Microsoft hardware leader Panos Panay reportedly headed to Amazon after sudden departure

Welcome to the week, GeekWire readers. Today we’re reporting on a new Oregon factory producing humanoid warehouse robots, a major milestone for a Seattle-area space venture, and the new chief scientific officer at Seattle Children’s. First, big news in the Big Tech hardware world.

Microsoft hardware chief headed to Amazon: Panos Panay, the chief product officer who oversees Microsoft’s Windows and Devices division, is leaving the Redmond tech giant after 19 years in a surprise departure. He’s headed across Lake Washington and will join rival Amazon, according to a report from Bloomberg.

• Panay would replace Dave Limp, Amazon’s devices and services chief, who said in August that he would step down later this year after more than 13 years at the company.

• The news comes during a pivotal week for the companies. Amazon is scheduled to hold its annual Devices & Services product unveiling Wednesday morning at its second headquarters in Arlington, Va. Microsoft hosts an event in New York City on Thursday where Surface and Windows-related announcements are expected. 

Mass producing humanoid warehouse robots: Amazon-backed Agility Robotics says it will ultimately be able to make more than 10,000 robots a year in a new Salem, Ore., factory. Read more.

Clean aviation startup lands more cash: ZeroAvia, which is developing hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for aircraft, raised an undisclosed amount from Amazon, Bill Gates, Alaska Airlines and others. The company has an R&D center near Seattle. Read more.

Major milestone for Seattle-area space venture: Stoke Space completed a successful up-and-down test of its “Hopper” developmental rocket vehicle over the weekend in Moses Lake, Wash., in the startup’s quest to create a fully reusable launch system. Read more.

New chief scientific officer at Seattle Children’s: Vittorio Gallo discusses his vision for the future of the research institute, how to increase diversity in science, and his views of how AI will change biomedicine. Read the GeekWire interview.

• Related: Remitly exec Kim Vu to depart, and other personnel changes in our latest Tech Moves round–up. 

Video game engine maker Unity is planning to backpedal on a recent policy change and price increase. Last week we analyzed the backlash and why so many game developers said they were abandoning Unity.

Hot Links:

• Washington state is retiring its online COVID-19 Data Dashboard and replacing it with an enhanced Respiratory Illness Data Dashboard. (Dept. of Health)

• Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott, the outsider who says he sometimes feels like he doesn’t quite fit in, has become the face of the company’s AI strategy. (The Wall Street Journal) 

• Microsoft planned to release a new Xbox gaming console in 2028, according to a 2022 conversation revealed in court documents. (Axios)

Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great week. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com