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Capital spending soars in the cloud as Microsoft, Google, and others bet big on AI demand

GeekWire Awards 2024

Techie-turned-lawmaker uses his Microsoft chops to challenge the status quo as a state senator
Carbon, weeds and toxics are in the crosshairs for GeekWire Awards sustainability finalists
Health Innovation of the Year: 5 finalists at the GeekWire Awards use tech to improve healthcare

Amazon Q adds feature to create AI apps using natural language

by Todd Bishop on April 30, 2024April 30, 2024 at 7:42 am

Amazon says it will give non-developers the ability to create apps using natural language as part of a new feature for Amazon Q, the AI assistant unveiled by Amazon Web… Read More

Illustration: Portal Space Systems' Supernova satellite bus in orbit

Portal Space Systems comes out of stealth with satellites that’ll be fired up by the sun

by Alan Boyle on April 30, 2024April 30, 2024 at 6:25 am

A Seattle-area startup called Portal Space Systems is emerging from stealth to share its vision for a type of satellite that’s apparently never been put into space before: a spacecraft… Read More

FinOps: The Balance of Financial Responsibility and Technical Innovation

Imagine boosting developer productivity by 30% while slashing project costs by 25%. That might sound impossible, yet it’s a realistic goal for organizations that adopt FinOps (Financial Operations) – a… Read More

Video

Tableau Public will finally get local file-saving in latest move to appeal to loyal users

by Todd Bishop on April 30, 2024April 30, 2024 at 5:53 am

Tableau will enable local file-saving for the free version of its data visualization software, no longer requiring Tableau Public users to publish their work online to the community if they… Read More

Tribal company and Oregon battery startup create unique partnership in pursuit of clean energy

by Lisa Stiffler on April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 at 2:03 pm

A startup developing long-duration batteries is teaming up with a Pacific Northwest tribe to build innovative energy storage devices. Puyallup Tribal Enterprises has signed an exclusive manufacturing deal with Portland,… Read More

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This startup just raised funding to turn wood pulp into sustainable, biodegradable plastics

by Lisa Stiffler on April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 at 11:10 am

A Vancouver, B.C.-based startup making biodegradable plastics out of wood pulp has raised up to $5 million from Suzano Ventures, the investment arm of a manufacturing giant turning farmed eucalyptus… Read More

Generative AI is a dual concern for cybersecurity industry — and will drive increased labor demand

by Frank Catalano on April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 at 10:25 am

Artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword when it comes to cybersecurity — and will be a core driver of demand for new cybersecurity professionals, according to the keynote speaker at… Read More

Tech Moves: Matt Hulett steps down as PetMed Express CEO; Seattle startup Avante adds execs

by Taylor Soper on April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 at 9:57 am

Matt Hulett, a veteran of the Seattle tech and startup scene, is stepping down as CEO and president of PetMed Express, a publicly traded, Florida-based online pet pharmacy. Hulett joined the… Read More

Amazon earnings preview: Advertising and AWS expected to continue fueling profits

by Taylor Soper on April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 at 8:29 am

Amazon reports its first quarter earnings on Tuesday. Analysts will be watching for continued growth in the company’s key profit drivers: advertising and cloud computing. After dropping in price throughout… Read More

Bot or Not

Generative AI is a dual concern for cybersecurity industry — and will drive increased labor demand

The UW’s Institute for Protein Design keeps boosting startups, fueling AI-powered science

10 important questions about the promise and pitfalls of AI

AI is boosting drug discovery and development — and sparking questions about proprietary data

For more about the evolving relationship between humans and machines, check out Bot or Not.

Week in Review: Most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of April 21, 2024

by GeekWire on April 28, 2024April 28, 2024 at 8:00 am

See the technology stories that people were reading on GeekWire for the week of April 21, 2024.… Read More

Podcast

‘The Everything War’: Inside Amazon with author and Wall Street Journal reporter Dana Mattioli

by Todd Bishop on April 27, 2024April 27, 2024 at 9:27 am

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: A conversation with Dana Mattioli, Wall Street Journal reporter and author of the new book, “The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the… Read More

Civic

Seattle mayor joins tech leaders on Homeland Security’s new AI safety and security board

Techie-turned-lawmaker uses his Microsoft chops to challenge the status quo as a state senator

Washington state launches program to cut costs of new and used EVs for low-income residents

FTC bans all new non-compete clauses and strikes down most existing agreements

Read more about tech policy, urban development, transportation, housing, the environment, regulation, and issues impacting the innovcation economy. Civic.

AI for AP: High school students create tool that acts as tech tutor for advanced placement courses

by Kurt Schlosser on April 27, 2024April 26, 2024 at 2:46 pm

Frustrated by inadequate resources to help students study for advanced placement courses, two Seattle-area high school teens turned to technology, and put AI to work on AP. Pradyu Kandala and… Read More

News Brief

Seattle mayor joins tech leaders on Homeland Security’s new AI safety and security board

by Taylor Soper on April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 at 2:30 pm

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is among a group of 22 representatives that are part of a new Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board organized by the Department of Homeland Security.

GeekWire Podcasts

‘The Everything War’: Inside Amazon with author and Wall Street Journal reporter Dana Mattioli

Who will be the Next Tech Titan? A preview of the upcoming GeekWire Awards

GeekWire Podcast: Amazon CTO Werner Vogels on the rapid progress of AI, and its impact on society

Can AI save the world? New book from Microsoft aims to show the potential for positive change

Listen to more GeekWire Podcasts.

Report: Amazon will stream NBA games in latest major sports deal for tech giant

by Taylor Soper on April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 at 2:00 pm

Amazon is making another big move into the sports world with a reported deal in place with the NBA to stream games for at least a decade. The Athletic reported… Read More

Founders with unique backgrounds unite over climate concerns and launch new venture fund

by Lisa Stiffler on April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 at 10:03 am

SNØCAP, a new climate-focused venture capital fund, is launching with $5 million to invest in startups. The team has a somewhat unusual target for its investments, aiming for startups making… Read More

Tech Moves: Seattle tech vet Dave Parker named CEO of Entrepreneurs’ Organization

by Taylor Soper on April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 at 7:48 am

Veteran entrepreneur and startup advisor Dave Parker is taking over as CEO at global networking group Entrepreneurs’ Organization. Parker has been around startups for nearly three decades as a founder,… Read More

Sued by FTC, bill payment company Doxo disputes ‘unjust’ allegations of deceptive billing

by Todd Bishop on April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 at 7:47 am

A lawsuit by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission alleges that Seattle-based bill payment company Doxo has repeatedly deceived consumers into thinking it’s an official channel for the companies they’re seeking… Read More

What’s the real story of Xbox in 2024? Latest financials from Microsoft offer mixed signals

by Thomas Wilde on April 25, 2024April 26, 2024 at 5:48 am

Microsoft posted its latest earnings report on Thursday, which was broadly speaking good news for the company. For its embattled Xbox department, however, there are mixed signals. This is the… Read More

ZeroAvia opens manufacturing facility in Washington, will start selling clean aviation parts

by Lisa Stiffler on April 25, 2024April 26, 2024 at 7:26 am

Clean aviation company ZeroAvia this week celebrated a new 136,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Everett, Wash., and announced it will be selling components of its hydrogen-electric airplane engines to other commercial… Read More

Haunted by breaches, Microsoft is ‘putting security above all else,’ vows CEO Satya Nadella

by Todd Bishop on April 25, 2024April 25, 2024 at 8:34 pm

Satya Nadella has made a habit of touting the revenue growth in the company’s security technology business on Microsoft’s earnings calls. But not this time. Microsoft’s CEO took a different… Read More

Seattle startup Dropzone AI raises $16.8M to develop autonomous agents for cybersecurity

by Taylor Soper on April 25, 2024April 25, 2024 at 4:06 pm

Dropzone AI, a Seattle-based startup that uses artificial intelligence to help companies boost their Security Operations Centers (SOC), raised a $16.8 million Series A round. Dropzone’s pre-trained AI security agents… Read More

Microsoft beats expectations as quarterly profits rise 20% to nearly $22B

by Todd Bishop on April 25, 2024April 26, 2024 at 9:05 am

Updated with details from Microsoft’s earnings conference call. Microsoft posted a 17% increase in revenue, to $61.9 billion, with $21.9 billion in profits, up 20%, and earnings of $2.94 per… Read More

Intrepid Oregon Fund launches with $4M from the state to invest in climate and tech startups

by Lisa Stiffler on April 25, 2024April 24, 2024 at 11:07 pm

Portland Seed Fund managers announced the launch of the Intrepid Oregon Fund, which has $4 million to invest in early-stage startups working on climate tech as well as healthcare, medical… Read More

The UW’s Institute for Protein Design keeps boosting startups, fueling AI-powered science

by Charlotte Schubert on April 25, 2024April 25, 2024 at 12:35 pm

The University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design is on a hot streak. New studies, companies and spinouts are emerging at a rapid clip from the research hub, propelled by… Read More

Illustration: Gravitics space station module in orbit