Humans have become increasingly vulnerable to technology engineered to grab our attention, pulling us away from more meaningful and fulfilling moments and interactions in our lives. Can technology itself be part of the solution? Our guest this week on the GeekWire Podcast is Caroline Cadwell, co-founder and CEO of Unpluq, a recent graduate of the Techstars Seattle accelerator program. The startup offers an app, subscription service, and keychain tag designed to help people become more conscious and mindful about their use of smartphones, social media, and other addictive apps and services.
Related links:
Seattle Public Schools sues TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and others, seeking compensation for youth mental health crisis
Rational Overrides: Influence Behavior Beyond Nudging — research that helped to inspire Unpluq's approach.
Could You Live Without a Smartphone? — TedX talk by Anastasia Dedyukhina of  Consciously Digital, who is referenced by Caroline Cadwell on the episode.
Our favorite startup pitches from Techstars Seattle Demo Day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reclaiming our lives through more mindful use of technology

GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

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This week's episode features an interview with Loretta Napoleoni, conducted by Ross Reynolds, the longtime public radio host and occasional GeekWire Podcast guest host, in an event presented by Town Hall Seattle on April 18, 2024.
Loretta Napoleoni is an Italian economist and journalist whose books include "Rogue Economics" and "Insurgent Iraq." Her newest book is “Technocapitalism: The Rise of the New Robber Barons and the Fight for the Common Good."
In this interview, she explains the concept of the "present future." This refers to the disorienting era in which we're living, characterized by rapid technological change that creates anxiety and a feeling of being constantly behind.
She also discusses the control of technology by a few powerful entrepreneurs, whom she calls "technocapitalists," and the failure of society and the state to direct technological innovation for the common good.
  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rise of 'Technocapitalism' and its impact on humanity, with economist Loretta Napoleoni

This week, we go inside the GeekWire Awards, our annual recognition of the top people, companies and innovations in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, which drew a sold-out crowd to the Showbox Sodo on Thursday May 9 in Seattle. We talk with finalists about AI, the economy and key trends in their industries, and we hear from some of the winners on stage during the program.
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Photos: Inside the GeekWire Awards, with the big winners, musical numbers and surprise guests
GeekWire Awards 2024 revealed: Winners bask in momentum of AI and potential of region
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inside the GeekWire Awards: What's next for AI, the economy, and startups

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss Amazon's efforts to compete with Trader Joe's, and the related tactics revealed in "The Everything War," the new book by Dana Mattioli of the Wall Street Journal. We also revisit last week's episode with Mattioli and share some of the reactions to the discussion.
Plus, the FTC probes Amazon's internal use of Signal's disappearing messages feature, a newly disclosed email shows how Microsoft scrambled to catch up in artificial intelligence, and a new report says that Bill Gates is still a highly influential figure inside Microsoft, especially when it comes to the company's AI strategy.
Finally, we go inside the Seattle courtroom where a prominent figure from the cryptocurrency world, Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, received a controversial prison sentence this week.
Other stories discussed on the show:

Amazon stock rises as Q1 earnings top estimates with $143.3B in revenue; AWS sales up 17%
DoorDash rips Seattle over minimum wage law; reports record quarterly revenue of $2.5B
Prudential to shut down Assurance, the insurance tech startup it acquired for $2.35B in 2019
KING5: Binance founder Changpeng Zhao sentenced to 4 months for allowing money laundering
Business Insider: Bill Gates is still pulling strings at Microsoft, overseeing AI ideas
Internet Archive: Full text: An epic Bill Gates rant
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon vs. Trader Joe's; Bill Gates still a force at Microsoft; Inside the Binance founder's sentencing

A conversation with Dana Mattioli, Wall Street Journal reporter and author of the new book, "The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power." With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'The Everything War': Inside Amazon with author and Wall Street Journal reporter Dana Mattioli

This week on the show, we get a sneak preview of the GeekWire Awards, coming up at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle on Thursday, May 9.

We look back at the past winners of the Next Tech Titan title in the awards, and consider the event's track record in predicting major companies to emerge from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
We also contemplate the evolution of the "Workplace of the Year" category through the rise of remote and hybrid work.
And finally, we consider the impact of migration on another part of state: Spokane, Wash., and the Inland Northwest.

See more GeekWire Awards coverage, and learn more about the event, which is presented by Astound Business Solutions.
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reclaiming our lives through more mindful use of technology

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