New Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol faces unique digital challenges | Seattle-area school district cancels classes due to cyberattack

It’s the first day on the job for new Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol . After spending the past six years leading Chipotle, he’ll try to add a jolt to the struggling Seattle coffee company. One area to watch: if and how Niccol makes any changes to Starbucks’ mobile ordering system, which has drawn criticism from customers and the company’s former longtime CEO Howard Schultz . Read more.

School’s out after cyberattack: There were no classes Monday in the Highline Public Schools district south of Seattle following a security breach. Extensive amounts of personal and financial data about kids, teachers, and school staff can make schools an appealing target. Read more.

Nori , a Seattle-based carbon removal startup that raised more than $17 million, has shut down after seven years. The company ran an online marketplace for buying and selling carbon credits generated by farmers who used sustainable practices that capture and hold carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere. Read more.

Artificial intelligence and generative AI are reshaping the recruitment landscape by revolutionizing both the job searching and hiring processes. The tools offer powerful ways to streamline applications, optimize resumes, and enhance interview preparations. But they also present substantial new challenges. Read more.

Hot Links:

• Amazon-owned Audible is inviting audiobook narrators to help train AI on their voices, so clones can be used to make more recordings quickly and cheaply. (Bloomberg)
• Office vacancy rates in Seattle remain some of the highest in the U.S. and the city's new office construction slowdown is the biggest in the West. (Washington State Standard)
• Madrona released the latest IA40 list, highlighting private companies building with and enabling AI and generative AI. Seattle startup Read AI and Dropzone AI made the list.(Intelligent Applications)
• See the 44 most promising AI startups of the year, across fintech, health, logistics and more, according to leading venture capitalists. Seattle startups Protect AI and Overland AI made the list. (Business Insider)
• Apple is revealing new iPhones, watches, and more at an event from the company’s HQ. (The Verge)

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