Taylor Soper appointed director of Seattle’s AI House after an impressive run at GeekWire
After more than 13 years as a reporter and editor for GeekWire, Taylor Soper is preparing for his next big assignment: he will soon join the AI2 Incubator as the director of AI House, a startup center in Seattle that has quickly become a meeting place for AI innovators, practitioners and researchers.
This is a big change for all of us. We will miss Taylor deeply, and we know that GeekWire readers and the community will too. But we’re excited to see what he’ll do in his new role, and we’ll be using this opportunity to bring fresh eyes to GeekWire’s coverage of startups and the broader tech community in the Seattle region and throughout the Pacific Northwest.
In a post announcing Taylor’s new role, AI2 Incubator Executive Director Yifan Zhang says he “brings a unique combination of skills that fit our theory of today’s AI era: over a decade of deep relationships across Seattle tech, a deep and insatiable curiosity, and the ability to ask the right questions.”
We can prove it. Taylor was GeekWire’s first editorial hire, back in 2012, straight out of the University of Washington, where we were in a 10×10 foot office next to the Ballard Bridge.
In the years that followed, he became one of the most connected and respected business and technology journalists in the Pacific Northwest, covering everything from early-stage startups to Microsoft and Amazon at the highest levels, breaking financial scoops and acquisition stories.
In recent years, as editor of GeekWire, he has led and coordinated our news team and directed our reporting on everything from social media to artificial intelligence.
Taylor’s influence extends beyond what he reported and published. The Seattle tech community is better for the long hours and dedication you bring to work, year after year.
“Thanks to GeekWire for giving me the opportunity and supporting my growth, and to all my colleagues for the work we’ve done reporting on the Seattle tech ecosystem,” he said. “I’m excited to work with innovators and help charge the next generation of startups in this era of AI.”
GeekWire remains as committed as ever to covering startups and the tech community. GeekWire founder Todd Bishop will be stepping back into the role of editor while continuing to report and write, working with staff reporters Lisa Stiffler and Kurt Schlosser, founder and publisher John Cook, and regular contributors including Alan Boyle and Thomas Wilde.
We are also looking to add strength to our media team over time.
Taylor’s last day at GeekWire will be March 25, and if the pattern holds, he’ll be reporting and publishing stories until the end. We feel fortunate that GeekWire has been his home for so long, and we have no doubt that his influence will continue for years to come.
