Amazon CEO cites ‘uncertain economy’ for new round of layoffs

Howard Schultz steps down as Starbucks CEO | Former oilfield engineers lead climate startup ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Unique & Urban Venue for Weddings, Conferences and Meetings: [Plan your event at Block 41 today!]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES “Given the uncertain economy in which we reside, and the uncertainty that exists in the near future, we have chosen to be more streamlined in our costs and headcount.” - [In a memo to employees]( Amazon CEO Andy Jassy explained why the company is cutting 9,000 jobs. - The latest round of cuts follows a separate [18,000-person layoff]( in January. These additional 9,000 layoffs bring the total to 27,000 job cuts, about 8% of Amazon’s corporate workforce, which previously numbered around 350,000 people. - Tech companies continue to trim headcount amid the larger industry downturn, following a period of pandemic-driven growth. Meta [said]( last week it was cutting another 10,000 employees, which came four months after it cut 13% of its workforce. Howard Schultz stepped down as interim CEO of Starbucks, handing the reins of the coffee giant to Laxman Narasimhan a couple weeks earlier than previously expected. - Schultz announced he was done in a letter to company leaders on Monday. Narasimhan, a former leader at PepsiCo, will lead this week’s annual shareholder meeting. [Read more.]( Microsoft-owned AI company Nuance is leveraging GPT-4 to power new software designed to ease the burden of clinical documentation for physicians. - The new application is designed to increase physician efficiency and reduce burnout and fatigue from completing clinical notes, an often time-consuming task. [Read more](. Are robots more poetic than humans? We put that question to the test with a poetry assignment for one Seattle writer and some of the latest AI chatbots. - One man with a typewriter had his simple poem about two dogs compared to prose generated by ChatGPT, Bing’s chatbot, and GPT-4. [Which was best?]( Former oilfield managers launched a Seattle climate tech startup that uses ancient carbon-trapping technology. - Myno is commercializing biochar — a substance akin to charcoal that traces its roots to ancient civilizations in the Amazon and beyond. [Read more.]( Thanks for reading, and have a great week. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [Apply for Foster’s Evening MBA program by April 11th]( Accelerate into greater leadership responsibility or pivot your career direction to make an impact. Foster is committed to bettering humanity through business by providing a world-class, affordable education in a hub of ingenuity and innovation. Test-optional applications are available. [Apply by April 11th, start classes fall 2023.]( LATEST HEADLINES [Microsoft subsidiary Nuance is using GPT-4 for a new physician notes app]( [Howard Schultz steps aside as Starbucks interim CEO as Laxman Narasimhan takes over]( [Former oilfield engineers launch climate startup that uses ancient carbon-trapping technology]( [Amazon is laying off another 9,000 employees — read the CEO’s memo]( [Week in Review: Most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of March 12, 2023]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [GeekWire: GeekWire Advertising Project Manager]( - [Global Innovation Exchange, University of Washington: Technology Services Specialist]( - [INRIX: Head of Product – Vision Zero]( - [INRIX: Corporate Controller]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? BUY A FEATURED LISTING TO APPEAR HERE]( [About GeekWire]( [Contact Us]( [Advertise]( Copyright © 2023 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](