WHAT’S INSIDE:

• Cadillac EVs | MBUX in-car | e-skis | Holo-smart glasses | Vacheron Iconic 222

• Trump 2025 & Tech: Uncertainty and Opportunity 

• LA Fire Relief + Restaurants | Matcha | Malört | reservations | Smart Grills

• Arts Fire Relief | Greg Wells | Luna Luna | Open Socrates | History Trending

• De-Extinction | Space Factories | Time travel possible | Molecular QE.

• Wellbeing: DNA Nanobots | Cancer Kill Switch | Haptic glasses | Smart Rings

TOP CONSUMER TECH

Cadillac's EV Ambitions — Cadillac is targeting the top luxury EV sales spot in 2025 with the Lyriq and Escalade IQ in out now, and the Optiq and Vistiq coming soon.

Google's Automotive AI — Mercedes-Benz has implemented Google’s Gemini-powered AI Assistant in its MBUX system for advanced in-vehicle interactions.

Electric Winter Sports — CES showcased some revolutionary e-winter sports gear including an electric off-road snowboard and battery-powered skis.

Swave's AR Breakthrough — The Belgian startup is making true holographic smart glasses using innovative HXR display tech. The company just raised €27M.

Vacheron's New Classic — The Iconic 222 watch returns with a follow-up to the 2022 reissue. It’s stainless steel with a blue dial, paying homage to the 1977 original.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Trump 2025: Uncertainty and Opportunity 

The year 2025 dawns with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. A new US administration takes office, promising a shift in economic and technological priorities. We are at a unique transitional point in the USA, experiencing a mix of trepidation, uncertainty, and even excitement about a potential resurgence of homegrown industry, with much of Trump’s MAGA focus expected to be on onshoring and reprioritizing domestic industry. The tech sector is anticipating the possibility of floods of VC money pouring in, channeled by figures like Elon Musk and other major tech leaders who will be present at the inauguration (including execs from most US big tech companies). 

We will at least know a lot more about the likely direction of this new regime by Monday when Trump’s much-anticipated Day one actions and orders are made. Here we explore some of the key news shaping this week’s lead up, including Trump’s potential TikTok stay of execution order, US crypto reserve rumors, economic headwinds and the likely tech trends, sectors and startups to watch this year.

This is a summary version of the full report we just published. Click here to read the full Trump 2025 Tech sector report featuring more original analysis on the current political, geopolitical and macroeconomic climate at the beginning of Trump’s tenure.

The Trump Transition & Its Impact on Tech

The incoming administration faces a challenging landscape. President Biden is using his remaining time to solidify his legacy with a series of executive orders, particularly in AI, security, and defense. This sets the stage for a potential clash with the new administration's stated policies, which include tightening trade restrictions and escalating curbs on AI and defense exports to China. 

One key area trending today is the incoming administration's stance on TikTok. After previously advocating for a ban, they are now expected to intervene to prevent it, signaling a shift towards finding a political solution, or possibly Elon Musk’s X purchasing the company as has been proposed by some in the Chinese administration in the US. This change in stance is underscored by the fact Trump has invited TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to the inauguration. 

Crypto is also making headlines this week as Trump is reportedly “considering” establishing a crypto reserve that would prioritize U.S.-based coins. Time to stack up on Dogecoin? This shift is being seen as very good news for US based crypto companies, and represents a shift from his previous stance of creating a bitcoin-focused strategic stockpile. Kalshi odds of a Bitcoin reserve still took a massive leap on this news and Bitcoin rebounded above $100K.

Economic and Market Headwinds

While some in the tech sector are celebrating the potential for deregulation and a renewed focus on domestic industry, others are concerned about trade tensions and the impact on global markets as potential complications. This uncertainty is compounded by significant economic headwinds, including stock market volatility and concerns about overvaluation and another tech bubble, particularly in the AI sector. Several factors contribute to the current economic uncertainty:

• Debt Concerns: There are concerns that the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio is approaching 100%, which could lead to a bond market crisis, with the potential for bond vigilantes to drive up yields and trigger a recession. The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds has already risen substantially. Some experts believe that the bond market is the "boogeyman" to watch, raising concerns about a potential crisis and recession.

• Market Volatility: The stock market has also shown signs of instability, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both experiencing declines. There are concerns that the market is overvalued, with some indicators suggesting a level of euphoria around AI and tech not seen since the dot-com bubble. This market exuberance is coupled with the anticipation of rising inflation and a potential slowdown in Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, further creating more headwinds in the markets. High and rising bond yields are putting pressure on equity markets.

• AI Infrastructure Bottlenecks: A potential memory shortage could hinder further AI development, despite recent investments in chip manufacturing and data centers authorized in 2024 and this year by Biden, this will continue to be a challenge throughout the year. It will be interesting to see what solutions Trump and Musk have to this problem.

These factors raise questions about the sustainability of the current tech bull market and the potential for a sharp market correction. There are likely many on Wall Street and in the startup world waiting for a quick crash as the signal to cash heavy firms to finally deploy masses of capital into the next cycle banking on a fast v-shaped recovery and explosive growth akin to the covid-19 crash.

However, markets remain very different to 2021, we are in uncharted territory, and we must be prepared for the unexpected. Startups will have to navigate a complex and evolving regulatory landscape in 2025 as new policies are rolled out, making it a difficult period to plan and strategize. Times of transition often lead to market volatility and economic instability, so require a laser focus on sustainable growth and financial prudence. We expect to see investors return their focus to value investing rather than explosive growth in 2025. If played right, such transitional periods can also offer immense opportunities for investors and startups to thrive. 

Opportunities Amidst Uncertainty

Despite these challenges, technological advancements offer immense opportunities:

• Convergence of Technologies: AI, robotics, and spatial computing are converging to create a "third industrial revolution" enabled by agentic AI and an associated deep tech explosion. At CES last week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled how close to reality this multi-trillion dollar mega industry is.

• Scaling AI Infrastructure: Significant investments are being made to scale AI infrastructure, benefiting companies like Nvidia.

• Agentic AI: AI tools capable of autonomous action are on the rise.

• Space Race Escalation: Space exploration continues to advance, with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin pushing boundaries.

• Industrial Transformation: AI and automation are transforming industrial manufacturing.

• Biotech: AI-driven advancements are driving innovation in sustainable fuels and bioplastics, drug discovery and material tech.

• Fintech: The fintech sector is poised for a comeback, fueled by AI and blockchain technology.

• Real Estate: AI is revolutionizing the real estate sector with automation and new ownership models.

• Fighting Fire: AI-powered solutions are being developed to mitigate the impact of natural disasters.

• Cybersecurity: The importance of cybersecurity continues to grow in an increasingly interconnected and AI powered world.

• Cryptocurrency: The incoming administration's more favorable stance on cryptocurrency could boost the sector. 

We will continue to monitor these trends and provide updates throughout 2025. At Tech Buzz, we're committed to bringing you timely and insightful content to help you navigate the future of tech. It's going to be a momentous year, so stay tuned!

This is a summary version of the full report. Click here to read the full Trump 2025 Tech sector report with more original analysis on the current political, geopolitical and macroeconomic climate and predictions.

We will be closely following these trends and providing you with updates throughout 2025. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are committed to being your trusted source for navigating the future of tech and beyond. It's going to be a big year so strap in for lift-off.

FOOD AND DRINK

LA Restaurant Fire Relief — Local restaurants and chefs have united to provide free meals and convert dining rooms into donation centers as wildfires ravage the region.

Cozy NYC Restaurants — Two new gems: Cafe Kestrel brings unfussy European charm to Red Hook, while Cocina Consuelo serves authentic Puebla and Veracruz flavors in Harlem.

Matcha Trend — The green tea beverage is having a moment with creative variations including white chocolate and blueberry flavored lattes.

Malört Goes National — Chicago's infamous bitter wormwood liqueur, traditionally a local rite of passage, is expanding beyond nationwide to trendy bars .

Access Restaurant Reservations — Acess, a new startup is charging $1,788 annually to help subscribers guarantee they can secure coveted reservations.

Smart Grills — 1. Weber Smoque a new affordable smart pellet grill with 180-500°F range, efficient venting, Wi-Fi connectivity + app. | 2. The Brisk It Zelos smart grill features an AI engine, precise temperature control, and an intuitive app + recipes.

ARTS & CULTURE

Artists For Fire Relief — Multiple benefit concerts are planned nationwide, and a $5 per download exclusive compilation album is on sale to raise funds for victims.

Greg Wells — The Grammy-winning producer of Wicked (2024) and hits like "Apologize", lost his world-class Dolby Atmos home studio in the Palisades fire.

Luna Luna — A one-off 1987 art carnival featuring works by Basquiat, Haring, and other iconic artists, has been revived at NYC's The Shed after 30 years in storage.

Open Socrates — Agnes Callard, a Philosophy professor known for sparking intellectual discourse has tackled Socrates, the original philosophical provocateur.

History Trending — History content is seeing major growth across media: with book sales hitting a 25-year high, and podcasts rivaling mainstream shows and expanding into TV/film deals.

FUTURISM

De-Extinction — Colossal Biosciences raises $200M to resurrect Mammoths.

Space Factories — Off-world factories a step closer with 3D printing tech progress.

Norway EVs — Norway is on track to be first nation to go all-electric on vehicles

'Grandfather Paradox' - Solved puzzle makes time travel (theoretically) possible.

Quantum Breakthrough — First-ever molecular entanglement with 92% fidelity.

WELLBEING TECH

DNA Nanorobots — Artificial cell altering bots offer new synthetic biology tool.

Cancer Kill Switch — Breakthrough cell defense mechanism may replace chemo.

Self-Driving AI Glasses — Haptic glasses give blind freedom without canes, dogs.

Smart Ring Innovation — 1. The Circular Ring 2 is challenging Oura's dominance with a new design and enhanced health tracking. | 2. Samsung's Galaxy Ring just launched in two new sizes with upgraded Health app features.