How layoffs and the economy are changing the tech job market

More people are sticking with their jobs due to the uncertain economy, fewer companies plan to give big raises this year, and some big employers including Amazon are starting to require workers to return to the office. 

• Despite those changes, employees still have several factors working in their favor in compensation negotiations, including the tight labor market and pay transparency.

• "Although employers are taking back some of that power, it’s still an employees’ market," says Lexi Clarke, Payscale chief people officer, on the GeekWire Podcast.

• Listen here, or subscribe to GeekWire in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Seattle-based healthcare company 98point6 is selling a portion of its business to San Francisco startup Transcarent for $100 million in cash and equity.

• It’s the latest chapter in a startup journey for 98point6 that began in 2015 and included nearly $300 million of investment; rapid growth during the pandemic; an abrupt leadership change in 2021; and layoffs last year. Read more. 

Microsoft is bringing more AI to business applications with a new assistant to help with sales, marketing and customer service.

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot uses generative AI to automate tedious tasks. “If you think of a customer service agent, he’s dealing with a customer inquiry and 18 different databases internally to come up with the responses,” CEO Satya Nadella told Bloomberg. “Now you have this copilot that allows you to interrogate the 18 databases and craft a response.” Read more.

Harebrained Schemes on Monday revealed its next project: “The Lamplighters League and the Tower at the End of the World.”

• The Seattle game developer, founded in 2011 by industry vets Jordan Weisman and Mitch Gitelman, was acquired by Swedish games publisher Paradox Interactive in 2018. Read more.