WHAT’S INSIDE:

• Alexa 3.0 | Perplexity contest | OpenAI Jewelry, "Invites" | Eclipsa Audio | Oura

• PGA Golf Hits The Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla, SanDiego, 22 Feb

• Salt Bye | Diageo | Beyond Meat | Gen Cheese

• Grammys | Musical Fetuses | Kanye-AI | Independent Film | Archive Re-fashion

• Sports: Super Bowl | PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open + Genesis Invitational

• AI-Asphalt | Automated Firms | Donut Lab | 3D Genomics | microbe-materials

• Brin v Autism | Healthy Gut | ADHD & Lifespan | Pig Organ Transplants + more

TOP CONSUMER TECH

Alexa 3.0 — Amazon is revamping Alexa into a Claude-powered generative AI service to hold complex, context-aware conversations and handle multifaceted requests on its 500M+ Alexa-enabled devices. It’s rumored to be out this month.

Use Perplexity, Win 1Mil! — There will be no Perplexity Super Bowl ad. Instead, there's a Super Bowl contest. Install the app (unless you have it already), and ask at least five questions on the app during the game.

OpenAI — Filed patents for smart jewelry, VR/AR headsets, and smartwatches, and smartphone replacement devices, while also launching its Deep Research tool.

Apple — launched the "Invites" iCloud+ event planning app, competing with Partiful. It is also developing "Confetti," an iOS 18.3 Calendar feature with multi-calendar support and photo sharing capabilities.

Google x Samsung — Have partnered to announce Eclipsa Audio, a new 3D spatial immersive audio format launching first on Samsung TVs and soundbars.

Oura Ring — Is implementing on-device AI to deliver health insights through smartphones rather than the cloud, prioritizing user privacy by processing locally.

FEATURE ARTICLE

PGA Golf Hits The Lodge at Torrey Pines

Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, San Diego is playing host to not one, but two major PGA golf events this season as a result of the LA fires. The Farmers Insurance Open just left town, and now the PGA "Signature Event," the Genesis Invitational is set to roll into town. Accommodation is at a premium with the area turned into a golf mecca for the month, but if you act fast you could secure an amazing luxury stay in this buzzing area. This will be a unique luxury experience for golf enthusiasts and travelers to soak up the excitement, and network with some of the nation’s most influential business and influence brokers.

Torrey Pines boasts two stunning 18-hole courses, the North and South, both offering truly epic coastal views of the Pacific Ocean. The South Course, in particular, is renowned for its challenging layout and has hosted multiple major championships, including the U.S. Open. The events to watch this season are:

Farmers Insurance Open

Held annually at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, San Diego, the Farmers Insurance Open is a staple of the PGA Tour's "West Coast Swing." The 2025 tournament took place from January 22 to 25. Harris English secured a narrow victory, finishing at 8-under par and earning a $1.674 million prize. Sam Stevens finished second at 7-under, followed by Andrew Novak at 6-under. 

Genesis Invitational

Traditionally hosted at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, the 2025 Genesis Invitational has also been relocated to the South Course at Torrey Pines due to recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The tournament is scheduled for February 13 to 16 and will emphasize relief initiatives for those affected by the fires. 

As a "Signature Event" on the PGA Tour, the Genesis Invitational features a $20 million purse and attracts a stellar field of competitors. The relocation to Torrey Pines offers attendees another opportunity to experience this iconic venue this season.

Luxury At The Lodge at Torrey Pines

This iconic property offers direct access to the golf course, luxurious accommodations, a full-service spa, and fine dining options. Perched atop the cliffs of Torrey Pines State Beach in La Jolla, California, the lodge is an award-winning luxury resort that offers guests a unique blend of natural beauty and refined elegance. Modeled after early 1900s Craftsman-style architecture, the resort features rich woodwork, natural stone surfaces, and custom-designed Stickley-style furniture, creating a class-filled aesthetic and a warm and inviting atmosphere. 

Guests can enjoy spacious rooms with stunning views of Torrey Pines and the Pacific Ocean, indulge in farm-to-table cuisine at the acclaimed A.R. Valentien restaurant, and relax at the full-service spa, which offers treatments inspired by the nearby Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. With its serene setting, world-class amenities, and exceptional service, The Lodge provides a memorable and luxurious retreat for travelers seeking a mix of sports action, outdoors adventure, and luxurious relaxation. 

The Lodge As Tournament Hub

The Lodge at Torrey Pines will serve as the central hub for tournament operations during the Genesis Invitational. It will provide accommodations for players and officials, and house essential facilities such as locker rooms and scoring areas, so you could be rubbing shoulders with the greats like Tournament Host Tiger Woods. 

Premium Hospitality Packages

For attendees seeking premium experiences, the Genesis Invitational offers a variety of hospitality packages including:

• Private Villas, Bungalows, Cabanas and Coastal Suites for 10 - 50 guests.

• Shared options at The Backlot or The Bluffs for individuals and groups.

All hospitality options include all-inclusive food and beverage services, as well as access to executive restrooms. Both full-week and individual day packages are available. 

If you do plan to attend, it's advisable to review the tournament's guest guidelines, including bag policies and prohibited items, to ensure a smooth experience. Additionally, parking must be purchased in advance, with several designated lots and shuttle services available to transport guests to the tournament entrance. With the disruption caused by the relocation, if you book quickly you may still have time to secure an unforgettable golfing holiday. 

Book Now

FOOD AND DRINK

Salt Bye — Celebrity chef Salt Bae’s Las Vegas Strip restaurant closed as its $1.5k gold-wrapped wagyu steak and other indulgent menu items fail to attract diners.

Diageo — The luxury drinks brand is expanding its US presence with a ~$415M plant in Alabama. Its portfolio includes Guinness and Johnnie Walker and nonalcoholic brand Ritual.

Beyond Beyond Meat — The plant-based meat market has cooled off. Beyond Meat’s market cap hit $10B in 2019 but is now ~$258M, as the space struggles with inflation and investor pullback.

Gen Cheese — A new generation of, mostly young, cheese entrepreneurs is cracking the code on wonderfully weird, climate-friendly, dairy products. Food innovators are even making Lactose Free Cheese that matches the best cheeses in taste & texture.

ARTS & CULTURE

Grammys — The Beatles won a Grammy with "Now and Then," thanks to AI-noise reduction from an old Lennon demo. Beyoncé won Album Of The Year and Kendrick Lamar won five awards. The event’s 1980s Aesthetic signalled fashion’s cultural shift.

Musical Babies — Research reveals fetuses respond to classical music with lowered heart rates and signs of musical recognition, suggesting early auditory development.

Kanye West — The award-winning artist confirmed he's using AI on his upcoming album 'BULLY,’ comparing the role of technology in music to that of autotune.

Independent Film report — Keri Putnam, the former CEO of the Sundance Institute, teamed up with Harvard on a deep analysis of the US indy film industry.

Reduce, Reuse, Resell — Archive wants to address fast fashion pollution with software that helps global brands and merchants resell used clothes with brands like New Balance and Oscar de la Renta. 

SPORTS DESK

Chiefs vs. Eagles — Super Bowl LIX kicks into high gear today in New Orleans, ahead of Sunday’s title game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles (6:30 pm ET, Fox) as the birds eye revenge for the 2023 bowl.

PGA Tour — Harris English (-8) won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines over Sam Stevens by one stroke. The $20M purse “signature event” 2025 Genesis Invitational relocates to Torrey Pines South Course (Feb 13-16) due to the wildfires.

Gender in Sport — President Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women's and girls' sporting events, including the 2028 LA Olympics.

Sports in Media 

• The Kansas City Chiefs are forming a studio to produce scripted and unscripted content — seemingly a first for a major sports franchise;

• Tom Brady signed a 10-year, $375M deal to commentate on Fox Sports;

• The iOS Sports app now lets users easily find where to stream games.

FUTURISM

AI-Powered Self-Healing Asphalt — UK researchers developed AI-powered asphalt using biomass waste and Google Cloud's AI to address road deterioration.

Fully Automated Firms — Explores how firms will revolutionize business through AI agents that can be copied, scaled, and evolved beyond human capabilities.

Donuts — Finnish company Donut Lab unveiled an innovative in-wheel electric motor concept at CES 2025, aiming to outperform current EV drive systems.

3D Genomic Structures — MIT chemists created an AI model that predicts the 3D structure of genetic material inside the cell; cutting computation from days to mins.

Modern Synthesis — A startup coaxes microbes in bacteria to deposit fibrous nanocellulosic materials to harvest, process and create new materials, eg sneakers.

Holographic-Encryption  — Researchers combined holograms and AI to create an uncrackable optical encryption system, for digital currencies, healthcare, communications and more.

WELLBEING TECH

War on Aging — Google co-founder Sergey Brin is on a $2 Billion quest to tackle diseases including attempts to cure Parkinson’s, Bipolar Disorder and now… Autism.

Healthy Gut Bacteria — Scientists make first analysis of how a healthy bacterial species in the gut breaks down sugars from intestinal mucus; leading to new solutions to inflammatory bowel disease.

ADHD & Lifespan — A study of British adults showed that ADHD is linked with a lifespan that’s nearly 7 years shorter for men, and about 9 years shorter for women.

Stem-like T Cells — Study finds stem-like T cells may hold the key to maintaining powerful, long-term immune responses in cancer and chronic diseases.

Pig Organ Transplants — The first clinical trial testing whether pig organs can be safely transplanted into people was approved by the FDA, starting with kidneys.

Brain Tumors — Scientists discover a treatment to stop tumor formation and growth of a medulloblastoma, the most common childhood malignant brain cancer.