Microsoft shows new AI tools at Build developer conference

• In addition to new developer tools, the company announced end user features such as a "Team Copilot" AI assistant to run meetings, manage projects, and assign tasks.

• Microsoft will make Khan Academy’s Khanmigo tool available free to U.S. teachers as part of a new partnership with the online education platform, a longtime Google ally. 

• Microsoft sees new Copilot+ Windows PCs, including an AI-powered “Recall” feature, as continuing the “Information at Your Fingertips” vision that dates to the Bill Gates era.

Seattle ranks No. 6 among the top 1,000 largest cities in the world thanks in large part to an economy propelled by its tech sector. Only New York, London, San Jose, Calif., Tokyo, and Paris outpace Seattle in the inaugural “Global Cities Index.” Read more. 

Using robots in restaurants may reduce labor costs in the short-term, but new research from Washington State University shows that they could also aggravate existing worker shortages.

SeekOut layoffs: The Seattle-based recruiting tech startup laid off employees for the second time in eight months. Read more. 

• Related: A regularly updated list of layoffs in the Pacific Northwest. 

Seattle biotech startup A-Alpha Bio landed $14.5 million from the Department of Defense to help prepare for future biological threats using the company’s machine learning tools. Read more.

Abett, a Seattle-based startup that helps large employers manage and analyze health plan data, raised $11.6 million to help boost its software platform.

Wave Motion Launch's "Jet Gun" sounds like something cooked up for a pulp sci-fi novel, but the U.S. Army is giving the Seattle-area startup $1.6 million to make a prototype. (Above: Wave Motion CEO Finn van Donkelaar shows off a mortar-scale Jet Gun prototype.) Read more.

More than 800 arts and culture organizations in Washington state are getting another $10 million boost from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and ArtsFund. Read more. 

Hot Links:

• Zillow released an open source tool aimed at encouraging unbiased behavior for real estate conversations powered by artificial intelligence. (Zillow) 

• Amazon Games opened a new development studio in Romania, adding to offices in Orange County, Montreal, San Diego, and Seattle. (Amazon Games)

• T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert delivered the commencement speech to MBA grads at the Wharton School. Part of his advice: stoke your successes, instead of fighting your fires. (T-Mobile) 

• Amazon is rolling out 10 energy projects in California and Arizona that pair solar farms with giant batteries that will be managed using AI and can hold nearly 1.5 gigawatts of power. (Axios)

• Bill Gates’ list of summer recommendations features four books and one TV show — and a BBQ-themed video to showcase the highlights. (Gates Notes)