Get caught up on the newest know-how and startup information from the previous week. Listed below are the most well-liked tales on GeekWire for the week of Jan. 18, 2026.
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Hottest tales on GeekWire
The Microsoft-OpenAI Information: Inside paperwork reveal the realities of AI’s defining alliance
Inside emails, texts, slide decks, and deposition testimony present how Microsoft went from being sidelined at OpenAI’s founding to wielding decisive affect over the AI lab that launched the generative AI period — and the way that energy is now being examined as OpenAI emerges as a platform firm with leverage of its personal. … Learn Extra
Tech Strikes: Amazon worker retiring after 20 years; former Oracle and Microsoft execs take new roles
A longtime chief for Achievement by Amazon retires and gives parting ideas, whereas former executives with Oracle, Microsoft and LevelTen take new roles. … Learn Extra
Seattle’s ORCA transit system will get main tech improve with new ‘Faucet to Pay’ function
Seattle’s ORCA transit system is rolling out an improve that can let riders pay fares by tapping their bank card or smartphone — no devoted ORCA card required. … Learn Extra
‘Wildly productive weekend’: Former Amazon exec’s vibe coding submit sparks debate over viral AI instruments
A weekend vibe-coding challenge by the startup chief and former Amazon Worldwide Shopper CEO sparked debate over the pace, scalability, and actual‑world worth of more and more standard AI growth workflows. … Learn Extra
Reviews: Amazon’s newest layoffs may start subsequent week
Amazon laid off about 14,000 staff globally in October. … Learn Extra
Meta shedding 331 staff in Washington state as a part of broader cuts to Actuality Labs division
The heaviest hit facility is the Actuality Labs workplace in Redmond, adopted by the Spring District workplace in Bellevue, based on a state submitting. … Learn Extra
Seattle startup that brings hedge fund investing capabilities to anybody raises $1.2M
The corporate goals to present on a regular basis buyers entry to methods historically reserved for hedge funds and ultra-wealthy purchasers. … Learn Extra
The race to exchange lithium: Seattle startup lands funding for salt-powered battery know-how
Seattle startup Emerald Battery Labs raised slightly below $1.1 million in a pre-seed spherical to proceed scaling its sodium-ion battery know-how. … Learn Extra
Tech Strikes: Former Microsoft CVP joins Amazon; Chronus names CEO; REI hires AI chief
Amazon Fast Suite has a brand new vp, Chronus named a CEO, Supio added to its C-suite, and REI acquired an AI lead, amongst different Seattle space tech strikes. … Learn Extra
Satya Nadella’s new metaphor for the AI Age: We have gotten ‘managers of infinite minds’
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella riffed on some well-known traces from tech leaders previous this week in an look on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, and provided up his personal trippy candidate to hitch the canon of computing metaphors. Learn Extra … Learn Extra
