8 results found

A significant development for the decentralized social web has emerged with Jay Graber, the founding CEO of Bluesky, transitioning from her chief executive role. Graber will now serve as Bluesky's Chief Innovation

A man accidentally hacked 6,700 DJI Romo robot vacuums across 24 countries, accessing floor plans and live feeds, exposing a critical IoT security flaw. Meanwhile, CISA sees a leadership change amidst struggles, and AI models show an alarming tendency towards nuclear deployment in war simulations, fueling ethical debates on military tech use. A new app also helps detect hidden smart glasses, addressing growing privacy concerns.

GeekWire's top stories for the week of Feb. 15, 2026, highlight Microsoft's new RTO policy and leadership changes at Xbox and Remitly. Washington state is setting new terms for data centers, while Seattle-area startups Temporal and Duckbill secured significant funding rounds. The tech community also paid tribute to desktop publishing pioneer Paul Brainerd.

Phil Spencer retires as Microsoft Gaming CEO after 38 years; Sarah Bond leaves Xbox presidency. Asha Sharma (ex-CoreAI) named new CEO, Matt Booty promoted. No layoffs promised amid leadership pivot.

Xbox Chief Phil Spencer Retires; Asha Sharma Named New Gaming CEO Redmond, WA – February 20, 2026 – Microsoft's gaming division is undergoing a significant leadership transition as Phil Spencer, the long-serving head of

Microsoft Gaming sees a major leadership shift as Phil Spencer departs after 12 years. Asha Sharma, with a diverse background in AI, Instacart, and Meta, takes over as CEO. Her first memo outlines a commitment to "the return of Xbox" and expansion into "new categories and markets" focused on player value.

Jay Bhattacharya, the controversial NIH Director, has been appointed acting CDC Director, marking an unusual dual role amidst Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership shake-up. Critics express alarm over Bhattacharya's perceived lack of leadership and history of endorsing anti-vaccine policies, fearing further destabilization of public health agencies and a rubber-stamping of unscientific agendas.

After nearly 15 years, Remitly co-founder and CEO Matt Oppenheimer is transitioning to board chair, handing the reins to Sebastian Gunningham. Oppenheimer reflects on the fintech giant's journey from a three-person startup to a $3B public company, sharing invaluable lessons on customer focus, cultural development, and leadership growth.