GeekWire - Rumors, AI, and the 2024 election

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, with just days to go before the Nov. 5 election, we take a fresh look at AI, social media, and some surprising trends in the spread of fake content and misinformation. Danielle Lee Tomson (above), research manager for election rumors at the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public, speaks with guest host Ross Reynolds.

For all the concern about deepfakes fooling the electorate, AI is having another impact on the campaign. In some cases, like heroic AI-generated images of the candidates, it’s less about veracity, and more about the vibe, Tomson explains. “When AI is used to create an ambience online, you could say, ‘Oh yeah, Donald Trump is not a Steelers linebacker,' but you feel something — and you can't fact-check a feeling,” she says.

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Jeff Bezos is selling more than $3 billion worth of Amazon shares in his latest stock sale this year. The Amazon founder has used stock sales to fund projects and initiatives including his Blue Origin space venture. Amazon stock was up 7% after the tech giant beat estimates for its third quarter earnings on Thursday. Read more.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is reportedly in talks to sell Time, the media company he acquired for $190 million in 2018. On a recent episode of the GeekWire Podcast, Benioff called the media industry “very difficult” and “very complicated.” Listen to the episode and read more.

Seattle real estate startup Flyhomes released a new tool that shows home shoppers information on a neighborhood’s political leanings. Read more.

Melinda French Gates was spotted holding hands with her new boyfriend. Read more.

University of Washington researchers used AI to process job applications — and the results show an outsized bias for picking white male candidates. Read more.

📆 Upcoming events: Tech and startup community gatherings on our radar next week in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

• Nov. 4: PASS Summit 2024

• Nov. 4: The Washington Tech Expo

• Nov. 7: Hip Hop Climate Conference

• Nov. 7: Seattle Tech Ecosystem Happy Hour: VC Panel

• Nov. 9: R2-D2 Builders Club Expo 

Check out the GeekWire Calendar for more.

Hot Links:

• Microsoft CFO Amy Hood is playing a crucial role in managing the company’s massive AI investments. (Wall Street Journal)

• Regulators rejected a deal to let Amazon fuel a data center with a nearby nuclear power plant. (Bloomberg)

• Microsoft and Andreessen Horowitz laid out suggestions for policy ideas to support AI startups. (Microsoft)