GeekWire's Most-Read Stories of the Week

Catch up on the top tech stories from this past week. Here are the headlines that people have been reading on GeekWire. ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Science Firsthand: [Learn how Bristol Myers Squibb unlocked the potential of CAR T cell therapy.]( THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES [Initiative to axe carbon emissions law could ‘slam the brakes’ on Washington’s climate tech sector]( Washington is leaning into the fight against climate change. [How ‘Myst’ maker Cyan Worlds ended up building its own world in Spokane]( Cyan realized it would be hard to beat Spokane's affordability, distinct seasons, proximity to the outdoors and airport, and minimal traffic. [Destination Spokane: How remote work and new arrivals are changing one tech community]( A population influx has bolstered the tech community in Spokane, Wash., and also brought new challenges to the region. SPONSOR MESSAGE [Translating the promise of cell therapy]( The story of how CAR T cell therapy went from hypothesis to treatment embodies the challenges and perseverance often synonymous with breakthroughs. Bristol Myers Squibb’s newest episode of Science Firsthand is focused on pivotal moments in the history of CAR T cell therapy that took place right in the heart of Seattle – and new cutting-edge approaches being explored. [Watch the episode here.]( [Tech Moves: OpenAI hires former Amazon Web Services leader to lead new Tokyo office]( Tadao Nagasaki, a longtime tech exec who led Japan-related operations for Amazon Web Services and F5, is joining OpenAI to head up the company’s new hub in Tokyo, its first office in Asia. [Seattle biotech company NanoString to be acquired by Bruker for $392M, ending bankruptcy process]( NanoString announced Wednesday that it will be acquired by Bruker, ending the company’s restructuring process that included a Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. [Former Facebook engineers lead Seattle-based investment firm backing data-focused startups]( Back when Ravi Grover and his colleagues at Data Tech Fund were getting off the ground a few years ago, not everyone was excited about their focus on data. [Cybersecurity startup that helps companies secure industrial systems opens Seattle office]( Josh Steinman spent four years working as a senior director inside the National Security Council at the White House. [Amazon exec explains grocery tech changes, debunks media reports about human reviewers]( Dilip Kumar, VP of AWS applications, sought to clarify the company's grocery technology strategy and approach on multiple fronts. [Longtime Microsoft exec Gurdeep Singh Pall joins Qualtrics as president of AI strategy]( Technology leader Gurdeep Singh Pall, a longtime Microsoft executive, is joining experience management technology company Qualtrics as its first president of artificial intelligence strategy. [Google and Amazon workers protest tech giants’ contract with Israel as war in Gaza continues]( Google and Amazon workers held protests on Tuesday in Seattle and other tech hubs, demonstrating in opposition to the tech giants’ role in a cloud services contract with the Israeli government. [Wizards of the Coast President Cynthia Williams stepping down after 2 years leading game giant]( A new SEC filing reveals that Cynthia Williams plans to step down as president at Hasbro-owned game company Wizards of the Coast. [Seattle tech vet calls rapidly growing ‘AI Tinkerers’ meetups the new ‘Homebrew Computer Club’ for AI]( Seattle tech veteran Joe Heitzeberg remembers seeing a random, AI-related tweet in September 2022. [Amazon, Microsoft back campaign against initiative that would defund climate efforts in Washington]( More than 100 companies, tribal groups, union organizations, environmental nonprofits and political groups are backing a campaign to defeat a November ballot initiative that would scuttle Washington state’s most impactful climate policy. [Tech Moves: Avalara names president; Microsoft vet launches AI forum; Common Room adds product leader]( — Seattle-based tax software company Avalara named Ross Tennenbaum as its new president. [Amazon surprises 13 Seattle-area students with ‘Future Engineer’ college scholarships]( The future is bright — and partially paid for — for 13 students from across the Seattle region after Amazon surprised them this week with college scholarships as part of its “Amazon Future Engineer” program. GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [GeekWork: Head of Engineering]( - [GeekWork: ML Engineer]( - [AdaptX: Vice President of Engineering]( - [City of Newport: Systems Administrator II]( - [INRIX: Finance Pricing Manager]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? BUY A FEATURED LISTING TO APPEAR HERE]( [About GeekWire]( [Contact Us]( [Advertise]( Copyright © 2024 GeekWire LLC, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted to receive emails from GeekWire LLC.  Our mailing address is: GeekWire LLC 123 NW 36th St, Suite 203 Seattle, WA 98107  [change email frequency or address]( | [unsubscribe](