Allen Institute for AI brings new superpowers to image analysis | F5 layoffs

A new multimodal AI model from the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2), dubbed Molmo, works with visual data in novel ways. Leaders of the Seattle-based AI nonprofit say the approach shows the power of an open approach to AI vs. closed models from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and others. We started by asking it to analyze the contents of our fridge. Read more. 

Is the “Seattle Freeze” hurting the city’s startup scene? Panelists at a WTIA event this week referenced Seattle’s long-dreaded social dynamic, and a “celebration of pessimism,” as one reason why tech founders may have a tough time getting started or attracting investment in the city. Read more.

• The reaction to that viewpoint and GeekWire’s story about it was a bit chilly over on LinkedIn, where several entrepreneurs and VCs weighed in about the Freeze, Seattle vs. Silicon Valley comparisons, and more. Read more.

Smartsheet can solicit other offers after announcing a $8.4 billion buyout deal this week, but analysts say the existing bid from Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners is likely to stand. The deal could be a bellwether for other private equity acquisitions in tech. Read more. 

F5 layoffs: The Seattle-based application delivery giant is laying off employees working for the company’s marketing-related content production team. Read more.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell wants to pull revenue from a controversial payroll tax on big businesses such as Amazon to help plug holes in the city’s budget. The tax, known as JumpStart, passed five years ago to pay for affordable housing, homeless services, economic development projects, and climate-related investments. Revenue from JumpStart has exceeded estimates. Read more.

Group14 lawsuit: A judge dismissed a case brought by the battery startup, alleging that a competitor illegally used its proprietary information in patent applications and to land investments. “Nexeon has called Group14’s apparent bluff, and the moment has arrived for the Court to throw Group14’s hand into the muck,” the judge wrote in his ruling. Read more.

Self-driving wheelchairs: Mobility challenged travelers at Sea-Tac International Airport have a high-tech new option for getting to their gates. Read more.

Seattle-based Radian Aerospace isn't a billionaire-backed player in the launch industry, like Elon Musk's SpaceX or Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. But the company is trying to do something bigger players haven't done — build a single-stage-to-orbit space plane — and they've just finished an initial round of ground taxi tests with a prototype plane. Read more.

Submarine builder Karl Stanley was all smiles as he climbed into OceanGate's Titan sub for a deep-sea trip — but the noisy dive threw a scare into him, and foreshadowed the disaster to come. Plus: More tales from the Coast Guard hearing into last year's tragedy. Read more.

Hot Links:

• Google filed an antitrust complaint in the EU alleging that Microsoft uses unfair licensing contracts in its cloud computing business. (CNBC)

• Meta is unveiling new hardware and AI features at its annual Connect conference. (The Verge) 

• LinkedIn released its annual Top Startups list — and three Seattle-area companies made it: health data platform Truveta, software product experimentation startup Statsig, and cybersecurity provider Chainguard. (LinkedIn)