GeekWire

It was a big week for AI. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen put $125 million towards a new initiative to create "common sense" for AI that will help the technology get even smarter. Microsoft announced several AI-fueled healthcare technologies. On another note, Amazon came to an agreement to acquire smart home security company Ring. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech's entanglements with the law were on full display this week. Washington and other states are fighting net neutrality rollbacks. Advocates across the political spectrum are criticizing Amazon's ask for government incentives in its HQ2 search, some calling it 'corporate wellfare.' Plus, wireless, over-the-air charging is close to being a reality and an app that could help in the battle on the o...

Sony and Samsung both hinted at -- or had leaks about -- upcoming smartphone releases. What are they up to? Plus, Andru gives us his take after using the Apple HomePod and Dyson is taking its vacuum cleaner business in a surprising new direction. Follow our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to live, behind-the-scenes recordings of Geared Up at youtube.com/gearlive See omnystudio.com/list...

Can studying human intelligence help us build smarter machines? Rafael Reif thinks so. He's the president of MIT and he spoke with us on this podcast about the university's efforts to expand our understanding of AI and build new technologies for the future of the field.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a rare move, Amazon laid off 500 people this week. They also became the third most valuable company in the world. Plus, electric bike sharing and dealing with Saeattle's explosive growth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the future look like when it comes to widespread, cheap technology? Thirteen-year Microsoft engineer, clean tech expert and science fiction author Ramez Naam thinks it's looking pretty good. We speak with Naam about his writing, the future of truly democratic technology and clean energy on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the Week In Geek comes to you from GeekWire HQ2 in Pittsburgh. Amazon is pushing further Prime integration with Whole Foods and we dive into the tech renaissance happening in Pittsburgh and how the city is preparing for challenges that come along with a tech boom. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SpaceX launched the most powerful rocket in operation this week, the Falcon Heavy. GeekWire's Alan Boyle was in Cape Canavral, Florida, for the launch and tells us about his experience and what it all means for the future of space travel. Follow all Alan's space and aerospace coverage at GeekWire.com/space See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technologies have drastically changed health and healthcare in the past 20 years and Lee Hood is one of the innovators behind those changes. We speak to the genetics and biology pioneer about how he brought engineering into biology and explore his vision for the future of health, tricorders and all. This is the final episode of our first season of Health Tech -- subscribe to the Health Tech podcas...

Amazon finally opened its Spheres building this week, a greenhouse-office hybrid that gives its employees a new, plant-filled workspace. The company also announced it is teaming up with JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway to create a new healthcare company. Plus, a plan to transform cities as technology radically changes transportation.  Follow all our coverage and read more about the stories we...

Rumors abounded this week that Apple is canceling the iPhone X, which isn't exactly true. Plus, a smart bicycle hub, new details on the Apple HomePod and the $500 flamethrower that one of our hosts just pre-ordered. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to see our live behind-the-scenes videos at YouTube.com/gearlive Follow this link to enter our latest Geared Up Giveaway, the...

One of the most prominent immunotherapy companies, Juno Therapeutics, announced a deal to be acquired by Celgene. Plus, we dive into the tech renaissance in Pittsburgh and complain about Seattle's bike lanes. Read all our coverage at GeekWire.com . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon Go, which opened Monday, is the convenience store version of Amazon.com: A store with no checkout lines that automatically tracks everything you grab off the shelves. We go inside the tech that powers the store on this episode. Plus, top-line triple-A games are coming to the Xbox Game Pass and Apple finally sets a release date for the Home Pod. Read all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and...

Amazon announced 20 cities that have made the short list for its second headquarters. We analyze the list and each city's chances of winning the $5 billion project on this special episode of the Week In Geek. Read all our coverage of Amazon's HQ2 search at GeekWire.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CES created all kinds of news, from the groundbreaking to the just plain whacky. We go over everything you need to know on this episode of Geared up, including: The Google Assistant devices squaring off against the Echo Show; A toilet with Alexa built in; and an autonomous delivery vehicle. See more of our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos at YouTube....

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer hasn't exactly had a quiet retirement. His projects include being the owner of the LA Clippers, running his own philanthropy and founding USA Facts, a project that uses government data to inform how to improve the lives of American children. We talk to him about all those projects in this special interview. See more from the event and follow all our tech coverage...

We check in with GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser live from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. His highlight so far? Beating a ping-pong robot. In other news, one of Seattle's biggest private tech companies, Avvo, was acquired this week and tech startup funding reaches levels higher than the dot com boom. Plus, we don't talk about Oprah. Follow all our coverage and read this week's storie...

Andru is live at CES in Las Vegas and he tunes in for a special report on what's going on at the world's biggest tech show: Voice assistant mania, giant 8K TVs and an apocalyptic rainstorm.  We're still giving away an Echo Spot to a Geared Up subscriber! Enter here:  geni.us/WinEchoSpot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The health world faces a lot of challenges, and oftentimes it also knows the answer to those challenges -- it just needs some help putting the pieces together. That's where artificial intelligence comes in. On this episode of Health Tech, we dive into how health is using AI to solve some of its biggest problems. Follow all our health and technology coverage at GeekWire.com See omnystudio.com/liste...

There are two fatal flaws in computer processors that hold up much of the tech world: Meltdown and Spectre. On this episode, we explain what these flaws mean for tech systems and devices and how worried people should really be. Follow all our enterprise and cloud tech coverage and read more about this story at GeekWire.com/cloud See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington State is suing Motel 6 after the hotel chain shared customers' personal data with federal immigration authorities. Plus, Microsoft makes a big investment in an AI-fueled health test that could screen dozens of diseases at once. That and more on this episode of the Week In Geek. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Apple is under fire after iPhone users discovered the company meddled with the device's performance as their batteries slowed down. Plus, a preview of all the tech and gadgets to watch for at CES and a chance to win a brand new Echo Spot. Follow this URL for details on how to enter the giveaway:  http://geni.us/WinEchoSpot Follow more tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-...

It's been a big year for the tech world. The industry endured repeated clashes with the Trump Administration and saw the rise of Amazon as the company made two of its biggest moves yet. We analyze the Year In Geek on this episode and also make some predictions about what's to come in 2018. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's spon...

We've seen it all this year on Geared Up, from super-powerful consoles to super-goofy camera glasses. On this episode, we celebrate our first full year as a podcast with a roundup of the best tech from 2017 — and a few of the worst flops. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Secretive, super-rich startup Magic Leap finally revealed its first product: An augmented reality headset that throws it into competition with Microsoft’s HoloLens. Plus, we explain the science behind a new “universal” flu vaccine and play a round with the new Echo Buttons. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle...