Are we living in a simulation? Is there an afterlife? And if not, what would it take to create one? Drawing inspiration from Seattle's tech industry and the emerging field of virtual reality, best-selling science-fiction author Neal Stephenson knits together ideas as old as the Bible and as up-to-date as Elon Musk's musings in an epic 880-page novel titled "Fall; or, Dodge in Hell," due out June 4. GeekWire's Alan Boyle read the book and interviewed Stephenson, and joins us to share highlights.

Are we living in a simulation? Is there an afterlife? And if not, what would it take to create one? Drawing inspiration from Seattle's tech industry and the emerging field of virtual reality, best-selling science-fiction author Neal Stephenson knits together ideas as old as the Bible and as up-to-date as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKRuI2zHp0">Elon Musk's musings</a> in an epic 880-page novel titled <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Dodge-Hell-Neal-Stephenson/dp/006245871X">"Fall; or, Dodge in Hell,"</a> due out June 4. GeekWire's Alan Boyle read the book and interviewed Stephenson, and joins us to share highlights.

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.

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Sci-fi master Neal Stephenson

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss Amazon's efforts to compete with Trader Joe's, and the related tactics revealed in "The Everything War," the new book by Dana Mattioli of the Wall Street Journal. We also revisit last week's episode with Mattioli and share some of the reactions to the discussion.

Plus, the FTC probes Amazon's internal use of Signal's disappearing messages feature, a newly disclosed email shows how Microsoft scrambled to catch up in artificial intelligence, and a new report says that Bill Gates is still a highly influential figure inside Microsoft, especially when it comes to the company's AI strategy.

Finally, we go inside the Seattle courtroom where a prominent figure from the cryptocurrency world, Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, received a controversial prison sentence this week.

Other stories discussed on the show:
Amazon stock rises as Q1 earnings top estimates with $143.3B in revenue; AWS sales up 17%
DoorDash rips Seattle over minimum wage law; reports record quarterly revenue of $2.5B
Prudential to shut down Assurance, the insurance tech startup it acquired for $2.35B in 2019
KING5: Binance founder Changpeng Zhao sentenced to 4 months for allowing money laundering
Business Insider: Bill Gates is still pulling strings at Microsoft, overseeing AI ideas
Internet Archive: Full text: An epic Bill Gates rant

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss Amazon's <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/amazon-the-everything-war-dana-mattioli-4966915d">efforts to compete with Trader Joe's</a>, and the related tactics revealed in "The Everything War," the new book by Dana Mattioli of the Wall Street Journal. We also <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/the-everything-war-inside-amazon-with-author-and-wall-street-journal-reporter-dana-mattioli/">revisit last week's episode with Mattioli</a> and share some of the reactions to the discussion.
Plus, the FTC probes <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-26/amazon-s-bezos-jassy-deleted-chats-despite-ftc-antitrust-probe?sref=CUpXQy6u">Amazon's internal use of Signal's disappearing messages featur</a>e, a newly disclosed email shows <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/1/24146302/microsoft-openai-investment-google-worries-internal-emails">how Microsoft scrambled to catch up in artificial intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-still-pulling-strings-microsoft-ai-copilot-chatgpt-2024-4">a new report</a> says that Bill Gates is still a highly influential figure inside Microsoft, especially when it comes to the company's AI strategy.
Finally, we go inside the Seattle courtroom where a prominent figure from the cryptocurrency world, Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/inside-the-seattle-courtroom-where-binances-founder-received-a-controversial-prison-sentence/">received a controversial prison sentence this week</a>.
Other stories discussed on the show:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/amazon-stock-rises-as-q1-expectations-top-estimates-with-143-3b-in-revenue-aws-sales-up-17/">Amazon stock rises as Q1 earnings top estimates with $143.3B in revenue; AWS sales up 17%</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/doordash-reports-record-quarterly-revenue-of-2-5b-rips-seattle-over-minimum-wage-law/">DoorDash rips Seattle over minimum wage law; reports record quarterly revenue of $2.5B</a></li>
<li>Prudential to shut down Assurance, the insurance tech startup it acquired for $2.35B in 2019</li>
<li>KING5: <a href="https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/binance-founder-changpeng-zhao-faces-sentencing-allowing-money-laundering/281-ad16e591-c4ea-4e53-87ed-5ad371a2c1d2">Binance founder Changpeng Zhao sentenced to 4 months for allowing money laundering</a></li>
<li>Business Insider: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-still-pulling-strings-microsoft-ai-copilot-chatgpt-2024-4">Bill Gates is still pulling strings at Microsoft, overseeing AI ideas</a></li>
<li>Internet Archive: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090302101835/http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/141821.asp">Full text: An epic Bill Gates rant</a></li>
</ul>

Amazon vs. Trader Joe's; Bill Gates still a force at Microsoft; Inside the Binance founder's sentencing

A conversation with Dana Mattioli, Wall Street Journal reporter and author of the new book, "The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power." With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop.

A conversation with <a href="https://www.wsj.com/news/author/dana-mattioli">Dana Mattioli</a>, Wall Street Journal reporter and author of the new book, <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/dana-mattioli/the-everything-war/9780316269773/?lens=little-brown">"The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power."</a> With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop.

'The Everything War': Inside Amazon with author and Wall Street Journal reporter Dana Mattioli

This week on the show, we get a sneak preview of the GeekWire Awards, coming up at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle on Thursday, May 9.
We look back at the past winners of the Next Tech Titan title in the awards, and consider the event's track record in predicting major companies to emerge from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
We also contemplate the evolution of the "Workplace of the Year" category through the rise of remote and hybrid work.
And finally, we consider the impact of migration on another part of state: Spokane, Wash., and the Inland Northwest.

See more GeekWire Awards coverage, and learn more about the event, which is presented by Astound Business Solutions.

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

This week on the show, we get a sneak preview of the <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/events/geekwire-awards-2/">GeekWire Awards,</a> coming up at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle on Thursday, May 9.
<ul>
<li>We look back at the past winners of <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/next-tech-titan-motherduck-rec-room-statsig-submittable-zuper-vie-for-pivotal-geekwire-award/">the Next Tech Titan title</a> in the awards, and consider the event's track record in predicting major companies to emerge from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.</li>
<li>We also contemplate the evolution of the <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/vote-for-workplace-of-the-year-startups-employ-various-methods-in-their-commitment-to-culture/">"Workplace of the Year"</a> category through the rise of remote and hybrid work.</li>
<li>And finally, we consider <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/destination-spokane-how-remote-work-and-new-arrivals-are-changing-one-tech-community/">the impact of migration on</a> another part of state: Spokane, Wash., and the Inland Northwest.</li>
</ul>
See <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/special-coverage/geekwire-awards-2024/">more GeekWire Awards coverage</a>, and <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/events/geekwire-awards-2/">learn more about the event</a>, which is presented by Astound Business Solutions.
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.

Sci-fi master Neal Stephenson

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