Trump layoffs impact Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Open source and AI: Our guest on the latest GeekWire Podcast is Ali Farhadi, CEO of Seattle’s Allen Institute for AI (Ai2), who said DeepSeek’s recent breakthrough serves as a proof point that “open source will win,” citing the importance of the open approach in allowing researchers to build on each other’s progress. Listen to the episode. 

There is a growing debate in cities including Seattle over the role of “rent tech” software — tools used by big landlords to set prices based on market data. While the legal battle plays out, an ethical question looms: Should cities let the market play out — or step in to ensure people can actually afford to live where they work? Read more.

Hot Links:

• Microsoft announced a $700 million investment in Poland. (Microsoft; LinkedIn)

• Amazon workers at a North Carolina warehouse voted against unionizing. (CNBC) 

• Protestors gathered outside a Tesla dealership in Seattle as part of a nationwide movement. (KING5)

• "It ain't over": A University of Washington scientist leading a first-of-its-kind national report on the state of nature vowed to continue the effort after the Trump administration canceled the project. (The Seattle Times)