This week on the GeekWire Podcast: A conversation with Microsoft President Brad Smith, on stage at GeekWire’s Microsoft@50 event this week at Town Hall Seattle, discussing the company’s anniversary and what’s next for the industry and the world.

Related Links
Microsoft@50 recap: Company faithful mark first 50 years and look to future at GeekWire event
Microsoft president: Proposed Washington state business taxes would weaken tech sector

Links discussed in the podcast intro:
Using AI to uncover allegations in the JFK files of the CIA secretly funding a series of spy novels to influence public opinion in the 1960s.
Fireballs, foxholes, and cryogenic suspension: Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman’s greatest quips

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: A conversation with Microsoft President Brad Smith, on stage at GeekWire&rsquo;s Microsoft@50 event this week at Town Hall Seattle, discussing the company&rsquo;s anniversary and what&rsquo;s next for the industry and the world.
Related Links
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft50-recap-company-faithful-mark-first-50-years-and-look-to-future-at-geekwire-event/">Microsoft@50 recap: Company faithful mark first 50 years and look to future at GeekWire event</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-president-says-new-proposed-business-taxes-in-washington-state-will-weaken-tech-sector/">Microsoft president: Proposed Washington state business taxes would weaken tech sector</a></li>
</ul>
Links discussed in the podcast intro:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bishoptodd_for-an-evening-diversion-i-couldnt-help-activity-7307971409564114946-xMFZ?utm_source=share&amp;amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;amp;rcm=ACoAAAAmZBMB4ZPLFVeakJlucqgeZbv9Gl1WRKU">Using AI to uncover allegations in the JFK files of the CIA secretly funding a series of spy novels to influence public opinion in the 1960s.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/fireballs-foxholes-and-cryogenic-suspension-redfin-ceo-glenn-kelmans-greatest-quips/">Fireballs, foxholes, and cryogenic suspension: Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman&rsquo;s greatest quips</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop

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

Microsoft President Brad Smith on AI, global turmoil, and key issues facing the tech giant at 50

Amazon is working on a new smartphone, code-named "Transformer," more than a decade after the Fire Phone debacle, according to Reuters. We dig into the connection to a past GeekWire scoop: former Microsoft Xbox leader J Allard joined Amazon's devices team in 2024, and he's now leading a group called ZeroOne with a mandate to create "breakthrough" gadgets. Is this an AI-native device? A companion to your iPhone? J Allard's shot at redemption? Maybe all of the above.

There's more great Fire Phone background in this Vergecast "Version History" podcast.

Then: Microsoft shakes up its Copilot team, shifting Mustafa Suleyman to a narrower role and unifying consumer and enterprise AI under a new leader. Todd has strong feelings about Microsoft's history of cutesy consumer tech, from Clippy to Mico.

Plus: Todd's adventure using Claude CoWork to browse LinkedIn (and the stern warning he got in response), King County Metro's slick new tap-to-pay feature catches the transit system up with the modern world, the opening of cross-lake light rail, and an Amazon Treasure truck trivia question.

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Audio editing by Curt Milton.

Amazon is working on a new smartphone, code-named "Transformer," more than a decade after the Fire Phone debacle, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/amazon-plans-smartphone-comeback-more-than-decade-after-fire-phone-flop-2026-03-20/">according to Reuters</a>. We dig into the connection to <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/former-microsoft-xbox-leader-j-allard-joins-amazon-in-latest-surprise-career-twist/">a past GeekWire scoop</a>: former Microsoft Xbox leader J Allard joined Amazon's devices team in 2024, and he's now leading a group called <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/amazon-has-a-secretive-new-hardware-group-led-by-former-xbox-leader-j-allard/">ZeroOne</a> with a mandate to create "breakthrough" gadgets. Is this an AI-native device? A companion to your iPhone? J Allard's shot at redemption? Maybe all of the above.
There's more great Fire Phone background in this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/816739/amazon-fire-phone-version-history">Vergecast "Version History" podcast.</a>
Then: Microsoft <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-revamps-copilot-structure-elevating-former-snap-exec-as-suleyman-shifts-to-ai-models/">shakes up its Copilot team</a>, shifting Mustafa Suleyman to a narrower role and unifying consumer and enterprise AI under a new leader. Todd has strong feelings about Microsoft's history of cutesy consumer tech, from Clippy to Mico.
Plus: Todd's adventure using Claude CoWork to browse LinkedIn (and the stern warning he got in response), King County Metro's slick <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/seattle-transits-new-tap-to-pay-feature-goes-live-next-week-well-ahead-of-world-cup/">new tap-to-pay feature</a> catches the transit system up with the modern world, the opening of cross-lake light rail, and an Amazon Treasure truck trivia question.
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Audio editing by Curt Milton.

Microsoft’s Copilot shakeup, Amazon’s new phone ambitions, and pushing Claude to the limits of LinkedIn

Brice Budke (President) and Zeek Earl (Executive Creative Director) run two Seattle studios: Shep, a video agency that works with tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft, and Packrat, a creative studio that specializes in miniature worlds, handmade sets, and retro creative projects.

You might know Packrat's work from the epic and widely watched 2025 Seahawks schedule release video, which won a Gold Clio. They also made Prospect, an indie sci-fi film that premiered at SXSW in 2018 with Pedro Pascal and Sophie Thatcher.

GeekWire met them last fall on the set of a stop-motion shoot for Kiro, an AI-powered agentic software development tool from Amazon Web Services. Check out the video they made from that shoot here.

On this episode, Brice and Zeek discuss how AI is transforming their work — from photorealistic storyboarding to stop-motion animation filled in by AI-generated frames — and what still requires human creativity, taste, and intuition. Plus: the psychology of working with "infinite tools," why AI doesn't always save money, and the GeekWire Trivia Challenge.

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

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bricebudke/">Brice Budke</a> (President) and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeek-earl-46962a33/">Zeek Earl</a> (Executive Creative Director) run two Seattle studios: <a href="https://www.shepfilms.com/">Shep</a>, a video agency that works with tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft, and <a href="https://www.packrat.studio/">Packrat</a>, a creative studio that specializes in miniature worlds, handmade sets, and retro creative projects.
You might know Packrat's work from the epic and widely watched 2025 Seahawks&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifvSa50l1hQ">schedule release video</a>, which won a Gold Clio. They also made <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7946422/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk">Prospect</a>, an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsrbNtUgEaY">indie sci-fi film</a> that premiered at SXSW in 2018 with Pedro Pascal and Sophie Thatcher.
GeekWire&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/amazons-surprise-indie-hit-kiro-launches-broadly-in-bid-to-reshape-ai-powered-software-development/">met them last fall</a> on the set of a stop-motion shoot for <a href="https://kiro.dev/">Kiro</a>, an AI-powered agentic software development tool from Amazon Web Services. Check out the video they made from that shoot&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pH6jRYwRfjI">here</a>.
On this episode, Brice and Zeek discuss how AI is transforming their work &mdash; from photorealistic storyboarding to stop-motion animation filled in by AI-generated frames &mdash; and what still requires human creativity, taste, and intuition. Plus: the psychology of working with "infinite tools," why AI doesn't always save money, and the GeekWire Trivia Challenge.
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

How AI is changing the business and art of video, from 'chaos machine' to creative catalyst

OpenAI just opened its largest office outside San Francisco, in downtown Bellevue, Wash. GeekWire was there on day one to tour the space. Chatting inside the OpenAI game room, we share our observations about the Mad Men-meets-Pacific Northwest aesthetic, which features open floor plans and lots of common areas, and try to figure out what it all says about OpenAI's culture. 

Plus, we talk with Vijaye Raji, the former Statsig CEO who is now OpenAI's CTO of applications, about Codex, infrastructure, hiring, and the evolution and growth of Silicon Valley tech giants in the region. 

In our final segment, it's the return of the GeekWire trivia challenge, with a question focusing on one of the earliest tech giants to establish an outpost in the Seattle area. 

Related Story: Inside OpenAI’s new Bellevue office: A swanky statement about AI’s impact on the Seattle region

Upcoming Event: Agents of Transformation, March 24. 

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

OpenAI <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/inside-openais-new-bellevue-office-a-swanky-statement-about-ais-impact-on-the-seattle-region/">just opened its largest office</a> outside San Francisco, in downtown Bellevue, Wash. GeekWire was there on day one to tour the space. Chatting inside the OpenAI game room, we share our observations about the Mad Men-meets-Pacific Northwest aesthetic, which features open floor plans and lots of common areas, and try to figure out what it all says about OpenAI's culture.&nbsp;
Plus, we talk with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijaye">Vijaye Raji</a>, the former Statsig CEO who is now OpenAI's CTO of applications, about Codex, infrastructure, hiring, and the evolution and growth of Silicon Valley tech giants in the region.&nbsp;
In our final segment, it's the return of the GeekWire trivia challenge, with a question focusing on one of the earliest tech giants to establish an outpost in the Seattle area.&nbsp;
Related Story: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/inside-openais-new-bellevue-office-a-swanky-statement-about-ais-impact-on-the-seattle-region/">Inside OpenAI&rsquo;s new Bellevue office: A swanky statement about AI&rsquo;s impact on the Seattle region</a>
Upcoming Event:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/events/agents-of-transformation/">Agents of Transformation, March 24</a>.&nbsp;
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.

Microsoft President Brad Smith on AI, global turmoil, and key issues facing the tech giant at 50

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