WHAT’S INSIDE:

Feature: How WhatsApp Became the World’s New Booking Desk
Tesla x Carplay, Google x Golden Goose, BeeBot, Even Realities, Sandbar Stream Ring, Amazon Music, Samsung's AI TV, Valve Gaming VR
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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BeeBot: “Your AI Audio Guide”

TOP CONSUMER TECH NEWS:

Tesla x Carplay — Tesla finally tests Apple CarPlay integration to address declining sales, diverging from its previous stance on rising demand for CarPlay, Android Auto.

Google x Golden Goose — Partnered on AI-powered sneaker customization in over 40 retail locations. Using the Gemini app, customers can co-create designs.

BeeBot — Foursquare co-founder Dennis Crowley introduces “Your AI Audio Guide”, AI app offering local event audio updates + personal DJ. Available for iOS in the US.

Even Realities — Launched the G2 Display Smart Glasses at $599. Camera-free design prioritizes privacy, uses microphones, a spatial AI display & an AI ring sensor.

AI-Powered Smart Ring — The Sandbar Stream Ring uses AI to convert voice interactions into text, offering features like media control and waterproofing. With a subscription for unlimited notes, it organizes info, retaining user control and privacy.

Amazon Music — Amazon unveils Fan Groups for users to join communities centered on artists, genres, and moods.

Samsung's AI TV — Samsung unveils the Vision AI Companion, the first multi-AI agent TV integrating Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity for natural conversations.

Valve Gaming VR — Valve unveils three new hardware products: a VR Headset, a Steam Gaming PC and a Steam controller. It also opens Steam to Android Games.

WEEKEND CRYPTOGRAM:

Block BTC Payments — Block has enabled Bitcoin payments for 4M Square merchants via Lightning, offering instant zero fee transactions through 2027.

Coinbase — Launching a new token-sales platform that lets individual investors buy digital coins before they’re listed, the US regulated return of ICO-style offerings.

FEATURE ARTICLE

How WhatsApp Became the World’s New Booking Desk

TechBuzz Editorial

For years, WhatsApp has been the place to share travel photos, coordinate plans, and send quick updates. Now it is becoming something very different. Airlines, hotels, and travel agencies have started using the app to handle bookings, send updates, and answer questions. Travelers can manage most of a trip inside a single chat instead of juggling multiple apps or searching through emails.

This change is turning the App into a kind of digital front desk for global travel. With one message, people can book flights, receive boarding passes, check into hotels, and even order rides.

Airlines move to chat

Airlines were among the first to see how WhatsApp could simplify customer service. Flights involve many time-sensitive moments such as check-in reminders, boarding alerts, and gate changes. Sending this information through chat is faster and easier than relying on email or phone calls.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines began using it in 2017. It sends booking confirmations, flight updates, and boarding passes directly to passengers. Travelers can scroll through the conversation thread to find everything they need without switching apps.

Other carriers followed quickly. Aeroméxico and LATAM in Latin America use Meta’s app to send flight reminders and manage questions. In Asia, AirAsia and IndiGo rely on it for updates and customer service. Airlines like the system because it keeps travelers informed and reduces the number of people waiting in call center queues.

From browsing to booking

Online travel agencies are also redesigning how people book trips. In India, MakeMyTrip built a full booking system within WhatsApp. Users can pick flights or hotels, fill in details, and confirm payments without leaving the chat. Bus companies such as redBus send tickets and live tracking links through the app. Uber now allows ride bookings through WhatsApp in some Indian cities, guiding users through pickup and driver information step by step.

For many travelers, especially in countries where most people use mobile phones for internet access, this chat-based approach feels natural. It removes the need to download extra apps or navigate complicated websites. The whole process happens in one conversation, from discovery to payment.

Hotels and loyalty programs join in

Hotels have discovered the same benefits. Many now use WhatsApp to confirm bookings, share check-in details, and take guest requests for room service or housekeeping. Smaller hotels save time at the front desk, while larger chains use it to manage loyalty accounts and remind members about upcoming stays or expiring points.

Tourism boards and airports are even starting to use WhatsApp Channels to send local news, travel tips, and event updates. For travelers arriving in a new city, these messages can feel like having a guide in their pocket.

Meta builds a travel business around chat

Meta has expanded its business tools to support this new use. It now offers Click-to-WhatsApp ads that link from Facebook or Instagram directly into a chat with a travel brand. It also provides the Cloud API, which helps businesses connect their booking or support systems to WhatsApp.

In 2023, Meta introduced conversation-based pricing. Messages are grouped into categories such as utility, authentication, marketing, and user-initiated chats. This model encourages companies to automate simple messages and use human agents only for complex cases. For Meta, the system creates a clear business structure for WhatsApp’s growing role in travel.

Faster and easier for travelers

Travelers often prefer WhatsApp because it is quick and organized. Messages arrive instantly and stay in one thread. A traveler who needs to check a gate number, a hotel booking, or a driver’s arrival time can find it all in seconds.

Privacy and platform limits

The convenience of chat comes with challenges. Travel companies must protect personal data and follow strict privacy laws like the EU’s GDPR. Too many marketing messages can feel like spam, leading users to block a brand. Another concern is dependency. If a company relies heavily on WhatsApp, any change in Meta’s policies or a major outage could disrupt service.

Automation and the next stage

AI is now being added to make chat experiences smarter. Many travel brands use chatbots to answer routine questions and help users navigate bookings. These bots can hand complex problems to human agents when needed. Meta’s new tools, such as Flows and quick replies, make it easier to guide travelers through forms and confirmations.

In the near future, chats could become even more personal. A system might recognize a traveler’s frequent destinations, loyalty status, or seating preferences and offer options automatically. The goal is to make the chat feel like an ongoing trip assistant rather than a collection of one-time interactions.

The new way to travel

Messaging is changing how people plan and manage travel. WhatsApp now sits at the center of that shift, especially in places where it is already part of daily life. Airlines, hotels, and agencies see it as a channel that saves time and builds stronger connections with customers.

For travelers, the experience is becoming smoother and more personal. A trip can now begin and end inside a single conversation. Every update, booking, and message stays within reach on a familiar screen.

The travel industry’s challenge is to make this digital convenience work responsibly—fast, clear, and respectful of privacy. If that balance holds, the world’s most popular chat app may become the simplest way to move around it.

AI actress Tilly Norwood + Creator Eline Van der Velden

ARTS & CULTURE

Germany vs OpenAI — A German court found OpenAI's ChatGPT violated copyright by using song lyrics without permission, ordering damages and setting a potential EU precedent for AI compliance.

Breaking Rust — The AI-generated country song, "Walk My Walk," has topped the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart with over 3M streams on Spotify.

Wikipedia Seeks AI Payment — The Wikimedia Foundation urges AI companies to pay for content access through its Enterprise platform to offset declining traffic.

"Made by Humans" Credits — Vince Gilligan labels his new series as "made by humans" to critique AI's role in entertainment, potentially influencing industry-wide policies on human creativity attribution.

Apple TV Stays Ad-Free — Apple TV+ rejects an ad-supported model, prioritizing emotional storytelling and original programming to grow viewership.

AI Actress Debate — Eline Van der Velden addresses backlash over AI actress Tilly Norwood, defending ethical AI creation as a tool to enhance rather than replace traditional filmmaking. She says many more agents are planned soon.

MrBeast's Beast Land — MrBeast launches Beast Land, a temporary theme park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to engage Middle Eastern fans.

Dude Perfect Expands — Dude Perfect unveils a $5M Texas headquarters to boost family entertainment production, with plans for a $100M theme park and team.

Streaming's Pause Ad Push — Amazon, Netflix, and Disney increasingly deploy pause ads to boost revenue and engagement as platform costs rise with live sports.

REWE Supermarket’s Robotic Kitchen

FOOD & DRINK TECH:

Robotic Kitchen — A fully autonomous kitchen system, launches at a REWE supermarket in Germany, preparing 120 meals p/h without humans, handling ingredient collection, cooking and cleaning. It uses AI to optimize meal prep, reduce food waste, and deliver meals via touchscreen or voice orders.

Airbnb x Instacart — Launching a three-month pilot program allowing guests to pre-stock rental kitchens with groceries ordered through the Airbnb app. Starting January 5th, guests can place orders up to three weeks before check-in.

GRAS Reform Controversy — MAHA attempts to reform the GRAS process, drawing criticism from food company lobbyists and media conspiracy theories. This article, for example, claims it is an effort to worsen food safety standards.

Synthetic Dye Phase-Out — The American Bakers Association pledges to eliminate FD&C colors from U.S. baked goods by 2028, with over 90% of members committed, aligning with FDA's 2026 plan.

Amazon's Robotic Shopping — Amazon deploys autonomous robots at Whole Foods where shoppers use QR codes to order items from a microfulfillment center.

Blueberry Boom — Agrovision Corp. reaches $1B valuation with Fruitist premium blueberries using AI technology and vacuum storage. Plans to expand product lines.

Cocoa Supply Challenges — Barry Callebaut CEO Peter Feld is cautiously optimistic about cocoa supply despite 7% volume decline.

Norris Triumphs in Brazil

SPORTS & TECH DESK:

Norris Triumphs in Brazil — Lando Norris claimed victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix, extending his lead to 24 points over Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen finished third from the pit lane. Ferrari scored no points, while Mercedes boosted their lead.

NBA Backs Fastbreak AI — The NBA has invested in a $40 million funding round for Fastbreak AI, a company enhancing sports operations with AI. Supported by ex-NFL stars, the investment aims to boost sales and marketing in amateur sports.

LIV Golf's Tech Swing — LIV Golf is integrating team dynamics and AI to enhance shot tracking and athlete wellness, aiming to create engaging narratives. The league's challenge is balancing innovation with traditional golf values to remain competitive.

AI Revolution in Ticketing — AI search tools are reshaping ticket-buying, challenging traditional marketplaces to adapt. While enhancing user experiences, concerns about market commoditization and ticket quality manipulation persist.

Billionaires Back Sports — Billionaires are increasingly investing in sports teams, (20% up from 6% in 2023.) The trend is driven by asset management firms and rising TV ratings. Notable investors include Steve Cohen, Mark Walter, the Koch family.

Amazon Prime Video — Streaming 44 NBA G League games from Dec 1, amid declining cable viewership. Sets the stage for potential future NBA rights acquisitions.

Skims — Kim Kardashian co-founded athleisure and shapewear brand raised $225M to expand its retail presence, anticipates $1B+ sales this year.

Gene Hacking Controversy

FUTURISM:

Web's Bright Future — Tim Berners-Lee advocates for decentralized web and user-empowering AI, emphasizing inventor collaboration to reclaim web potential and counter Big Tech challenges.

Gene Hacking Controversy — Secretive startup Preventive, backed by tech billionaires, aims to create the first genetically-modified baby outside China to eliminate hereditary diseases, despite U.S. bans and ethical concerns.

Brain Mapping Breakthrough — BICAN maps brain development from stem cells to adolescence, identifying cell types and gene expressions to advance understanding of autism, schizophrenia, and glioblastoma treatments.

Speedy Gene Editing — Texas Tech accelerates gene-edited plant growth from months to weeks using modified Agrobacterium on Nicotiana benthamiana and soybeans, targeting hardier, nutritious crops.

Blue Origin's Mars Mission — Blue Origin launched New Glenn rocket on November 9 carrying NASA's ESCAPADE to Mars, featuring Viasat technology and aiming for successful booster landing.

AI's Spatial Leap — Dr. Fei-Fei Li champions Spatial Intelligence as AI's evolution, emphasizing interactive models understanding physical environments to enhance creativity, robotics, and scientific discovery.

Synchron's Brain Leap

WELLBEING AND HEALTH TECH:

OpenAI's Health Push — OpenAI plans to launch a gen AI-powered personal health assistant, leveraging ChatGPT's 800M weekly active users and strategic healthcare hires to enter consumer health despite rivals' data management struggles.

Fluoride Restrictions for Kids — The FDA limits fluoride supplements for children under 3 and low-risk groups due to health concerns including gut microbiome impact, while prescription supplements remain available for dental health.

AI-Powered TB Screening — AI enables rapid tuberculosis diagnosis via mobile x-ray machines in low-income regions, though experts emphasize regulatory oversight and caution against over-reliance without proper safeguards.

Synchron's Brain Leap — Synchron raised $200M to advance its brain-computer interface featuring the non-invasive Stentrode device for paralyzed patients, with plans for AI integration and expanded engineering team.

Symani's Alzheimer's Study — MMI's Symani robotic system receives FDA clearance for Alzheimer's research, targeting improved brain neurotoxin drainage.

ATAC for Seizure Control — Rice University bioengineers develop ATAC, a nonsurgical method combining ultrasound and gene therapy to control seizure-related brain activity by targeting the hippocampus, showing promise for epilepsy.