How the NHL is using AI to predict key moments in games

Recognize those guys? That’s Amazon Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky (left), with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle this week, as the NHL brought its annual Technology Showcase to town. Taylor was there to cover the action (and play paparazzi), getting a chance to see how the NHL is using tech to develop new stats and increase fan engagement.

• AWS was featured prominently, with a focus on predictive AI and machine learning. One feature uses real-time and historical data to assess the difficulty of a shot, and another predicts the winner of a face-off.

• Amazon, headquartered just around the corner, also showed a live, cloud-based production of a game — a first for the NHL, and a new alternative to traditional, truck-based live sports production. Read more.

You probably know the feeling. After becoming absorbed in your favorite social media app, you look up and wonder what happened to the last two hours of your life. This week on the GeekWire Podcast, Todd discusses the mindful use of technology with Caroline Cadwell, CEO of Unpluq. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Bye-bye, Bittrex. The Bellevue, Wash.-based crypto exchange is shutting down its U.S. operations, the latest sign of turmoil for the industry.

Textio, edit thyself. The Seattle-based augmented writing startup cut 15 jobs amid a broader reorganization of its business. 

Hot links:

• “What happens if all the companies you invest in go out of business?” That was one of several excellent questions that Seattle VC Kirby Winfield got from a very savvy group of 7th and 8th graders.

• Big Byte: TikTok parent company ByteDance posted >$80 billion in 2022 revenue, up 30%, according to this Saturday scoop from The Information.

• AI ads: Microsoft is starting to experiment with ads in its Bing chatbot responses. Here’s an example in the wild. What could possibly go wrong?

• No Foolin’: You’ll notice a conspicuous absence of April Fool’s Day jokes in today’s newsletter. In the emerging era of AI, Motherboard sums it up well: “Every Day is April Fool’s Day Now.” Be careful out there.