Behind the scenes with Amazon’s warehouse robots | Layoffs at Blue Origin and Slalom 

Rare layoffs at Blue Origin: Employees at Jeff Bezos’ Kent, Wash.-based space venture are reporting a reduction in force in postings on LinkedIn. Read more.

Slalom Consulting cuts about 900 employees: The Seattle-based business and technology firm laid off 7% of its workforce, in what CEO Brad Jackson called a “painful” restructuring. Read more.

A taste for startup life — and chicken sandwiches: Mt. Joy is up and running with a new food truck in Seattle and a brick-and-mortar restaurant not far behind. The brainchild of tech entrepreneur Robbie Cape (above), and partners from food, tech and agriculture, Mt. Joy wants to help the planet with its sustainable, regenerative practices. Read more.   

Former Amazon exec abruptly resigns from Flexport: Dave Clark, who left after 23 years at Amazon to join the logistics giant, stepped down as CEO after just a year. “Founders have a right to change their mind,” Clark said about the direction of the company. Read more.

Emerald City before Red Planet? The Mars Society unveiled plans to establish a Mars Technology Institute, perhaps headquartered in Seattle, to develop the tools and processes needed to support future off-Earth settlers. Read more.

Hot Links:

• Microsoft revealed how Chinese hackers were able to breach U.S. government email accounts. (The Verge)

• That looks good: There are two Seattle-area joints on Yelp’s “Most Photographed Restaurants of 2023” list. (Yelp)

• Top AI influencers: Time released a list of leaders, policymakers, artists and entrepreneurs working in AI — and several Seattle-area names made the cut. (Time) 

• Job postings on Indeed seem to be picking up a bit in Seattle and appear stabilized in other tech hubs, according to recent data. (X)

• Laugh it up, AI: An award-winning research paper is taking a scientific approach to understanding whether artificial intelligence can understand humor. (Psychology Today)