How to outrun OpenAI and Anthropic: Startup founders used to worry that tech giants would make their product obsolete. Now it’s even trickier: AI labs are not only encroaching on startup turf, they’re also offering tools for customers to attempt DIY solutions of their own. But there are approaches that work, and niches to be found, according to speakers and panelists at the Tech Alliance Seattle Investor Summit+Showcase this week.
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Above: Mia Lewin of TheFounderVC, left, and Yifan Zhang of AI2 Incubator on a Tech Alliance panel with Bryan Hale of Anthos Capital, and Tim Porter of Madrona, moderated by Laura Barr of Orrick, foreground.
Microsoft board exit: Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock investor, will not stand for re-election to Microsoft's board, ending a tenure that began in 2017. He told Satya Nadella he's returning to "founder mode" to focus on his cancer drug-discovery startup. Read more.
Docusign’s downtown move: The electronic signature pioneer is moving its Seattle offices a few blocks north after signing a 115,000-square-foot lease at the JPMorganChase Center next to the Seattle Art Museum. The move out of the 47-story tower that bears its name is slated for summer 2027. Read more.
Ten Commandments for AI startups: Relying solely on AI technology or basic API skins is no longer a sustainable differentiator in the AI startup playbook, researcher and entrepreneur Oren Etzioni argues in his latest column in the “Etzioni on AI” series.
Startup shifts focus to visually impaired: Innovega, a Seattle-area company long known for its augmented-reality contact lens technology, has unveiled its "Gen One" smart glasses designed to enhance vision for people with low sight. Read more.
New port of call for Launchpad: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s superyacht moved north out of Seattle — dodging and dwarfing ferries on the way — and is now anchored off Everett, Wash. Read more.
Above: Launchpad passes in front of the Walla Walla as the Washington State Ferries vessel makes its Kingston-to-Edmonds run on Thursday. Tim Davis Photo.
Tech Moves: A pair of Microsoft security executives are on the move — one headed to Salesforce, one returning to fill the vacancy; two Amazon veterans are calling it quits at the company; and more personnel changes.
World Cup fever check: If you are a Seattle area startup founder who loves soccer and is excited for the World Cup, we want to hear from you. Just reach out to GeekWire co-founder John Cook at [email protected] with the subject line “futbol.”
Hot Links:
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Browsing LinkedIn today can turn up the kind of videos, sponsored content and memes reminiscent of other social media platforms. Has all this expanded its appeal, or undermined its central mission? (The New York Times)
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An explosion of data centers is driving a massive surge in energy demand across Washington and Oregon, prompting Northwest utility companies to invest in more gas-powered infrastructure and threatening to derail both states' climate goals. (Washington State Standard)
Thanks for subscribing, and have a great weekend. Feedback and news tips: [email protected]. — GeekWire editor Todd Bishop, [email protected]; reporter Kurt Schlosser, [email protected]; and reporter Lisa Stiffler, [email protected].
