Seattle’s startup ecosystem has a bold new AI bet in Nuance Labs, which just raised $10 million to develop an AI model that can better understand and express emotion. Founders Fangchang Ma (above, left) and Edward Zhang explained how they considered moving to San Francisco — but ultimately chose Seattle.
Read more. Microsoft President Brad Smith continued his critique of Washington state policymakers, warning at the Seattle Chamber’s annual meeting Tuesday that a tax-first agenda is putting the state’s economic foundation at risk. Smith called on business and nonprofit leaders in Microsoft’s home state to push back against a “constant quest to find new taxes they can raise.” Read more.
“The sky is not falling.” That’s the assessment of University of Washington Allen School leaders for computer science jobs in an era of AI and tech industry layoffs. While skills and demand are shifting, the industry “will continue to need smart, creative software engineers who understand how to build and harness the latest tools — including AI.” Read more.
A “righteous” shift in patient power: Former Microsoft exec Terry Myerson, at a Microsoft Alumni Network event, predicted a new era of patient empowerment as AI connects to medical records. Microsoft health leader Mary Varghese Presti cautioned that this vision must overcome a "discombobulated" healthcare system that demands a clear ROI on new tech. Read more.
Amazon-owned Zoox reached a milestone with the launch of its autonomous ride-hailing service in Las Vegas, joining Waymo and Tesla in the robotaxi race. Read more.
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Despite concerns of video surveillance abuse, the Seattle City Council voted to expand its use of cameras by police. (KUOW)
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Seattle digital remittance company Remitly rolled out several new products and a new membership program at its first-ever “Remitly Reimagine” event. (Remitly)
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Amazon remains the leading sponsor of H-1B visas as data shows companies across tech and elsewhere increasing the number of temporary foreign workers. (Newsweek)
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Microsoft is providing a $325,000 grant to The National Education Association to boost AI literacy for teachers. (Microsoft)
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Bill Gates’ stake in an aviation services company reportedly connects the Microsoft co-founder to deportation flights being conducted by the Trump administration. (Huffpost)
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An Xbox cloud gaming app is coming to internet-connected cars that use LG’s Automotive Content Platform. (The Verge)
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Microsoft's new MOSAIC technology uses microLEDs to transmit data faster, farther, and more efficiently to solve bottlenecks in AI infrastructure. (Microsoft Research Blog)
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Zillow rolled out AI-powered “Virtual Staging” for premium listings, giving buyers a new way to visualize how a home could be styled. (Real Estate News)
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T-Mobile for Business has been selected as the Official Telecommunications Services Provider of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. (T-Mobile)
Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great day. — GeekWire editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; and reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. 
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