WHAT’S INSIDE:

• Immersed AI Visor, Slate truck, ChatGPT Shops, Perplexity iOS, Recall, Llama

• Feature: Latest Updates on The Future of Travel

• 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

Immersed AI Visor — One of the most popular headset apps, with ~1.4M users, is releasing a sleek Visor with 2M more pixels than Apple Vision Pro, but 70% cheaper, & only weighing 6 oz! Invest in their pre-IPO offering and get a visor as a perk.

Slate Pickup — The Jeff Bezos-backed EV startup, unveils an affordable analog EV pickup starting under $20,000. With manual windows and no infotainment screens, it offers a low-cost alternative to Tesla.

ChatGPT Shopping — ChatGPT is adding enhanced web search for shopping, featuring product cards with images, prices, and ratings to improve ux without ads.

Perplexity's New iOS Assistant — Perplexity has launched its Assistant app on iOS, offering users the ability to perform actions, browse the web, and use voice commands on their mobile devices. A step forward in mobile AI integration.

Recall — Microsoft has launched its Recall feature for AI-enabled PCs, allowing users to retrieve past documents and sessions via continuous screenshots.

Llama 4 Unleashed — Meta introduces its first AI app with consumer-focused features like voice interaction and image generation for personalization.

DeepSeek Upgrade — The upcoming R2 model from DeepSeek aims to enhance its multilingual reasoning, code generation, and multimodal capabilities.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Latest Updates On The Future of Travel

The travel sector continues its rapid transformation, driven by advancements in AI and machine learning. New this week illustrates some of the exciting future possibilities for mobility and travel, from AI personalization, new systems for urban mobility, futuristic AGI engineering and more consumer travel tools. However, both travelers and the industry face ongoing challenges due to the economic climate. 

Airline Industry Uncertainty

US Airlines are citing uncertainty in travel demand this week due to tariffs fallout. JetBlue made headlines by withdrawing its annual forecast, citing uncertainty in travel demand. This move followed American Airlines' earlier move warning of fluctuating passenger numbers and indicated that it, too, could not reliably predict future demand. This unpredictability has made it difficult for airlines to plan routes, adjust fleet sizes, and forecast fuel costs, all of which affect the bottom line. Which all means travelers are reluctant to book holidays, and could lead to a downward spiral. Both airlines are now recalibrating their strategies, adjusting flight schedules, and reevaluating their route networks in response to shifting market conditions. 

AI is helping airlines address these challenges by optimizing operations. Predictive AI analytics can help airlines forecast travel demand more accurately, allowing them to adjust pricing, schedules, and routes accordingly. This ability to dynamically adapt to changes in demand is a crucial advantage in a volatile environment. Crazy idea… but maybe they could consider lowering prices to get more travelers onboard? Last time we checked prices are still substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Google’s AI Optimizes City Travel

On a more positive note, Google Research just released Mobility AI, an AI tech suite designed to streamline traffic and reduce congestion by leveraging real-time data to optimize traffic flow and improve safety in urban areas. By better managing city infrastructure, this AI aims to create more efficient travel routes and promote sustainability, benefiting both residents and travelers. Cities like LA and Singapore are quickly adopting these AI-driven solutions, but other cities will soon find themselves playing catch-up, leaving their populations without access to the benefits.

AI-Powered Language Learning

Google also just released new AI tools for language learning that allow travelers to gain real-time language skills that help them communicate more easily in foreign destinations. The Little Language Classes are contextual, so you can ask for an instant micro-lesson on a real life situation you are in eg “help me book train tickets.”

Meanwhile, current leader in this vertical, Duolingo, announced this week it's releasing 148 new language courses that were developed by AI. It’s also planning to become “AI-first” by not hiring contractors who do the “work that AI can handle,” and prioritizing future job candidates who have experience using AI. OK...

AGI Engineering The Future of Travel

This week we also learned about P-1 AI, a stealthy startup founded by former Airbus and United Technologies CTO and DARPA exec Paul Eremenko, and prominent AI researcher Aleksa Gordić, formerly at DeepMind and Microsoft. P-1 is exploring how AGI and advanced AI capable of full-spectrum multi-physics and spatial reasoning can be applied to complex systems like transportation and infrastructure. The startup aims to develop more advanced autonomous ships, planes, and even AI-driven air traffic control systems, dramatically improving safety and efficiency. While still in the research phase, P1’s impact on the travel industry could be huge if they are able to automate and optimize engineering and travel systems at a more intelligent and adaptable level to reduce costs, enhance security, and streamline operations. 

They aren’t alone though. Elon Musk also just announced that Grok 3.5 will be the first AI that can “accurately answer technical questions about rocket engines or electrochemistry.” Expect more surprises from xAI in the engineering arena.

Kayak’s Shift: Adapting to Changing Consumer Behavior

Kayak is also jumping on the AI travel train, launching a new AI platform to incorporate more flexible pricing tools and personalized travel solutions to meet consumer demand. It will offer more tailored recommendations and responsive booking options, focusing on adapting to changing consumer preferences for booking and experiencing travel. This move highlights the increasing importance of personalization, flexibility, and real-time responsiveness in capturing and retaining customer interest.

The takeaway is it seems, adoption of AI tools is fast becoming table stakes for companies participation in this fickle and often unpredictable travel market.

FOOD + DRINK

Reforming Food Safety — MAHA is pushing for changes to the GRAS process, potentially altering how food ingredients are assessed for safety and approval.

Yelp's AI Revolution — Yelp introduces OpenAI-powered AI-powered voice agents to assist restaurants with tasks like managing waitlists and call summaries.

3D-Printed Starbucks — The first 3D-printed Starbucks in the U.S. opens in Brownsville, Texas, featuring a 1,400 sq ft drive-through design built with Cobod's BOD2 printer.

Red Meat Exports — Trade tensions between the US and China impose tariffs of up to 172% on pork and 147% on beef, costing the US meat industry $5B annually.

Cows Go Green — Hoofprint Biome has developed an enzyme to cut cows' methane emissions and improve nutrient absorption, securing $15 million to trial it.

Silk Microneedles for Plants — Researchers have created silk microneedles for delivering vitamins and agrochemicals directly & real-time plant health monitoring.

ARTS + CULTURE

A Coworking Space for AI Chatbots — Nim Ben-Reuven created Chat Haus, a cardboard coworking space for AI chatbots, to humorously critique AI's impact on creative jobs while highlighting AI art's impermanence.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — The 2025 inductees include Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, The White Stripes. The ceremony streams live on Disney+.

MoviePass Mogul — The startup that made its mark with its movie theater subscription service, announced the beta launch of Mogul, a new daily fantasy entertainment platform where you play at being a Hollywood exec.

Uncanny Valley Explores AI in Film — Natasha Lyonne directs a sci-fi film using AI, collaborating with Jaron Lanier and Brit Marling, highlighting ethical AI practices amidst industry debates.

Spotify Video Podcasts — Spotify added 5M premium users and hit record operating income in Q1, with total revenue up 15%. It also invested over $100M in podcasters to boost video uploads.

Summer's Must-See Movies — Hollywood releases a lineup including "Lilo & Stitch," "Mission: Impossible" "Jurassic World Rebirth," and a new "Superman" reboot.

Warner Bros. Discovery Gains TV Share — Warner Bros. Discovery achieved a 6.7% share of TV usage in March, driven by The White Lotus and NCAA basketball.

SPORTS DESK

Record NFL Draft — The NFL Draft hit a record 7.5M average viewers, up 27% from 2022. Over 600K attendees gathered in Green Bay. Cam Ward was the first pick, while Shedeur Sanders' unexpected slide captured attention.

NFL-Adobe x AI — Adobe teams up with the NFL to boost fan engagement using AI-powered content creation, offering personalized experiences and tools for fans to create NFL-themed content and aiding in live game coverage.

SailGP's Smooth Sailing — SailGP nears profitability with projected revenues of $150M, attracting luxury brands and young audiences with innovative content and technology.

NY Sports Betting Limits — A New York bill proposes a $5K daily betting cap and ad restrictions to tackle health issues and gambling addiction. Critics fear it may push bettors to other states, risking NY's $22.6 billion market lead.

ESPN-NFL Draft Deal — ESPN is set to extend its NFL Draft coverage for a 47th year as NFL Network retains rights and YouTube eyes international streaming.

Aston Villa Selloff — The English Premier League Club is considering selling a 10%-20% stake in its women's team with a potential valuation of around $80 million.

FUTURISM

AI-Driven Business Transformation — Steve Brown outlines how AI, robotics, and automation are reshaping business and education. Highlights 6 strategic technologies from his book, The Innovation Ultimatum, offering leaders AI insights.

Lightning-Harnessing — A drone system to trigger and guide lightning via a lightning-resistant cage to reduce damage and enhance public safety, with urban deployment + potential energy harvest plans.

AI 2027 Predictions — Recent METR data supports AI 2027's superexponential prediction, aligning with exponential trends and reasoning era models.

Power from Pavement — Researchers create a cement-hydrogel composite inspired by plants that can generate and store electricity, enhancing thermoelectric performance. Could enable sustainable smart cities.

Drone-Killing Laser — General Atomics is developing a 25 kW airborne laser for the MQ-9 drone fleet to enhance counter-drone capabilities with successful ground tests, future airborne trials to begin.

Fusion Leap — China accelerates its nuclear fusion advancements with a laser-based facility in Sichuan and the world's first fusion-fission hybrid power plant.

WELLBEING TECH

AI Policy Uncertainty — Medical device developers worry about Trump administration's AI policies but push forward. AdvaMed Digital Health urges FDA to uphold regulations, tackle Medicare coverage and data privacy challenges.

Superpower — The new Health app analyzes 100+ blood biomarkers for personalized disease prevention. Results are tracked over your lifetime, with access to a private medical team for $499 annually.

Boosts Cancer Survival — A trial shows adding pembrolizumab to standard treatment significantly extends cancer-free survival by nearly two years for advanced head and neck cancer patients; FDA approval expected in June.

Bioprinting Breakthrough — Carnegie Mellon researchers unveil a 3D bioprinting technique using collagen to create pancreatic-like tissues for Type 1 diabetes, could enable insulin release.

Lab-Grown Teeth — Scientists successfully grow a human tooth in a lab, promising regenerative dental treatments that use patients' own cells, potentially replacing artificial fillings, reducing invasive surgeries.

Vasopressin Supplementation — Enhances social behavior in monkeys, and offers hope for a potential autism treatment in humans.