Amazon Alexa vs. ChatGPT | Butterfly Bezos

How is the new era of AI influencing Amazon’s investment priorities for its Alexa voice assistant and Echo speakers, particularly as tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT gain popularity? Amazon CEO Andy Jassy addressed that question on the company’s earnings call Thursday. Here’s what he said. 

Amazon’s stock price rose 11% but then came back down following the release of its first quarter earnings report. The company beat expectations for profit and revenue, but an update on its cloud computing business growth may have spooked investors. 

Grin Lord wants to help people understand each other. It’s what she’s been doing her entire career, both as a licensed psychologist and now as CEO of mpathic, a Seattle-based company aiming to bring more empathy to corporate communication. Read more about Lord, a finalist for Startup CEO of the Year at next month’s GeekWire Awards.

Nordstrom cut its technology workforce with an unspecified number of layoffs as the Seattle-based retail giant said it needed to “remain agile and operate more efficiently.” Read more.

A Seattle startup’s new electric boat got its day in the sun on Lake Washington this week as Pure Watercraft unveiled the Pure Pontoon, a project backed by General Motors. Read more.

Seattle is getting a new game development studio. Chinese tech giant NetEase plans to open Anchor Point Studios, led by Microsoft and 343 Industries vet Paul Ehreth, to work on an “adventurous” action game as its debut project.

Hot links:

• Bluesky gains steam: The new social network from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is attracting some big names. (The Verge)

• Butterfly Bezos: The shirt the Amazon founder wore to Coachella is going viral. Was he just trying to blend in with a fashion choice that goes for $12 on Amazon? (Inc.)

• Feeling sporty? It’s a big night in Seattle for the Kraken who can clinch a playoff series win at home; the Seahawks are flying high after their first two NFL Draft picks; and the Mariners dropped their new and much-hyped City Connect jerseys. (Twitter)