GeekWire

This week: Shield AI, the defense tech company building its X-BAT autonomous fighter jet south of Seattle, agrees to acquire Kirkland-based radar maker Echodyne in a deal valued at up to $5.3 billion. We discuss what it means for the Seattle region’s rise as a defense tech hub, how the midterm results could affect the sector, and the Mercer Island roots of Shield AI co-founders Brandon and Ryan Tseng. Voters backed limits on data center development in 40 of 41 local ballot measures across the country, more than half of them in Ohio. We talk about the backlash, reports that foreign actors are amplifying it, and what it means for Amazon as it plans its first data centers in Washington state. Seattle startup Suplari is acquired by Docusign, nearly three years after Microsoft spun it back out to its founders. Along with the Echodyne deal and Agility Robotics’ public listing, it could be a sign that M&A is picking up. And in the GeekWire Trivia Challenge: how did Nobel Prize winner Mary Brunkow, one of this year’s GeekWire Uncommon Thinkers, find out she had won? Related stories and links Shield AI to buy Bill Gates-backed radar maker Echodyne in $5.3B deal, doubling down on Seattle area Amazon plans its first data centers in Washington state as residents raise concerns A rare second exit: AI startup Suplari acquired by Docusign nearly 3 years after Microsoft spinout Agility Robotics co-founder on its Nasdaq debut, lessons from Amazon, and the future of work Uncommon Thinkers: Curiosity led Mary Brunkow to an immune breakthrough — and a Nobel Prize GeekWire Gala, Dec. 10 With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton. Music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week: Microsoft is offering buyouts to about 60,000 employees, roughly a quarter of its workforce, including some executives. We discuss what's behind the offer, why buyout stories draw so much interest from readers, and how it fits with a blockbuster quarter that included $10 billion in revenue from OpenAI. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy predicts that AWS and Amazon's stores business could each reach $1 trillion in annual revenue in the next five to 10 years, even as the cost of Amazon's AI buildout cuts into its profits. Todd also tests Amazon's new Bee AI wearable, which listens to the first part of the show, summarizes the conversation and offers a critique of its own. John starts to come around on the device, with reservations about its shopping-related features. Plus, our Halloween costumes, and a GeekWire Trivia Challenge about T-Mobile perks. Related stories and links Microsoft makes new ‘voluntary exit’ offer to about a quarter of its workforce, including some execs Bigger than Bing or Xbox: Microsoft’s OpenAI haul reaches $10B in quarterly revenue Choosing their own moment: Why these longtime Microsofties are taking the buyout Andy Jassy’s prediction: Amazon could have two $1 trillion businesses within a decade AWS growth hits 39%, its fastest in nearly five years, as Amazon misses on earnings Amazon’s new AI devices can listen to conversations and suggest things to buy — if you opt in Amazon’s new Bee AI devices have a bystander problem, says former AWS security engineer T-Mobile’s new ‘T-Mix’ plans let customers trade phone deals for Netflix, ESPN and other perks With Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton. Music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week: Microsoft’s longtime communications chief, Frank X. Shaw, looks back on nearly three decades of telling the company’s story as he prepares to leave at the end of the year. Joined by veteran Microsoft reporter and GeekWire contributing writer Mary Jo Foley, Shaw talks about working for Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, the mistakes he’d handle differently, and what companies of any size can learn about the evolution of communications and working with reporters. Related Stories and Links Microsoft comms chief Frank Shaw to exit after nearly three decades shaping the company’s message Internal memos: Microsoft shakes up communications as Nadella makes a push to build in public Microsoft’s ‘lost decade’: Vanity Fair piece accurate but incomplete Frank X. Shaw: Things I’m Thinking About Mary Jo Foley’s GeekWire stories With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton. Music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We start this week's GeekWire Podcast by opening the listener mailbag, highlighting some recent comments and emails that set a new standard for critical feedback, in different ways. We discuss Vayo, the AI travel venture Booking Holdings is launching in Seattle, home of its biggest rival, Expedia. Led by recent guest Mike Fridgen, Vayo uses AI agents to manage your trips. It's an example of the broader push to build personalized AI agents, even as more companies wall off their sites from rival agents. Then we take on LinkedIn’s list of the top Seattle startups, where four of the top 10, including No. 1 Anthropic, aren’t headquartered in the region. And in the final segment, we talk about Amazon’s new Bee AI wearables, which can turn things you say into shopping suggestions on Amazon.com if you opt in and pay $12 a month. That leads into the GeekWire Trivia Challenge, about an earlier Amazon wristband that listened to you. Related links: Booking Holdings unveils AI travel startup Vayo, based in Seattle, with a planned $100M investment LinkedIn just released its list of the top 10 Seattle startups: One problem, nearly half aren’t based in the region Amazon’s new AI devices can listen to conversations and suggest things to buy — if you opt in Amazon’s Halo disappears: Tech giant discontinues health devices and service, promises refunds Edited and produced by Curt Milton; Music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we take the GeekWire Podcast to Front Burner Studios near Pike Place Market, where our host is studio co-owner Seth Paul, who's also co-founder and CEO of the Seattle security startup Qinsay. We discuss the White House crackdown on Microsoft’s green-card sponsorships, hours before President Trump honored Satya Nadella. We also talk about record Seattle startup funding and Shield AI’s plans to build AI-piloted fighter jets in Des Moines, Wash., where a city FAQ assures residents it’s not a data center. Seth tells us about the vintage console he drove from Detroit, and how he brings a musician’s approach to the startup world. Plus, the return of the GeekWire Trivia Challenge. Related links: Microsoft responds to White House immigration crackdown as Trump honors Nadella From H-1B to CEO: How Satya Nadella traveled the path the U.S. just cut off for Microsoft workers Seattle-area startups raise a record $3.5B as national VC funding cools Shield AI selects Seattle area to build X-BAT autonomous fighter jet Shield AI lands $150M Navy contract for AI-piloted fighter jet With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.