap

On this special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we break down a public clash between Amazon and the White House over tariffs, transparency, and politics.

After a report from Punchbowl News suggested Amazon would start displaying the cost of President Trump’s tariffs on product prices, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a “hostile and political act” during a press briefing — saying she had just spoken to the president about it.

Amazon responded by clarifying that the idea had come from a small team behind its Amazon Haul discount storefront but was never approved and “not going to happen.” Meanwhile, CNN reported that Trump personally called Jeff Bezos to complain.

Related links and content

GeekWire:‘Not going to happen’: Amazon responds to White House barb over purported tariff transparency plan

Punchbowl News:Amazon to display tariff costs for consumers

Reuters, 2021:Amazon partnered with China propaganda arm

CNN's Alayna Treene on X: "Scoop: Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Tuesday morning to complain about reports that his company was considering displaying the cost U.S. tariffs next to prices for certain products on its website, two senior White House officials told @CNN."

Amazon statement: "The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. This was never approved and is not going to happen.”

GeekWire Podcast:How Amazon is adapting to the TikTok generation, and what it says about the state of Prime

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop

 

On this special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we break down a public clash between Amazon and the White House over tariffs, transparency, and politics.
After a report from Punchbowl News suggested Amazon would start displaying the cost of President Trump&rsquo;s tariffs on product prices, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a &ldquo;hostile and political act&rdquo; during a press briefing &mdash; saying she had just spoken to the president about it.
Amazon responded by clarifying that the idea had come from a small team behind its Amazon Haul discount storefront but was never approved and &ldquo;not going to happen.&rdquo; Meanwhile, CNN reported that Trump personally called Jeff Bezos to complain.
Related links and content
GeekWire: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/amazon-responds-to-white-house-criticism-over-displaying-tariff-related-costs/">&lsquo;Not going to happen&rsquo;: Amazon responds to White House barb over purported tariff transparency plan</a>
Punchbowl News: <a href="https://punchbowl.news/archive/42925-am/#__amazontodisplaytariffcostsforconsumers__">Amazon to display tariff costs for consumers</a>
Reuters, 2021: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/amazon-partnered-with-china-propaganda-arm-win-beijings-favor-document-shows-2021-12-17/">Amazon partnered with China propaganda arm</a>
CNN's <a href="https://x.com/alaynatreene/status/1917243432528998855">Alayna Treene on X</a>: "Scoop: Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Tuesday morning to complain about reports that his company was considering displaying the cost U.S. tariffs next to prices for certain products on its website, two senior White House officials told @CNN."
Amazon statement: "The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. This was never approved and is not going to happen.&rdquo;
GeekWire Podcast: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/how-amazon-is-adapting-to-the-tiktok-generation-and-what-it-says-about-the-state-of-prime/">How Amazon is adapting to the TikTok generation, and what it says about the state of Prime</a>
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop
&nbsp;

White House and Amazon clash over tariff transparency

On this week’s GeekWire Podcast: Microsoft sees a future where humans manage fleets of AI agents — promising to fundamentally change the way companies are run and work gets done. Plus, we dive into the story of Chainguard, the $3.5 billion cybersecurity startup proving that a fully remote company can scale fast without a physical office. And we explore how AI is reshaping everyday life, from travel planning to home repairs.

Related stories

Meet your new AI teammate: Microsoft sees humans as ‘agent bosses,’ upending the workplace: Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index envisions a future where employees manage AI agents, fundamentally reshaping organizational structures.

Chainguard doesn’t have an office. Here’s how the $3.5B cybersecurity startup makes remote work: A look at how Chainguard successfully operates as a fully remote company, including intentional communication and periodic in-person gatherings.​

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop and editor Taylor Soper. Edited by Curt Milton.

On this week&rsquo;s GeekWire Podcast: Microsoft sees a future where humans manage fleets of AI agents &mdash; promising to fundamentally change the way companies are run and work gets done. Plus, we dive into the story of Chainguard, the $3.5 billion cybersecurity startup proving that a fully remote company can scale fast without a physical office. And we explore how AI is reshaping everyday life, from travel planning to home repairs.
Related stories
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/meet-your-new-ai-teammate-microsoft-sees-humans-as-agent-bosses-upending-the-workplace/" data-start="230" data-end="441">Meet your new AI teammate: Microsoft sees humans as &lsquo;agent bosses,&rsquo; upending the workplace:</a>&nbsp;Microsoft&rsquo;s 2025 Work Trend Index envisions a future where employees manage AI agents, fundamentally reshaping organizational structures.
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/chainguard-doesnt-have-an-office-heres-how-the-3-5b-cybersecurity-startup-makes-remote-work/" data-start="1480" data-end="1701">Chainguard doesn&rsquo;t have an office. Here&rsquo;s how the $3.5B cybersecurity startup makes remote work:</a> A look at how Chainguard successfully operates as a fully remote company, including intentional communication and periodic in-person gatherings.​
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop and editor Taylor Soper. Edited by Curt Milton.

AI teammates, a fully remote unicorn, and the new world of work

In this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we’re joined by Marcus Fontoura, technical fellow at Microsoft and CTO for Azure Core. Fontoura is the author of A Platform Mindset, a new book that explores how to build scalable systems, support high-performing teams, and foster a culture of collaboration.

We talk about the evolving role of platforms in tech, the impact of AI on engineering productivity, and why creativity and autonomy are more important than ever. Fontoura draws on decades of experience at Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and IBM to share insights on leadership, technical debt, and why great engineers should be treated more like artists than managers-in-waiting.

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

In this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we&rsquo;re joined by Marcus Fontoura, technical fellow at Microsoft and CTO for Azure Core. Fontoura is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Platform-Mindset-Building-Culture-Collaboration/dp/B0DSY849P8">A Platform Mindset</a>, a new book that explores how to build scalable systems, support high-performing teams, and foster a culture of collaboration.
We talk about the evolving role of platforms in tech, the impact of AI on engineering productivity, and why creativity and autonomy are more important than ever. Fontoura draws on decades of experience at Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and IBM to share insights on leadership, technical debt, and why great engineers should be treated more like artists than managers-in-waiting.
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

Hanging up on Skype; Google's future in Seattle; Inside Microsoft's quest for a quantum leap

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