OpenAI’s ChatGPT sparks excitement and concern from investors, entrepreneurs, researchers

ChatGPT, the new conversational chatbot model released last week by OpenAI, sparked a huge reaction over the weekend as people tested its ability to quickly answer complicated questions and instantly produce content.

• We spoke to Seattle-area tech investors, entrepreneurs, and researchers to get their take on the technology and its potential. Read on for their answers.

Microsoft says it has offered Sony a 10-year contract to make new “Call of Duty” games available on PlayStation at the same time as their release on Xbox if the Redmond company completes its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

• Brad Smith, Microsoft president and vice chair, revealed the offer in a Wall Street Journal op-ed Monday. He said a reported plan by the Federal Trade Commission to block Microsoft’s $68.7 billion Activision deal “would be a huge mistake” that would “hurt competition, consumers and thousands of game developers.” Read more. 

“We are a different sort of fund and a different sort of team.”

• That’s R. Miller Adams, a former Boeing exec and managing partner at Pier 70 Ventures, a new healthcare-focused firm in Seattle aiming to invest in traditionally underrepresented entrepreneurs. Read more. 

Social giving platform Give InKind has been acquired by gift card company Wolfe.

• Founded in 2016, the Tacoma, Wash.-based startup aims to help streamline the giving process between friends and family and those in need of meals or other aid as they go through difficult life situations. Read more.

Slack founder Stewart Butterfield is leaving Salesforce.

• His departure comes just after Tableau CEO Mark Nelson said he was stepping down from the tech giant, which is also losing its co-CEO. 

Our latest GeekWire Podcast episode features a conversation with François Locoh-Donou, CEO of Seattle-based F5.

• Locoh-Donou talked about battling bad bots and why good technology can ultimately prevail. “You beat that automation — that bad automation from bad actors — with better technology, and that better technology does exist today,” he said. Listen and read more here. 

Meet the two hard-working techies who will get a “Geek Style Reboot” before partying at the GeekWire Gala this week.

• Karina Martija-Harris and Brian Crouch get a pass, like everyone, for dressing down for the past couple years. But Nordstrom is going to make them over so they can step out in style for our big holiday party. Also, it’s not too late to get tickets!