WHAT’S INSIDE:

• Feature: USA Digital Passports Come to Apple Wallet

• The $30K Chevy Bolt EV, Grokipedia, AI Gaming Board, PayPal on ChatGPT, Gemini Voice Assistant, Alibaba’s $660 Quark AI Glasses

• 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:

Chevrolet Bolt — The 2027 Bolt EV, priced at $28,995, offers a 65-kWh battery with 255 miles range and fast charging. Launching in early 2026.

Musk's Grokipedia Launch — Elon Musk unveils Grokipedia, an A.I.-powered encyclopedia with over 800,000 entries. It is aimed at countering Wikipedia biases and control exercised by organized interest groups .

Board's New Gaming Era — Board, a $500 gaming console aims to enhance social gaming experiences by blending traditional board games with digital tech. 24-in touchscreen, 12 games, 50 physical pieces, and AI plans.

PayPal Wallet on ChatGPT — PayPal becomes the first digital wallet integrated into ChatGPT, enabling purchases directly through the platform by 2026. This adds the Agentic Commerce Protocol to its existing option to use Google’s A2P protocol.

Gemini Voice Assistant — Google introduces Gemini for Home, an AI Home Voice Assistant with enhanced conversational abilities and multi-device control.

Alibaba's AI Innovations — Alibaba unveils $660 Quark AI Glasses with features like hands-free calling and real-time translation + AI Chat Assistant in its Quark app.

WEEKEND CRYPTOGRAM:

Zelle has formally announced its plans to pilot international payment services using stablecoins. Read our Feature in Tuesday’s Newsletter

FEATURE ARTICLE

Apple Wallet Just Ate the World of Travel

TechBuzz Editorial

Apple is turning the iPhone into a new kind of travel companion set to be the center of everyday travel and transit. Soon, people in the United States will be able to store a digital version of their passport inside Apple Wallet. That means a tap of the phone could confirm a traveler’s identity at TSA checkpoints during domestic flights. It will not work for international trips yet, but it signals how quickly travel routines are changing.

Building on a Decade of Progress

Jennifer Bailey, Apple Pay’s vice president, announced the plan at this week’s Money 20/20 USA conference in Las Vegas. She described Apple Wallet as a growing system that already holds car keys, hotel passes, and event tickets. Now it will take on a bigger role: identity. Apple says this move is part of its long-term goal to replace the physical wallet feature by feature.

Smooth Travel and Transit, Fewer Lines

For travelers, this change could make moving through airports and public spaces smoother. Imagine checking in for a flight, unlocking a rental car, and entering a hotel room all from one screen. Domestic travel could feel more connected and less stressful. Cities with digital transit systems such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco already support Apple Wallet for buses and subways. The addition of a passport could link short local trips and long-distance flights into one connected experience.

Security That Travels With You

The technology behind Apple Wallet is already trusted by millions. Apple Pay prevented over one billion dollars in fraud last year and now works at ninety percent of US retailers. The company says its secure hardware keeps identity data on the device instead of a shared database. Each verification requires Face ID or Touch ID, which prevents strangers from accessing someone else’s phone. If a phone is lost, the digital passport can be revoked and reissued after recovery.

Even with these protections, experts remind users that digital IDs bring new risks. A single phone now holds access to money, movement, and identity. Keeping devices locked, using strong passcodes, and backing up data are essential. The balance between convenience and safety depends on both personal habits and technology.

Leisure Travel Goes Fully Digital

Leisure travel is often where new digital habits spread first. When electronic boarding passes appeared, they seemed unnecessary. Within a few years, paper tickets nearly vanished. The same shift may happen with digital identification. As TSA lanes start to accept digital passports, travelers who already rely on Apple Wallet for hotel keys and payments may find it natural to add one more item to their digital toolkit.

A Connected Journey

This change fits into a wider pattern in how people plan and enjoy trips. Digital wallets now connect airlines, public transport, ride shares, and attractions. A family vacation can involve fewer cards, less paperwork, and faster movement through airports and train stations. Travelers can check in to resorts with a tap and pay for meals or tickets from the same app. The digital passport will join this system, making leisure travel more fluid and organized.

The Future of Travel

For now, physical passports remain essential for international borders. But inside the US, digital identification could soon become routine. The lines between devices, documents, and destinations are blurring. Apple’s effort reflects a world where travel depends as much on software and sensors as on tickets and maps.

The traditional wallet once symbolized freedom and mobility. The digital wallet carries that purpose forward in a smaller, smarter form. Each update brings travelers closer to a time when a phone can manage every step of the journey — from takeoff to hotel check-in to the local subway ride.

ARTS & CULTURE

WBD's Uncertain Future — Warner Bros. Discovery is considering splitting into separate entities amid a number of competing acquisition offers. CEO David Zaslav's openness to a sale reflects media consolidation concerns.

Universal Music Group — UMG settled a copyright suit with AI startup Udio and will launch a licensed AI music platform in 2026. This collaboration represents a major industry shift, enabling artist compensation and legitimizing AI-generated music.

Netflix Voting Feature — Netflix launched real-time voting for live shows in 2025, letting viewers influence outcomes to boost engagement + it is testing new Vertical Video Feed to boost mobile engagement with "snackable" content.

Louvre Heist Arrests — The Paris Prosecutor has arrested two suspects in the $102M Louvre jewel heist investigation. The suspects have admitted involvement.

RetroEscapes LV — RetroEscapes will open a retro-themed amusement park in Las Vegas featuring US Pop Culture attractions from eras from the 1950s to 1990s.

Adobe's AI Integration — Adobe integrates third-party AI models, including Google's Gemini 2.5, into Photoshop to enhance creative tools and stay competitive.

Shein Paris Controversy — The French Senate moves to regulate fast fashion after Shein opened a Paris boutique, citing labor and environmental concerns.

FOOD & DRINK TECH:

Dole's Tropical Treats — Dole debuts the Colada Royale pineapple with coconut and piña colada notes, Mission Foods launches Zero Net Carbs Spinach Tortillas for GLP-1 users, and Coca-Cola revives Diet Coke Lime.

Keurig Dr Pepper's Bold Moves — Keurig Dr Pepper's Ghost acquisition drove sales up 10% to $4.3B with $662M earnings, plus a $4B joint venture with Apollo and KKR for pod manufacturing.

Fody Foods' New Leadership — Fody Foods names Andy van Ark, ex-Bulletproof 360 chief commercial officer, as CEO, succeeding founder Steven J. Singer after nearly a decade.

Protein-Packed Pop-Tarts — Kellanova launches protein-rich Pop-Tarts with 10 grams of protein as high-protein snack demand rises and plant-based protein interest declines.

South American AgriFoodTech — 21 South American companies featured in 2024 FoodTech 500 for innovation in agricultural biologicals, precision farming, and sustainable proteins, with Brazil leading despite funding challenges.

SPORTS & TECH DESK:

Nike Innovation — Nike unveils Project Amplify, transforming shoes with sustainable AI-powered designs to enhance production efficiency + it revealed Aero-FIT cooling technology to combat extreme heat at the 2026 Soccer World Cup.

AI Enhances MLB World Series — Fox Sports integrates Google Cloud's AI tools like FOX Foresight and Connie to deliver statistical insights and monitor feeds, showcasing AI's potential in sports broadcasting.

AGA Warns Sports Leagues — The American Gaming Association cautions the NFL, NBA, and MLB against partnerships with Kalshi and Polymarket over regulatory concerns and reputational risks.

AI-Powered Arena — The Intuit Dome debuts Connectopia, an AI-driven fan experience with 75-inch touchscreens, chargers, and biometric ticketing ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

AI Running Coach Revolution — Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, develops a custom GPT coach using race data to enhance running performance, democratizing personalized fitness coaching.

Lululemon Tackles NFL — Lululemon partners with the NFL to launch its first officially licensed apparel line featuring all 32 team logos, available via Fanatics and NFL e-commerce.

Jabbr.ai Scores Big — Jabbr.ai secures $5M+ in Seed funding led by Buckley Ventures to enhance combat sports with AI-driven real-time scoring and live streaming via DeepStrike technology.

FUTURISM:

Blueprint — Bryan Johnson announced a $60M raise for Blueprint, aimed at addressing societal health by open sourcing all his protocols and measurements to enhance health, clarity, vitality and anti-aging.

Mushroom Memory Revolution — Ohio State University researchers explore shiitake mushrooms as eco-friendly memory chip alternatives; organic memristors offer similar effects to semiconductors for edge computing and aerospace.

Atomic Secrets — MIT physicists use electrons as "messengers" to study atomic nuclei by observing energy shifts in radium monofluoride; this technique could replace large particle accelerators and address matter-antimatter imbalance.

6G Satellite Revolution — Future 6G satellites will use advanced antennas, beamforming, and AI for high data rates and low latency, integrating communication with sensing to boost spectral efficiency for maritime navigation and AVs.

World's Hottest Geothermal Well — Mazama Energy drills a 629°F geothermal well in Oregon capable of generating 5 gigawatts, aiming for 750°F; could transform clean energy for data centers with zero emissions and 24/7 reliability.

Symmetry Pioneer Passes — Chen-Ning Yang, Nobel laureate renowned for symmetry work in physics, passed away at 103; known for groundbreaking research with Tsung-Dao Lee, fostering scientific cooperation between China and the U.S.

WELLBEING AND HEALTH TECH:

Fitbit's AI Coach Revolution — Google unveils a revamped Fitbit app featuring a Gemini-powered AI health coach for personalized workouts. Initially for Premium users, it challenges the $4.4B fitness app market & plans for iOS soon.

Pig Kidney Breakthrough — A genetically engineered pig kidney functioned for nine months, marking progress in xenotransplantation. With 90,000 awaiting transplants in the U.S., this development offers hope for addressing the shortage.

AI Nutrition Boost — Ladder launches AI-powered nutrition tracking, allowing users to capture photos for macro tracking, integrating workouts and nutrition in one app. With 300,000 members, it uses AI models and gamification.

Smart Monitoring — Smartlens’ miLens contact lens tracks intraocular pressure for glaucoma management, using AI for personalized care. With $5.2M funding, it promises non-invasive monitoring, telemedicine, and automated medication delivery.

Nike Innovation — Nike unveils Project Amplify, transforming shoes with sustainable AI-powered designs to enhance production efficiency.

Bevel — A NY-based startup raised $10M in Series A funding from General Catalyst. Its AI health companion app, with 100,000+ daily active users, integrates data from wearables to offer personalized insights.