Seattle’s tech paradox: Amazon's layoffs and the AI boom — or is it a bubble?

In this episode of the GeekWire podcast, Todd Bishop and John Cook discuss the juxtaposition of Amazon's recent layoffs with the ongoing AI boom, debating whether the current enthusiasm for AI is a bubble. They analyze Amazon's earnings, the impact of AI investments like Anthropic, and the potential for a startup boom fueled by laid-off tech workers. The conversation also covers the human cost of the layoffs and shifts to a discussion about the Cascadia Innovation Corridor and the prospects for high-speed rail connecting Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, with John expressing skepticism about the necessity and business rationale behind the project.