A startup comes into focus: In an age when everyone seems to pull out a phone to photograph every possible event, and when AI muddies our understanding of what’s real or not, Sky Yang sees a need for skilled, human photographers. The University of Washington grad launched SnapMatePhoto as a Seattle-based digital marketplace connecting customers with photographers for graduation portraits, weddings, maternity shoots, and more.
Read more.
AI leads to layoffs at Amperity: The Seattle-based customer data startup cut an unspecified number of employees this week, citing an increased use of AI that is transforming how the company operates. “That shift changes where we’re investing and the shape of the team we need going forward,” a spokesperson said. Read more.
F5’s latest AI buy: F5 is acquiring SurePath AI, a startup that detects which AI tools and agents employees are using inside companies, as part of a broader push into AI security. F5 CEO François Locoh-Donou explains the strategy in a preview of this weekend's GeekWire Podcast. Read more, and subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
AI startup’s Seattle-area growth plans: Virginia-based Trase, which raised a $107 million seed round, plans to grow from about 20 employees today to more than 100 in the coming years. Baskar Sridharan — a longtime Microsoft, Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services engineering leader — is heading the engineering hub as president. Read more.
Big job cuts in Bellevue: A state filing revealed 292 job losses at Bungie, the Sony-owned video game studio, in the wake of a reorganization following the end of development for the long-running “Destiny 2” franchise. Read more.
Hot Links:
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REI is taking heat for “AI slop” in an internet ad that shows a bicycle with two sets of handlebars. (The Seattle Times)
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Four Washington state communities will receive a combined $5.1 million for broadband projects to enhance online education, telehealth, public safety and local economic development opportunities. (Dept. of Commerce)
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What do you get when you mix three Scottish soccer fans and a driverless Waymo taxi? Another fun video from the World Cup. (Instagram)
Thanks for subscribing, and have a great weekend. — GeekWire editor Todd Bishop, [email protected]; reporter Kurt Schlosser, [email protected]; and reporter Lisa Stiffler, [email protected].
