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December 15, 2025

AI goes shopping

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TODAY'S TOP STORIES

AI is coming for your shopping cart: AI agents are starting to research, compare, and even buy products on behalf of consumers. But as tech companies and retailers jump into agentic commerce, the reality today looks more limited, raising questions about who will control online retail. The stakes are high not only for Amazon but for Microsoft, OpenAI, and many more. 

Read more in the latest installment of Agents of Transformation, an independent GeekWire editorial series supported by Accenture.

New chapter for Microsoft storyteller: The executive behind Microsoft’s recent push into books and print magazines is turning the page after 28 years with the company. Steve Clayton is leaving Microsoft to join Cisco as chief communications officer. Read more.

Amazon job cuts: Amazon filed a new notice with Washington state Monday morning saying it's cutting 84 jobs, but the individual separations are part of the regular course of business, unrelated to the 14,000 corporate layoffs it announced globally in October. Read more.

Washington is among 20 states suing the Trump administration and challenging the legality of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas that allow highly-skilled individuals to work temporarily in the U.S. Read more.

Lime e-bike and e-scooter riders took 9.7 million trips in Seattle in 2025 — up 61% from the previous year. Where did a lot of these rides end? Read more to find out.

Catch up with the 2025 Uncommon Thinkers: Innovators working on space, biology, AI agents, environmental cleanup, and the future of social media share their insights backstage at the GeekWire Gala. Read more and listen here.

Hot Links:

  • Julia Beizer, the chief operating officer of Bloomberg Media, is leaving to join Microsoft and head up an AI news product. (Adweek)

  • Roomba vacuum maker iRobot, which was nearly acquired by Amazon for $1.7 billion in 2022, filed for bankruptcy on Sunday. (TechCrunch)

  • Alaska Airlines launched its first passenger flights Monday with Starlink-enabled Wi-Fi on four Embraer E175 regional jets. (The Seattle Times)

  • Amazon is donating $3 million to support flood recovery in Washington, including funds for state and nonprofit organizations and $50,000 in supplies. (Amazon)

Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great week. — GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com; and reporter Lisa Stiffler, lisa@geekwire.com.

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