Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of Aug. 17, 2025.
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Most popular stories on GeekWire
Excel + AI: Microsoft brings new ‘COPILOT’ function directly into spreadsheet cells
Microsoft is building generative AI directly into the cells of Excel, attempting to bring one of the defining apps of the PC revolution into a new generation of computing. A new “COPILOT” function for Microsoft’s classic spreadsheet program lets users generate, summarize, and analyze data using plain-language prompts inside a cell. For example, a product manager with a column of raw customer feedback could type =COPILOT(“What is the sentiment of the comment in cell A2?”) to quickly label each remark as ‘Positive,’ ‘Negative,’ or ‘Neutral,’ without using a chatbot or plugin. … Read More
Tech Moves: Key AWS chip engineer to depart; former longtime Microsoft leaders take new roles
— Rami Sinno, director of engineering at Amazon Web Services’ Annapurna Labs — ground zero for the tech giant’s silicon chip development — is reportedly leaving the company. … Read More
‘Game of Thrones’ creator and other science fiction writers trace twists and turns at Seattle Worldcon
If you were to track the milestones in the career of George R.R. … Read More
Google’s Pixel 10 launch sends T-Mobile’s satellite phone service into the data zone
T-Mobile subscribers who buy one of the phones in Google’s newly announced Pixel 10 lineup will be able to explore a new frontier in mass-market mobile connectivity: satellite access to data-dependent apps, including Google Maps. … Read More
Seattle is a global AI hub — but where are the superstar startups?
In one of the biggest technological waves ever, the Seattle startup and venture capital community is missing out on the AI frenzy. … Read More
Despite status as a global tech hub, Seattle passengers still can’t hail a driverless ride
While taxi customers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin and Atlanta can hail rides from driverless vehicles, passengers eager to do the same in Seattle — one of the globe’s leading technology hubs — are stuck at the curb. … Read More
Bill Gates-backed AI competition offers $1M to accelerate Alzheimer’s research
A $1 million global competition that aims to accelerate Alzheimer’s disease research using AI launched today with support from Bill Gates and others. … Read More
TeamSense, a Seattle-area startup that helps track employee absences, raises more cash
Seattle-area startup TeamSense, a software platform used by employers for absence reporting and employee communications, is raising fresh investment. … Read More
Protesters set up temporary encampment at Microsoft to pressure company on Israel contracts
Protesters took over part of Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash., campus for more than an hour Tuesday — escalating their efforts to pressure the company to stop providing technology to the Israeli government and military. … Read More
20 arrested at Microsoft headquarters in latest protest over Israel tech contracts
Editor’s Note: This post has been changed to reflect an updated count of the number of arrests. … Read More
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