Bill Gates, the GeekWire interview

Bill Gates sat down with GeekWire for a wide-ranging conversation on topics including his extraordinary upbringing, the key people and influences in his life, the remarkable circumstances that led to his work in software, and his outlook on the world today, coinciding with the release of his new memoir, “Source Code: My Beginnings.” Read more, watch video highlights, and listen here. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.?

• PREVIOUSLY: Bill Gates’ book ‘Source Code’ is a surprisingly candid memoir of the Microsoft mogul’s early years

Coming soon: In Part 2 of the conversation, as part of our Microsoft @ 50 series, Gates discusses the evolution of the company that he and Paul Allen started five decades ago, opportunities in AI, and what’s next for 微软 .

The 美国华盛顿大学 named Robert J. Jones as its 34th president. The current chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign succeeds Ana Mari Cauce at the UW, one of the nation’s top research universities and an academic linchpin of the Seattle region’s tech industry. Learn more about the selection.??

Tesla could lose its big electric vehicle sales advantage in Washington state if lawmakers give Rivian , Lucid Motors and other manufacturers the right to offer test drives and sell their vehicles directly to consumers. Backers of the effort say it’s better for EV sales and ultimately the planet. Read more.

Blue Origin put a new spin on its New Shepard suborbital rocketship Tuesday with a launch that sent 30 research payloads on a 10-minute trip that simulated moon-level gravity and conditions the materials would face during future lunar missions. Read more.

The first electric fire engine to enter service in Washington state was unveiled in Redmond, Wash., as the city seeks to achieve net-zero emissions from city operations by 2030. Read more.

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation is partnering with ArtsFund for the third straight year to grant $10 million to arts and culture organizations across Washington state. Read more.

Submit your nominations for the 2025 GeekWire Awards. From Startup of the Year to Next Tech Titan, help us choose the best in Pacific Northwest Tech. See all the details.

Hot Links:

• 亚马逊 says it achieved its fastest-ever delivery speeds for Prime members in 2024, delivering more than 9 billion items the same day or next day. (About Amazon)
• Meanwhile, the e-commerce giant continues to struggle to translate its online retail strength into success in the world of bricks-and-mortar commerce. (Wall Street Journal)
• Immunome, Inc. , a Bothell, Wash.-based biotech company, raised $172.5 million in a public offering to support its development of targeted cancer therapies. (Immunome)
• Code.org and Amazon announced a new curriculum for grades 8-12, called “Exploring Generative AI,” to boost understanding of the technology and its implications. (Code.org)

SPONSOR MESSAGE: Microsoft@50, a special event marking Microsoft’s 50th anniversary. GeekWire is hosting a special community event on March 20, 2025, at Town Hall Seattle, bringing together key leaders from Microsoft’s past and present to examine the impact of the Redmond technology giant. Together, we’ll revisit defining moments, explore new challenges, and get a glimpse into what lies ahead for one of the world’s most influential companies. Early-bird tickets are on sale here.

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