Alexa Plus Is Alive And Listening

🌟 Good morning,

Alexa Plus might be quietly tuning up behind the scenes, but today it’s a reminder that some of the biggest tech leaps happen quietly before they roar. So, start your day knowing that innovation is brewing—even when the spotlight hasn’t found it yet. Stay curious, stay sharp, and get ready to hear the future sing loud and clear.

_{—Let’s make it count!}

SYNC PICKS
5 Tools to Automate

1. Appwrite Sites: The open-source Vercel alternative

2. Sim Studio: Figma canvas for AI agent workflows

3. Hedy: is your AI meeting coach for every conversation

4. RapidScan: AI-Powered Document Processing for Effortless Reconciliation

5. Ragie: Your Audio and Video, Now Fully Searchable

🦄 Startup Spotlight
Startups betting on the future

The Nuclear Company is taking a classic approach to a modern energy problem—reviving proven nuclear reactor designs at already-permitted U.S. sites to fast-track development. Backed by $51.3M in fresh Series A funding (totaling $70M), the startup plans to build 6 gigawatts of capacity to help meet surging demand from data centers. Founded by three seasoned entrepreneurs, the company is betting that large-scale nuclear can offer the stable power big tech craves—without waiting for new technologies. But with cheap solar rising fast and nuclear subsidies under threat, the race to plug America’s power gap could get a lot more competitive.

Funding Roundup

Moonvalley raised an additional $10M, totaling $53M so far in funding from 14 investors, according to an SEC filing. The LA-based AI video startup uses the funds to enhance its Marey model with advanced customization and legal safeguards for creators. Positioned to stand out in a crowded market, Moonvalley focuses on licensed data and strong content controls to win filmmaker trust.

TODAY IN AI
Amazon says Alexa+ is alive and well

Alexa Plus is real — and it’s listening (somewhere). That’s the message Amazon is pushing back with, after a Reuters report raised a brow-raising question: Where are all the Alexa Plus users?

Reuters claimed it couldn’t find any real people using Amazon’s AI-powered assistant, even after scouring social media, review sites, and forums. Only a couple of Reddit posts turned up — and even those couldn’t be verified. But Amazon says the story missed the mark.

In a sharply worded response to The Verge, Amazon insists “hundreds of thousands” of customers already have access to Alexa Plus, and more are being “constantly invited” through its early access program. The rollout started back in March, though not all features — like personalized reminders or food ordering — are live yet.

Yes, it's still early days. And yes, there’s been a strange absence of Alexa Plus fanfare online. But behind the scenes, Amazon says its smarter, more conversational Alexa is already out in the wild — just maybe not in your living room yet.

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Nvidia is opening its AI server ecosystem to rival chipmakers, letting customers use non-Nvidia semiconductors with its high-speed NVLink Fusion system. At Computex, CEO Jensen Huang revealed the GB300 system, RTX Pro Server, and plans for Taiwan’s AI supercomputer and a new Taipei HQ. With partners like MediaTek, Marvell, and Qualcomm onboard, Nvidia aims to stay central in AI infrastructure while adapting to rising custom chip competition.

Netflix is rolling out AI-generated midroll and pause ads in 2026 for its ad-supported tier. At its Upfronts, Netflix showcased how generative AI will tailor ads mid-show and on pause screens. It's a bold pivot from ad-free binge days to algorithm-powered commercial breaks. Love it or hate it—AI ads are coming, and skipping costs extra.

TECH SYNC
Xiaomi invests $7B to build its own chips

Xiaomi is making its boldest tech play yet—investing nearly $7 billion over ten years to develop its own mobile chips, aiming to reduce reliance on Qualcomm and MediaTek. The move, announced by co-founder Lei Jun on China’s Weibo, reflects a strategic shift toward semiconductor self-sufficiency, as chips become the new battleground for global tech giants.

The company will debut its first in-house processor, the Xring O1, on May 22—crafted with cutting-edge 3nm tech, which notably rules out domestic foundry SMIC due to U.S. export restrictions. With over 2,500 engineers already on the semiconductor team and billions sunk into R&D, Xiaomi is drawing inspiration from Apple’s tightly integrated hardware-software model.

For Xiaomi, this chip leap isn’t just about faster phones it’s a national mission aligned with China’s push to compete with U.S. tech supremacy. But as it races ahead in chips and electric vehicles, recent setbacks like a fatal crash involving its SU7 EV—serve as a reminder: climbing the tech mountain is a hard, unforgiving ascent.

MORE TO KNOW

Microsoft has rolled out Command Palette, a powerful new launcher for apps, search, and system tools via PowerToys. Targeted at developers and power users, it supports commands, file search, web access, and is fully customizable with extensions. It's seen as the successor to PowerToys Run and activates with Win+Alt+Space.

Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 with big gains in speed and AI power. Built on a 4nm node, it boasts 27% faster CPU, 30% GPU boost, and a 65% jump in AI tasks. It supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 200MP cameras, and even runs Stable Diffusion 1.5 locally. Honor, vivo, and realme phones with this chip are coming soon.

Apple’s former Siri chief pushed for Google Gemini over ChatGPT, citing privacy and longevity concerns. Despite that, Apple chose ChatGPT and integrated it with Siri in late 2025. Now, Apple is eyeing Gemini and Perplexity as future Siri and Safari options.

GADGETS
Huawei unveils 18" foldable laptop

Huawei is pushing the boundaries of laptop design with its boldest innovation yet — the MateBook Fold Ultimate. Imagine an 18-inch OLED display folded into the footprint of a 13-inch laptop; that’s exactly what Huawei has pulled off. Weighing just 1.16kg and measuring a mere 14.9mm when closed, it’s a featherweight machine with heavyweight versatility.

Running HarmonyOS PC, this foldable transforms between laptop, tablet, and full-screen modes with a built-in kickstand and a vivid 4:3 display capable of hitting 1,600 nits brightness. Huawei didn’t skimp on internals either: 32GB RAM, up to 2TB SSD, and dual fans cooled by a vapor chamber — though the exact chipset remains a mystery.

The Fold Ultimate comes bundled with a sleek 5mm aluminum wireless keyboard and accessories, making it ready for productivity right out of the box. Priced at a premium (starting at $3,330), it hits shelves in China on June 6 — redefining what portable power can look like.

Also unveiled: the Huawei MateBook Pro — a more traditional 14.2" ultraportable with up to 32GB RAM, 2TB storage, and weighing under 1kg. It launches alongside the Fold, starting at CNY 8,000 ($1,110).