Alexa’s next act, Microsoft’s retail play, Google’s AI inbox, and a smart bird feeder fail

GeekWire

Technology, News, Tech News

4.4 • 116 Ratings

🗓️ 10 January 2026

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: Amazon and Microsoft are racing to define the next era of consumer AI, on multiple fronts. We discuss Amazon's attempt to upgrade Alexa into a true generative AI home chatbot — complete with a new web portal and updated Alexa app — while Microsoft leverages its enterprise strength to win over retailers with a new Copilot Checkout feature.

Plus, we explore Google's upcoming "AI Inbox" for Gmail, which promises to act like an executive assistant for your email. We talk about a DIY bird feeder experiment that resulted in "fuzzy birds," and share our initial experience with AI automation on the PC desktop from Seattle startup Vercept.

We offer a Netflix recommendation, Cover-Up, the new documentary about investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. And on that theme, we lament the loss of a major American newspaper, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and reminisce about the time we made an appearance on its editorial page.

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Now, here's one of my challenges with Lexus.
0:01.9	She always has more to say.
0:03.1	You're welcome.
0:04.1	Enjoy those floss picks.
0:05.7	I have tried to tell her not to say that kind of crap at the end.
0:09.4	She's being friendly.
0:10.3	I just, when I say thank you, when I say thank you.
0:13.0	I'd be such a jerk.
0:15.0	Ordering your oral beef flossers.
0:23.0	Hi, and welcome to Geekwire.
0:24.7	I'm Geekwire co-founder Todd Bishop.
0:26.7	And I'm Geekwire co-founder John Cook.
0:29.7	John, I've got so much to talk about on this show.
0:31.6	New Year, a lot of news hitting already.
0:39.0	I want to say, before we jump in, thanks to everyone who got in touch about my Toyota Camry.
0:39.5	Really?
0:40.4	They did?
0:41.1	Okay.
0:42.2	I got two emails.
0:42.6	All right.
0:54.2	One was from Mark, a loyal listener who wanted to know about the shop that I went to and also had some very good things, some constructive feedback about the podcast and the site.
0:55.3	Mark, thank you very much.
	...

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