Microsoft at 50: Why the fate of Windows hinges on AI

A wealth tax is back on the table in Washington. Gov. Jay Inslee released his final budget proposal Tuesday that includes a 1% tax on residents with worldwide wealth exceeding $100 million. Critics believe taxes that target wealthy people can dissuade businesses from coming to the state and undermine the region’s status as a technology hub. Read more.

Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab launched an open-source AI device for biodiversity monitoring designed to help researchers better understand the planet. Dubbed Project SPARROW, for Solar-Powered Acoustic and Remote Recording Observation Watch, it’s the first project of its kind from the lab. Read more.

Perplexity, an OpenAI rival valued at $9 billion, acquired Carbon, a Seattle startup that helps companies connect external data sources to their large language models. Read more.

Some Amazon workers won’t be back in the office five days a week when the company’s new RTO mandate goes into effect next month. Here’s why.

Amazon is giving its device packaging a sustainable makeover. Echo, Kindle and Fire TV products will now come in mostly brown boxes that are more recyclable and feature less plastic, ink and bleach in another bid by the company to reduce its carbon footprint. Read more.

First Mode filed for bankruptcy in the latest chapter in a sudden downfall for the Seattle-based clean tech company. Read more.

Grants totaling approximately $57 million, announced this week by the Washington State Dept. of Commerce and Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office, will support initiatives to improve digital equity, expand high-speed internet access for tribal communities, and deploy zero-emission school buses statewide. Read more.

Hot Links:

• Taiwan is in talks with Amazon about collaborating on the company’s Project Kuiper satellite network to build communications resilience for the island. (Reuters)

• Coda, an AI productivity startup backed by Seattle VC firm Madrona, was acquired by Grammarly. (siliconANGLE)

• Jeff Bezos is poised to tighten the space race with Elon Musk with the launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket and Amazon’s deployment of Project Kuiper satellites. (The New York Times)

• T-Mobile opened up beta test signups for its Starlink service. (Ars Technica)

• Microsoft is making a “risky” bet by not relying on exclusive games for Xbox. (Windows Central)

• Microsoft Chief Product Officer Sarah Bird talks artificial general intelligence and why focus needs to be on augmenting, not replicating, human capabilities. (Financial Times)

• No more “murder hornets”: The Washington State Dept. of Agriculture declared the northern giant hornet eradicated from Washington and the U.S. after three years without confirmed detections. (WSDA)