WHAT’S INSIDE:

• Mercedes' Supercar, iPhone Air, Ultrasonic Dishwash, Osmo 360, Posha Bot

• Feature: Seattle's Surprising Rise as #1 US Summer Hotspot

• Latest food and dining and food technology news

• Arts and culture news, intersection of tech and entertainment

• The latest sports news and sports tech

• Futurism, the latest in future concepts and cutting edge deep tech

• Latest news in wellness and wellbeing tech, biotech, medtech and more

TOP CONSUMER TECH NEWS

Mercedes' Electric Supercar — Mercedes revealed a groundbreaking 2,000 HP EV supercar. The luxury four-door model redefines design and beats Bugatti and Audi.

iPhone Air 2027 Leak — Apple plans a redesigned foldable iPhone Air with a larger screen for a 2027 release, following the 2026 launch.

Ultrasonic Cleaning Revolution — The Sterilpure portable dishwasher uses 37,000Hz vibrations and active oxygen cleaning to sanitize dishes, disperse grease.

Core 2 Duo — The Smartwatch with features like a silicone strap, USB-C charging, future AI voice integration, and iOS compatibility.

Windows 11 — Microsoft unveils new AI features for Windows & Copilot+ PCs, including AI agent for settings, enhanced search + Photos,  Paint, Snipping updates.

Listening Control — Spotify introduces enhanced AI features for managing queues, playlist creation, and personalized recommendations.

AI Search — Netflix unveils an AI search feature allowing users to find content using conversational terms. Now in beta on iOS, it will soon expand to more devices.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Seattle's Surprising Rise as a Summer Hotspot

In a remarkable shift in American travel patterns, Seattle has emerged as the nation's top domestic summer destination for 2025. According to newly released data from Allianz Partners USA, the Emerald City has outpaced traditional favorites like Orlando and New York, revealing evolving tourist preferences that blend technology, climate considerations, and authentic experiences.

The Vacation Destination Shift

Allianz Partners' comprehensive analysis of over 3.3 million summer travel plans shows Seattle leading domestic destinations, followed by Boston and New York City. The study examined trips planned between Memorial Day and Labor Day for vacations spanning 5-8 days, capturing core summer travel intentions. This represents a significant departure from historic patterns that favored beach destinations and theme park hubs.

"Seattle's rise reflects a post-pandemic recalibration of what travelers value," explains Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. "We're seeing a preference for destinations offering diverse experiences rather than single-attraction locations."

Combining Tech, Nature, and Culture

Seattle's appeal stems from an unmatched combination of technological innovation, natural beauty, and cultural richness. As home to Amazon, Microsoft, and a thriving startup ecosystem, the city has leveraged its tech credentials to enhance tourist experiences. AI-guided tours, mixed reality exhibits at major attractions, and seamless digital integration create an experience that feels cutting-edge yet accessible.

Equally compelling is Seattle's extraordinary natural setting. Visitors can kayak in Puget Sound, hike nearby mountain trails, and explore urban parks – all within the same day. This blend of urban amenities and wilderness access has proven particularly attractive to post-pandemic travelers seeking varied experiences in one destination.

The city's distinctive neighborhoods like Ballard, with its Nordic heritage and Sunday Farmers Market, offer the kind of authentic, walkable experiences increasingly prioritized by modern travelers. Meanwhile, Seattle's culinary scene has exploded beyond its coffee fame, with innovative chef-driven restaurants and food halls showcasing Pacific Northwest ingredients.

Climate Advantage Drives Summer Appeal

Climate considerations have dramatically reshaped summer travel patterns. As southern and eastern destinations struggle with extreme heat events, Seattle's mild summers averaging 75 degrees with low humidity have become a powerful draw. This climate resilience has positioned the city as an ideal summer escape when other destinations become uncomfortably hot.

The tourism industry has adapted accordingly, with hotels investing in expanded outdoor dining areas and the city extending its outdoor event calendar to capitalize on long summer days where the Northern sunsets can extend on past 9:30 PM.

Tech-Enhanced Exploration

Seattle's status as a tech hub has translated into one of America's most digitally accessible tourism ecosystems. The city's Tourism Innovation Initiative has deployed smart infrastructure connecting visitors to experiences through integrated platforms and AI enhancements.

The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) offers interactive experiences with Seattle music legends, while the Chihuly Garden and Glass uses dynamic lighting systems that transform with weather and time of day. These tech-enabled approaches particularly resonate with younger travelers seeking immersive, shareable experiences.

Small Business Renaissance

While tech giants grab headlines, Seattle's explosion of small, locally-owned businesses has captured travelers' imagination. A pandemic-era program providing subsidized retail space to local entrepreneurs has transformed neighborhoods into showcase districts for artisanal producers.

The iconic Pike Place Market expanded with the MarketFront addition, creating spaces for local craftspeople and food producers to reach visitors directly. This authentic, small-business ecosystem offers an alternative to homogenized tourism.

The Sustainable Tourism Model

As Seattle adjusts to its newfound status, the city is pioneering sustainability initiatives that may become industry standards. Its new Tourism Impact Fee funds environmental restoration, while a "Neighborhood First" approach pushes visitors beyond downtown to spread the economic benefits and prevent overtourism. With major protests in European cities like Barcelona on overtourism, this is a hot topic.

The Takeaway

Seattle's emergence as America's preferred summer destination signals a fundamental evolution in travel preferences. Today's travelers increasingly prioritize destinations offering a compelling mix of digital accessibility, climate comfort, authentic cultural experiences, and environmental responsibility.

As traditional tourist hubs take note of Seattle's success, expect to see elements of its winning formula appearing elsewhere. Whether this represents a permanent shift or temporary trend remains uncertain, but the Emerald City's moment in the sun has arrived, even if that sun occasionally hides behind clouds and rain. After all, the rain is what gives Seattle its lush green landscape and abundant water sources that create a pleasant summer environment. Put Seattle on your vacation list, you definitely won't be disappointed.

FOOD + DRINK

Blackbird Labs — Raised $50M to enhance its blockchain-based payment and loyalty platform for restaurants. With 1,000 partners, it cuts processing fees, and enables customer profile ownership.

Party Planning Made Easy — Instacart launched Fizz, a new app for hosts to create shared carts for guests to co-order party drinks and snacks and split bills

Chef Boyar-deal— Conagra Brands sells Chef Boyardee to Hometown Foods for $600M, amidst a shift towards healthier, protein-focused diets.

Moet Hennessy Cuts — The liquor giant plans to cut over 10% of its workforce, returning to 2019 levels due to stagnant revenues at LMVH & the luxury market.

DoorDash Deal — The delivery giant is acquiring Deliveroo for ~$3.87B, entering nine new EU markets, and SevenRooms for $1.2B to boost its B2B services.

Wonder’s Big Leap — Wonder, owner of Grubhub and Blue Apron, secures $600M, boosting its valuation to $7B+ to develop a "super app for mealtime".

ARTS + CULTURE

Trump's Film Tariffs — Trump's proposal for tariffs on foreign films causes confusion in Hollywood to return productions onshore amid falling stock prices.

Pulitzer Prizes 2025 — The Pulitzer Prize was awarded to "James" by Percival Everett for fiction and to "To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause" by Benjamin Nathans for nonfiction.

'100 Zeros' — Google and Range Media Partners have partnered to fund film and TV projects, enhancing visibility for AI and spatial computing tools in traditional studios and streaming platforms.

World's First AI-generated Film — Indian director Narasimha Murthy created the world's first AI-generated feature film.

YouTube Announces New Features — YouTube unveils new tools for creators, aiming to enhance user engagement and monetization opportunities.

The 2025 Met Gala — The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the 2025 Met Gala on May 5, celebrating Black style in fashion through the "Superfine" exhibition.

"Diddy" Combs' Trial — Jury Selection commenced in Sean "Diddy" Combs‘ federal trial with charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

Disney Earnings — Disney beat expectations on 1.4M new Disney+ subscribers, & a 13% rise in domestic parks revenue. It plans a new park in Abu Dhabi.

SPORTS DESK

Miami GP — McLaren’s Oscar Piastri clinched his third straight win at the Miami Grand Prix, solidifying his lead over defending champ Max Verstappen, who finished fourth amid controversy.

Kentucky Derby — Sovereignty clinched the 151st Derby, defeating favorite Journalism by 1½ lengths. This marked trainer Bill Mott's second win, highlighting a triumphant weekend for Godolphin Stables.

2025 NBA Playoffs — The Knicks staged a thrilling 20-point comeback against the Celtics. Meanwhile, the Nuggets edged past the Thunder with Aaron Gordon's game-winner, and the Pacers are challenging the Cavs.

Villa's Big Play — Aston Villa may sell a 10%-20% stake in Aston Villa WFC, seeking a valuation of ~$80M to bolster investment in their women's team.

Canucks Hack — The Vancouver Canucks' official X account was compromised, displaying a fake Elon Musk cryptocurrency giveaway.

FUTURISM

Don't Die — Bryan Johnson has founded a new religion, Don't Die, promoting the body as God and aligning AI with human survival.

Aging Reversal — NewLimit, founded by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, secures $130M to advance longevity, de-ageing treatments.

Brewed Leather — Arda Biomaterials secures $5.25M to create a leather alternative from barley brewery waste, expand production and form partnerships in fashion and automotive sectors.

AI in Biology — FutureHouse introduces Finch, an AI tool for biology research, designed to analyze data and generate insights rapidly.

Electric Bacteria — A newly discovered bacteria conducts electricity and features a unique biological wire, advancing bioelectronics and eco-remediation potential.

Laser-Drawn Circuits — New electronic circuits on flexible films using a laser-based method with 2D materials, bypasses chemicals and cleanrooms. Applications in wearables, smart tech, micro-supercapacitors.

WELLBEING TECH

HHS Cuts Suit — Nineteen states, led by New York AG Letitia James, sued the Trump admin over HHS cuts, citing risks to public health.

Autofocus Glasses Revolution — Finnish startup IXI secures $36.5M to create the first autofocus glasses with advanced eye-tracking technology.

Mastering Emotions for Longevity — Ethan Kross's book explores managing emotions like anger and envy to enhance mental health, relationships, life expectancy.

Breakthrough Antivenom — Developed using antibodies from Tim Friede, a new antivenom protects against 19 snake species.

Fungus Fights Fatty Liver — Fusarium foetens, a common intestinal fungus, reduces symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

Streamlined Health Scans — Function Health acquires Ezra, offering a 22-minute MRI for $499 integrating blood tests and imaging for comprehensive screenings.

Wandercraft Exoskeleton — An AI-powered device aiding mobility for those suffering spinal injuries or stroke is nearing a FDA clearance.

ŌURA Updates — The ring maker launches AI-driven features, Meals & Glucose, to enhance metabolic tracking. The Stelo biosensor is now prescription-free.