‘Quantum Valley’ grows in Pacific Northwest | Xbox shifts competitive strategy 

IonQ boosts Pacific Northwest’s “Quantum Valley”: The Maryland-based company revealed that it is already expanding its footprint at a new Seattle-area factory for quantum computer manufacturing. “Our region is already known worldwide for our innovation and leadership, and this facility will continue to build on that,” Washington state Sen. Maria Cantwell (above, second from right) said at a ribbon-cutting event Thursday. Read more.

Xbox strategy shift: The console wars aren’t over yet, but Microsoft is taking a new competitive approach with its gaming business as the company both competes with and supports its biggest rivals. Read more. 

“Normalize imposter syndrome”: That was one of the phrases shared last week at a tech leadership panel discussion with longtime executives and entrepreneurs. They offered up various tips for CEOs, founders, and team leaders. Read more. 

Guardrails AI, a startup co-founded by Seattle tech vet Diego Oppenheimer, raised $7.5 million to help companies manage risks when building AI applications. 

Have you submitted a GeekWire Awards nomination yet? Our annual event returns May 9 and now’s the time to draw attention to such categories as Workplace of the Year or UX Design of the Year. Read more about the event and cast your ballot!

Hot Links:

• “I am terrified by the implications for our democracy”: That’s the reaction from AI expert Oren Etzioni in response to the release this week of OpenAI’s new tool that instantly creates videos from text prompts. (The New York Times; LinkedIn)

• Apple is working on an AI tool to compete with Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot to help developers create code more quickly. (Bloomberg) 

• Jeff Bezos sold another $2 billion worth of Amazon stock this week, the third time this month the founder of the tech giant has liquidated stock. (CNBC)

• Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s next step in the approval process for crime-fighting technology represents a “remarkable increase in everyday surveillance in the city.” (The Urbanist)

• Technology from Seattle-area startup Alongside is being used by a school district in North Carolina to provide students with mental health support. (LinkedIn)

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