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.

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

Microsoft's Build conference was a firehose: in-house AI models, agent-first devices, new coding tools, and a Copilot "super app" that got teased but never shown. Todd Bishop and Mary Jo Foley sort through what's real and what's not quite fully baked, from Project Solara and the Scout agentic assistant to Microsoft's push for AI self-sufficiency and the mounting pressure on GitHub.

Related Stories: 
Inside Microsoft’s Project Solara: A new platform for devices that run AI agents instead of apps
Microsoft unveils seven homegrown AI models in new bid for ‘long term self-sufficiency’
Mary Jo Foley: No Copilot ‘Super App’ at Microsoft Build, but plenty of agentic fodder
Microsoft’s OpenClaw team takes on the personal assistant challenge

Edited by Curt Milton.

Microsoft's Build conference was a firehose: in-house AI models, agent-first devices, new coding tools, and a Copilot "super app" that got teased but never shown. Todd Bishop and Mary Jo Foley sort through what's real and what's not quite fully baked, from Project Solara and the Scout agentic assistant to Microsoft's push for AI self-sufficiency and the mounting pressure on GitHub.
Related Stories:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/inside-microsofts-project-solara-a-new-platform-for-devices-that-run-ai-agents-instead-of-apps/">Inside Microsoft&rsquo;s Project Solara: A new platform for devices that run AI agents instead of apps</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-unveils-seven-homegrown-ai-models-in-bid-for-long-term-self-sufficiency/">Microsoft unveils seven homegrown AI models in new bid for &lsquo;long term self-sufficiency&rsquo;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/mary-jo-foley-no-copilot-super-app-at-microsoft-build-but-plenty-of-agentic-fodder/">Mary Jo Foley: No Copilot &lsquo;Super App&rsquo; at Microsoft Build, but plenty of agentic fodder</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsofts-openclaw-team-takes-on-the-personal-assistant-challenge/">Microsoft&rsquo;s OpenClaw team takes on the personal assistant challenge</a></li>
</ul>
Edited by Curt Milton.

Microsoft Build decoded: Solara, Scout, AI models, GitHub’s woes and more with Mary Jo Foley

This week on the show: Mark Zuckerberg's superyacht arrives in Seattle the same day Meta discloses nearly 1,400 local layoffs, robot pizza startup Picnic flames out and sells to a mystery buyer, and corporate America confronts the rising cost of AI, including the leaderboard-gaming practice known as "tokenmaxxing." And we return to the theme of billionaire yachts for our trivia challenge.

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. 

This week on the show: Mark Zuckerberg's superyacht&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/photos-mark-zuckerbergs-superyacht-arrives-in-seattle-the-same-day-meta-discloses-1400-local-job-cuts/">arrives in Seattle</a> the same day Meta discloses <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/meta-cuts-nearly-1400-jobs-in-washington-state-20-of-local-workforce-in-sweeping-ai-revamp/">nearly 1,400 local layoffs</a>, robot pizza startup Picnic <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/robot-pizza-startup-runs-out-of-dough-picnic-shuts-down-sells-assets-to-mystery-buyer/">flames out and sells to a mystery buyer</a>, and corporate America confronts the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-tokens-productivity-d35c6bd8">rising cost of AI</a>, including the leaderboard-gaming practice <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/b1a62a7f-6df5-4c90-94ce-64ce9c9961b6">known as "tokenmaxxing."</a> And we return to the theme of billionaire yachts for our trivia challenge.
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg's yacht, Meta's layoffs, a robot pizza flameout, and a reality check on AI expenses

On this special episode, Eric Ries, author of the 2011 bestseller "The Lean Startup," discusses his new book, "Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great."

Ries explains why he's redefining profit as the maximization of human flourishing, reveals his role advising Anthropic's founders on their corporate structure, and makes the case that the era of shareholder primacy is already over. He also discusses the fall of Whole Foods, the Musk v. OpenAI trial, and why he believes mission-controlled companies dramatically outperform.

GeekWire's Todd Bishop recorded this conversation with Ries after interviewing him on stage at Seattle Flow Startup Day on May 15. 

On this special episode, Eric Ries, author of the 2011 bestseller "The Lean Startup," discusses his new book, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Incorruptible-Good-Companies-Great-Stay/dp/B0FWZZBPZB">Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great.</a>"
Ries explains why he's redefining profit as the maximization of human flourishing, reveals his role advising Anthropic's founders on their corporate structure, and makes the case that the era of shareholder primacy is already over. He also discusses the fall of Whole Foods, the Musk v. OpenAI trial, and why he believes mission-controlled companies dramatically outperform.
GeekWire's Todd Bishop recorded this conversation with Ries after <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/lean-startup-author-reveals-his-one-regret-about-his-bestselling-book-and-how-his-new-one-fixes-it/">interviewing him on stage</a> at Seattle Flow Startup Day on May 15.&nbsp;

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

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