Blue Origin investigates rocket explosion as public is warned about possible wreckage washing ashore

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is assessing damage to its Florida launch pad after a rocket exploded during a test firing.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/blue-origin-investigates-rocket-explosion-as-public-is-warned-about-possible-wreckage-washing-ashore/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Groupon laying off 400 — nearly 25% of its workforce — in AI shift

Groupon, the online marketplace, is slashing up to 400 positions — nearly a fourth of its worldwide workforce — in a plan to rebuild as an AI-native company.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/groupon-laying-off-400-nearly-25-of-its-workforce-in-ai-shift/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Longview mill implosion comes amid turnaround effort by foreign owners

Days after the fatal incident at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant, it's unclear what the accident means for the facility or its Japanese owner.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/longview-mill-implosion-comes-amid-turnaround-effort-by-foreign-owners/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Gamification and memes lure young people to sports wagering apps, prediction markets

Some sports wagering platforms, as well as popular prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket, are touting their availability to users starting at 18 despite most U.S. states restricting gambling to 21 and older.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/gamification-and-memes-lure-young-people-to-sports-wagering-apps-prediction-markets/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Median pay for CEOs rose nearly 6% in 2025, but some compensation packages were eye-popping

The typical CEO compensation package rose nearly 6% in 2025 to $17.7 million, as company boards rewarded their top executives for bigger profits and higher stock prices, and gave them incentives to stick around and make even more money for shareholders in the years ahead.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/median-pay-for-ceos-rose-nearly-6-in-2025-but-some-compensation-packages-were-eye-popping/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Russian lawmakers want banks and their staff to help fight Ukrainian drones

Russia's lower house of parliament has approved a plan for bank staff and branches to help counter Ukrainian drone attacks.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/russian-lawmakers-want-banks-and-their-staff-to-help-fight-ukrainian-drones/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Supreme Court rejects Meta’s appeal in Vermont social media addiction case

The Supreme Court has rejected a push to avoid a lawsuit alleging that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users, a decision that comes as social media companies increasingly face legal scrutiny.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/supreme-court-rejects-metas-appeal-in-vermont-social-media-addiction-case/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Meta lays off nearly 1,400 Washington employees

The layoffs are part of the job cuts announced last month and will hit workers in Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond, as well as remote workers statewide.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/meta-lays-off-nearly-1400-washington-employees/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Tech leasing picks up in Seattle as giant firms eye expansion

AI powerhouse Anthropic is leading a small wave of leasing activity in Seattle.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/tech-leasing-picks-up-in-seattle-as-giant-firms-eye-expansion/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Pope Leo warns of risks from AI in 42,300-word encyclical

Last week, the Vatican announced it had created a commission of senior Catholic officials to discuss the challenges posed by AI.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/pope-leo-warns-of-risks-from-ai-in-42300-word-encyclical/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto that ponders the future of humanity

In the early awaited “Magnifica Humanitas,” Pope Leo’s first encyclical, he makes strong statements about the potential perils of artificial intelligence.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/pope-calls-for-robust-regulation-of-ai-in-manifesto-that-ponders-the-future-of-humanity/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Pope Leo XIV makes historic apology for Holy See’s own role in legitimizing slavery

Pope Leo XIV has made a historic apology for the role the Holy See itself played in legitimizing slavery.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/pope-leo-xiv-makes-historic-apology-for-holy-sees-own-role-in-legitimizing-slavery/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Lithuania suspects foreign involvement in data leak of over 600,000 national register entries

Lithuanian authorities are on high alert after a massive data leak involving over 600,000 entries from national registers.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/lithuania-suspects-foreign-involvement-in-data-leak-of-over-600000-national-register-entries/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

What to Stream: Paul McCartney, John Travolta, Tina Fey, Latto and Nicolas Cage as Spider-Man

Paul McCartney reflecting on the “Days We Left Behind” with his 18th studio album and John Travolta writing, directing and narrating an ode to the glamorous days of 1960s air travel are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/what-to-stream-paul-mccartney-john-travolta-tina-fey-latto-and-nicolas-cage-as-spider-man/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Spice up your cooking skills with help from your phone

What do you want for dinner tonight? With so many sites devoted to cooking these days, it’s easy to find recipes for any dietary option.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/spice-up-your-cooking-skills-with-help-from-your-phone/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Could anything but profit steer AI? The OpenAI trial offered clues but no verdict

The trial pitting Elon Musk against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made clear the two billionaires agreed on one thing: building artificial intelligence would require significant resources — and enormous amounts of money.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/could-anything-but-profit-steer-ai-the-openai-trial-offered-clues-but-no-verdict/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

OpenAI faces IPO unknowns even after victory over Elon Musk

The decision to push ahead with a listing this year could help it beat rival Anthropic to the public markets and compete for investors.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/openai-faces-ipo-unknowns-even-after-victory-over-elon-musk/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

SpaceX launches its biggest, most beefed-up Starship yet on a test flight

SpaceX has launched its biggest, most powerful Starship yet.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/spacex-launches-its-biggest-most-beefed-up-starship-yet-on-a-test-flight/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

AI controversy swirls around writer from Trinidad and Tobago who won a prestigious prize

A prize-winning Caribbean writer from Trinidad and Tobago is embroiled in the latest controversy involving a short story and allegations that artificial intelligence was used to write it.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/ai-controversy-swirls-around-writer-from-trinidad-and-tobago-who-won-a-prestigious-prize/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Waymo pauses driverless car service in Atlanta and Texas ahead of potentially dangerous storms

Waymo has suspended driverless car services in Atlanta and Texas after one of its vehicles was stranded by flooding during heavy rains that will likely also hinder travel in a large swath of the U.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/waymo-pauses-driverless-car-service-in-atlanta-and-texas-ahead-of-potentially-dangerous-storms/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

A parody ‘cockroach’ party in India becomes major outlet for youth anger and protest

A satirical project called the Cockroach Janta Party has become a viral sensation in India.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/a-parody-cockroach-party-in-india-becomes-major-outlet-for-youth-anger-and-protest/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Malaysia orders TikTok to explain ‘grossly offensive’ fake content targeting king

Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Commission has ordered TikTok to explain and address its failure to act swiftly against offensive and fake content targeting the royal institution.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/malaysia-orders-tiktok-to-explain-grossly-offensive-fake-content-targeting-king/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Brazil’s Lula adds pressure on big techs by increasing their liability for illegal user content

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed two decrees on Wednesday to add pressure on big tech companies by making them liable for illegal content shared by its users and opening way for investigations through a government body on their response to such cases.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/brazils-lula-adds-pressure-on-big-techs-by-increasing-their-liability-for-illegal-user-content/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

App-driven birding attracts flocks of enthusiasts to Colombia

Merlin and its sister app, eBird, both free, have initiated millions of people as amateur birders, building a bridge between the screen and the natural world.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/app-driven-birding-attracts-flocks-of-enthusiasts-to-colombia/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Demand soars for Israel’s battle-tested weapons tech despite global criticism of its wartime conduct

Demand is soaring for Israel's battle-tested weapons and military technology, despite widespread condemnation by rights groups and the international community over the country's conduct in wars, particularly in Gaza.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/demand-soars-for-israels-battle-tested-weapons-tech-despite-global-criticism-of-its-wartime-conduct/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Graduates are booing pep talks on AI at college commencements

Artificial intelligence has becoming an unwelcome topic at college commencements.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/graduates-are-booing-pep-talks-on-ai-at-college-commencements/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

OpenAI avoided a costly court loss to Elon Musk, but neither side is unscathed

Elon Musk lost his case against OpenAI and its top executives in a high-stakes trial that pitted billionaire against billionaires.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/openai-avoided-a-costly-court-loss-to-elon-musk-but-neither-side-is-unscathed/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Malaysia seeks $251 million from Kongsberg after Norway revokes permit, scuttling missile deal

Malaysia's government seeks $251 million in compensation from Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace AS after Norway revoked an export permit.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/malaysia-seeks-251-million-from-kongsberg-after-norway-revokes-permit-scuttling-missile-deal/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Wearables increasingly look to AI to predict health problems before they happen

Companies worldwide are studying the potential for technology to predict health events. This would push boundaries of data collection and information sharing.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wearables-increasingly-look-to-ai-to-predict-health-problems-before-they-happen/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Tired of hacked passwords? Help is on the way

Database breaches, phishing scams and emerging artificial intelligence tools have made simple passwords passé as a way of protecting online accounts.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/tired-of-hacked-passwords-help-is-on-the-way/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Pope and co-founder of Anthropic to launch pontiff’s AI encyclical on May 25

Pope Leo XIV and Anthropic's co-founder Christopher Olah are set to launch the pontiff’s first encyclical on May 25.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/pope-and-co-founder-of-anthropic-to-launch-pontiffs-ai-encyclical-on-may-25/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

What to Stream: John Krasinski, ‘Ladies First,’ Rod Stewart, Brooke Shields and a ‘Lego Batman’ game

John Krasinski returning as Jack Ryan in “Jack Ryan: Ghost War” for Prime Video and “Stranger Things” masterminds the Duffer Brothers producing a Netflix show in which a retirement community teams up to battle monsters are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/what-to-stream-john-krasinski-ladies-first-rod-stewart-brooke-shields-and-a-lego-batman-game/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Steven Soderbergh used AI in a documentary about John Lennon. And he wants to talk about it

The day John Lennon was shot in 1980, he and Yoko Ono gave an interview to a San Francisco radio crew from their home in New York’s Dakota Apartments.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/steven-soderbergh-used-ai-in-a-documentary-about-john-lennon-and-he-wants-to-talk-about-it/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Swatch stores cancel Audemars Piguet-Swatch sale as crowds surge

In recent days, customers and collectors lined up outside selected Swatch boutiques around the world in anticipation of the novelty release.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/swatch-stores-cancel-audemars-piguet-swatch-sale-as-crowds-surge/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

New credit card readers on Seattle transit charging untapped cards

Passengers are reporting surprise charges on their credit card bills after taking public transit.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/new-credit-card-readers-on-seattle-transit-charging-untapped-cards/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Tech CEOs summoned to Congress for another hearing on social media’s risks for children

Social media CEOs have been called to testify before Congress amid growing pressure to protect young users.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/tech-ceos-summoned-to-congress-for-another-hearing-on-social-medias-risks-for-children/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

UK media regulator says X promises to crack down on terrorist and hate content

Elon Musk's social media platform X is pledging to crack down on hate and terrorist content in Britain.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/uk-media-regulator-says-x-promises-to-crack-down-on-terrorist-and-hate-content/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Nvidia’s future in China remains unclear after Trump-Xi summit

As the summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, wrapped up Friday, the fate of Nvidia’s artificial intelligence chips in China was no clearer.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/nvidias-future-in-china-remains-unclear-after-trump-xi-summit/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang tries Beijing’s ‘zhajiangmian’ on food tour

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is exploring Beijing's culinary scene, to the delight of social media.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-tries-beijings-zhajiangmian-on-food-tour/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Musk’s xAI unveils first coding agent in bid to rival anthropic

The artificial intelligence model, which is in early testing and only available for paying subscribers, is the startup's initial push into professional coding.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/musks-xai-unveils-first-coding-agent-in-bid-to-rival-anthropic/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Musk, OpenAI lawyers begin closing arguments in landmark trial that could shape AI’s future

Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI began closing arguments Thursday in the landmark trial whose outcome could shape the future of artificial intelligence.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/musk-openai-lawyers-begin-closing-arguments-in-landmark-trial-that-could-shape-ais-future/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

In an era when workers are returning to offices, here’s how Dropbox is making remote jobs work

Many companies have ended remote work arrangements that began during the coronavirus pandemic.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/in-an-era-when-workers-are-returning-to-offices-heres-how-dropbox-is-making-remote-jobs-work/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Pope decries the rise of AI-directed warfare, saying it leads to a spiral of annihilation

Pope Leo XIV has denounced investments in AI and high-tech weaponry, warning they lead to a “spiral of annihilation.”

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/pope-decries-the-rise-of-ai-directed-warfare-saying-it-leads-to-a-spiral-of-annihilation/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

China’s Alibaba reports 38% jump in AI and cloud revenue as it races to grow

China's Alibaba has reported accelerating AI and cloud revenue growth driven by the AI boom, which has jumped 38% in the January-March quarter compared to the year before.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/chinas-alibaba-reports-38-jump-in-ai-and-cloud-revenue-as-it-races-to-grow/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

The hantavirus outbreak is resurrecting COVID-era misinformation tactics

Experts say the outbreak of hantavirus, which spreads rarely from person to person, poses far less of a threat than COVID. But the rush to embrace a new round of conspiracy theories has them concerned.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/the-hantavirus-outbreak-is-resurrecting-covid-era-misinformation-tactics/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Japan’s SoftBank racks up huge profit gains with lift from lucrative AI investments

Japanese technology investor Softbank Group says profits for the fiscal year through March zoomed by nearly five-fold as its AI investments paid off.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/japans-softbank-racks-up-huge-profit-gains-with-lift-from-lucrative-ai-investments/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Greece says attack sea drone found on island is Ukrainian, calls incident ‘extremely serious’

Greece’s defense minister has confirmed that a military sea drone discovered on a Greek island last week is Ukrainian built.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/greece-says-attack-sea-drone-found-on-island-is-ukrainian-calls-incident-extremely-serious/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

WA homeowners, farmers say their land is being stolen for data centers

Data center developers have been champing at the bit for more energy. A new power line through Grant County would go through 34 private properties.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/wa-homeowners-farmers-say-their-land-is-being-stolen-for-data-centers/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Deal reached with hackers to delete data stolen from the Canvas educational platform

Instructure, the company behind the online learning system Canvas, has reached a deal with hackers to delete data stolen in a cyberattack.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/deal-reached-with-hackers-to-delete-data-stolen-from-the-canvas-educational-platform/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Amazon looks to redefine a need for speed with 30-minute deliveries

Amazon is rapidly opening store-sized delivery hubs in dozens of U.S. and foreign cities to fulfill customers’ most urgent product needs in 30 minutes or less.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon-looks-to-redefine-a-need-for-speed-with-30-minute-deliveries/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology