This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we revisit the controversy over Starbucks' hybrid work policy for its new CEO, Brian Niccol; discuss the cyberattack that crippled computer systems at Sea-Tac Airport in the Seattle area this week; and provide an update on last week's episode about AI text-to-music generators.

Articles and topics discussed on this episode:
Hybrid policy for new Starbucks CEO sparks debate over remote work, corporate jet emissions
Starbucks’ New CEO Has a Big Carbon Footprint - WSJ
Starbucks’ New CEO Will Take Charge Without Training Wheels - Bloomberg
Steve Ballmer Chases NBA Glory at Intuit Dome, the LA Clippers’ Gleaming New Home
Plane English: Sea-Tac Airport turns to pen and paper to replace digital displays after cyberattack
Port of Seattle outage continues two days after suspected cyberattack by ‘nefarious characters’
GeekWire’s quest for an AI theme song opened our ears to the debate rattling the music industry
GeekWire Podcast listener Fortunato Vega shares his AI-generated theme song on LinkedIn.

With Todd Bishop and Taylor Soper. Edited by Curt Milton.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we revisit <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/hybrid-policy-for-new-starbucks-ceo-sparks-debate-over-remote-work-corporate-jet-emissions/">the controversy over Starbucks' hybrid work policy</a> for its new CEO, Brian Niccol; discuss the <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/sea-tac-airport-resorts-to-handwritten-posters-to-replace-digital-displays-in-aftermath-of-cyberattack/">cyberattack that crippled computer systems at Sea-Tac Airport</a> in the Seattle area this week; and provide an update on <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/geekwires-quest-for-an-ai-theme-song-opened-our-ears-to-the-debate-rattling-the-music-industry/">last week's episode about AI text-to-music generators</a>.
Articles and topics discussed on this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/hybrid-policy-for-new-starbucks-ceo-sparks-debate-over-remote-work-corporate-jet-emissions/">Hybrid policy for new Starbucks CEO sparks debate over remote work, corporate jet emissions</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/starbucks-new-ceo-has-a-big-footprint-commutes-private-jet-nevermind-climate-goals-3df1aa5f">Starbucks’ New CEO Has a Big Carbon Footprint - WSJ</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-23/starbucks-new-ceo-brian-niccol-to-have-more-power-than-predecessor?srnd=undefined&amp;sref=CUpXQy6u">Starbucks’ New CEO Will Take Charge Without Training Wheels - Bloomberg</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/steve-ballmer-nba-la-clippers">Steve Ballmer Chases NBA Glory at Intuit Dome, the LA Clippers’ Gleaming New Home</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/geekwires-quest-for-an-ai-theme-song-opened-our-ears-to-the-debate-rattling-the-music-industry/">Plane English: Sea-Tac Airport turns to pen and paper to replace digital displays after cyberattack</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/port-of-seattle-outage-continues-three-days-after-suspected-cyberattack-by-nefarious-characters/">Port of Seattle outage continues two days after suspected cyberattack by ‘nefarious characters’</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/geekwires-quest-for-an-ai-theme-song-opened-our-ears-to-the-debate-rattling-the-music-industry/">GeekWire’s quest for an AI theme song opened our ears to the debate rattling the music industry</a></li>
<li>GeekWire Podcast listener Fortunato Vega <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fortunato911_fortunatos-my-name-by-phantomkeyboardstand069-activity-7233216396489277440-E1x5?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop">shares his AI-generated theme song on LinkedIn</a>.</li>
</ul>
With Todd Bishop and Taylor Soper. 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

New Starbucks CEO's supercommute, SeaTac cyberattack, more on AI music generators

This week: What should Liverpool FC fans expect from Jeff Bezos as a member of the storied club's new minority ownership group? We consult the Amazon leadership principles for the answer. Plus, a tip and an SEC filing lead to a scoop on a former Meta AI director's new startup, the GeekWire Editorial Board convenes to decide whether Dave Clark's Auger stays on the GeekWire 200 after moving its HQ to Dallas, and Microsoft quietly semi-retires its AI blob.

Bezos and Liverpool FC
Group including Jeff Bezos buys minority stake in Liverpool FC, with option to become controlling owner — CNBC
Liverpool: FSG sell minority stake to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos-backed consortium led by Amit Bhatia — Sky Sports
Bezos, Bhatia buy a stake in Liverpool: What does it mean for the club and FSG? — ESPN
Bezos, Bhatia, Saverin buy Liverpool stake at $7 billion valuation — Sportico
The Redmen TV — independent Liverpool FC fan channel

Noosphere and the Form D
Ex-Meta AI research director raises $10.25M from Trilogy and Madrona for stealth physical AI startup
Kevin T. Carlberg — founder's research site

Auger and the GeekWire 200
This former Amazon exec is moving his startup's HQ to Texas, and he has a few notes for Seattle
Dave and Leigh Anne Clark move Auger headquarters to Dallas — D Magazine
GeekWire 200
Seattle Engineering Centers
New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk
'We can't become callous': KIRO hosts debate what a startup's departure to Texas says about Seattle's business climate — MyNorthwest

Microsoft and Mico
Farewell, Mico: Microsoft's cute little AI blob is going the way of Bob
Microsoft starts merging its Copilot consumer and business apps in advance of 'Super App' rollout

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. 

This week: What should Liverpool FC fans expect from Jeff Bezos as a member of the storied club's new minority ownership group? We consult the Amazon leadership principles for the answer. Plus, a tip and an SEC filing lead to a scoop on a former Meta AI director's new startup, the GeekWire Editorial Board convenes to decide whether Dave Clark's Auger stays on the GeekWire 200 after moving its HQ to Dallas, and Microsoft quietly semi-retires its AI blob.
Bezos and Liverpool FC
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/14/jeff-bezos-group-buys-stake-liverpool-fc.html">Group including Jeff Bezos buys minority stake in Liverpool FC, with option to become controlling owner</a> &mdash; CNBC</li>
<li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/13573040/liverpool-fsg-sell-minority-stake-to-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-backed-consortium-led-by-amit-bhatia">Liverpool: FSG sell minority stake to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos-backed consortium led by Amit Bhatia</a> &mdash; Sky Sports</li>
<li><a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49611080/liverpool-jeff-bezos-amit-bhatia-investment-fsg-premier-league-beth-lindop-analysis">Bezos, Bhatia buy a stake in Liverpool: What does it mean for the club and FSG?</a> &mdash; ESPN</li>
<li><a href="https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2026/jeff-bezos-liverpool-stake-bhatia-saverin-1234941903/">Bezos, Bhatia, Saverin buy Liverpool stake at $7 billion valuation</a> &mdash; Sportico</li>
<li><a href="https://theredmentv.com/">The Redmen TV</a> &mdash; independent Liverpool FC fan channel</li>
</ul>
Noosphere and the Form D
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/ex-meta-ai-research-director-raises-10-25m-from-trilogy-and-madrona-for-stealth-physical-ai-startup/">Ex-Meta AI research director raises $10.25M from Trilogy and Madrona for stealth physical AI startup</a></li>
<li><a href="https://kevintcarlberg.net/">Kevin T. Carlberg</a> &mdash; founder's research site</li>
</ul>
Auger and the GeekWire 200
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/this-former-amazon-exec-is-moving-his-startups-hq-to-texas-and-he-has-a-few-notes-for-seattle/">This former Amazon exec is moving his startup's HQ to Texas, and he has a few notes for Seattle</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dmagazine.com/business-economy/2026/08/dave-and-leigh-anne-clark-are-back-in-dallas-auger/">Dave and Leigh Anne Clark move Auger headquarters to Dallas</a> &mdash; D Magazine</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/geekwire-200/">GeekWire 200</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/engineering-centers/">Seattle Engineering Centers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/new-map-traces-washington-states-tech-universe-to-a-few-key-hubs-and-shows-whats-at-risk/">New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk</a></li>
<li><a href="https://mynorthwest.com/kiro-opinion/seattle-startups-departure/4265825">'We can't become callous': KIRO hosts debate what a startup's departure to Texas says about Seattle's business climate</a> &mdash; MyNorthwest</li>
</ul>
Microsoft and Mico
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/farewell-mico-microsofts-cute-little-ai-blob-is-going-the-way-of-bob/">Farewell, Mico: Microsoft's cute little AI blob is going the way of Bob</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-starts-merging-its-copilot-consumer-and-business-apps-in-advance-of-super-app-rollout/">Microsoft starts merging its Copilot consumer and business apps in advance of 'Super App' rollout</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.&nbsp;

Bezos and Liverpool FC, a Meta vet's AI startup, Auger's Dallas move, and the demise of Microsoft's AI blob

This week: SpaceX reports its first quarter as a public company, and Elon Musk says Starlink could deliver a majority of the world's internet within a decade, leveraging production facilities in Redmond. Musk also explains the company's data center ambitions, calling terrestrial infrastructure a trivial problem next to reusable rockets. 

Plus: we bring two Washington tech universe posters into the studio, 17 years apart. The 2009 original turns up gems including Boeing's unlikely connection to Classmates.com, a 1990s forerunner to Facebook. The 2009 poster also brings back memories of Teledesic, the Craig McCaw venture backed by Bill Gates that tried to beam internet from space decades before Starlink.

Finally, the GeekWire Trivia Challenge returns, with a timely question about Google's origins.

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

Related stories and links

SpaceX's first earnings call as a public company
SpaceX earnings: Elon Musk says Starlink could deliver most of the world's internet within a decade
Elon Musk's Mars illusion — Dominic Gates on the gap between the Mars vision and the timeline
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes on pad during test; Jeff Bezos vows to rebuild
Blue Origin's rocket blowup hits NASA and Amazon Leo as well

Mapping Washington's tech universe
New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk
The Washington Tech Universe map from WTIA, and posters are available here
Massive map shows how Seattle's tech ecosystem evolved over the last 30 years — the 2015 edition
The original 2009 Puget Sound Tech Universe map. (Thanks to Ken Myer for digging this up!)
GeekWire's Seattle engineering centers list

GeekWire Trivia
The startup idea that convinced a UW computer science legend to leave Google after 27 years
What a longtime Google AI leader told UW computer science students at their graduation

This week:&nbsp;SpaceX reports its first quarter as a public company, and Elon Musk says Starlink could deliver a majority of the world's internet within a decade, leveraging production facilities in Redmond. Musk also explains the company's data center ambitions, calling terrestrial infrastructure a trivial problem next to reusable rockets.&nbsp;
Plus: we bring two Washington tech universe posters into the studio, 17 years apart. The <a href="https://cdn.geekwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Seattle-15-in-CS2-7_wide-1.pdf">2009 original</a> turns up gems including Boeing's unlikely connection to Classmates.com, a 1990s forerunner to Facebook. The 2009 poster also brings back memories of Teledesic, the Craig McCaw venture backed by Bill Gates that tried to beam internet from space decades before Starlink.
Finally, the GeekWire Trivia Challenge returns, with a timely question about Google's origins.
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.
Related stories and links
SpaceX's first earnings call as a public company
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/elon-musk-says-starlink-could-deliver-most-of-the-worlds-internet-within-a-decade/">SpaceX earnings: Elon Musk says Starlink could deliver most of the world's internet within a decade</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/elon-musks-mars-illusion/">Elon Musk's Mars illusion</a> &mdash; Dominic Gates on the gap between the Mars vision and the timeline</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/blue-origin-new-glenn-rocket-explodes-on-pad/">Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes on pad during test; Jeff Bezos vows to rebuild</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/blue-origins-rocket-blowup-nasa-amazon-leo/">Blue Origin's rocket blowup hits NASA and Amazon Leo as well</a></li>
</ul>
Mapping Washington's tech universe
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/new-map-traces-washington-states-tech-universe-to-a-few-key-hubs-and-shows-whats-at-risk/">New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.org/tech-universe-2026/">The Washington Tech Universe map from WTIA</a>, and <a href="https://wa-tech-universe.printify.me/product/30108923">posters are available here</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2015/massive-map-shows-seattles-tech-ecosystem-evolved-last-30-years/">Massive map shows how Seattle's tech ecosystem evolved over the last 30 years</a> &mdash; the 2015 edition</li>
<li>The original <a href="https://cdn.geekwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Seattle-15-in-CS2-7_wide-1.pdf">2009 Puget Sound Tech Universe map</a>. (Thanks to Ken Myer for digging this up!)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/engineering-centers/">GeekWire's Seattle engineering centers list</a></li>
</ul>
GeekWire Trivia
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/the-startup-idea-that-convinced-a-uw-computer-science-legend-to-leave-google-after-27-years/">The startup idea that convinced a UW computer science legend to leave Google after 27 years</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/what-a-longtime-google-ai-leader-told-uw-computer-science-students-at-their-graduation/">What a longtime Google AI leader told UW computer science students at their graduation</a></li>
</ul>

Elon Musk's Starlink swagger, SpaceX vs. the cloud giants, and Seattle’s tech universe revisited

This week: Microsoft and Amazon both reported quarterly numbers, and both stocks rose on cloud results that beat expectations. Is AI spending is paying off in real business? And in related news, Microsoft sees a rare annual headcount decline, hitting product R&D hardest. 

Plus: Satya Nadella builds a Power BI dashboard out of an analyst's research report, and touts it on the earnings call to make a bigger point. Jeff Bezos names Amazon's chips business as the long-awaited fourth pillar. And AI House managing director Jacob Colker delivers a much-needed pep talk for Seattle tech, calling on the region to recognize and build on its strengths. 

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

Related stories and links:

Microsoft and Amazon earnings
Microsoft Azure tops $100B in annual revenue as record AI spending cuts into cash flow
AWS is 'booming,' but Amazon's free cash flow turns negative on record AI spending
Microsoft R&D jobs drop for second straight year as total headcount falls for first time in a decade
Which Microsoft businesses are growing and shrinking, according to obscure table in regulatory filing

Amazon's fourth pillar
Jeff Bezos says this business is becoming Amazon's next 'pillar'

A rallying cry for Seattle tech
Watch: A venture capitalist's passionate speech, a rallying cry, really, about Seattle
Seattle's AI2 Incubator rebrands as AI House, and adds key investor as managing director
'I'm tired of that narrative': Seattle VC pushes back on tech exodus talk

The Washington tech ecosystem
New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk
After hiring AWS exec and raising $107M seed round, Virginia startup plants flag in Seattle area
GeekWire's Seattle engineering centers list

<blockquote></blockquote>
This week: Microsoft and Amazon both reported quarterly numbers, and both stocks rose on cloud results that beat expectations. Is AI spending is paying off in real business? And in related news, Microsoft sees a rare annual headcount decline, hitting product R&amp;D hardest.&nbsp;
Plus: Satya Nadella builds <a href="https://x.com/satyanadella/status/2082640036949008570">a Power BI dashboard</a> out of an analyst's research report, and touts it on the earnings call to make a bigger point. Jeff Bezos names Amazon's chips business as the long-awaited fourth pillar. And AI House managing director Jacob Colker delivers a much-needed pep talk for Seattle tech, calling on the region to recognize and build on its strengths.&nbsp;
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.
Related stories and links:
Microsoft and Amazon earnings
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-azure-tops-100b-in-annual-revenue-as-record-ai-spending-cuts-into-cash-flow/">Microsoft Azure tops $100B in annual revenue as record AI spending cuts into cash flow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/aws-is-booming-but-amazons-free-cash-flow-turns-negative-on-record-ai-spending/">AWS is 'booming,' but Amazon's free cash flow turns negative on record AI spending</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-product-rd-jobs-decline-for-second-straight-year-new-filing-shows/">Microsoft R&amp;D jobs drop for second straight year as total headcount falls for first time in a decade</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/which-microsoft-businesses-are-growing-and-shrinking-according-to-obscure-table-in-regulatory-filing/">Which Microsoft businesses are growing and shrinking, according to obscure table in regulatory filing</a></li>
</ul>
Amazon's fourth pillar
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/jeff-bezos-says-this-business-is-becoming-amazons-next-pillar/">Jeff Bezos says this business is becoming Amazon's next 'pillar'</a></li>
</ul>
A rallying cry for Seattle tech
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/watch-a-venture-capitalists-passionate-speech-a-rallying-cry-really-about-seattle/">Watch: A venture capitalist's passionate speech, a rallying cry, really, about Seattle</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/seattles-ai2-incubator-rebrands-as-ai-house-and-adds-key-investor-as-managing-director/">Seattle's AI2 Incubator rebrands as AI House, and adds key investor as managing director</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/im-tired-of-that-narrative-seattle-vc-pushes-back-on-tech-exodus-talk/">'I'm tired of that narrative': Seattle VC pushes back on tech exodus talk</a></li>
</ul>
The Washington tech ecosystem
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/new-map-traces-washington-states-tech-universe-to-a-few-key-hubs-and-shows-whats-at-risk/">New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/after-hiring-aws-exec-and-raising-107m-seed-round-virginia-startup-plants-flag-in-seattle-area/">After hiring AWS exec and raising $107M seed round, Virginia startup plants flag in Seattle area</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/engineering-centers/">GeekWire's Seattle engineering centers list</a></li>
</ul>

New Starbucks CEO's supercommute, SeaTac cyberattack, more on AI music generators

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