Articles from 2025

Donald Trump as fusion entrepreneur? Washington state energy rivals react to $6B deal

The $6 billion merger between TAE and Trump Media sent a shock wave through the fusion industry — and is drawing skepticism from Washington’s fusion hub. Read More

Starbucks hires Amazon grocery tech leader as new CTO amid turnaround push

Starbucks has named longtime Amazon executive Anand Varadarajan as its new chief technology officer, tapping a veteran of the tech giant’s grocery and supply chain operations as the coffee chain pushes to modernize technology in its stores. Read More

Screenshot of hydrologic drought map with AI query: "Show me the drought condition in North America for August 2012"

Microsoft and NASA create AI agents that can help scientists anticipate floods and other water woes

Microsoft and NASA say they’re applying artificial intelligence to a challenge that has become increasingly urgent: how to cope with… Read More

Tech Moves: Nintex CEO to depart; Raikes Foundation names leader; Qualtrics exec now at Workday

Nintex CEO Amit Mathradas is set to depart for Five9; Raikes Foundation names a new leader; and a Qualtrics exec is now at Workday. Read More

From AI to drones, Redmond police chief builds a high-tech department in Microsoft’s backyard

Darrell Lowe, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, views Redmond as the ideal staging ground for a new era of policing that capitalizes on technological advancements. Read More

‘Scientist-as-a-Service’: Seattle startup Pauling.AI aims to shrink drug discovery timelines by months

The company’s technology can complete tasks in a matter of weeks that previously required three to six months, said founder and CEO Javier Tordable. Read More

RentSpree, a profitable real estate startup helping mom-and-pop landlords, bets big on Seattle

RentSpree, which got its start in Los Angeles but is now headquartered in Seattle, has built a profitable business helping landlords and real estate agents screen tenants, collect rent, sign leases, and manage rentals online. Read More

Athira Pharma recovers from Alzheimer’s failure with breast cancer pivot and $90M investment

In a remarkable pivot, Athira Pharma has a deal to test a promising breast cancer drug and landed $90 million in upfront funding from investors. Read More

Tin Can dials up another $12M to meet soaring demand for landline-style phone for kids

Since launching its flagship product earlier this year, the Seattle startup quickly went “viral,” sold out its first two production runs and built a near-six-figure waitlist. Read More

With new Alexa website, Amazon’s consumer AI vision finally comes together — and it’s actually useful

Amazon has quietly started rolling out Alexa.com, bringing its AI-powered Alexa+ assistant to the desktop browser for the first time and completing a long-missing piece of its consumer AI strategy. The web portal offers point-and-click control over reminders, files, and smart home devices — a level of precision that voice commands can’t match. Read More

The kids have spoken: Teens’ holistic approach to school phone policies rivals adult rules

The University of Washington’s Youth Advisory Board, a group of teens from Seattle-area schools, tackled school phone policies, highlighting the need for student input. Read More

Rad Power Bikes’ biggest unpaid bill is $8.3M to U.S. Customs, as tariffs squeeze the industry

The situation underscores the financial strain facing Rad and the broader e-bike industry after rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic gave way to slowing demand, rising costs and lingering trade pressures. Read More

Amazon AI chief Rohit Prasad leaving; Infrastructure exec Peter DeSantis to lead unified AI group

Amazon AI chief Rohit Prasad is leaving at year’s end, according to a memo from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Peter DeSantis, a 27-year veteran who has led AWS infrastructure, will oversee a new organization combining AI, silicon, and quantum computing. Read More

Scientists rule out a hidden ocean on Titan, but there’s still hope for discovering life under the ice

A fresh analysis of readings from Titan suggests the Saturnian moon doesn’t have enough liquid water for an ocean, but maybe enough for life. Read More

Startup Radar: Seattle companies tackle ports, protein design, golf scorecards, and e-commerce returns

Welcome back to another Startup Radar, where we highlight up-and-coming early stage startups across the Seattle region. This time we’re… Read More

Rad Power Bikes files for bankruptcy protection as Seattle e-bike maker pursues potential sale

The filing revealed new details of the privately held company’s ownership structure and financial predicament — including a steady decline in revenue, and liabilities more than double its assets. Read More

Tech Moves: Seattle hires first AI Officer; Microsoft nabs AI media leader; DexCare names CPO

Lisa Qian is Seattle’s first AI Officer; Microsoft recruit AI media leader Julia Beizer from Bloomberg; and DexCare names Rakshay Jain as chief product officer. Read More

Senators probe AI tech giants over electric bills; Amazon says its data centers pay more than their share

Amazon says its data centers aren’t raising power bills for residential customers, releasing a white paper as three U.S. senators launched an investigation into whether tech companies are doing exactly that. Read More

Washington and 35 other states reach settlement with Hyundai and Kia over lack of anti-theft tech

The Korean automakers must equip all future vehicles sold in the U.S. with engine immobilizer anti-theft technology. Read More

Allen Institute for AI rivals Google, Meta and OpenAI with open-source AI vision model

Ai2 unveiled Molmo 2, a new open-source AI model that can analyze video with precision — tracking objects, counting events, and pinpointing exactly where and when things happen in a clip. The advanced vision system offers an open alternative to closed video models from Google, OpenAI, and others. Read More

UW study finds touch screens in cars create a multitasking problem that impacts driving

The results could help auto manufacturers design safer, more responsive screens and in-car interfaces. Read More

Google’s real estate listings ‘experiment’ sends Zillow shares down more than 8%

A key Google partner is starting to display home listing details directly in search results, prompting some industry experts and analysts to question what impact the feature could have on the traffic — and financials — of major portal players like Zillow, Realtor.com and others. Read More

Filing: Amazon cuts 84 jobs in Washington state, unrelated to broader layoffs

Amazon filed a new layoff notice covering 84 Washington employees, but the cuts are unrelated to its October job reductions — stemming instead from a new state disclosure law. Read More

Washington joins lawsuit opposing $100K fee for H-1B visas allowing foreign STEM and medical workers

Washington is part of a newly filed lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the legality of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas. Read More

The storyteller behind Microsoft’s print revival, Steve Clayton, is leaving for Cisco after 28 years

The Microsoft executive behind the company’s recent push into books and print magazines is turning the page on a 28-year career, departing for a chief communications role at Cisco. Read More

Lime bike and scooter rides jumped 61% in Seattle in 2025, with Pike Place Market as top destination

According to Lime’s “2025 Ride Replay,” released Monday, electric scooter and bike-share riders took 9.7 million trips in Seattle this year. Read More

AI is coming for your shopping cart: How agentic commerce could disrupt online retail

AI agents are beginning to research, compare, and even buy products on behalf of consumers. But as tech companies and retailers jump into the world of agentic commerce, the reality right now is far more limited, raising big questions about who will control the future of online retail. Read More