This week on the GeekWire Podcast, stick around to the end for a late-breaking addition to the show — a bonus segment about OpenAI's new AI video generation technology Sora. Joining the show is Rahul Sood, CEO and co-founder of Irreverent Labs, a Seattle-area startup that is working on AI to turn images and text into video.

We also discuss the Seattle-area startups that are bringing employees into the office five days a week; look ahead to the upcoming release of what appears to be a juicy Amazon book, due out in April; and preview the GeekWire Awards in advance of the Feb. 29 deadline for nominations. And in our "My AI" segment, we talk about a specific approach to chatting with ChatGPT on the go.

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, stick around to the end for a late-breaking addition to the show — a bonus segment about OpenAI's new AI video generation technology <a href="https://openai.com/sora">Sora</a>. Joining the show is <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulxsood/">Rahul Sood</a>, CEO and co-founder of <a href="https://irreverentlabs.com/">Irreverent Labs</a>, a Seattle-area startup that is working on AI to turn images and text into video.
We also discuss the Seattle-area startups that are <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7163255076034170880/">bringing employees into the office five days a week;</a> look ahead to the upcoming release of what appears to be <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/dana-mattioli/the-everything-war/9780316269773/?lens=little-brown">a juicy Amazon book,</a> due out in April; and preview the <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/events/geekwire-awards-2/">GeekWire Awards</a> in advance of <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/nominations-open-for-2024-geekwire-awards-honoring-the-best-in-pacific-northwest-tech/">the Feb. 29 deadline for nominations</a>. And in our "My AI" segment, we talk about a specific approach to chatting with ChatGPT on the go.
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

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

OpenAI's Sora, a new Amazon book, and 5 days a week in the office

This week's episode features an interview with Loretta Napoleoni, conducted by Ross Reynolds, the longtime public radio host and occasional GeekWire Podcast guest host, in an event presented by Town Hall Seattle on April 18, 2024.

Loretta Napoleoni is an Italian economist and journalist whose books include "Rogue Economics" and "Insurgent Iraq." Her newest book is “Technocapitalism: The Rise of the New Robber Barons and the Fight for the Common Good."

In this interview, she explains the concept of the "present future." This refers to the disorienting era in which we're living, characterized by rapid technological change that creates anxiety and a feeling of being constantly behind.

She also discusses the control of technology by a few powerful entrepreneurs, whom she calls "technocapitalists," and the failure of society and the state to direct technological innovation for the common good.

This week's episode features an interview with <a href="https://www.lorettanapoleoni.com/">Loretta Napoleoni</a>, conducted by <a href="https://www.rossreynolds.com/">Ross Reynolds</a>, the longtime public radio host and occasional GeekWire Podcast guest host, in an event presented by <a href="https://townhallseattle.org/">Town Hall Seattle</a> on April 18, 2024.
Loretta Napoleoni is an Italian economist and journalist whose books include "Rogue Economics" and "Insurgent Iraq." Her newest book is “<a href="https://www.sevenstories.com/books/4601-technocapitalism">Technocapitalism: The Rise of the New Robber Barons and the Fight for the Common Good.</a>"
In this interview, she explains the concept of the "present future." This refers to the disorienting era in which we're living, characterized by rapid technological change that creates anxiety and a feeling of being constantly behind.
She also discusses the control of technology by a few powerful entrepreneurs, whom she calls "technocapitalists," and the failure of society and the state to direct technological innovation for the common good.

The rise of 'Technocapitalism' and its impact on humanity, with economist Loretta Napoleoni

This week, we go inside the GeekWire Awards, our annual recognition of the top people, companies and innovations in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, which drew a sold-out crowd to the Showbox Sodo on Thursday May 9 in Seattle. We talk with finalists about AI, the economy and key trends in their industries, and we hear from some of the winners on stage during the program.

RELATED
Photos: Inside the GeekWire Awards, with the big winners, musical numbers and surprise guests
GeekWire Awards 2024 revealed: Winners bask in momentum of AI and potential of region

This week, we go inside the GeekWire Awards, our annual recognition of the top people, companies and innovations in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, which drew a sold-out crowd to the Showbox Sodo on Thursday May 9 in Seattle. We talk with finalists about AI, the economy and key trends in their industries, and we hear from some of the winners on stage during the program.
RELATED
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/photos-inside-the-geekwire-awards-with-the-big-winners-musical-numbers-and-surprise-guests/">Photos: Inside the GeekWire Awards, with the big winners, musical numbers and surprise guests</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/geekwire-awards-2024-revealed-winners-bask-in-momentum-of-ai-and-potential-of-region/">GeekWire Awards 2024 revealed: Winners bask in momentum of AI and potential of region</a></li>
</ul>

Inside the GeekWire Awards: What's next for AI, the economy, and startups

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>

OpenAI's Sora, a new Amazon book, and 5 days a week in the office

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