Articles by Monica Nickelsburg

News Brief

Amazon is delivering half of its own packages, reducing reliance on third-parties, analysts find

Tech experts agree it’s time to regulate artificial intelligence — if only it were that simple

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 12, 2019December 12, 2019 at 3:24 pmComment

Artificial intelligence is here, it’s just the beginning, and it’s time to start thinking about how to regulate it. Those were the takeaways from the Technology Alliance‘s AI Policy Matters… Read More

How Jeff Bezos personally helped the University of Washington recruit its AI ‘superstars’

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 12, 2019December 12, 2019 at 11:12 am1 Comment

About eight years ago, leaders of the University of Washington’s computer science department decided to zero in on artificial intelligence. The goal was to recruit machine learning and AI “superstars”… Read More

New documents reveal details of Seattle scooter-share pilot, including ban on sidewalk riding

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 12, 2019December 13, 2019 at 12:31 pm 4 Comments

Seattle’s plan for a free-floating scooter-share pilot program is coming into focus with a newly released environmental impact statement and other filings that reveal key details of the proposal. The… Read More

News Brief

Seattle launches data dashboards to show residents how the city is performing on key issues

New employer satisfaction data hints at techlash’s impact and Microsoft’s exception

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 11, 2019December 11, 2019 at 10:53 am1 Comment

It’s been a tough year for tech, and the barrage of negative headlines dogging the industry may be hitting companies in one of their most sensitive spots: recruiting. Glassdoor’s new… Read More

Seattle port officials approve face recognition guardrails as feds waffle on the controversial tech

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 10, 2019December 13, 2019 at 3:06 pmComment

The Port of Seattle established new rules governing the use of biometric screening Tuesday amid an ongoing global debate over facial recognition technology. The vote comes as civil rights groups… Read More

Study finds ‘crisis of regional imbalance’ as Seattle and 4 other regions dominate tech job growth

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 9, 2019December 9, 2019 at 4:04 pm1 Comment

Seattle, San Francisco and other tech hubs are capturing a growing percentage of innovation jobs in the United States, according to a new Brookings Institution report. This “crisis of regional… Read More

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Amazon accuses Trump of using Pentagon cloud contract for ‘his own personal and political ends’

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 9, 2019December 9, 2019 at 1:29 pm1 Comment

A newly unsealed court document reveals more details about Amazon’s strategy to get the Defense Department to overturn its award of a major cloud contract to rival Microsoft. The U.S.… Read More

Amazon touts ‘technical superiority’ over Microsoft as it seeks to reopen JEDI bidding in newly unsealed court filing

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 6, 2019December 6, 2019 at 2:17 pmComment

Amazon is asking a federal judge to block the Defense Department from enlisting Microsoft for a contentious and lucrative cloud project, according to court filings unsealed this week in the… Read More

News Brief

Bernie Sanders promises ‘high-speed internet for all’ through publicly-owned broadband service

Amazon expands Bezos’ elite ‘S-team,’ adding 6 execs from emerging branches of the company

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 5, 2019December 6, 2019 at 8:26 am1 Comment

Amazon’s executive suite, nicknamed the “S-team,” is adding six new members as the company doubles down on emerging fields such as advertising and fashion. The company notified employees internally and… Read More

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Gates Foundation CEO stepping down from $47B philanthropy, handing reins to internal successor

by Todd Bishop & Monica Nickelsburg on December 5, 2019December 5, 2019 at 11:01 amComment

Sue Desmond-Hellmann, the physician and scientist who led the world’s largest philanthropy as CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for more than five years, announced Thursday morning that… Read More

Microsoft shareholders reject proposal to put employee on board with less than 5% of votes

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 4, 2019December 4, 2019 at 9:50 am 2 Comments

Microsoft shareholders roundly defeated a proposal to put a rank-and-file employee on the company’s board of directors. Speaking during the company’s first-ever virtual annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday, Microsoft general… Read More

Gaming industry launches lobbying effort to shield smartphone games from Washington gambling laws

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 4, 2019December 5, 2019 at 10:50 amComment

Gaming industry and civic leaders in Washington state are launching a new lobbying organization today, part of a broader effort to exempt smartphone games from local gambling laws. Game On… Read More

Why this investment firm is pushing Microsoft to put an employee on the tech giant’s board

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 3, 2019December 3, 2019 at 7:45 am 5 Comments

When Microsoft published its proxy statement in October, it contained an unusual shareholder resolution. The proposal? Adding a rank-and-file employee to Microsoft’s board of directors. Microsoft’s filing left the identity… Read More

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What ’60 Minutes’ didn’t say about Amazon and Seattle’s homelessness crisis

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 2, 2019December 7, 2019 at 10:27 am 97 Comments

The tent cities that spring up in the shadows of some of the world’s wealthiest tech companies landed on “60 Minutes” on Sunday night after CBS News anchor Anderson Cooper… Read More

T-Mobile rolls out ‘foundational layer’ of 5G wireless, launches two compatible devices

by Monica Nickelsburg & Nat Levy on December 2, 2019December 2, 2019 at 7:33 am1 Comment

T-Mobile will begin rolling out its 5G network across the country this week, taking the first steps toward ultra-fast next-generation wireless technology. The Bellevue, Wash., wireless carrier says 5G service will… Read More

William Ruckelshaus, Madrona director, former EPA leader and key Watergate figure, dies at 87

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 27, 2019November 28, 2019 at 8:54 amComment

William Ruckelshaus, a fixture in the Seattle business community with a storied history of civil service, died Wednesday at his home in Seattle. He was 87. Long before his most… Read More

Microsoft resumes political spending despite ongoing employee concerns

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 27, 2019November 27, 2019 at 10:49 am 3 Comments

Microsoft has quietly started making political contributions again after suspending donations in July to address employee concerns. Federal election reports reveal Microsoft resumed political spending in October through its political… Read More

With new tax and minimum wage, Seattle is latest battleground in Uber and Lyft’s feud with regulators

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 27, 2019November 27, 2019 at 4:47 pm 2 Comments

When Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed new taxes and regulations on Uber and Lyft into law Tuesday afternoon, the city became the latest in a series of local and state… Read More

Senate Democrats release robust federal privacy bill to regulate tech company business practices

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 26, 2019November 26, 2019 at 10:25 amComment

Senate Democrats introduced sweeping data privacy protections Tuesday in an effort led by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to federally regulate tech company business practices. The bill would establish new privacy… Read More

Seattle raises fees for Uber and Lyft rides with new tax, passes minimum wage for drivers

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 25, 2019November 26, 2019 at 9:47 am 9 Comments

The Seattle City Council unanimously passed legislation Monday that will establish a minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers and raise per-ride taxes to pay for city programs. Seattle Mayor… Read More

Report spotlights high injury rates at Amazon warehouses ahead of holiday shopping season

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 25, 2019November 25, 2019 at 4:57 pmComment

Amazon’s warehouse culture is making headlines again this week after a nonprofit news organization obtained injury records from 23 of the company’s fulfillment centers. Reveal, a project of the Center… Read More

Amazon adds new features to Rekognition software amid ongoing debate over facial recognition tech

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 25, 2019December 2, 2019 at 6:42 amComment

Amazon is rolling out new features that make it easier for customers to search for specific items in large databases of images and videos. The tech giant said Monday it… Read More

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Articles by Monica Nickelsburg

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Amazon accuses Trump of using Pentagon cloud contract for ‘his own personal and political ends’

Latest from Monica Nickelsburg

Amazon is delivering half of its own packages, reducing reliance on third-parties, analysts find

Tech experts agree it’s time to regulate artificial intelligence — if only it were that simple

How Jeff Bezos personally helped the University of Washington recruit its AI ‘superstars’

New documents reveal details of Seattle scooter-share pilot, including ban on sidewalk riding

Seattle launches data dashboards to show residents how the city is performing on key issues

New employer satisfaction data hints at techlash’s impact and Microsoft’s exception

Seattle port officials approve face recognition guardrails as feds waffle on the controversial tech

Study finds ‘crisis of regional imbalance’ as Seattle and 4 other regions dominate tech job growth

Bernie Sanders promises ‘high-speed internet for all’ through publicly-owned broadband service

Amazon expands Bezos’ elite ‘S-team,’ adding 6 execs from emerging branches of the company

Gates Foundation CEO stepping down from $47B philanthropy, handing reins to internal successor

Microsoft shareholders reject proposal to put employee on board with less than 5% of votes

Why this investment firm is pushing Microsoft to put an employee on the tech giant’s board

What ’60 Minutes’ didn’t say about Amazon and Seattle’s homelessness crisis

T-Mobile rolls out ‘foundational layer’ of 5G wireless, launches two compatible devices

William Ruckelshaus, Madrona director, former EPA leader and key Watergate figure, dies at 87

Microsoft resumes political spending despite ongoing employee concerns

With new tax and minimum wage, Seattle is latest battleground in Uber and Lyft’s feud with regulators

Senate Democrats release robust federal privacy bill to regulate tech company business practices

Seattle raises fees for Uber and Lyft rides with new tax, passes minimum wage for drivers

Report spotlights high injury rates at Amazon warehouses ahead of holiday shopping season

Amazon adds new features to Rekognition software amid ongoing debate over facial recognition tech

Zappos settles major data breach lawsuit with 10% discounts for customers through end of year

Board directors share tips and advice for improving diversity in corporate governance

Expedia and City of Seattle debut affordability tool born from Innovation Advisory Council project

Amazon defends Ring’s relationship with police as U.S. senator resurfaces privacy concerns

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POP+ Doctor Wholidays

3D Printed Ornaments Workshop