GeekWire

A message from GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop: This episode of the GeekWire Podcast is unlike any we’ve done before. It touches on some of the most contentious and disputed issues in the tech industry, and in the world more broadly.  It started with my curiosity and desire to understand something that happened in March, at GeekWire’s independent Microsoft @ 50 event [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft50-recap-company-faithful-mark-first-50-years-and-look-to-future-at-geekwire-event/]. I was on stage interviewing Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith when the conversation was interrupted by a protester.  The group behind the protest, called No Azure for Apartheid [https://noazureforapartheid.com/], represents current and former Microsoft employees who want the company to end its cloud computing and AI contracts with the Israeli military. They cite concerns over how they believe their work is being used by Israel. Addressing the larger issues raised by the group, Microsoft said in a May 15 post [https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/05/15/statement-technology-israel-gaza/] that it conducted internal and external reviews and “found no evidence to date that Microsoft’s Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza.”  After covering [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-no-evidence-israeli-military-used-its-technology-to-harm-civilians-reviews-find/] Microsoft’s statements and the group’s response — and seeing the continued protests unfold at Microsoft events — I decided to dig deeper and learn more.  As part of that, I invited one of the organizers of No Azure for Apartheid to join me on this podcast, for a conversation about the motivations behind the group, their views on Microsoft’s responsibilities, and how the tech industry intersects with international conflicts.  Our guest is software engineer Hossam Nasr, who was fired by Microsoft last year related to protests on the Microsoft campus. In fact, he was the first to protest inside the GeekWire event. What followed was a complex conversation — one that at times went beyond Microsoft’s role into broader political and ethical criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza.  These are deeply polarizing issues, and we know there are strong, divergent opinions about them. I’ve added context conveying Microsoft’s responses, and noting areas where statements and characterizations about Israel, Palestine, and Gaza are the subject of dispute.  The conversation includes detailed descriptions of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and some historical comparisons that some listeners may find disturbing or offensive. And lastly, we recorded this conversation in late May, before the latest developments in the Middle East. Related Links:  * Microsoft: Statement on the Issues Relating to Technology Services in Israel and Gaza [https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/05/15/statement-technology-israel-gaza/] * Associated Press: As Israel uses US-made AI models in war, concerns arise about tech’s role in who lives and who dies [https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/best-of-the-week/first-winner/2025/as-israel-uses-u-s-made-ai-models-in-war-concerns-arise-about-techs-role-in-who-lives-and-who-dies/] * AP: Microsoft fires employees who organized vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza [https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-fired-workers-israel-palestinians-gaza-72de6fe1f35db9398e3b6785203c6bbf] * +972: Leaked documents expose deep ties between Israeli army and Microsoft [https://www.972mag.com/microsoft-azure-openai-israeli-army-cloud/] * The Verge: Microsoft blocks emails that contain ‘Palestine’ after employee protests [https://www.theverge.com/tech/672312/microsoft-block-palestine-gaza-email] * Guardian: Microsoft deepened ties with Israeli military to provide tech support during Gaza war [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/23/israeli-military-gaza-war-microsoft] Editing by Curt Milton. Read more at GeekWire.com [https://www.geekwire.com/]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Fifteen years ago, Steve Jobs and Apple had just introduced the first iPad, Steve Ballmer’s Microsoft had been left for dead, and nerdy online bookseller Jeff Bezos was still getting Amazon settled into its South Lake Union HQ. That’s when we started this podcast. This week, we’re going back to 2010, revisiting clips from the earliest days of the show. We remember what was happening with Amazon, Microsoft, and Seattle’s startup scene, and try to wrap our heads around all the things that have changed since then. With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Audio editing by Curt Milton.   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss Amazon's new licensing deal with The New York Times for AI content training, and go behind the scenes at two different office spaces: Microsoft's redeveloped Redmond campus and Remitly's new Seattle HQ. * Amazon inks deal with New York Times to license newspaper’s content for AI platforms [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/amazon-inks-deal-with-new-york-times-to-license-newspapers-content-for-ai-platforms/] * Rebooting Redmond: Microsoft’s new campus reflects ongoing transformation, uncertain future [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/rebooting-redmond-microsofts-new-campus-reflects-ongoing-transformation-uncertain-future/] * A world away in the heart of Seattle: Remitly’s new HQ provides more room to collaborate — and grow [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/a-world-away-in-the-heart-of-seattle-remitlys-new-hq-provides-more-room-to-collaborate-and-grow/] With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop and reporter Kurt Schlosser.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Satya Nadella’s offhand remark at Build, about Elon Musk once interning at Microsoft, sparked a mystery that sent us digging through biographies and transcripts in search of confirmation. We also break down Microsoft’s new AI moves, announced this week at the company's Build developer conference, and consider what its agentic ambitions mean for tech jobs and the economy. Plus, a sharp warning from Microsoft President Brad Smith on Washington state’s fading focus on innovation. RELATED STORIES * Elon and Satya, together again: Microsoft brings Musk’s xAI models to Azure, despite OpenAI feud [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/elon-and-satya-together-again-microsoft-brings-musks-xai-models-to-azure-despite-openai-feud/] * Microsoft expands AI roster with Anthropic and xAI integrations, looking beyond OpenAI alliance [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-expands-ai-roster-with-anthropic-and-xai-integrations-looking-beyond-openai-alliance/] * Businessweek: Microsoft’s CEO on How AI Will Remake Every Company, Including His [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-05-15/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-on-his-ai-efforts-and-openai-partnership?sref=CUpXQy6u] * Washington state cuts back economic development program amid criticism of innovation approach [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/washington-cuts-back-economic-development-effort-amid-criticism-of-states-innovation-approach/] * ‘We better wake up’: Microsoft’s Brad Smith sounds alarm as state enacts controversial tax plan [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/we-better-wake-up-microsofts-brad-smith-sounds-alarm-as-state-moves-ahead-with-tax-plan/] * Washington governor approves new business taxes, acknowledges potential ‘unintended consequences’ [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/washington-governor-signs-new-business-taxes-acknowledges-unintended-consequences/] With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Box CEO and co-founder Aaron Levie joins the GeekWire Podcast to talk about the company’s latest AI initiatives, including a new integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot and a suite of Box AI agents designed to help businesses analyze content, extract data, and generate insights.  Levie shares how AI is changing the way he and his team work, explains why he believes 2025 is still “day one” for enterprise AI agents, and offers a realistic take on what AI can — and can’t — do today. He also reflects on Box’s evolution, the shifting role of content in the enterprise, and why he thinks AI is creating more work, not less. RELATED LINKS * GeekWire: Box tightens Microsoft ties with new Copilot integration, builds out its own suite of AI agents [https://www.geekwire.com/2025/box-tightens-microsoft-ties-with-new-copilot-integration-builds-out-its-own-suite-of-ai-agents/] * Aaron Levie: How AI is changing my work as CEO at Box [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/boxaaron_at-box-were-100-focused-on-being-an-ai-first-activity-7320471553207402497-Ih44/] With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.