Microsoft is spending $4 billion dollars on workshops, technology, and other initiatives to get artificial intelligence into the hands of millions of people around the world.

The company pioneering the AI revolution says it could be bigger than the Internet, bigger than mobile, and that the best comparison is the advent of electricity. 

So, what does it mean for all of us? Booming host Monica Nickelsburg spoke with a tech historian who takes us back in time to search for lessons learned the last truly revolutionary technology that took over the world.  

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes. 

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

Microsoft is<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/microsoft-launches-4b-artificial-intelligence-reskilling-institute"> spending $4 billion dollars</a> on workshops, technology, and other initiatives to get artificial intelligence into the hands of millions of people around the world.
The company pioneering the AI revolution says it could be bigger than the Internet, bigger than mobile, and that the best comparison is the advent of electricity.&nbsp;
So, what does it mean for all of us? Booming host Monica Nickelsburg spoke with a tech historian who takes us back in time to search for lessons learned the last truly revolutionary technology that took over the world. &nbsp;
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/booming">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.</a>&nbsp;
Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

Booming is a weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area's been home to many booms over the years. It’s brought jobs, people, and wealth to the region, but also real growing pains that people here feel every day. In Booming, KUOW economy reporters Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg help listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. We'll dig into what people are seeing or feeling and unpack the story behind it.

Booming is a weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area's been home to many booms over the years. It&rsquo;s brought jobs, people, and wealth to the region, but also real growing pains that people here feel every day. In&nbsp;Booming, KUOW economy reporters Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg help listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. We'll dig into what people are seeing or feeling and unpack the story behind it.

Booming

Microsoft's Brad Smith says the AI revolution could be bigger than the Internet, bigger than mobile, and that the best comparison is the advent of electricity.   So, what does it mean for all of us? 

Is AI the new electricity?

The middle class economy is quintessentially American. It’s a whole range of businesses that cropped up to serve the growing middle class after World War II. Think coffee and apple pie at your neighborhood diner. Or back-to- school shopping at Sears.  

But companies that cater to the middle class are cratering under the weight of the affordability crisis.  

On today's episode, why is the middle economy disappearing? And what does it mean for the businesses we love? 

Do you have a story idea for us? We'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

The middle class economy is quintessentially American. It&rsquo;s a whole range of businesses that cropped up to serve the growing middle class after World War II. Think coffee and apple pie at your neighborhood diner. Or back-to- school shopping at Sears.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But companies that cater to the middle class are cratering under the weight of the affordability crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On today's episode, why is the middle economy disappearing? And what does it mean for the businesses we love?&nbsp; Do you have a story idea for us? We'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at&nbsp;<a href="tel:2062217158" data-stringify-link="tel:2062217158" data-sk="tooltip_parent">(206) 221-7158</a> and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:booming@kuow.org">booming@kuow.org</a>. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>. Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

Companies that cater to the middle class are cratering under the weight of the affordability crisis. What does that mean for the businesses we love?  

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

It’s taken 10 years and almost $4 billion, but at long last, light rail will run across Lake Washington.  

For people living near the new light rail, it’ll mean shorter commutes, and faster trips to the airport, sporting events, and public parks.

But its impact will extend beyond those conveniences for riders. Some say it could lead to an economic renaissance in the region, creating new jobs and housing opportunities. And there's precedent for making that claim. 

Today, we find out what a bridge in Scandinavia can tell us about our own future -- and whether the Crosslake Connection could bring this region the economic boost it needs.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

It&rsquo;s taken 10 years and almost $4 billion, but at long last, light rail will run across Lake Washington.&nbsp;&nbsp;
For people living near the new light rail, it&rsquo;ll mean shorter commutes, and faster trips to the airport, sporting events, and public parks.
But its impact will extend beyond those conveniences for riders. Some say it could lead to an economic renaissance in the region, creating new jobs and housing opportunities. And there's precedent for making that claim.&nbsp;
Today, we find out what a bridge in Scandinavia can tell us about our own future -- and whether the Crosslake Connection could bring this region the economic boost it needs.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>. Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

It’s taken 10 years and almost $4 billion, but at long last, light rail will run across Lake Washington.  Aside from faster commutes, some are hopeful the new "crosslake connection" can revitalize the regional economy. 

Could light rail across Lake Washington turn Seattle into the new Copenhagen?

Washington state just passed a tax on incomes above one million dollars a year. The so-called “millionaires tax” has critics warning we’re about to see an exodus of Washington’s wealthiest residents. 

So we wanted to know whether “millionaire migration” is really a thing.

Today, what states that already have millionaire taxes can tell us about what to expect here in Washington.

GUEST:
Cristobal Young, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Cornell University

Coming up: Are you house hunting as a first-time home buyer? We'd love to hear from you about how it's going. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

Washington state just passed a tax on incomes above one million dollars a year. The so-called &ldquo;millionaires tax&rdquo; has critics warning we&rsquo;re about to see an exodus of Washington&rsquo;s wealthiest residents. So we wanted to know whether &ldquo;millionaire migration&rdquo; is really a thing. Today, what states that already have millionaire taxes can tell us about what to expect here in Washington. GUEST: <a href="https://sociology.cornell.edu/cristobal-young">Cristobal Young</a>, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Cornell University Coming up: Are you house hunting as a first-time home buyer? We'd love to hear from you about how it's going. Give us a call at <a href="tel:2062217158" data-stringify-link="tel:2062217158" data-sk="tooltip_parent">(206) 221-7158</a> and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:booming@kuow.org">booming@kuow.org</a>. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>. Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

Will the new millionaire's tax drive wealth out of Washington? We asked an expert on tax flight to find out.

Is AI the new electricity?

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