Microsoft shows new AI tools at Build developer conference

Seattle No. 6 among top 1,000 global cities | SeekOut layoffs ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Register now for AWS re:Inforce: [Hear from AWS experts on all things cloud security in the generative AI era.]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella opened the Build conference in Seattle by reflecting on pivotal moments in the history of Microsoft developer platforms, from Win32 to .NET, and now the dawn of AI. "It just feels like we are yet again at a moment like that," he said, but "the scope is so much deeper, so much broader this time around. Every layer of this tech stack is changing." - In addition to [new developer tools]( the company announced end user features such as [a "Team Copilot" AI assistant]( to run meetings, manage projects, and assign tasks. - Microsoft will make Khan Academy’s Khanmigo tool [available free to U.S. teachers]( as part of a new partnership with the online education platform, a longtime Google ally. - Microsoft sees [new Copilot+ Windows PCs]( including an AI-powered “Recall” feature, as continuing the “Information at Your Fingertips” vision that dates to the Bill Gates era. Seattle ranks No. 6 among the top 1,000 largest cities in the world thanks in large part to an economy propelled by its tech sector. Only New York, London, San Jose, Calif., Tokyo, and Paris outpace Seattle in the inaugural “Global Cities Index.” [Read more.]( Using robots in restaurants may reduce labor costs in the short-term, [but new research from Washington State University]( shows that they could also aggravate existing worker shortages. SeekOut layoffs: The Seattle-based recruiting tech startup laid off employees for the second time in eight months. [Read more](. - Related: [A regularly updated list]( of layoffs in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle biotech startup A-Alpha Bio landed $14.5 million from the Department of Defense to help prepare for future biological threats using the company’s machine learning tools. [Read more](. Abett, a Seattle-based startup that helps large employers manage and analyze health plan data, [raised $11.6 million]( to help boost its software platform. Wave Motion Launch's "Jet Gun" sounds like something cooked up for a pulp sci-fi novel, but the U.S. Army is giving the Seattle-area startup $1.6 million to make a prototype. (Above: Wave Motion CEO Finn van Donkelaar shows off a mortar-scale Jet Gun prototype.) [Read more](. More than 800 arts and culture organizations in Washington state are getting another $10 million boost from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and ArtsFund. [Read more.]( Hot Links: - Zillow released an open source tool aimed at encouraging unbiased behavior for real estate conversations powered by artificial intelligence. ([Zillow]( - Amazon Games opened a new development studio in Romania, adding to offices in Orange County, Montreal, San Diego, and Seattle. ([Amazon Games]( - T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert delivered the commencement speech to MBA grads at the Wharton School. Part of his advice: stoke your successes, instead of fighting your fires. ([T-Mobile]( - Amazon is rolling out 10 energy projects in California and Arizona that pair solar farms with giant batteries that will be managed using AI and can hold nearly 1.5 gigawatts of power. ([Axios]( - Bill Gates’ list of summer recommendations features four books and one TV show — and a BBQ-themed video to showcase the highlights. ([Gates Notes]( Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great day. — GeekWire editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com; GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [Local Bank Offering A Frictionless Loan Application Process For Small Businesses in Washington State]( 40-50% of small businesses rank access to capital as their main obstacle. Unlike traditional banks that tend to be encumbered by legacy tech, community banks can bring agility and innovation to small business lending. Learn how a Seattle-based financial institution leveraged open banking to offer a frictionless loan process for small business borrowers in Washington State. [Learn More.]( LATEST HEADLINES [Seattle’s economic strength helps propel it to No. 6 in new ranking of top 1,000 global cities]( [Microsoft will make Khan Academy’s Khanmigo AI tool free to U.S. teachers in cloud shift]( [Microsoft’s new ‘Team Copilot’ AI assistant runs meetings, manages projects, assigns tasks]( [Easy Metrics lands $31M from private equity firm to boost labor analytics platform]( [Seattle startup Abett lands $11.6M to help companies manage healthcare expenses]( [A-Alpha Bio lands $14.5M from Department of Defense to prep for future biological threats]( [Paul Allen Foundation gives $10M to 811 arts and culture organizations in Washington state]( [U.S. Army awards $1.6M to Wave Motion for development of Jet Gun technology]( [Space Force and Starfish Space lay out their roadmap for satellite docking mission]( [Recruiting software company SeekOut lays off employees in another round of cuts]( [Do robots harm or help hospitality labor shortages? New research warns of worker anxieties]( [YC grad Manifold Freight raises $1.9M for trucking logistics software]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [BRINC: Principal / Senior Software Test Engineer]( - [BRINC: Senior/Principal Backend & Platform Software Engineer]( - [INRIX: Account Executive, Public Sector]( - [GeekWork: Head of Engineering]( - [INRIX: Finance Pricing Manager]( - [BRINC: Senior Accounting/Financial Analyst]( - [BRINC: Territory Account Executive, PacNW]( [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](