It may sound like science fiction…

But a former AI researcher says there’s a real chance that the intelligence being developed could make humans extinct by the end of the decade.

Seattle is one of the country’s AI hubs, with Microsoft and its partners Open AI and Anthropic leading the way on research.

KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg is here to help us understand the possibilities.  

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

It may sound like science fiction&hellip;
But a former AI researcher says there&rsquo;s a real chance that the intelligence being developed could make humans extinct by the end of the decade.
Seattle is one of the country&rsquo;s AI hubs, with Microsoft and its partners Open AI and Anthropic leading the way on research.
KUOW&rsquo;s Monica Nickelsburg is here to help us understand the possibilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now

It may sound like science fiction… But a former AI researcher says there’s a real chance that the intelligence being developed could make humans extinct by the end of the decade. Seattle is one of the country’s AI hubs, with Microsoft and its partners Open AI and Anthropic leading the way on research. KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg is here to help us understand the possibilities. 

As experts sound the alarm on AI, where does Seattle fit in?

Mayor Wilson unveils gun violence strategy, Gates Foundation launches $1 billion AI initiative, and four supporting artists quit Ed Sheeran tour in support of Macklemore.

It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Mayor Wilson <a href="https://www.kuow.org/crime/2026-09-15/seattle-mayors-new-gun-violence-reduction-plan-pushes-prevention-over-police">unveils</a> gun violence strategy, Gates Foundation <a href="https://www.kuow.org/technology/2026-09-15/gates-foundation-launches-billion-dollar-artificial-intelligence-ai-initiative">launches</a> $1 billion AI initiative, and four supporting artists <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ed-sheeran-responds-macklemore-tour-3fd73815563039bea9b88f5efe745d62">quit Ed Sheeran tour</a> in support of Macklemore.
It&rsquo;s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.&nbsp;<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Mayor Wilson unveils gun violence strategy, Gates Foundation launches $1 billion AI initiative, and four supporting artists quit Ed Sheeran tour in support of Macklemore.

Tuesday Evening Headlines

If you work for yourself or your employer doesn’t provide health coverage, you likely get your insurance through the state’s health exchange. Starting next year, the cost of those insurance plans are going up on average by 22%. For some advice on how to navigate the rising costs, we talk with Daphne Pie, access and outreach manager for Public Health, Seattle & King County. She helps oversee the county’s healthcare navigator program.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

If you work for yourself or your employer doesn&rsquo;t provide health coverage, you likely get your insurance through the <a href="https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/">state&rsquo;s health exchange</a>.&nbsp;Starting next year, the cost of those insurance plans are <a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/09/09/affordable-care-act-insurance-costs-to-rise-steeply-again-in-wa/">going up on average by 22%</a>. For some advice on how to navigate the rising costs, we talk with Daphne Pie,&nbsp;access and outreach manager for Public Health, Seattle &amp; King County. She helps oversee the county&rsquo;s <a href="https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/health-centers-programs-services/health-insurance/enrollment-assistance">healthcare navigator program</a>.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.&nbsp;<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

If you work for yourself or your employer doesn’t provide health coverage, you likely get your insurance through the state’s health exchange. Starting next year, the cost of those insurance plans are going up on average by 22%. For some advice on how to navigate the rising costs, we talk with Daphne Pie, access and outreach manager for Public Health, Seattle & King County. She helps oversee the county’s healthcare navigator program.

For many, the price of health insurance is about to skyrocket

Elected officials and business leaders met in Seattle to talk about boosting the local economy, several unions in the state are closer to settling contracts, and Macklemore is no longer opening Ed Sheeran's tour.

It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Elected officials and business leaders met in Seattle to talk about boosting the local economy, several unions in the state are closer to settling contracts, and Macklemore is no longer opening Ed Sheeran's tour.
It&rsquo;s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.&nbsp;<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Elected officials and business leaders met in Seattle to talk about boosting the local economy, several unions in the state are closer to settling contracts, and Macklemore is no longer opening Ed Sheeran's tour.

As experts sound the alarm on AI, where does Seattle fit in?

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