Amazon responds to FTC complaints about Signal messages | Gates helps Zuck celebrate 40

Amazon, the FTC, and Signal: What should the court read into the absence of incriminating Signal messages from Amazon executives in the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit? The agency says it’s “highly likely that relevant information has been destroyed” through the use of disappearing messages. But in a new filing, Amazon says “the equally logical explanation—made more compelling by the available evidence—is that such messages never existed.” Read more.

Tech Moves: Google Cloud VP joins AWS; Unity CTO departs; PitchBook founder steps down; and more personnel changes in PNW tech.

College reunion: Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg both famously dropped out of Harvard to pursue their tech dreams. But the Microsoft and Facebook creators were back in a tiny, recreated dorm room to celebrate Zuckerberg’s 40th birthday this week. 

A helium leak pushed back the first-ever crewed flight test of Boeing’s Starliner space taxi to no earlier than May 21 to give Boeing, NASA and United Launch Alliance extra time to complete on-the-ground testing. Read more.

Microsoft’s carbon footprint keeps growing, according to the company’s latest sustainability report, as data center demands driven by the AI rush make it more difficult to reach carbon goals set in recent years. Read more.

• Related: ​​As AI use surges, tech companies race to secure clean energy and preserve climate goals

"Focus on getting your fundamentals right, because I think the market's coming your way." That was the optimistic message from Gordon Pan, president of Baird Capital, speaking with GeekWire chairman Jonathan Sposato at the GeekWire Awards. Read more.

There are 39 startups included in the Washington Technology Industry Association’s 11th Founder Cohort, designed to help seed-stage companies grow. Read more.

Hot Links:

• Anthropic, the AI startup backed by Amazon, hired Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger as its new chief product officer. (The Verge)

• Uber is partnering with Costco for grocery delivery, and is rolling out an airport shuttle service. (Axios)

• Netflix is making a move into live sports, inking a deal with the NFL to stream Christmas Day games. (CNBC)

• Amazon exec Doug Herrington offers anyone who visits his office a book he recently enjoyed. On tap currently is William Zinsser’s “On Writing Well.” (LinkedIn)