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: Attention Washington Founders: [$250k will be awarded at the Flywheel Conference in Wenatchee. Apply by Feb 14.]( THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES [Google’s exit from big Seattle-area project shows fleeting relationship between tech and communities]( In the suburban community of Kirkland, Wash., where Google established its original beachhead in the Seattle area, the tech giant had big plans to expand even further. [Proposed wealth tax in Washington state is another attempt at tax code reform]( Democrats in the Washington state legislature are trying again to make the state’s wealthiest residents pay up with a bill that would tax wealth surpassing $250 million. [Microsoft continues with previously announced layoffs, as Seattle-area total nears 1,500 people]( Microsoft notified another round of workers this week that they’re losing their jobs as part of the 10,000 layoffs announced by the company on Jan. SPONSOR MESSAGE [A better life, thanks to WSU]( Much of the research that goes on at Washington State University affects the rhythm of our days. We make food tastier and more abundant. We keep our first-responders safe when they’re working through the night. And we bring healthcare to the most vulnerable among us. WSU is making lives better throughout Washington and across the world. #GoCougsMeans [Learn how Go Cougs means a better life.]( [Arguing with AI: My first dispute with Microsoft’s brilliant and boneheaded Bing search engine]( For the past couple days, I’ve been trying out Microsoft’s new AI-powered Bing search engine, a chatbot that uses an advanced version of ChatGPT maker OpenAI’s large language model to deliver search results in the form of conversations. [‘Amazon Market’ filing in Seattle hints at new store format, as tech giant revamps retail strategy]( A new filing for a long-shuttered former New Seasons grocery store in Seattle names “Amazon Market” as the financially responsible party for the project, offering a potential insight into the tech giant’s retail strategy. [Microsoft reveals new search engine and browser with AI ‘copilot,’ escalating battle with Google]( REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft unveiled new versions of its Bing search engine and Edge web browser that take advantage of next-generation OpenAI artificial intelligence models in a move that promises to increase competition with longtime rival Google. [Super Bowl ad roundup: Travolta sings T-Mobile’s praises; Google’s fix is in; and more tech spots]( In between the beer, Doritos, mayonnaise, Pepsi, Pringles and more beer, make sure to leave some room for the tech. [Tech Moves: AWS product head joins Faculty; Bezos Earth Fund hires BlackRock leader; and more]( — Jacob Sullivan is now chief product officer at Faculty, a London-based company that builds artificial intelligence systems. [Google teases ChatGPT rival and AI search tools, one day before previously secret Microsoft event]( Artificial intelligence and internet search just got a lot more competitive. [‘Baby bond’ legislation aims to address wealth gaps in Washington state]( People born into low-income families in Washington state will get a financial boost at the outset of their lives with so-called “baby bonds” if lawmakers pass legislation to establish the Washington Future Fund. [Seagen vets land $4.4M for Univ. of Washington spinout using fresh approach for cancer vaccines]( A biotech startup spun out of the University of Washington and led by veterans of Seattle-area biotech giant Seagen has raised $4.4 million, part of an ongoing seed round. [As tech is rocked by layoffs, climate jobs and tools for landing them are on the rise]( There has never been a better time to get a job in climate tech. [Tech Moves: Eliem CEO out amid layoffs; Rokt taps Amazon vet to lead new Seattle office; and more]( — Bob Azelby is leaving his position as president and CEO of Elieum Therapeutics and stepping down from its board. [GeekWire 200 update: Here’s who is moving up our list of top PNW startups]( Several new companies joined the GeekWire 200 while a handful “graduated” in the latest update to our index that ranks the Pacific Northwest’s top privately-held startups. [OceanGate provides a guided video tour of Titanic shipwreck — and gets set to return]( The latest film about the Titanic doesn’t show Leonardo DiCaprio standing up on the bow’s railings — instead, a single slim filament of coral takes his place as the king of the world. GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [GeekWire: GeekWire Advertising Project Manager]( - [Remitly: Senior Software Engineer, Fraud Prevention]( - [Remitly: Engineering Manager, Lending]( - [INRIX: Vice President, Sales – Public Sector]( - [MovingWorlds: Senior Fullstack Engineer for Scaling Social Enterprise]( - [MedBridge: Software Engineer III (Back end)]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? 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