Amazon Web Services has announced plans to cut hundreds of jobs in various departments, including Sales, Marketing, Global Services, and Physical Stores Technology. Despite the layoffs, the company is still hiring in core areas with thousands of job postings available. Google’s expansion plans east of Seattle seem to be on hold, according to a recent report. Meanwhile, Steve Singh is leading a group of investors in the acquisition of Direct Travel Inc., a corporate travel management company with over $300 million in revenue and 1,800 employees.
Tableau is introducing a new artificial intelligence tool to make its advanced data analysis and visualization features more accessible to a wider range of users. Microsoft and Quantinuum have collaborated on a quantum computing system that can significantly reduce error rates for data processing. Amazon is closing its Fresh grocery store in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to focus on redesigned stores with an expanded selection. Additionally, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill into law to support the semiconductor industry in the state and potentially attract more federal funding.
Seattle-based F5 announced two new executive appointments: Lyra Schramm as Chief People Officer and Kunal Anand as Chief Technology Officer. A report from Kidder Mathews revealed that regional vacancy rates in the Seattle area have risen to 15.1%, marking the ninth consecutive quarterly increase. To stay updated on the latest technology and startup news, readers can subscribe to GeekWire’s weekly email newsletter for a roundup of the most popular stories.
