Coast Guard: OceanGate disaster was preventable
The OceanGate Titan disaster that killed five people during a dive to the wreck of the Titanic in 2023 was preventable, according to a report issued Tuesday by a U.S. Coast Guard panel. An investigation blamed the sub’s implosion on a series of safety lapses and said Stockton Rush (above), CEO and founder of Everett, Wash.-based OceanGate, would have been referred to the Justice Department for criminal investigation if he had survived. Read more.
AI vs. malware: Microsoft unveiled a new AI system that “automates what is considered the gold standard in malware classification” — reverse-engineering software to spot threats without human input. Long-term, the company aims to detect novel malware directly in memory to stop attacks faster, on a large scale. Read more.
More job cuts in Redmond: Microsoft eliminated 40 jobs in Washington, bringing the total number of cuts to 3,160 in its home state since May. It's part of more than 15,000 global layoffs by the company, as capital spending soars to keep up with AI demand. Read more.
The Seattle City Council approved a proposal that would eliminate business taxes for thousands of small companies while significantly raising rates on the city’s biggest revenue generators, including Amazon . The legislation will head to voters in November. Read more.
Tricia Duryee, 1977-2024: A celebration of life will be held in Seattle this Sunday, Aug. 10, for Tricia Duryee, a longtime technology journalist and former GeekWire reporter who died last year after a long battle with breast cancer. Read GeekWire's tribute to Tricia, and register here to attend the ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday at Mount Baker Community Club. Note: Our newsletter item yesterday gave the incorrect day of the week.
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