Box CEO and co-founder Aaron Levie joins the GeekWire Podcast to talk about the company’s latest AI initiatives, including a new integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot and a suite of Box AI agents designed to help businesses analyze content, extract data, and generate insights.  Levie shares how AI is changing the way he and his team work, explains why he believes 2025 is still “day one” for enterprise AI agents, and offers a realistic take on what AI can — and can’t — do today. He also reflects on Box’s evolution, the shifting role of content in the enterprise, and why he thinks AI is creating more work, not less. RELATED LINKS GeekWire: Box tightens Microsoft ties with new Copilot integration, builds out its own suite of AI agents Aaron Levie: How AI is changing my work as CEO at Box With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: The rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence takes center stage in business technology spending, in Washington D.C., and in the global tech power struggle. We break down a headline-grabbing U.S. Senate hearing on AI and U.S.–China competitiveness, featuring testimony from Microsoft’s Brad Smith and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. There was also a fun Seattle tech callback in the form of a hot-mic moment from Sen. Maria Cantwell during Sen. Ted Cruz's opening statement. Plus, we dive into a new global survey from Amazon Web Services showing just how quickly companies are making generative AI their top tech priority — even ahead of cybersecurity. U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:Winning the AI Race: Strengthening U.S. Capabilities in Computing and Innovation OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: ChatGPT will ‘probably not’ replace Google as top search engine Previously: Microsoft asks Trump to loosen chip export limits Bloomberg: Trump plans to rescind AI chip export curbs Amazon Web ServicesGenerative AI Adoption Index Generative AI tops cybersecurity in 2025 tech budget priorities, new AWS study finds With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

Recorded live at the 2025 GeekWire Awards in Seattle, this episode features industry leaders navigating a shifting tech and political landscape. Amid celebrations of AI breakthroughs, startup milestones, and community-building, guests discuss deeper concerns: capital flight, regulatory headwinds, and what the region needs to retain its innovation edge. Featured on the show: Ambika Singh, founder and CEO of Armoire (Workplace of the Year winner) Joseph Williams, Washington State Department of Commerce (Public Policy Champion for Innovation) Emer Dooley, Creative Destruction Lab, University of Washington (Geeks Give Back honoree) Laura Ruderman, CEO of the Technology Alliance Aviel Ginzburg, co-founder at Foundations (Geeks Give Back honoree) Anand Subbaraj, CEO of Zuper (CEO of the Year finalist) Related coverage:  GeekWire Awards 2025 revealed: Community ‘alive and well’ at annual celebration of best in tech Photos: Inside the GeekWire Awards, where it was ‘game on’ for a night of networking and more Presented by Astound Business Solutions, with category sponsors BECU, Baker Tilly, JLL, WTIA, Alltech, Wilson Sonsini, and First Tech. With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop.

On this special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we break down a public clash between Amazon and the White House over tariffs, transparency, and politics. After a report from Punchbowl News suggested Amazon would start displaying the cost of President Trump’s tariffs on product prices, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a “hostile and political act” during a press briefing — saying she had just spoken to the president about it. Amazon responded by clarifying that the idea had come from a small team behind its Amazon Haul discount storefront but was never approved and “not going to happen.” Meanwhile, CNN reported that Trump personally called Jeff Bezos to complain. Related links and content GeekWire:‘Not going to happen’: Amazon responds to White House barb over purported tariff transparency plan Punchbowl News:Amazon to display tariff costs for consumers Reuters, 2021:Amazon partnered with China propaganda arm CNN's Alayna Treene on X: "Scoop: Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Tuesday morning to complain about reports that his company was considering displaying the cost U.S. tariffs next to prices for certain products on its website, two senior White House officials told @CNN." Amazon statement: "The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. This was never approved and is not going to happen.” GeekWire Podcast:How Amazon is adapting to the TikTok generation, and what it says about the state of Prime With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop  

On this week’s GeekWire Podcast: Microsoft sees a future where humans manage fleets of AI agents — promising to fundamentally change the way companies are run and work gets done. Plus, we dive into the story of Chainguard, the $3.5 billion cybersecurity startup proving that a fully remote company can scale fast without a physical office. And we explore how AI is reshaping everyday life, from travel planning to home repairs. Related stories Meet your new AI teammate: Microsoft sees humans as ‘agent bosses,’ upending the workplace: Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index envisions a future where employees manage AI agents, fundamentally reshaping organizational structures. Chainguard doesn’t have an office. Here’s how the $3.5B cybersecurity startup makes remote work: A look at how Chainguard successfully operates as a fully remote company, including intentional communication and periodic in-person gatherings.​ With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop and editor Taylor Soper. Edited by Curt Milton.

In this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we’re joined by Marcus Fontoura, technical fellow at Microsoft and CTO for Azure Core. Fontoura is the author of A Platform Mindset, a new book that explores how to build scalable systems, support high-performing teams, and foster a culture of collaboration. We talk about the evolving role of platforms in tech, the impact of AI on engineering productivity, and why creativity and autonomy are more important than ever. Fontoura draws on decades of experience at Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and IBM to share insights on leadership, technical debt, and why great engineers should be treated more like artists than managers-in-waiting. With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, Melinda French Gates joins us to discuss her new book, The Next Day, a personal and philosophical reflection on life’s transitions. French Gates opens up about her emotional and spiritual journey of the past few years, the lessons she’s learned from therapy and motherhood, and how she’s now using her full voice through her company, Pivotal Ventures. We talk about her billion-dollar commitment to women’s advancement, the promise and pitfalls of AI, and what it means to pause, reflect, and take action — especially in uncertain times. Hosted by GeekWire reporter Lisa Stiffler. Audio editing by Curt Milton.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we're featuring highlights from a live interview with Nathan Myhrvold, CEO of Intellectual Ventures and former chief technology officer at Microsoft. Myhrvold worked at Microsoft from 1986 to 2000, where he laid the groundwork for Microsoft Research, recruited top computer scientists, and played a key role in shaping the company’s technology strategy. Since leaving Microsoft, he has worked across fields including energy, science, physics, paleontology, photography, and high-tech cuisine. In this conversation, recorded at Town Hall Seattle as part of GeekWire’s Microsoft@50 event, Myhrvold shares his thoughts on the rise of AI, his longtime collaboration with Bill Gates, the future of energy, the secrets of Microsoft’s success, and what’s next in his Modernist Cuisine book series. Edited by Curt Milton; With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop.

On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we talk with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella about the company's 50th anniversary, and where it's headed from here.  Plus, highlights from Microsoft’s 50th anniversary event in Redmond, which featured a rare joint appearance by Nadella with former leaders Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.  The day also reflected Microsoft's role in an increasingly complex global landscape, with a CNBC interview focusing in part on the impact of tariffs on the company and the global economy, and a protest outside the event condemning the use of the company’s technologies to support Israel in the ongoing war in Gaza. Related coverage: Inside Microsoft’s 50th: Iconic moments, strong memories, and the realities of the outside world Gates, Ballmer, Nadella and Copilot: Microsoft CEOs past and present engage in podcast chat with AI Inside the Microsoft Archives: How the tech giant preserves, shares, and learns from its history Microsoft@50 is an independent GeekWire editorial project supported by Accenture. More in GeekWire’s Microsoft@50 series AI Dreams: Microsoft@50, Chapter 1 Microsoft President Brad Smith on AI, global turmoil, and key issues facing the tech giant at 50 Microsoft’s startup story: How the company became a tech giant, and what we can learn from it today A new era for Windows: Can Microsoft’s longtime engine power another tech revolution? ‘The Road Ahead’ at 30: What Bill Gates’ classic book about the future says about the world today Bill Gates on Microsoft at 50, and what’s next for AI and innovation More: Microsoft@50

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: A conversation with Daniel Rausch, Amazon’s vice president of Alexa and Echo, recorded at the company’s Seattle headquarters. Rausch explained the company’s vision for Alexa+, Amazon's next-generation voice assistant, in advance of its upcoming rollout through an early access program. Alexa+ promises more fluid conversations with users, integrating with more services and devices for new capabilities, including the ability act autonomously on behalf of a user. It's a significant upgrade for Amazon's longtime voice assistant, judging from the live demos that Rausch walked us through before and after the podcast recording. But it remains to be seen how much value people will find in using their voice in those situations, rather than the tried-and-true simplicity of using a smartphone app or web browser. And at a fundamental level, Amazon is playing catch-up with OpenAI's ChatGPT and many other AI chatbots in the world of conversational artificial intelligence. Related links: What Alexa’s AI upgrade means for Amazon’s business and Alexa users Amazon’s new Alexa+ uses generative AI to personalize conversations and automate tasks With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton

On this special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, as part of our Microsoft@50 special series, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reflects on his remarkable tenure at the company he helped shape for more than three decades.  We talk about his early days working alongside Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the biggest mistake during his tenure, and his take on the company these days as its largest shareholder. He also opens up about his post-Microsoft pursuits — from his data-driven mission with USAFacts to transforming the NBA fan experience with the L.A. Clippers. And we hear his message for his former Microsoft colleagues. Ballmer's conversation with GeekWire's Todd Bishop was recorded live in front of an audience at GeekWire's Microsoft@50 event at Town Hall Seattle, March 20, 2025. Microsoft@50 is an independent GeekWire editorial project supported by Accenture. More in GeekWire’s Microsoft@50 series AI Dreams: Microsoft@50, Chapter 1 Microsoft President Brad Smith on AI, global turmoil, and key issues facing the tech giant at 50 Microsoft’s startup story: How the company became a tech giant, and what we can learn from it today A new era for Windows: Can Microsoft’s longtime engine power another tech revolution? ‘The Road Ahead’ at 30: What Bill Gates’ classic book about the future says about the world today Bill Gates on Microsoft at 50, and what’s next for AI and innovation More: Microsoft@50

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, we discuss the big real estate technology news of the week: Rocket Companies, the mortgage, real estate and personal finance giant, is buying Redfin, the Seattle-based tech-powered real estate company that has been a longtime disrupter in the world of buying and selling homes.  Joining us to assess the implications are Stephanie Reid-Simons, who oversees the news team at RealEstateNews.com as a senior vice president with the news site; and Tim Ellis, a former Redfin market analyst who's a podcaster and blogger, and a veteran of Seattle-area startups including Porch, Moz, and Glowforge. Also on the show: Microsoft brings its Copilot AI technology to gaming, but can Microsoft prove this is more than Xbox meets Clippy? We’ll consider that question in the final segment with Thomas Wilde, an independent video-game journalist and editor who writes about games for GeekWire, Hard Drive, and other publications. Join us at Microsoft@50 at Town Hall Seattle this Thursday, March 20.  With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop.  

This week: Michael Levin and Josh Lowitz of Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) discuss the state of Amazon's Alexa and Echo business, and what the recently announced Alexa+ service means for the company and users. CIRP studies consumer behavior to provide insights for investors and industry leaders. Related links and coverage CIRP: Amazon Report on Substack. (Check out CIRP's Apple Report, as well.) CIRP's Amazon Report: Alexa, Should I Pay for Alexa+? Or Get a New Echo? GeekWire: Amazon’s new Alexa+ uses generative AI to personalize conversations and automate tasks Amazon: Introducing Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton. 

This week on the Geekwire Podcast: Google prepares to say goodbye to Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, we get ready to say farewell to Skype; and we take a quantum leap with one of Microsoft's top technical leaders in the field: Chetan Nayak, technical fellow and corporate vice of quantum hardware for the company. Related stories and links: End of an era: Microsoft to shut down Skype, shifting users to Teams, 14 years after $8.5B deal Microsoft quantum breakthrough promises to usher in the next era of computing in ‘years, not decades’ Amazon’s new quantum chip joins race to enable next era of computing Google sets long-term plan to exit Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, consolidate in South Lake Union Tech investors on why AI makes this a great moment for startups — with one caveat With GeekWire's Taylor Soper and Todd Bishop; Audio editing by Curt Milton  

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss Microsoft's quantum computing breakthrough; a Washington state bill that targets Uber and Lyft surge pricing; the latest update to the GeekWire 200 ranking of Pacific Northwest startups; and Amazon's move to take creative control of the James Bond movie franchise. Related Links Microsoft quantum breakthrough promises to usher in the next era of computing in ‘years, not decades’ GeekWire 200 update: Here are the hot tech startups moving up our list for Q1 2025 Lawmakers take aim at Uber and Lyft with bill targeting surge pricing after big events Amazon MGM Studios strikes deal for 007, takes over creative control of James Bond film franchise With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop and editor Taylor Soper. 

A new book, The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, finds universal business lessons in the company's successes and also its failures, through case studies about different products and teams in various scenarios and stages of evolution.   The book was written by two Microsoft business strategists and innovation leaders: Dean Carignan, who now focuses on AI in the company's office of the chief scientist; and JoAnn Garbin, who created and led Microsoft's Regenerative Datacenter of the Future program as part of its sustainability initiatives. We speak with Carignan about the book on this special episode of the Geekwire Podcast, as part of our Microsoft @ 50 series. Microsoft @ 50 is an independent GeekWire editorial project supported by Accenture. Learn more and register here for our Microsoft @ 50 event, March 20 in Seattle. More in GeekWire’s Microsoft @ 50 series AI Dreams: Microsoft @ 50, Chapter 1 Microsoft’s startup story: How the company became a tech giant, and what we can learn from it today A new era for Windows: Can Microsoft’s longtime engine power another tech revolution? ‘The Road Ahead’ at 30: What Bill Gates’ classic book about the future says about the world today Microsoft alums were surprised by the sheer scale of its success, new oral history project shows Bill Gates on Microsoft at 50, and what’s next for AI and innovation Hosted by Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.

It has been a wild few weeks and eventful few months in AI: DeepSeek, OpenAI, Stargate, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Salesforce, Google, Elon Musk, and more. In all of this, there's a heightened focus on what it takes to train AI models and the importance of open-source AI. This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we get insights from Ali Farhadi, CEO of the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2), the Seattle-based nonprofit that has been innovating in open-source AI since long before it was popular. "If the U.S. wants to maintain its edge ... we have only one way, and that is to promote open approaches, promote open-source solutions," Farhadi says, reflecting on the past few months. "Because no matter how many dollars you're investing in an ecosystem, without communal, global efforts, you're not going to be as fast."  Related Coverage and Links:  Allen Institute for AI's new open-source iOS AI app runs on-device for secure, private, offline use Allen Institute for AI challenges DeepSeek on key benchmarks with big new open-source AI model Allen Institute for AI’s new model points to items in images, aims to make bigger point in industry New York Times: An Industry Insider Drives an Open Alternative to Big Tech’s A.I. Ken Yeung, "The AI Economy" newsletter: Ai2: The AI House That Paul Allen Built Ai2 Blog: OLMoE, meet iOS Hosted by GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop

For this latest installment in our Microsoft @ 50 series, we talk with Bill Gates about the company's 50th anniversary, parallels between AI and the early days of the PC, and where he sees the next big opportunities for innovation. This is part of a wide-ranging interview coinciding with the release of his new book, Source Code: My Beginnings. We published Part 1 of the interview last week, focusing on his upbringing in Seattle, the influential people in his life, the early days of the company, and his perspective on events now unfolding in the world. Microsoft @ 50 is an independent GeekWire editorial project supported by Accenture. Learn more and register here for our special Microsoft @ 50 event, March 20, 2025, in Seattle. More in GeekWire’s Microsoft @ 50 series AI Dreams: Microsoft @ 50, Chapter 1 Microsoft’s startup story: How the company became a tech giant, and what we can learn from it today A new era for Windows: Can Microsoft’s longtime engine power another tech revolution? ‘The Road Ahead’ at 30: What Bill Gates’ classic book about the future says about the world today Microsoft alums were surprised by the sheer scale of its success, new oral history project shows Hosted by GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop.

Our guest this week is Corey Quinn, the chief cloud economist at The Duckbill Group, the host of the AWS Morning Brief and Screaming in the Cloud podcasts, and the curator of Last Week in AWS, a weekly newsletter. Apart from his newsletter and podcasts, Quinn's day job involves helping AWS customers understand and manage their bills. Amid all the AI hype and billions in capex spending, he uses those insights to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse and a reality check on the state of the cloud market today.  RELATED LINKS Amazon on pace for $100B+ in yearly capex; Jassy expects cost efficiencies to drive AI demand Amazon’s quarterly profits soar to a record $20 billion, but cloud growth comes up short Platformonomics: Charles Fitzgerald breaks down Amazon's capital expenditures With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.

In advance of the release of his new memoir, Source Code: My Beginnings, Bill Gates sat down with GeekWire for a wide-ranging conversion on topics including his extraordinary upbringing in Seattle, the key people and influences in his life, the remarkable circumstances and luck that led to his work in software, and his outlook on the world today. RELATED: Bill Gates’ book ‘Source Code’ is a surprisingly candid memoir of the Microsoft mogul’s early years We're presenting this interview in two parts, this one focusing on Gates' new book and his life, and where the world is headed from here. On an upcoming episode, as part of our Microsoft @ 50 series, we'll hear his thoughts on the evolution of the company that he and Paul Allen started five decades ago, the opportunities in artificial intelligence, and what's next for Microsoft and the industry. With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Contributing: Kevin Lisota.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we dive deep into DeepSeek, the AI project that shaking up the tech world, to better understand the underlying technical advances and the long-term implications for the industry. Joining us is Bill Howe, an associate professor at the University of Washington's Information School and the co-founding director of the UW Center for Responsible AI Systems and Experiences, among other UW roles. Related stories:  DeepSeek’s new model shows that AI expertise might matter more than compute in 2025 Allen Institute for AI challenges DeepSeek on key benchmarks with big new open-source AI model Microsoft CEO says AI use will ‘skyrocket’ with more efficiency amid craze over DeepSeek Who will win in AI? DeepSeek’s breakthrough stirs questions around value capture We open the show from the Microsoft campus in Redmond, after getting an inside look at the company's history for an upcoming installment in our Microsoft @ 50 series. John marvels at the size of new campus project, which is still under way, and we experience first-hand the company's vast parking garage when we try to leave. Also on our agenda this week: Amazon's lawsuit against Washington state over a Washington Post public records request, and what it says about the conflicts inherent to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' ownership of the newspaper. Related story: Bezos vs. Bezos: Amazon sues WA state over Washington Post request for Kuiper records With GeekWire's Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.       

This week, we delve into the Project Stargate announcement by OpenAI, Oracle and Softbank, in conjunction with President Trump, and assess the implications for OpenAi's relationship with Microsoft. We explain what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella really meant with his CNBC zinger about the Stargate investment, and consider how Elon Musk's involvement in the new administration could play out in the tech industry.  PLUS, we discuss Madrona's big new funds and the potential impact on startup activity in the Pacific NW, and find a revealing piece of Microsoft history on an old CD-ROM. Related stories:  Microsoft and OpenAI tweak the terms of their cloud deal, enabling $500B Stargate AI project ‘I’m good for my $80 billion’: What Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella really meant by his Stargate zinger CNBC: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on $500B Stargate project: Our partnership with OpenAI continues Madrona raises $770M for new funds — here’s what the Seattle VC firm is betting on Cascade PBS: The rise of Bluesky, a not-so-Seattle-based social media company Microsoft @ 50:‘The Road Ahead’ at 30: What Bill Gates’ classic book about the future says about the world today Learn more and register here for our special Microsoft @ 50 event, March 20, 2025, in Seattle. With GeekWire's Todd Bishop and John Cook. Editing by Curt Milton.

For this installment in our Microsoft @ 50 series, GeekWire revisited Bill Gates’ classic book from the mid-1990s, The Road Ahead, with the benefit of three decades of hindsight. We found in its pages a vision for technology that was essentially on the mark — foreseeing pervasive access to information, the rise of smart devices, and the central role of the internet in business, education, and the home. We also discovered striking parallels and insights relevant to the AI revolution we're experiencing today. https://www.geekwire.com/2025/the-road-ahead-at-30-what-bill-gates-classic-book-about-the-future-says-about-the-world-today/ On this episode, we get the behind-the-scenes story of the book from Peter Rinearson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, writer, entrepreneur, and former Microsoft VP, who co-authored The Road Ahead with Gates and former Microsoft CTO Nathan Myhrvold. Microsoft @ 50 is an independent GeekWire editorial project supported by Accenture. Learn more and register here for our special Microsoft @ 50 event, March 20, 2025, in Seattle. https://www.geekwire.com/events/geekwire-microsoft50/

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: An inside look at Amazon's classic process for strategic thinking and decision-making, with a former Amazon product and technology director who has written new book about the documents used by the company to determine its direction. What can others learn from its approach? Plus, we break down this pivotal moment in Amazon's history, as employees return to the office five days a week; and we check in on the state of the Seattle startup world. Our guest is Marcelo Calbucci, a serial entrepreneur and longtime Seattle startup community leader who has worked for both Amazon and Microsoft. His new book is The PRFAQ Framework: Adapting Amazon's Innovation Framework to Work for You. It's available in hardback and Kindle. Calbucci has also created a giveaway contest for GeekWire readers and listeners. Enter here for a chance to win a copy of the book. With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; edited and produced by Curt Milton.

This week, Seattle-area software developer and AI entrepreneur Patrick Husting of Ghostwriter AI and the Equestrian App returns to the show to talk about the evolution of artificial intelligence over the past two years, how people are using the technology today, and where things are headed in 2025. Related links Can Microsoft avoid the ghost of Clippy? Familiar theme emerges in Copilot rollout for Office apps ‘Ghostwriter’ in the machine: How this software developer is integrating AI into work and life Microsoft Word gets ChatGPT integration with new ‘Ghostwriter’ third-party add-in WSJ: Microsoft Is Forcing Its AI Assistant on People—and Making Them Pay Elon Musk's xAI Launches Standalone Grok App Boy Genius Report: ChatGPT o1 hacked a chess game to cheat against a better opponent With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; edited and produced by Curt Milton  

What happens when you mix modern AI with a piece of vintage technology and the musical stylings of a very amateur guitarist? You might be surprised.  That's the subject of this week's episode. GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop's fun holiday project, revisiting a favorite gadget from his youth, illustrated some bigger themes about the AI that has emerged in the past two years, and the role it can play in life and work.  Read more here:'From impossible to merely difficult': AI meets a vintage 1980s musical gadget

Michael Schutzler, the newly retired CEO of the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), joins us on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast to reflect on his 11 years running the not-for-profit trade association, assess the state of the tech industry in Seattle and Washington state, and discuss what's next for him. Schutzler, who has been succeeded as WTIA's CEO by Kelly Fukai, previously its COO, wrote about the extraordinary history of the state's tech industry in a recent post marking the WTIA's 40th anniversary and his retirement. See more highlights from the episode in this GeekWire post. Related coverage: WTIA CEO Michael Schutzler retiring after 11 years leading Washington state tech group WTIA honors 40 years of boosting Washington’s tech sector as new CEO aims for more impact With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we sit down with some of the Seattle region’s “Uncommon Thinkers” — inventors, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs transforming industries and driving positive change in the world. We recorded the episode on location, backstage at the GeekWire Gala, where we recognized five Uncommon Thinkers through this annual awards program, presented in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners. Speaking on the episode are: Uri Shumlak, co-founder and chief scientist at Zap Energy, a physicist leading a team in pursuit of fusion energy, taking a different approach from others in the field.Read the profile. Ingrid Swanson Pultz, CTO at Mopac Biologics, and translational advisor at the UW Institute for Protein Design, a microbiologist who led the development of a gluten-destroying enzyme. Read the profile. Chris Dunckley, director of chemistry and engineering of TerraPower Isotopes, a chemical engineer who leads a team turning radioactive waste into cancer therapy. Read the profile. Andy Lapsa, aerospace engineer and CEO of Stoke Space, a company focused on developing fully and rapidly reusable space vehicles using a liquid cooling technique for re-entry. Read the profile. Also featured in in the Uncommon Thinkers series: Hanna Hajishirziof the Allen Institute for AI and the UW's Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, who focuses on open-source Ai models. Read the profile. With GeekWire's Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

Amazon's AI strategy came into focus this week with the unveiling of Amazon Nova, its new family of homegrown AI models, a new AI model marketplace for Amazon Bedrock, and other news from the AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas.  It turns out we've seen this before. As the company's AI strategy emerges, there are numerous similarities to its e-commerce business  including low cost, broad selection, products from Amazon and its selected vendors, and a marketplace. (This Fortune piece by reporter Jason Del Rey explores these parallels in detail.) After spending four days in Las Vegas, attending sessions, and talking with AWS executives and attendees, GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook offer their takeaways and dissect Amazon's AI strategy on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, recorded on location at the GeekWire Studios booth on the show floor.  Related links and coverage Apple makes surprise cameo at AWS re:Invent Amazon unveils ‘Nova’ AI models, looking to make its mark in the generative AI revolution ‘An easy button to get off Windows’: Amazon’s new AI moves Microsoft apps to Linux Amazon expands Bedrock with new AI model marketplace, a day after unveiling its own ‘Nova’ Edited by Curt Milton.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, our guest is Sam Schillace, a deputy CTO at Microsoft and author of the new book, "No Prize for Pessimism," the first title from Microsoft's new publishing imprint, 8080 Books. Schillace discusses the importance of optimism in innovation, drawing parallels between the early cloud era and the current AI revolution. He also shares his past experiences as one of the creators of Google Docs, and emphasizes the value of tackling difficult, non-obvious problems. Related Links:  Sam Schillace's Sunday Letters on Substack. The No Prize for Pessimism custom GPT. No Prize for Pessimism on Amazon. GeekWire: Microsoft turns a new page in the book business with its own publishing imprint With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, which now includes Microsoft, and assess the complexities of the OpenAI-Microsoft partnership, as illustrated by early email exchanges revealed in the lawsuit. We also consider the latest update to the GeekWire 200, our ranked index of Pacific Northwest technology startups, including the rise of Highspot to the top spot, and other trends in the Seattle region's startup ecosystem.  And we share highlights from tech events around the region this week, including the WTIA's 40th Anniversary, where Mayor Bruce Harrell addressed AI and the incoming presidential administration; and an interesting takeaway from a panel of startup leaders whose companies made the latest Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list.  Related links and coverage Internal emails: Elon Musk wanted to keep OpenAI from becoming ‘Microsoft’s marketing bitch’ GeekWire 200 update: A new No. 1 rises to the top of our startup rankings WTIA honors 40 years of boosting Washington’s tech sector as new CEO aims for more impact Seattle mayor, who sits on a federal AI panel, says he’ll seek ways to work with Trump administration With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we dive into Amazon's launch of a new discount storefront called Amazon Haul, and explore what it says about the future of e-commerce and generational shifts in shopping. Guests Michael Levin and Josh Lowitz of Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) provide insights into the long-term trends around Amazon Prime membership and consumer behaviors on the platform. CIRP: Amazon Report on Substack. (Check out their Apple Report, as well.) GeekWire:Hands-on with Amazon Haul: First impressions of the e-commerce giant’s new Temu and Shein rival Amazon:Introducing Amazon Haul—a broad selection of products $20 or less, with most under $10 Business Insider: Amazon's new discount section, 'Haul,' looks like a Temu version of Temu With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

This special edition of the GeekWire Podcast is the first in a four-episode series that we’ll be publishing in the months ahead as part of our year-long Microsoft @ 50 project, recognizing the company’s 50th anniversary in April 2025.  On this episode, we’ll take a fresh look at Microsoft’s startup story with tech historian and author Margaret O’Mara of the University of Washington, author of The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America; plus highlights from a recent conversation with David Marquardt, Microsoft’s first outside investor and a longtime board member. Register here for our Microsoft @ 50 event, March 20, 2025, in Seattle. Microsoft @ 50 is an independent GeekWire editorial project supported by Accenture. With GeekWire Co-Founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, it's a grab-bag of topics, including self-driving wheelchairs, Expedia Group Chairman Barry Diller's comments on the prospects for an acquisition by Uber, and an update on GeekWire's upcoming events and coverage. In the final segment, we discuss what the new Trump administration could mean for technology regulation, including the FTC's antitrust case against Amazon and oversight for tech M&A. Related coverage and links NYT: Tech Giants Face a Familiar Uncertainty With Trump Expedia chairman Barry Diller on potential deal with Uber and Washington Post’s ‘blunder’ Sea-Tac Airport’s self-driving wheelchairs are getting stymied by unexpected obstacles Upcoming GeekWire Events GeekWire Gala, Dec. 12: Register here. Microsoft @ 50: Special series and March 20 event. With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

This week, with just days to go before the Nov. 5 election, we take a fresh look at AI, social media, and some surprising trends in the spread of fake content and misinformation, with Danielle Lee Tomson, research manager for election rumors at the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public. Guest host Ross Reynolds speaks with Tomson about AI, social media, and some surprising trends in the spread of rumors online.  Related links and stories:  Substack: Election Rumor Research @ Center for an Informed Public New York Times: As Election Looms, Disinformation ‘Has Never Been Worse’ Washington Post:Don’t say ‘vote’: How Instagram hides your political posts Edited by Curt Milton. Music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.

Our guest on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast is Panos Panay, Amazon's senior vice president of Devices & Services, a longtime leader in the world of consumer technology. It has been one year since he started at Amazon, after his surprise departure from Microsoft, where he oversaw products including Surface and Windows. Panay's division at Amazon includes the Alexa voice assistant and Echo devices, but that's just the start. His purview also spans Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets, Zoox self-driving taxis, Eero wireless networking devices, Ring and Blink cameras, Fire TV devices, and Kuiper, the company's nascent satellite internet business. The focus this week is Kindle, with the Oct. 30 release of the Kindle Colorsoft, the first color device in Amazon's line of market-leading e-readers, selling for a premium price of $279.99. It's part of a new era for the Kindle business, driven in part by book-loving social media influencers and consumers looking for simplicity and focus in a world of non-stop smartphone alerts. We also talked about AI, including the generative AI summaries coming with the next-generation Kindle Scribe tablet, due out in December. Panay wasn't ready to dish on what's next for Alexa in conversational AI, but he made it clear that he's bullish on AI in general, and doesn't believe it's a passing fad. With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop

Our guest this week is Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, who says he has never been as excited about anything in his career as he is about the latest developments in artificial intelligence — AI agents that can autonomously reason, plan, and take action on behalf of businesses. Benioff is almost as strong in his negative sentiments toward Microsoft's Copilot. He calls Copilot the second coming of Microsoft's much-maligned "Clippy" Office assistant, and asserts that the Redmond company is giving AI a bad name by disappointing customers with underwhelming results and lax security. We spoke with Benioff in advance of the general availability of the San Francisco company's Agentforce AI technology for sales and service. We also talked about Benioff's ownership of Time magazine, and what that means for his political involvement; and the status of his past pledge to turn Seattle into Salesforce's HQ2. Related Links Is the world ready for autonomous AI? Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff makes the case for agents Microsoft 365 Copilot rollouts slowed by data security, ROI concerns Salesforce founder Marc Benioff swears off politics after buying Time magazine Seattle will become Salesforce HQ2 via $15.7B Tableau deal, as Benioff gushes about talent pool With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

This week, we imagine the possibility of Uber buying Expedia Group, based on a report by the Financial Times this week that the ride-hailing company has considered a bid for the online travel giant. It would be notable in part because Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was Expedia Group’s CEO from 2005 to 2017 and remains on the company’s board.  In the second segment, we enjoy highlights from the "60 Minutes" profile of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, and a separate appearance by University of Washington historian and author Margaret O'Mara on an episode of the podcast "60 Minutes: A Second Look" about the rise of Silicon Valley in the early 1980s.   And finally, we talk about our new Geekwire project, Microsoft @ 50, and get a window into what's next in AI from Peter Lee, the Microsoft Research president. He shares the top three technical challenges and opportunities on his mind when it comes to the future of artificial intelligence. This is bonus content from an interview for the first story in the series, published this week, tracing the evolution of AI inside Microsoft.  With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

Artificial intelligence and automation are transforming the way companies get stuff to stores and doorsteps, changing the world of logistics, transportation and the supply chain, as demonstrated by a few Amazon-related stories we covered this week:  Amazon's unveiling of a new "Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR) system for the cargo hold of its electric Rivian vans; The announcement of Amazon’s next-generation fulfillment center, with updated and expanded versions of its robotics systems in Shreveport, La. Former Amazon executive Dave Clark's launch of a new supply chain technology startup, based in the Seattle area, with $100 million in funding out of the gate.  Those are our topics in our first two segments of the show this week. In the third segment, we hear more about the new Cancer AI Alliance spearheaded by Seattle’s Fred Hutch Cancer Center, in partnership with other national cancer research organizations and major tech companies including Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia.  With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

We were looking for a guest expert to discuss the new Microsoft Copilot features on the show this week, when we realized, why not go straight to the source? Our guest host for the first segment of the show is Microsoft Copilot, taking advantage of the new voice interaction mode rolled out by the company this week.  RELATED:New Microsoft Copilot features include natural AI voice interactions and daily news summary In the second segment, we get a behind-the-scenes view of this and other new features with a couple of clips from Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI, from the closing session at Madrona’s Intelligent Applications Summit on Wednesday afternoon in downtown Seattle. He spoke on stage with S. “Soma” Somasegar, a former Microsoft executive who is now a managing director with the venture capital firm. RELATED:Microsoft AI CEO sees long-term memory as key to unlocking future AI experiences And in the final segment, GeekWire's Todd Bishop and John Cook — two humans! — assess Todd's conversation with Microsoft Copilot in the first segment, reflecting on the evolution of artificial intelligence and where it still falls short of human capability.

Charles Simonyi is known in the tech industry for his work at Microsoft. He played a leading role in creating Word, Excel and other programs back in the 1980s. He rejoined the company in 2017 with its acquisition of his startup, Intentional Software.  But he's had a longtime fascination with space, taking two trips to the International Space Station, in 2007 and 2009, and helping to fund a long-awaited new space survey telescope in Chile that bears his family's name.  On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, Simonyi speaks with Geekwire contributing editor Alan Boyle, the veteran space and science journalist, about the new Simonyi Survey Telescope, the potential for new discoveries, and his longtime fascination with space.  Related story: Tech leader Charles Simonyi provides a wide-angle view of the telescope that bears his family name Edited by Curt Milton.

Amazon's decision to bring its employees back to the office five days a week is a window into the challenges facing the e-commerce and technology giant, and CEO Andy Jassy's larger plan to get the company to operate like "the world's largest startup" again. Plus, GeekWire's John Cook gets into the back seat of a driverless car for the first time since 2018, and has a very different experience. Coverage of Amazon's announcement: Amazon ‘will return to being in the office the way we were’ before the pandemic, CEO tells employees ‘The way we were’: Amazon tries to rekindle its future by rediscovering a spark from the past Thoughts on Amazon’s full return to the office from a CEO who knows the value — and the trade-offs A ‘home run’ or a ‘cowardly’ decision? Amazon’s new in-person work policy elicits cheers and jeers Amazon’s new back-to-office mandate fuels debate over remote work and productivity Waymo links and related stories: NPR: Armed with traffic cones, protesters are immobilizing driverless cars GeekWire in 2018: We rode in Uber’s self-driving car, and now we’re less confident in the future of autonomous vehicles Video of John's Waymo ride this week. The Verge: Waymo and Uber expand their robotaxi partnership to Austin and Atlanta With John Cook and Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

Our guest this week is Anupreeta Das, author of the new book, "Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World." Das is the South Asia correspondent for The New York Times. This week's guest host, Ross Reynolds, is an interviewer and moderator who is well-known in the Seattle region from his 34 years at KUOW, the public radio station from which he retired in 2021. Edited by Curt Milton.

The market for E Ink tablets reached a pivotal moment this week with reMarkable's unveiling of its new Paper Pro — now with color E Ink, not just black-and-white. Now the big question is whether Amazon will join the trend with a color Kindle e-reader or Kindle Scribe. The technology enabling the shift from black-and-white to color is the Gallery 3 color display, from E Ink Holdings, a company that spun out of the MIT Media Lab in 1997. On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we learn more from Timothy O’Malley, associate vice president of U.S. operations at E Ink, about the evolution of the technology and the growing applications for E Ink displays.  Related links: Challenged by Amazon, reMarkable unveils new ‘Paper Pro’ color tablet. Launch event video for the reMarkable Paper Pro. Here's the color-changing car mentioned by Tim on the show. With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop

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.

Our regular GeekWire Podcast segment “My AI” didn’t have a musical jingle. So of course, we decided to use AI to create one.You can hear the results and our reactions on this week’s show. It's a glimpse into the issues rattling the music industry. Even when the music isn't great, the technology is pretty incredible. But as we discuss, the underlying issues are a lot more complicated.  With John Cook, Todd Bishop, and Taylor Soper; Audio editing by Curt Milton. 

The naming of Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol as the new Starbucks CEO on Tuesday gives the Seattle-based coffee giant a new leader from the restaurant and fast casual industry with experience leading a digital transformation. We discuss what that could mean on this special mid-week episode of the GeekWire Podcast. Related Coverage: Starbucks’ new CEO brings extensive digital experience from prior role leading Chipotle

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we look at the implications of the Google antitrust ruling for Microsoft Bing, and conclude that they probably aren't as rosy for the Redmond company as they might have appeared initially. Plus, a rural community offers a window into Amazon's relationship with the independent companies that deliver its packages around the world. And finally, the City of Seattle gets support from Amazon and resistance from workers in response to its decision to bring them back to the office for three days a week, up from two days previously. Related coverage ‘Google is a monopolist’: Tech giant loses antitrust suit over search business in huge victory for DOJ City of Seattle increasing in-office work to three days for more than 13,000 employees Driven away: Overloaded by Amazon, rural delivery companies reach the end of the road With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop and editor Taylor Soper.

Zillow Group named a new CEO, longtime company executive Jeremy Wacksman, announcing that co-founder and two-time CEO Rich Barton will be shifting to the new role of co-executive chair of the real estate media and technology company, joining co-founder Lloyd Frink in the role. Barton and Wacksman join GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop to talk about the transition on this special episode.