Primed

Introducing: Booming.

An economy podcast from a city that (almost) never stops growing.

I asked a hacker to spy on me via my Amazon account. It took him 5 minutes to break in

When it comes to security of smart home devices, Amazon's biggest weakness — is us.

After online shopping binge, a plastic packaging hangover

We’re entering the biggest shopping season of the year. For many people, that means online shopping — packages piled on doorsteps, delivery cars and vans whipping down streets. But what do we do with the packaging after we rip it open?

After the online shopping binge, a plastic packaging hangover

We’re entering the biggest shopping season of the year. For many people, that means online shopping — packages piled on doorsteps, delivery cars and vans whipping down streets. But what do we do with the packaging after we rip it open?

'The AI will see you now.' How tech could alter the doctor-patient relationship

On this week’s episode of Primed, we talk to Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist whose book "Deep Medicine" explores the impact of AI technology on health care. Dr. Topol believes AI can help doctors build a more nuanced model of their patients’ profiles — a model that more accurately represents the complex human beings who need care.

Should an AI be managing your meds?

Joyce Lee, a pediatrician and professor at the University of Michigan, thinks a lot about how technology and design can help people remember to take their pills. Her inspiration? A ketchup bottle.

What Alexa can learn from a heart attack on the moon

Minutes after the Apollo 15 lunar module blasted off the surface of the moon, Astronaut James Irwin’s heart began to stutter. Down at Mission Control, Dr. Charles Berry watched the astronaut’s EKG. He saw a series of rapid double beats with long pauses in between. If Irwin was on Earth, Dr. Berry said, “I’d have him in ICU being treated for a heart attack.”

Amazon has a 'secret apartment.' What's in it? We found out

There’s a secret apartment on the 30th Floor of Amazon’s Day One building in Seattle. We’ve wanted to get inside for months. This week, we finally did.

We’re living longer. Can Alexa help us live better?

On this week’s episode of Primed, we explore how smart speakers like Amazon’s Echo fit into the lives of older people. Some elders find Alexa annoying or intrusive. But others interact with the technology in practical, creative ways. Here are a few of their stories.

Parenting in the age of Alexa? It’s complicated

This week’s episode of Prime(d) talks about the relationship between children and Alexa, Amazon’s AI-powered virtual assistant. Kids love to ask Alexa questions. And Alexa is listening.

Preview: Primed Season 3

Amazon is ending up in more and more of our homes. But are we asking the right questions when we invite Amazon and Alexa into our lives?

When Amazon becomes your block watch captain

In this season finale of Prime(d), we go deep into how neighborhood social networks and surveillance are changing our behavior in our neighborhoods.

Will technology save us?

We hosted a debate with some big thinkers.

Are you ready for Amazon to be the brains in your house?

On this episode of Prime(d), we talk with David Choffnes, Assistant Professor in Computer Science at Northeastern University. He helps run a lab studying IoT devices.

Meet the coders who hear you yell at Alexa

As we say in the radio biz – the mic is always on.

I delivered packages for Amazon. Here's what I learned

The last mile of delivery is the hardest. And for the biggest internet retailer in the U.S., sometimes FedEx, UPS and the USPS aren't enough. That's why Amazon created an army of gig workers paid demand-based wages to deliver packages using their own personal vehicles.

We wanted fast delivery. Amazon delivered. What’s next?

Where is our addiction to Amazon's instant gratification taking us?

Amazon's online dominance may actually spark joy for brick-and-mortar

Are you ready for a future where you browse for knick knacks while cameras watch and analyze your every move? Well, it may already be here.

Alexa, does this online retailer make me look cool?

Seattle isn’t particularly known for its fashion sense, but a breakthrough might be coming from those tech offices in South Lake Union.

There's no escaping Amazon in your life

People might think they can wean themselves off Amazon. But they can’t, not really.

Amazon calls it splitsville with New York

Amazon broke up with New York City on Valentine’s Day. Or maybe, New York broke up with them. Either way, Amazon is not moving in and New York is moving on.

Could grocery delivery drones be in our future?

The online grocery business is a real tough nut to crack.

Is Amazon too big to trust?

One study found that Amazon is one of the most trusted institutions in the country.

Will Amazon push out New York’s beloved bodegas? We went to Queens to find out

There are those that have been expecting big changes for a neighborhood in Queens, New York called Long Island City.

It's a wonderful Amazon life. Right?

Two decades ago, people stood in long lines at real, physical stores in order to stock the space underneath the evergreen tree twinkling in their living room.

Amazon's HQ2s: On the corner of optimism and concern

In this special mini-episode of Prime(d) we'll hear some of the first impressions from Amazon's new neighbors.

Jeff Bezos came to Seattle in a 1988 Chevy Blazer. Here’s why he stayed and built Amazon

Is Amazon seriously going to split the baby?

News has been leaking that in its search for a second headquarters, the online retail giant may not just pick one location to set up shop.

Real talk from your Seattle friends about hosting Amazon

We recently hosted a debate to answer a simple question: Is Amazon good for Seattle? And the answer is: We don’t really know for certain. But the debate...

Welcome to Seattle. The cloud is watching you

Amazon is the place where you buy stuff and then it magically appears at your front door. Or, more recently, it's the place where you go to buy a...

Where is Amazon headed? Let's go to the (dart) board

Amazon has released its list of 20 finalists for the company's next headquarters. Many of the chosen don't come as big surprises: Chicago, Boston, New...

A robot wrote this headline! Your job is next

This is a crazy time of year for online retail behemoth Amazon – especially for their robots. Robots have already taken over a lot of the work in Kent's...

At Amazon the job is to eliminate work

We know, you want the jobs. That's why you're offering billions of dollars and other sweet kickbacks to get Amazon to move to your town.

Is Amazon your guilty pleasure?

We're a conflicted bunch. On one hand, we love to hate Amazon in Seattle because the city grew too fast and it's made problems for a lot of people. But...

Amazon's next city: Learn from our fail

A couple of years ago, a semitruck carrying a load of fish overturned on the Alaskan Way Viaduct during rush hour on a Tuesday. We get it: This is...

How things got weird between Seattle and Amazon

So. It’s been a little tense in Seattle since Amazon started shopping around for a new city to love.

So you just submitted your proposal to Amazon. We need to talk

Do us a favor. Look up relentless.com. No really — try it. We’ll wait.

What happens when Amazon comes to your town?

In September, 2017, Amazon kicked off the country’s biggest lottery — a search for a second headquarters, a.k.a. HQ2. The city that wins that contest...