How six computer science seniors won their first hackathon | More Zulily layoffs

• That changed earlier this month when they joined 300 college students from the Seattle region at an event hosted at Amazon by transportation analytics company INRIX, in partnership with Amazon Web Services.

• The team from Seattle U. used historical data about traffic, weather, and collisions in San Francisco to train a machine learning model that predicts likely accident hotspots in the city based on current conditions, producing a heat map to strategically position emergency personnel. And they won. Read the story.

Zulily lays off more employees: The online retailer emailed workers Wednesday notifying them it was their last day at the company. It’s the second round of cuts at Zulily in the past two weeks, and another sign of the company’s apparent shutdown. Read more. 

Kaspien shutting down: The publicly traded e-commerce company based in Spokane, Wash., and previously known as Etailz is laying off workers and closing, according to new filings. Read more. 

Wizards of the Coast is doubling down on its generative AI stance after questions about artwork in a new rulebook. “We work with some of the most talented artists and creatives in the world, and we believe those people are what makes D&D great,” the Renton, Wash.-based company said. Read more. 

AI Santa is ready to take your call: Seattle startup Fixie has created HiSanta.ai, an interactive tool that harnesses the company’s work on large language models and turns it into a fun way to share wish lists and find out if you’ve been naughty or nice. Read more.

“Customers don’t care about your AI.” That’s the take from Seattle venture capitalist Kirby Winfield, who says customers just want to know that you’re solving a problem and doing it 10 times better. Hear more from Winfield on a new episode of the Shift AI Podcast.

Hot Links:

• Microsoft is making more Xbox leadership changes as it takes over Activision Blizzard. (The Verge)

• The top 10 phone scams of 2023 included phony bank and credit card calls, medical and tax hoaxes and Amazon impersonators. (Hiya)

• As Microsoft chases technological advances in AI, the company is sharing its approach to protecting privacy along the way in products such as Copilot. (Microsoft)

• A 3D virtual tour of Santa’s North Pole cabin now features an interactive floor plan generated by AI. (Zillow)

• Vancouver, Wash.-based biotech company Absci is forming a strategic R&D partnership with PrecisionLife to develop new biotherapeutics. (Absci)

• Bird, the micromobility company with shareable e-scooters and e-bikes on Seattle streets, filed for bankruptcy. (TechCrunch)