Amazon workers are back — and so is Seattle traffic

Microsoft offers blueprint for governing AI | Amazon names new workplace safety leader ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Money Hacks is a financial education series from GeekWire and BECU: [Get financial tips and find other resources to help you manage your money.]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES Amazon’s return-to-office mandate also means the return of Seattle traffic. Data from transportation analytics provider Inrix shows average commute speeds into the city dropping by as much as 35% since the tech giant’s policy went into effect. Data from the ground also shows an increase in foot traffic. [Read more.]( Microsoft offered a blueprint for governing artificial intelligence, calling for such things as “safety brakes” for AI systems that control critical infrastructure and ensure human oversight and accountability. “We do need new law in this space,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said, adding that a U.S. agency and licensing should be instituted. [Read more.]( Microsoft warned that Chinese hackers are targeting critical U.S. infrastructure with “stealthy and targeted malicious activity.” The campaign, dubbed “Volt Typhoon,” has been active since mid-2021 and is focused on a variety of sectors. [Read more.]( Tech Moves: Amazon names new workplace safety leader; Zscaler hires Seattle tech vet as CTO; [and more key personnel changes.]( Seattle-area studios Bungie and Firewalk revealed their next big video game projects under the umbrella of Sony during a PlayStation Showcase. Bungie is bringing back “Marathon,” one of its first franchises, and it will also release on PC and Xbox Series X|S. [Read more.]( Can AI strike a chord with an opera singer? Robert “The Drunken Tenor” McPherson (above) took the stage at the GeekWire Awards to sing as the human embodiment of ChatGPT. He used the program for inspiration on lyrics, but relied on his human creativity to make it all work. [Read more.]( Hot links: - Microsoft “swallowed its pride” before ramping up its partnership with OpenAI. ([The Information]( - South Seattle College opened a new technology center to prepare students for jobs in the automotive industry. ([West Seattle Blog]( - Virgin Galactic flew six people on its suborbital spaceplane to the edge of space for the first time since Richard Branson took flight two years ago. ([The Washington Post]( Thanks for [subscribing]( to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great day. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com; and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [In 1936, the crew now known as “The Boys in the Boat” made history — and set a legacy in motion.]( The UW varsity crew team’s come-from-behind victory to win gold in Nazi Germany was legendary. So were the odds they overcame to get there, the historical moment they lived in, and the values they embodied and inspired — values that are shared by UW Huskies to this day. [Read about the fabled UW team and how their story continues to inspire.]( LATEST HEADLINES [Tech Moves: Amazon names new workplace safety leader; Zscaler hires Salesforce EVP; and more]( [Microsoft calls for ‘safety brakes,’ licensing, and a new federal agency to avoid AI pitfalls]( [He sang about life as ChatGPT, but this opera pro needed his human creativity to fix AI’s lyrics]( [Video game loot box platform that uses NFTs raises $1.5M]( [LIGO starts its fourth round of searching for gravitational waves and black holes]( [Car and foot traffic data show impact of Amazon’s return to office mandate on Seattle commutes]( [Bungie reveals new ‘Marathon’ game; Firewalk Studios shows off first trailer for ‘Concord’]( [Microsoft says critical U.S. infrastructure targeted by Chinese hackers]( [Mobile gaming startup BebopBee raises $4M to build puzzle game ‘Travel Crush’]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [INRIX: Frontend Engineer]( - [MedBridge: Software Engineer III (Back end)]( - [INRIX: Director, Customer Success]( - [City of Redlands: Network Engineer]( - [Craft3: Marketing Operations Manager]( - [Radiant Vision Systems: Test Engineer]( [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](