Sony Xperia 1 VII Your Pocket-Sized Film Crew

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SYNC PICKS
5 Tools to Automate

1. Granola: The AI notepad for teams in back-to-back meetings

2. Shadow: Meet once, stay ahead—Shadow helps you follow through

3. VidMe AI: Scale TikTok & Instagram content with

4. Generated Assets: Turn any idea into an investable index with AI

5. NotionApps 2.0: Build web apps & portals from Notion without coding

🦄 Startup Spotlight
Databricks to acquire Neon for $1B

Databricks is set to acquire Neon, a startup that builds an open-source alternative to AWS Aurora Postgres, for $1 billion. The acquisition will merge Neon's serverless database technology with Databricks’ data intelligence services, optimizing AI agent deployment. Neon, founded in 2021, offers a managed cloud database that automatically scales and supports AI-driven database creation, which Databricks sees as key to powering faster, error-controlled AI workloads. With this move, Databricks strengthens its position in the AI space, following recent acquisitions like Tabular and MosaicML.

Funding Roundup

Granola raises $43M in Series B at $250M valuation, led by NFDG. The funding will help expand Granola’s AI-powered note-taking app with collaborative features, making it more useful for business teams. New updates allow users to share notes, organize meetings, and gain insights across workspaces.

TensorWave raises $100M in Series B, led by Magnetar and AMD Ventures, to expand its AMD-powered cloud infrastructure. The funding will support growth of its AI compute capabilities, including a dedicated 8,000 GPU cluster, and expand its team from 40 to over 100. The company aims to democratize access to affordable AI services.

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TODAY IN AI
Google’s Gemini just got a power-up

Google has added GitHub integration to its Gemini chatbot for $20/month Gemini Advanced users, letting them directly import public or private repos. Once connected, Gemini can analyze, explain, and debug code — though Google quietly reminds us AI still isn’t a perfect coder (and yes, it still stumbles on logic and security). This upgrade comes hot on the heels of OpenAI’s own GitHub connector for ChatGPT Deep Research, as both AI giants race to turn their tools into indispensable developer copilots in an increasingly competitive market.

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Google is testing an “AI Mode” button to replace its classic “I’m Feeling Lucky” on the Search homepage. The experimental AI-powered search is rolling out to some users via Google Labs. With Search traffic dipping and I/O around the corner, Google’s betting on AI to keep users hooked.

AWS has entered a $5B+ strategic partnership with Saudi-backed Humain to build an “AI Zone” in the kingdom. The zone will include AWS infrastructure and training, with Humain developing AI tools on AWS tech. This move deepens Big Tech’s ties to Saudi Arabia’s AI ambitions, alongside Nvidia, AMD, and Google.

TECH SYNC
Airbnb expands beyond stays

In its biggest pivot since launching, Airbnb is expanding beyond stays to offer services and experiences everything from massages and chef-made meals to cultural tours and art workshops across 1,000 cities. These offerings can be booked independently or as part of a trip, marking a serious challenge to platforms like Tripadvisor and GetYourGuide. With 1.5 billion devices hitting the app yearly, Airbnb is betting that people don’t just want to stay somewhere they want to live the trip.

The new categories are being woven into a redesigned app, which also teases a social layer. Think group chats for travelers who met during experiences, or tailored suggestions based on your trip. The move taps into a growing craving for connection and local authenticity a sentiment Airbnb is eager to own.

And while it's crafting the future of travel, Airbnb is also deploying AI as your co-pilot. Its upgraded assistant will soon go beyond support tickets to act as a trip-planning concierge, starting in the U.S. before going global. With a 15–20% cut from services and experiences, and a touch of celebrity in exclusive “Airbnb Originals,” Airbnb is setting the stage to become your full-on travel lifestyle app not just your place to crash.

MORE TO KNOW

Google is adding a “This week” section to restaurant search profiles for promos like specials or live events. Businesses can update it manually or link social accounts for automatic posts. It rolls out first in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for food and drink spots.

Google is rebranding Find My Device to “Find Hub” with expanded support for Bluetooth tags, smart luggage, and airline tracking. New partners like July, Mokobara, and Pixbee are joining, plus UWB support for Motorola tags is coming. Satellite-based tracking lands later in 2025, alongside integrations with airlines like British Airways and Singapore Airlines.

GADGETS
The new Sony Xperia 1 VII

Sony’s new Xperia 1 VII isn’t just another flagship — it’s a film crew in your pocket. Thanks to “AI Camerawork” and “Autoframing,” the phone can shoot smooth, subject-tracking videos without you even looking at the screen. Just vaguely aim, and let AI posture estimation and a wide-angle lens do the magic. Perfect for action shots like skating or vlogging on the fly — at least, that’s the pitch.

It’s also an audiophile’s delight, with AI-enhanced audio upscaling, a classic headphone jack, and display tech borrowed from Sony’s Bravia TVs. But while the visuals promise vivid color, the resolution—at just 396ppi—is underwhelming for a phone that costs a staggering £1,399 (about $1,860). That’s pricier than an iPhone 16 Pro or Galaxy S25 Ultra, both of which come with higher pixel density and more polished ecosystems.

With a triple-camera setup, IP68 rating, 5,000mAh battery, and six years of security updates, it ticks many flagship boxes. But without a US release and unclear fast-charging specs, it faces an uphill battle. Sony’s vision is bold — but in this crowded premium space, boldness alone might not be enough to win your wallet.

FAST FLASH

Meta will start selling its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in India on May 19, priced at ₹29,990 ($353). The glasses offer Meta AI features like live translation, messaging, and music streaming, though Indian languages are not yet supported. Preorders are live, and the glasses will be available in Ray-Ban stores at launch.