WHAT’S INSIDE:

• Bond Timeshare Jets, ChatGPT Atlas AI Browser, Galaxy XR headset, Google Fi, Wyze Solar Cam, Airbnb Social, Napster AI Companions

• Arts and culture news, intersection of tech and entertainment

• Latest food and dining and food technology news

• 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

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TOP CONSUMER TECH NEWS:

OpenAI Takes on Chrome — ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered browser with a unique agent mode, is capable of booking flights and editing documents. Its personalized memory and split-screen interface aim to revolutionize web browsing.

Galaxy XR — Samsung launched a mixed reality headset at $1,800, half the price of Apple's Vision Pro, with conversational AI integration and a future roadmap for smart glasses. Developed in partnership with Google and Qualcomm.

Google — Google Fi enhances services with AI noise filtering for clearer calls and full RCS web messaging support and Wi-Fi Auto Connect Plus. "Pixel Trusted Tester" program invites 15 superfans to test unreleased Pixel phones.

Solar Security Camera — Wyze introduces the $80 Solar Cam Pan with AI-powered person tracking and full pan-and-tilt capabilities. it offers weatherproofing, night vision, and smart home integration.

Airbnb's Social Upgrade — Airbnb introduces features for travelers to connect, with customizable privacy settings. Enhanced search now suggests properties outside criteria, and maps highlight attractions.

Napster Is Back — Napster introduces a $99 holographic display projecting 3D AI assistants. With over 15k AI companions, users can create digital twins for meetings and online management. Acquired by Infinite Reality for $207M, subs from $19 pm.

WEEKEND CRYPTOGRAM:

Polymarket — Plans to launch native crypto token in 2025 after $2B investment from Intercontinental Exchange; valued at $9B with 31% market share, signaling strong U.S. return.

FEATURE ARTICLE

BOND’s Timeshare Luxury Private Jets

By Sam Elyaszadeh

Corporate jets aren’t exactly workhorses. The average aircraft flies fewer than 100 hours a year — roughly 50 days in the sky — leaving a pricey asset idle most of the time. That slack is the wedge for a new wave of “own what you use” models in private aviation.

The Fractional Ownership Model

Fractional ownership is basically a timeshare for planes: buy a share, get guaranteed hours, skip the headaches of crewing, maintenance, and downtime. It’s not new — NetJets, Flexjet, and VistaJet built empires on it — but the center of gravity is shifting to bigger cabins and longer legs, where the experience looks closer to a flying hotel than a corporate shuttle.

The Splashy New Entrant

Meet BOND, a newly unveiled operator that wants to push the fractional concept into ultra-premium territory — think larger, long-haul jets, full cabin crews, and an upscale service layer. Bond also revealed itself as the buyer behind a $1.7B order for 50 Bombardier jets (with options for 70 more), with deliveries slated to start in 2027, and announced a sizable capital raise to fund the rollout.

The Wind At Their Back

Flying is ticking up again. Business-jet departures were about 3% higher in the first half of this year versus last year — hours are the oxygen of the model, and more flying helps the economy.

The Decade View

The demand pipeline looks stout: industry outlooks call for roughly 8,500 new business jets worth about $283B over the next ten years — the highest total in decades of forecasting. Fractional operators are a key driver of those purchase plans.

The Catch (There’s always one)

Fractional isn’t cheap; it swaps capex and complexity for commitment and hourly rates, and long-range metal magnifies both. Still, as more programs standardize intercontinental service and luxe partnerships — from onboard chefs to seamless global routing — the category keeps edging closer to “private airline” than “plane share.”

Bottom line: If BOND executes, owning a slice of a globe-spanning jet (with the champagne to match) is about to get a lot more attainable for the well-heeled and executive-level travelers alike. 

ARTS & CULTURE

OpenAI's Sora Crackdown — OpenAI halted its Sora 2 video generator amid deepfake backlash, partnering with talent agencies to protect actors' likenesses.

Ticketmaster Account Ban — Ticketmaster will prohibit multiple accounts following an FTC lawsuit accusing it of colluding with scalpers to manipulate the ticket resale market.

WBD Sale — Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are eyeing an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery or its prized assets like HBO and DC Studios. The company plans to split its cable and streaming operations,.

Wonder Studios — The UK-based AI-driven content studio secured a $12M seed to blend traditional and AI-generated content. Wonder is focusing on original projects like AI-powered music videos, while navigating legal challenges over content rights.

Diddy Appeals Sentence — Sean "Diddy" Combs plans to appeal his 50-month prison sentence for prostitution-related charges despite acquittal on other counts.

Louvre Heist Shutdown — The Louvre Museum closed after a seven-minute jewelry heist, prompting a major security overhaul as 60 investigators work to recover stolen items.

Broadway Labor Deal — The Actors' Equity Association reached a tentative three-year labor agreement with Broadway producers, preventing disruptions amid ongoing musicians' union negotiations.

AI Vacation Photos — Endless Summer app creates AI-generated vacation photos with vintage aesthetics for burnout-weary users who can't actually travel.

FOOD & DRINK TECH:

Yelp's AI Menu Scanner — Yelp launches an AI-powered menu scanner overlaying dish photos and reviews on physical menus, plus a smarter voice assistant and AI-generated video summaries to compete with Google.

Unilever's Ice Cream Delay — The U.S. government shutdown stalls Unilever's plans to demerge The Magnum Ice Cream Company as the SEC can't process registrations, though Unilever aims to finalize by year's end.

Sports Booze Boom — Sports-branded beverages surge as teams craft victory wines and limited-edition spirits, with collaborations like New York Jets' wines praised for quality alongside ready-to-drink cocktails and nonalcoholic options.

Robots in the Kitchen — Armstrong, a San Francisco robotics company, raises $12M to deploy AI-powered robots in restaurant kitchens, starting with dishwashing and washing over one million dishes annually.

Peanut Allergy Decline — 60,000 children have avoided peanut allergies since 2015 guidelines urged early peanut introduction, with studies showing a 27% drop initially and over 40% after 2017 expansions.

SPORTS & TECH DESK:

NBA's New Broadcast Era — The NBA's 2025-26 season tipped off with new broadcasting partners: Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBCUniversal (NBC/Peacock), and Amazon (Prime Video). New digital tool "Tap to Watch" simplifies game access.

Blue Jays to the World Series — George Springer's crucial three-run homer clinched a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners, sending the Toronto Blue Jays to their first World Series since 1993 against the LA Dodgers from October 24.

Apple TV Lands F1 — Apple and Formula 1 ink a five-year, $750M streaming deal, bringing exclusive U.S. F1 coverage to Apple TV in 2026, surpassing the current ESPN deal. Enhanced content and promotions aim to attract new fans.

Compact Rejection — At least six universities, including UVA, MIT, & Dartmouth, are rejecting an Ed Department proposal offering preferential federal funding access in exchange for commitments, including on transgender participation in sports.

WBD on the Block — Warner Bros Discovery is up for sale, with Paramount interested. A merger could combine TNT Sports with Paramount's NFL and UEFA rights. WBD plans to split streaming and studio operations by mid-2026.

Unrivaled Sports Scores — Unrivaled Sports acquires Football ‘N’ America, Drew Brees’ flag football league amid a youth boom driving the sport to 2.4M participants. The NFL eyes pro flag leagues post-2028 Olympics.

NEP Group Funding Boost — NEP Group raised $700M in equity led by 26North and Josh Harris, with backing from Carlyle. Known for supporting MLS, PGA Tour, and NFL, this funding strengthens NEP's global sports tech impact.

FUTURISM:

Claude for Life Sciences — Anthropic launches Claude AI to transform drug discovery and research workflows in the $2 trillion life sciences market, though it must prove productivity gains to skeptical pharmaceutical companies.

Living Biocomputers — Scientists and FinalSpark create the world's first living computer using human brain organoids that perform tasks via electrical stimulation and dopamine rewards, offering energy efficiency despite maintenance challenges.

Hybrid Neurons — Researchers develop artificial neurons using bacterial nanowires and memristors operating at biological voltages, enabling control of living heart cells with potential for prosthetics and bioelectronic interfaces.

Metabolic Ceiling Unveiled — Elite athletes have a metabolic ceiling of 2.4 times their BMR over extended periods, with researchers using isotopes to track energy expenditure in ultra-runners, cyclists, and triathletes.

Physicist Legend Passes — Nobel laureate Chen Ning Yang, renowned for his 1957 Nobel-winning work on parity laws with Lee Tsung-Dao, has died at 103 after major contributions to statistical mechanics and symmetry principles.

Self-Directed Light — A USC engineering team creates the first optical device using optical thermodynamics to enable light self-routing in nonlinear systems, potentially boosting data transfer speeds in computing and telecommunications.

Stella the Street Artist — RoadPrintz debuts Stella, a robotic system for painting road symbols safely from inside a truck cab, promising quick ROI, fewer worker injuries, and error-free markings.

WELLBEING AND HEALTH TECH:

Tariffs Threaten — The Medical Device Manufacturers Association warns that increased tariffs on medical technologies could disrupt supply chains and raise prices. They call for tariff relief, phased implementation, and enhanced IP protections.

Ōura's Heart Health delay — Ōura has paused its quest for FDA clearance for a blood pressure feature in its smart rings. The feature combines user data with metrics to provide early alerts for high blood pressure.

Early MS Detection Breakthrough — Researchers find multiple sclerosis damages the brain years before symptoms, identifying blood proteins like MOG that signal early onset. This could lead to early diagnosis and prevention.

Hologic Goes Private — Hologic to be acquired by Blackstone and TPG for up to $18.3 billion, at $76 per share. The deal, expected to close in early 2026, includes substantial financing and delists Hologic from Nasdaq.

Visionary Smart Glasses — Smart glasses restore vision in 80% of patients during a breakthrough trial, showcasing significant advancements in vision restoration technology.

Vision Restored — The PRIMA implant offers hope for AMD patients, with 80% of participants regaining significant vision after one year. This wireless device uses infrared light patterns and special glasses, enabling many to read again.

Bathroom Breakthrough — Kohler launches the Dekoda, a $599 camera for toilets providing gut health insights through waste analysis. Preorders open; subscriptions $70-$156 p/a. Data privacy ensured via end-to-end encryption.