GeekWire - Can AI save the world?

Can AI do good in the world? The answer is yes, according to a new book written by leaders from Microsoft’s philanthropic AI for Good Lab. Juan Lavista Ferres (above), a Microsoft corporate vice president and chief data scientist who directs the lab, joins us on a new episode of the GeekWire Podcast for a conversation about the lab’s work, the potential for AI to bring about positive change in the world, and takeaways for the rest of us looking to apply artificial intelligence to our daily work and lives.

• Read more and listen here, and subscribe to GeekWire in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

• Also check out our lineup of upcoming guests on the show, including Amazon CTO Werner Vogels talking about the future of AI on next week’s episode.

Google’s philanthropic arm donated $500,000 to expand robotics and artificial intelligence education among middle school students in Washington state. The funds will support two STEM-focused nonprofits and more than 1,200 new and existing robotics clubs in the state. Read more.

Catch up on some of this week’s news: 

• AWS layoffs: Amazon made hundreds of cuts within its cloud computing arm, but is still hiring in core areas of the business. 

• Tech office buildouts: Google is reportedly pausing plans at a big complex east of Seattle, while Amazon restarted construction on a Bellevue office tower. The region's office market continues to struggle as vacancy rates keep rising.

• Startup fundings: Agriculture startups TerraClear and Pollen Systems raised fresh cash, as did Read AI, KredosAI, and Praia Health, the latest spinout from Providence. See our full list of recent fundings. 

Hot Links:

• “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver has an upset stomach — over food delivery apps and the potential harm to restaurants and workers. Seattle’s potential rollback of gig worker protections gets a mention. (YouTube)

• Seattle startup Rippl, which focuses on mental health of seniors, is partnering with the Alzheimer's Association to improve access to dementia care in the U.S. (Rippl)
• Micromobility company Bird, one of the providers in Seattle’s scooter share program, has emerged from bankruptcy as a new company called Third Lane Mobility. (Third Lane Mobility)

Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great weekend. — GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; GeekWire editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com; and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com.