A wake-up call for tech: Microsoft President Brad Smith says graduates booing AI at commencements across the country are "telling us what we need to hear." In a new blog post and a GeekWire interview, he makes the case that AI will reshape work rather than end it, and says Microsoft's own future depends on people staying employed.
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‘Grave error in judgment’: Bill Gates appeared voluntarily behind closed doors before House Oversight Committee investigators on Wednesday to answer questions about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, which have created fallout for the Seattle-area institutions he built and funds. In a statement, Gates distanced himself from Epstein but said meeting with him was a “grave error in judgment” that put his work in global health and philanthropy at risk. Read more.
‘This is Seattle’s position on AI and data centers.’ A one-year moratorium on big new data centers in Seattle, passed unanimously Tuesday by the Seattle City Council, sent a larger message as people lined up to express concerns about the implications of AI for the power grid, water supply, utility rates, and the economy. Read more.
Searching the corporate couch cushions: Two longtime Icertis leaders have launched Rivvun, a Seattle startup using AI to find and recover revenue companies lose between negotiated contracts and the dollars that actually show up in the bank account. Read more.
Seattle powers up first digital kiosk: The 8-foot-tall IKE Smart City device just across from Pike Place Market is the realization of a years-long effort to bring touchscreen wayfinding to Seattle streets. A total of 50 kiosks are planned for around downtown and outlying neighborhoods. Read more.
Fresh call to restrict school phone use: Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson announced plans to push for a uniform, statewide "away for the day" cellphone ban in all K-12 public schools starting in the 2027–2028 academic year, aiming to eliminate a patchwork of local district policies and curb digital distractions. Read more.
Hardware show and tell: Four tech founders from Carbon Robotics, Overland AI, Starcloud, and Starfish Space gathered at a Seattle conference to showcase how they are leveraging advanced AI and specialized gadgets to revolutionize agriculture, autonomous vehicles, and orbital space operations. Read more.
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Amazon opened its “less-than-truckload” freight service to all businesses, sending shares of major carriers down as it continues to turn its massive logistics network into a nationwide shipping service for outside customers. (CNBC)
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Amazon’s new Graviton5 chip, the latest upgrade to the company’s data center workhorse, reached general availability, bringing a big speed bump (up to 25%) and a new Nitro Isolation Engine that promises stronger security. (Amazon News)
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The Washington State Department of Commerce announced $37.3 million in grants to fund 104 projects that will add 754 new electric vehicle charging ports across the state by late 2027, with a heavy emphasis on rural and tribal communities. (Dept. of Commerce)
Thanks for subscribing, and have a great day. — GeekWire editor Todd Bishop, [email protected]; reporter Kurt Schlosser, [email protected]; and reporter Lisa Stiffler, [email protected]. (Top image: Alamy Photo / JHVEPhoto)
