Microsoft and Amazon’s climate investments | IoT legislation aims to assess spectrum needs

• Microsoft’s $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund and Amazon’s $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund have backed a range of companies trying to strip carbon out of energy, industrial processes, and the environment. Their priorities overlap in some areas, with shared interests in clean energy and green construction innovation. (Above: Microsoft has invested in Climeworks, a leader in direct air capture of carbon dioxide outside of Reykjavik, Iceland.) Read more. 

Amazon-owned Ring named Xbox and Oculus vet Elizabeth Hamren as its new CEO. Founder and longtime leader Jamie Siminoff will remain as chief inventor.

• Along with the smart doorbell and home security company, Hamren will lead Amazon’s Blink smart home security camera business; the Amazon Key in-garage delivery service; and the Amazon Sidewalk neighborhood wireless network. Read more.

There’s a new institute brewing at the University of Washington at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning and healthcare.

• The new Institute for Medical Data Science was launched publicly Tuesday. “The UW has very significant strengths that put us in a position to be a leader in the medical data science space,” said Sean Mooney, the Institute’s interim director. Read more. 

New legislation would direct the FCC to collect data on Americans’ use of IoT devices to better assess the country’s connectivity infrastructure needs.

• "IoT and smart devices are growing in popularity in our homes and businesses to improve safety, efficiency, and convenience but that would grind to a halt if we do not have enough 5G spectrum available,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.). Read more.