GeekWire - Amazon buckles down and bets big

On a new episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we share key takeaways from the letter and discuss where Amazon is headed next. Listen here, or subscribe to GeekWire in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Related: Amazon faces a record 18 shareholder resolutions at annual meeting

Speaking of Amazon, and podcasts ... a recent episode of the podcast SmartLess illustrated the tech giant's reach into entertainment. Ben Affleck, a guest on the episode, praised Amazon Studios for releasing his new movie, “Air,” in theaters before Amazon Prime. Jason Bateman, who co-hosts SmartLess with Will Arnett and Sean Hayes, made sure listeners heard that Affleck was referring to Amazon. Not mentioned: Amazon bought the rights to SmartLess in 2021 for as much as $80 million.

Startups in the early stages of building generative AI tools should concentrate on specialized verticals such as healthcare, biotech, and legal industries. That’s one big takeaway from a recent panel about the new era of AI. Read more.

Jet City … Satellite City … Cloud City … what about “Quantum Valley”? Billions of dollars are at stake in the race to become the center of one of computing's big frontiers. Tech leaders size up what it will take for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest to beat other regions when it comes to academic research, business development, and government backing for quantum computing. Read more.

Have you voted for the GeekWire Awards? Catch up quick and cast your votes ahead of our celebration of tech leaders and innovators on May 18 in Seattle. Here are the categories we’ve profiled so far:

• UX Design of the Year: Finalists help users in health care, worker training and more

• Workplace of the Year: How these finalists navigate challenging times

• Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Finalists share their entrepreneurship tips

• Deal of the Year: Affini-T Therapeutics, Bungie, Copper, First Mode, MotherDuck

• Innovation of the Year: AI makes its mark 

• CEO of the Year: Meet the five finalists

• Startup CEO of the Year: Meet the five finalists

• Startup of the Year: Arrived Homes, Lexion, Phaidra, Shipium, WhyLabs