Amazon is betting big on Louisiana — and making energy-related promises amid backlash that’s spreading around data centers. The tech giant announced a $12 billion data center project that includes commitments to cover needed grid upgrades, rely on “verified surplus water,” and invest up to $400 million in local water infrastructure. The deal lands as states move toward stricter reporting and oversight of data center impacts.
Read more. Asha Sharma was a surprise pick by Microsoft to lead its Xbox gaming division, in part because she has no prior video-game industry leadership experience, and limited background as a gamer. However, she has experience running large tech platforms, the clear trust of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and a belief in the potential of AI to reshape every business. Read more.
Is outsized opposition to the "millionaires tax" real? Advocacy group Invest in Washington Now says no after flagging tens of thousands of duplicate, fraudulent sign-ins in the Legislature’s public comment system, alleging a coordinated effort to manufacture "con" testimony for SB 6346. Read more.
Nooks, a San Francisco-based startup which builds AI software for sales teams, is expanding its engineering footprint in Seattle.
Meanwhile, Seattle startup Tato is moving down to San Francisco after raising investment.
ElevÄt, a Seattle startup whose software is aimed at helping industrial companies and equipment makers streamline repairs and reduce downtime, raised $12 million.
The tech industry is entering a legitimacy crunch as public anxiety rises around AI, writes Seattle-based startup founder Jesse Collins. His warning for Washington’s tax debate: incremental taxes won’t decide whether Seattle stays a tech hub — but public panic about them could accelerate backlash. Read more.
From Startup of the Year to Next Tech Titan, now is the chance to nominate the leading tech entrepreneurs, innovators, deal makers and nonprofit leaders across the Pacific Northwest, and help us set the stage for the 2026 GeekWire Awards, May 7 in Seattle. Learn more, and submit your nominations!
Hot Links:
-
A viral post from an analyst group lays out an AI doomsday scenario for the economy and sparked huge reaction. (Cintrini Research; Financial Times; The Guardian)
-
Seattle-area cybersecurity giant Veeam rolled out “Agent Commander,” a new product designed to detect AI risk and undo AI mistakes. (siliconANGLE)
-
Jeffrey Epstein “found success boring into the inner sanctums of Microsoft,” and his connections to company execs helped his return to society after leaving prison in 2009. (New York Times)
-
The Lynnwood City Council voted to terminate its contract with Flock Safety, making it one of the first cities in Washington to scrap the automated license plate reader system. (Everett Herald)
-
Microsoft says it has helped bring internet access to 299 million people worldwide, surpassing its goal, and is now shifting to community‑driven AI readiness with new partners like Starlink. (Microsoft on the Issues)
-
Bellevue, Wash.-based traffic analytics company Inrix released a major expansion of its family of products featuring AI-powered capabilities. (Inrix)
-
A statewide pedestrian map launched by the University of Washington’s Taskar Center for Accessible Technology is designed to help planners and advocates improve mobility for nondrivers. The center is hosting an event this week in Seattle. (TCAT)
-
Seattle-based Vouched launched Agent Checkpoint, an identity verification platform designed to detect, authenticate, and govern autonomous AI agents to ensure secure "agentic commerce" for businesses. (Vouched)
-
Of the 140 data center projects planned for this year worldwide, a new analysis expects 30-50% to be delayed due to limited energy access, community opposition and potential shortages of grid equipment. (Sightline Climate)
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. 
