Civic - GeekWire

Aug 24, 2026, 10:07 AM

Washington state pioneered a privacy model for the nation — when will it finally pass the law at home?

More than 20 states have adopted privacy laws modeled on legislation first introduced in Washington state in 2019. Despite this, Washington still hasn’t passed a law of its own, and AI is only complicating the issue. AG Nick Brown is pushing lawmakers to try again this session. Read More

Aug 20, 2026, 7:00 AM

We’ve entered Seattle’s Third Act

A year after GeekWire asked where Seattle’s superstar AI startups were, two local venture capitalists offer an answer: they’re here, but they build rockets, geothermal plants and autonomous off-road vehicles rather than software. A guest opinion from Ascend’s Nate Bek and Plug and Play’s Ben Eisinger. Read More

Aug 17, 2026, 1:59 PM

From engineering to elected office: How a generation of Indian Americans is reshaping civic life

India’s 80th Independence Day drew a governor’s proclamation, declarations from four mayors, and a line around the block. Harini Gokul, who came to the U.S. as an engineer and now serves on the Medina City Council, explains how the same talent pool that filled engineering teams has risen to CEO offices and council seats. Read More

Aug 7, 2026, 10:39 AM

As Washington state’s AI task force winds down, the debate over how much to regulate is far from settled

Washington’s AI task force wrapped up two years of work with the state’s first AI laws on the books and its broader recommendations stalled in the Legislature. At a panel marking the end of the effort, consumer and labor advocates pushed for stronger rules while AI startups warned about the cost of complying. Read More

Aug 3, 2026, 7:28 AM

This civic activist used AI to assess how state Supreme Court candidates might rule on the millionaires’ tax

Viet Nguyen, a Seattle communications executive and former political campaign manager, used AI to build Culliton2026.org, a site that gauges how candidates for the Washington Supreme Court might rule on the state’s new millionaires’ tax. Critics call the whole premise faulty. Read More

Jul 9, 2026, 9:08 AM

Despite business angst, Washington climbs in CNBC’s state rankings — but still trails its former standing

Washington climbed three spots to No. 11 in CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business rankings, up from No. 14 last year, suggesting that many of the state’s underlying competitive strengths remain intact even as debate over its business climate has intensified. Read More

Jul 1, 2026, 8:51 AM

Opinion: Governor’s new economic council snubs startups, forgets AI

Seattle angel investor Charles Fitzgerald argues that Gov. Bob Ferguson’s new Economic Development Council is backward-looking, lacks startup and VC representation, and ignores AI — the single biggest force shaping Washington’s economy. Read More

Jun 29, 2026, 9:24 AM

Gov. Bob Ferguson taps Amazon, Microsoft and others as concerns over Washington economy grow

The group includes leaders from technology, aerospace, organized labor, higher education, tribal governments, ports and economic development organizations who will advise the governor on policies aimed at strengthening Washington’s economy. Read More

Jun 15, 2026, 8:14 AM

Report: Seattle using AI to route certain 911 calls — without caller knowledge or public review

Denmark-based Corti’s AI has been listening to all Seattle 911 medical calls and prompting dispatchers to route certain patients to a nurse-staffed Texas call center rather than send an ambulance, the Times found. Read More

Jun 12, 2026, 7:31 AM

What we learned in Cleveland about Seattle’s future: Advice from a Rust Belt city on the rise

What can Seattle learn from Cleveland’s fall and comeback? GeekWire’s John Cook and Seattle angel investor Charles Fitzgerald spent several days in Cleveland, talking with civic, business and political leaders — including the city’s mayor and the governor of Ohio — to find out. Read More

Jun 9, 2026, 12:03 PM

‘City at your fingertips’: Seattle powers up first digital wayfinding kiosk near tourist hot-spot

The first of dozens of IKE Smart City digital wayfinding kiosks planned for downtown and around Seattle was unveiled on Tuesday at the busy intersection of First Avenue and Pike Street. Read More

Jun 4, 2026, 8:17 AM

Data center operator reveals plans for downtown Seattle facility as city weighs one-year ban

Digital Realty has filed permits to redevelop a downtown Seattle building into a six-story data center, lab and retail project, as the City Council moves toward a one-year moratorium on new data centers. Read More

May 28, 2026, 10:27 AM

City of Seattle selects new CTO: Shannon Smith is longtime public-sector tech executive

Smith has more than 10 years experience working in technology with Seattle-area government agencies, including the cities of Seattle and Bellevue, as well as King County. Read More

May 22, 2026, 9:16 AM

The view from Bellevue: Seattle has the foundation for future growth — if it can fix its taxes

At a Bellevue Chamber panel, regional business leaders warned that Seattle’s aggressive tax policies threaten to undermine its world-class economic foundation. Read More

May 20, 2026, 3:48 PM

Data center resistance comes home to Seattle as council considers a one-year freeze

As Amazon and Microsoft pour billions into AI, Seattle residents push back against new data centers over worries about rising energy costs and environmental impacts. Read More

May 20, 2026, 9:52 AM

Seattle, we’ve got an image problem

GeekWire co-founder John Cook argues that Seattle’s increasingly anti-business national image threatens the city’s standing as an innovation hub, exactly 30 years after Newsweek celebrated it as one of America’s great boomtowns. Read More

May 14, 2026, 10:55 AM

Are we on a Road to Nowhere? Seattle’s growth masks deeper anxieties about its future

For three decades, Seattle’s tech industry has been an extraordinary economic engine, transforming the region into a global center for cloud computing, e-commerce and artificial intelligence. But are cracks beginning to form in that foundation? Read More

May 1, 2026, 3:47 PM

Seattle mayor’s ‘bye’ to millionaires who leave state over taxes is no laughing matter to some in tech

The debate over progressive taxation in Washington state has been building for months, with the tech community largely alarmed by what it sees as a hostility toward business in the region. Read More

Apr 18, 2026, 3:03 PM

Seattle mayor floats moratorium on new data centers in city limits

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson raised the possibility of a moratorium on new data centers in the city, following a report that four companies have approached Seattle City Light about building five large-scale facilities. Read More

Apr 13, 2026, 12:27 PM

Can AI revive democracy? Former Amazon product manager builds tool to spark civic engagement

A former Amazon product manager is using AI to turn dense city council agendas and meeting minutes into plain-language briefings, with alerts tuned to each user’s interests, aiming to inspire people to show up to local government meetings. Read More

Apr 10, 2026, 9:44 AM

Non-compete ban stirs optimism and uncertainty in Washington state — here’s what it means for tech

A new state law wipes out nearly all non-compete agreements in Washington, sparking debate across the tech ecosystem about innovation, talent mobility and employer rights. Read More

Mar 26, 2026, 3:18 PM

GeekWire rides the world’s first floating-bridge train — Seattle tech commutes will never be the same

A preview of the Crosslake Connection, the region’s newest mass transit milestone, featured a trip between South Bellevue and new stations at Mercer Island and Judkins Park. The public will get to ride between Seattle and its Eastside neighbors starting on Saturday. Read More

Mar 19, 2026, 4:41 PM

Sidewalk scooter riders, beware: AI-powered ‘Lime Vision’ will soon call you out

“Lime Vision” uses a camera mounted to the front of an electric scooter and a trained AI model to detect where a rider is riding. The goal is to improve rider and pedestrian safety. The technology will make its public debut in Seattle in June. Read More

Mar 19, 2026, 11:38 AM

City of Seattle awards $455k in ‘Technology Matching Fund’ grants to support digital equity efforts

The winners are expected to serve 20 different language groups by providing digital literacy training, devices, technical support, digital navigator services, and internet connectivity. Read More

Mar 16, 2026, 2:43 PM

Seattle puts Microsoft Copilot expansion on hold as new mayor takes stock of AI

Five months after releasing its “responsible AI plan” providing guidelines for the technology’s use, the City of Seattle has tapped the brakes on artificial intelligence. Read More

Mar 16, 2026, 12:03 PM

FAQ: What the millionaires tax means for Seattle startup founders, investors, and tech workers

GeekWire spoke with legal experts and wealth advisors to learn more about how the new income tax may impact different people in Washington’s tech ecosystem. Read More

Mar 13, 2026, 12:42 PM

Big tech dodged Washington state’s data center rules – but didn’t escape a sales tax bill

Big tech scored a big win with the defeat of data center regulations, but it lost a significant tax break for the facilities with Thursday’s 11th-hour passage of a Senate bill. Read More

Mar 12, 2026, 8:05 PM

The ‘Tesla exemption’ no more: Rivian and Lucid break through Washington state’s dealership wall

At the start of next year, Washington state shoppers will for the first time be able to visit showrooms for Rivian and Lucid Motors, take a test drive and buy an EV. Read More

Mar 12, 2026, 11:32 AM

Seattle’s downtown paradox: Commercial engine sputters amid improved safety and visitor growth

Seattle is witnessing a curious role reversal in its economic narrative. While the city finally gains ground on perennial challenges like crime and transportation, its traditional growth engine — the tech sector and downtown employment — is beginning to sputter. Read More

Mar 11, 2026, 8:08 AM

Washington House passes 9.9% ‘millionaires tax’ as business leaders warn of ‘seismic shift’

Some tech leaders and entrepreneurs worry the legislation could undermine their sector by souring Washington’s relatively favorable tax laws for startup founders, investors and high-wage earners. Read More