Amazon and Microsoft could get some big competition in their own backyard from Apple soon, based on a new real estate rumor that claims the Silicon Valley titan is eyeing a huge office expansion in Seattle.
Details on exactly where Apple is planning to plant its flag in Seattle aren’t clear yet, but the company’s new offices will reportedly be “huge” with several hundred thousand square feet of space.
“Apple may be considering properties in downtown Bellevue, including Schnitzer West’s 16-story Centre 425 building, which is under construction and set to open later this year,” reports GeekWire, citing multiple sources.
If Apple leases the entire 354,000 square feet of office space it would have enough room for up to 2,300 employees. The spot could be a prime location to expand the AI startup Turi that Apple bought last week.
Apple has not officially announced any plans to expand in Seattle and already has a small presence in the area, leasing one floor and part of another in downtown Seattle’s Two Union Square office tower.
The move would put Apple directly in competition with Microsoft and Amazon for top talent to build their AI technology that will play a huge role in Siri and other future products.
