Does AI belong in the classroom?

For decades, big tech has been pushing for more technology in schools. By the end of the pandemic, the takeover was complete: 96 percent of public schools in America reported giving laptops or tablets to students. But new research suggests bringing devices into the classroom may not have been the …

Microsoft's stern warning for AI frontier labs

Things in San Francisco are starting to feel very sci-fi, and it seems like every day we’re learning more about artificial intelligence agents gone wild. Calls are increasingly mounting for someone to rein in this technology before it’s too late. On today's episode, how worried should we be about …

Is San Francisco leaving Seattle behind?

For years, people have been comparing Seattle to San Francisco.  We've both got the water, the hills... and of course, the tech workers and the exploding real estate prices. The general consensus has been that whatever happens in San Francisco, will eventually happen in Seattle. But now, the AI b…

Where have all the diners gone? The disappearing middle class economy (encore)

We’re working hard on some exciting upcoming episodes and we’ve got some busy weeks ahead, so here's one of our favorite episodes from this past year. It's about why companies that cater to the middle class are disappearing, and what that means for the businesses we love.   This episode originall…

Copper theft is surging. Can anything be done about it?

The Pacific Northwest has a copper theft problem. Seattle police say this type of crime has increased 300% in the city since 2016.  And it's hitting Seattle's mom and pop shops especially hard, because often they're the target of these robberies.  We're in the midst of a big shift from a fossil f…

Will Seattle ever star in its own movies again?

Between state ferries, Pike Place Market, and the Space Needle, there are a lot of reasons Hollywood directors love to cast Seattle.  But today, most feature films set in the city aren't actually shot here. That's pushed Seattle to find other ways of capitalizing on its unique on-screen charms. In…

AI supercharged scammers. Here's how to protect yourself

The United States has always been full of scammers, from snake oil salesmen promising miracle cures, to stockbrokers selling Ponzi schemes.   But now, swindlers and thieves have a new tool in their toolbox: AI.  The FBI says cybercrimes involving AI stole nearly a billion dollars from 22,000 Amer…

How bots took over our national parks

It's not your imagination. Booking popular experiences in our national parks can feel impossible if you're a mere mortal. Going for a permit to backpack The Enchantments or a campsite on Diablo Lake is kind of like buying a lottery ticket these days.  The reason our parks are starting to feel like…

Buy now, worry later? How 'Doom Spending' is taking over the economy

Economic anxiety has reached a fever pitch.   Mortgage rates are creeping back up, there’s a war on, and companies seem more focused on investing in AI than hiring people.  Many Americans are worried about their finances, but still splurging more than they’re saving, especially the youngest gener…

Matchmaking is booming. Could it solve the relationship recession?

App fatigue is causing more and more singles to break up with online dating. Instead of swiping, people are turning to matchmakers and other ways to find love I-R-L... often spending thousands of dollars in the process.   Seattle is becoming a city of singles. And that’s turned one of the world’s …