This week on the GeekWire Podcast: A conversation with Daniel Rausch, Amazon’s vice president of Alexa and Echo, recorded at the company’s Seattle headquarters.

Rausch explained the company’s vision for Alexa+, Amazon's next-generation voice assistant, in advance of its upcoming rollout through an early access program. Alexa+ promises more fluid conversations with users, integrating with more services and devices for new capabilities, including the ability act autonomously on behalf of a user.

It's a significant upgrade for Amazon's longtime voice assistant, judging from the live demos that Rausch walked us through before and after the podcast recording.

But it remains to be seen how much value people will find in using their voice in those situations, rather than the tried-and-true simplicity of using a smartphone app or web browser. And at a fundamental level, Amazon is playing catch-up with OpenAI's ChatGPT and many other AI chatbots in the world of conversational artificial intelligence.

Related links:
What Alexa’s AI upgrade means for Amazon’s business and Alexa users
Amazon’s new Alexa+ uses generative AI to personalize conversations and automate tasks

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

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: A conversation with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrausch/">Daniel Rausch</a>, Amazon&rsquo;s vice president of Alexa and Echo, recorded at the company&rsquo;s Seattle headquarters.
Rausch explained the company&rsquo;s vision for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/newalexa">Alexa+</a>, Amazon's next-generation voice assistant, in advance of its upcoming rollout through an early access program. Alexa+ promises more fluid conversations with users, integrating with more services and devices for new capabilities, including the ability act autonomously on behalf of a user.
It's a significant upgrade for Amazon's longtime voice assistant, judging from the live demos that Rausch walked us through before and after the podcast recording.
But it remains to be seen how much value people will find in using their voice in those situations, rather than the tried-and-true simplicity of using a smartphone app or web browser. And at a fundamental level, Amazon is playing catch-up with OpenAI's ChatGPT and many other AI chatbots in the world of conversational artificial intelligence.
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/what-alexas-ai-upgrade-means-for-amazons-business-and-alexa-users/">What Alexa&rsquo;s AI upgrade means for Amazon&rsquo;s business and Alexa users</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/amazons-new-alexa-uses-generative-ai-to-personalize-conversations-and-automate-tasks/">Amazon&rsquo;s new Alexa+ uses generative AI to personalize conversations and automate tasks</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton

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

Inside Amazon's attempt to reinvent Alexa for the new era of AI

Upcoming GeekWire Podcast Live Event: Join us from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb 12 at Fremont Brewing for a live recording of the GeekWire Podcast with Todd Bishop and John Cook. Free for Fremont Chamber members, $15 for everyone else. Register here.

This week on the show, Todd Bishop and Taylor Soper hit the road for a driving tour of the news, making stops at Starbucks, Microsoft, and an Amazon Fresh store in its final days.

First up, Starbucks reports its first U.S. transaction growth in about two years — and announces plans for an AI "ordering companion" that translates cravings into custom drinks. Todd tests it the old-fashioned way, ordering a banana bread latte at the drive-through.

Then, Microsoft beats quarterly expectations but sees its stock drop 12% in a single day. The culprit? Investor concerns about the company's exposure to OpenAI, which now accounts for roughly 45% of Microsoft's contracted future cloud revenue.

Finally, Amazon is closing all of its Fresh grocery stores and Go convenience stores in the U.S., exiting its homegrown retail formats entirely. Todd and Taylor visit a Seattle location during its clearance sale, and find a long line at a store whose original promise was no lines at all.

Upcoming GeekWire Podcast Live Event: Join us from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb 12 at Fremont Brewing for a live recording of the GeekWire Podcast with Todd Bishop and John Cook. Free for Fremont Chamber members, $15 for everyone else.&nbsp;<a href="https://fremontchamberofcommercewa.growthzoneapp.com/events/Details/live-recording-the-geekwire-podcast-1626188?sourceTypeId=Hub">Register here</a>.
This week on the show, Todd Bishop and Taylor Soper hit the road for a driving tour of the news, making stops at Starbucks, Microsoft, and an Amazon Fresh store in its final days.
First up, Starbucks <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/tech-overhaul-helps-starbucks-post-first-u-s-transaction-growth-in-two-years/">reports its first U.S. transaction growth</a> in about two years &mdash; and <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/vibe-coffee-is-coming-starbucks-is-building-an-ai-powered-ordering-companion/">announces plans for an AI "ordering companion"</a> that translates cravings into custom drinks. Todd tests it the old-fashioned way, ordering a banana bread latte at the drive-through.
Then, Microsoft <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-beats-expectations-cloud-tops-50b-as-openai-and-anthropic-deals-reshape-its-business/">beats quarterly expectations</a> but sees its stock drop 12% in a single day. The culprit? Investor concerns about the company's exposure to OpenAI, which now accounts for roughly 45% of Microsoft's contracted future cloud revenue.
Finally, Amazon is <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/amazon-closing-all-amazon-fresh-and-go-stores-to-focus-on-whole-foods-and-grocery-delivery/">closing</a> all of its Fresh grocery stores and Go convenience stores in the U.S., exiting its homegrown retail formats entirely. Todd and Taylor visit a Seattle location during its clearance sale, and find a long line at a store whose original promise was no lines at all.

GeekWire Podcast Field Trip: Starbucks rebounds, Microsoft slides, and Amazon resets

Newly unsealed court documents reveal the behind-the-scenes history of Microsoft and OpenAI · including a surprise: Amazon Web Services was the Silicon Valley AI lab's original partner.

Plus, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella debuts a new AI catchphrase at Davos, startup CEO Dave Clark gets attention for his "wildly productive weekend," Elon Musk talks aliens, and the latest on physical AI startups in the Pacific Northwest, including Overland AI and AIM Intelligent Machines.

With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.

Newly unsealed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/the-microsoft-openai-files-internal-documents-reveal-the-realities-of-ais-defining-alliance/">court documents</a> reveal the behind-the-scenes history of Microsoft and OpenAI &middot; including a surprise: Amazon Web Services was the Silicon Valley AI lab's original partner.
Plus, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/satya-nadellas-new-metaphor-for-the-ai-age-we-are-becoming-managers-of-infinite-minds/">debuts a new AI catchphrase</a> at Davos, startup CEO Dave Clark gets attention for his "<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/wildly-productive-weekend-former-amazon-execs-vibe-coding-post-sparks-debate-over-viral-ai-tools/">wildly productive weekend,</a>" Elon Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrB2tQDVLLo">talks aliens</a>, and the latest on physical AI startups in the Pacific Northwest, including <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/seattle-startup-overland-ai-partners-with-cal-fire-to-use-self-driving-4-wheelers-for-wildfire-response/">Overland AI</a> and <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/air-force-awards-4-9m-contract-to-seattle-area-autonomous-construction-startup-aim/">AIM Intelligent Machines</a>.
With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.

Microsoft's private OpenAI emails and Satya Nadella’s new AI catchphrase

Someone listening to last week’s GeekWire Podcast caught something we missed: a misleading comment by Alexa during our voice ordering demo — illustrating the challenges of ordering by voice vs. screen. We followed up with Amazon, which says it has fixed the underlying bug.

On this week’s show, we play the audio of the order again. Can you catch it? 

Plus, Microsoft announces a "community first" approach to AI data centers after backlash over power and water usage — and President Trump scooped us on the story. We discuss the larger issues and play a highlight from our interview with Microsoft President Brad Smith.

Also: the technology capturing images of every fan at Lumen Field, UK police blame Copilot for a hallucinated soccer match, and Redfin Glenn Kelman departs six months after the company's acquisition by Rocket.

With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

Someone listening to <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/geekwire-podcast-alexas-next-act-microsofts-retail-play-googles-ai-inbox-and-a-smart-bird-feeder-fail/">last week&rsquo;s GeekWire Podcast</a> caught something we missed: a misleading comment by Alexa during our voice ordering demo &mdash; illustrating the challenges of ordering by voice vs. screen. We followed up with Amazon, which says it has fixed the underlying bug.
On this week&rsquo;s show, we play the audio of the order again. Can you catch it?&nbsp;
Plus, Microsoft <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-responds-to-ai-data-center-revolt-vowing-to-cover-full-power-costs-and-reject-local-tax-breaks/">announces a "community first" approach to AI data centers</a> after backlash over power and water usage &mdash; and President Trump scooped us on the story. We discuss the larger issues and play a highlight from our interview with Microsoft President Brad Smith.
Also: the technology <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/will-seahawks-fans-have-reason-to-cheer-against-49ers-stadium-cameras-will-capture-the-reaction/">capturing images of every fan</a> at Lumen Field, UK police <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/861668/uk-police-microsoft-copilot-error-mistake">blame Copilot for a hallucinated soccer match</a>, and Redfin Glenn Kelman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/redfin-ceo-glenn-kelman-departs-after-leading-seattle-real-estate-giant-for-20-years/">departs</a> six months after the company's acquisition by Rocket.
With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

Inside Amazon's attempt to reinvent Alexa for the new era of AI

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