AI’s trust problem | Kara Swisher speaks in Seattle | Alliance of Angels raising new fund

AI has a trust problem: Edelman CEO Richard Edelman says that rapid technological change — especially in the field of artificial intelligence — will fuel increased populism and polarization across societies. During visits to his global communications firm’s clients in tech-heavy Seattle and San Francisco, and on a special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, Edelman said “acceptance of innovation cannot be taken for granted.” Read more, listen and subscribe.

The University of Washington is launching a new center to help solve the difficult and urgent issues related to computer science education in the U.S. Read more.

A new book from longtime tech journalist and entrepreneur Kara Swisher offers an unvarnished take on the tech elite. Swisher spoke about “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story” at Seattle’s Town Hall last night — these were our favorite quotes, takeaways, and zingers.

Alliance of Angeles raising new fund: The Seattle-based investment group’s third annual “Innovation Fund” will help support a new batch of startups across the Pacific Northwest. Read more.

Fact-checking President Biden before the State of the Union: Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s non-partisan, nonprofit USAFacts has released its data-driven deep dive into statistics related to the economy, immigration, crime, energy and more ahead of Thursday’s address. Read more.

“I’ve seen the GeekWire article.” That was a phrase we weren’t expecting to hear at this week’s Seattle City Council meeting. Food delivery drivers spoke during a public comment period, asking lawmakers to reconsider the new minimum wage law that has sparked controversy and led to hefty consumer fees on platforms run by Uber and DoorDash. Two drivers referenced our interview with Council President Sara Nelson, who said she wanted to find a solution this month. 

Hot Links:

• Microsoft filed a motion to dismiss part of the suit filed by The New York Times against the tech giant and OpenAI. (CNBC)

• Seattle startup Amperity launched AmpAi, a new suite of AI tools built to help automate how companies draw insights from customer data. (Amperity)

• Chipper Cash, a Jeff Bezos-backed fintech startup that competes with Seattle-based Remitly, is suspending U.S. services. (The Information) 

• Realtor.com is partnering with rival Zillow Group to expand its rental listings. (Real Estate News)

• Maveron investor Jason Stoffer is back with another S-1 teardown, this time analyzing Reddit’s IPO filing. (Ringing the Bell)