Iterate Weekly - Issue 142
This week we're talking about Google's new assistant, the modern office holiday party, utility cargo scooters, fermented egg substitute, and "May December"!
Welcome to issue 142 of Iterate Weekly!
Hope you’re all doing well. This is just a friendly reminder that you can always reply directly to these messages or leave a comment on the Substack post. Feedback is highly encouraged and I’m happy to answer any and all questions that come up.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Google plans to bring a new AI to its next Pixel Phone
There may be a new reason to upgrade to Google’s latest Pixel phone.
If rumors are to be believed, the Pixel 9 should arrive with a potentially game-changing new AI assistant.
I don’t love the idea of naming the assistant on a Pixel phone “Pixie”, but maybe they’ll come to their senses on that one. I suppose Pixie is the perfect foil for Siri and Alexa but I always appreciated the fact that Google just named their assistant “Google”. Those days may be over.
No matter what they call the assistant, it could have capabilities beyond its competition. It sounds like it will be powered by the technology behind the recently announced “Project Gemini” model. This should allow for much more natural and helpful interaction with the assistant.
Will it actually require new hardware that will only be available on the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro? Possibly, but it likely will be another marketing move to only release the new assistant on the new phone. But if Google can really prove the utility of this new AI helper, it certainly should increase Pixel sales.
I for one am ready for a new assistant in my pocket, let’s just give it a better name than Pixie please?
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
What should a modern company holiday party look like?
So many aspects of the modern workplace have evolved, so why shouldn’t the company holiday party do the same?
There has been a growing trend for companies to try things that are a bit more experiential and inclusive than the stereotypical post-work drinks and Christmas music.
The idea of getting drunk with co-workers in the office, may be losing whatever appeal it once had. Pandemic workplace changes have changed in-person gatherings for many companies. Where it was once easy and cost-effective to get everyone together in one place for a shindig, it can be a lot more difficult with remote virtual employees.
Personally, I’ve participated in virtual magic shows, wine tastings, and interactive music-making sessions as company holiday events. While these can feel a bit uncomfortable compared to the standard drinks around the office Christmas tree, they’re certainly more inclusive and can still promote that elusive workplace camaraderie.
♻️ Health/Environment/Electric Vehicles
Could utility scooters be as popular as e-bikes?
Here’s a fun new way to get around. It’s an electric utility scooter!
The cleverly-named Scootility is bring its first cargo utility scooter to market, and I think it looks fantastic.
It’s part front-loading cargo bike and part high-powered electric scooter. You can stand on the back and navigate like you would any other scooter, but now you can also store some serious cargo in the weatherproof cargo bay.
These are made for commercial deliveries but I could certainly see them being useful for any urban commuter who carries more than a backpack. You could easily fit a week’s worth of groceries in the storage area. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you could add some sort of seat in the front for kids or dogs. It could pretty much do everything an electric cargo bike could do with less of a learning curve and a potentially lower weight.
This thing even has swappable batteries and full suspension. There should be little maintenance involved compared to an e-bike or moped. It actually looks like a pretty smart solution in areas where delivery trucks just don’t fit the narrow, over-crowded streets. Instead of taking up an illegal parking spot or blocking a bike lane when making a delivery, the Scootility device can easily be parked on a sidewalk for short drop-offs. I’d love to see vehicles like these become the norm in urban deliveries.
🛍 Grab Bag
Precision fermentation as a substitute for eggs
Here’s an interesting new recipe for an egg replacement.
With some “precise fermentation”, a company called…The Everyday Company, has developed a chicken-less way to recreate the egg.
The egg is finding a home at the prestigious Eleven Madison park restaurant in New York. The Michelin-Star restaurant’s menu went completely plant-based in 2021 and the Everyday Egg is being met with rave reviews by vegans and non-vegans alike.
Here’s how the product is made:
In this process, the DNA sequences responsible for animal proteins are inserted into yeast, which is then fed sugar. As the yeast ferments in a tank, it turns that sugar into protein. The company then adds plant-based ingredients to bolster its taste and texture, creating a “1-1 drop-in for eggs from hens” that tastes and performs like those you’d buy at the grocery store.
So it starts with DNA sequences that are responsible for animal proteins but no chicken need be involved directly in the process. And for the nutritional profile? The Every Egg has no cholesterol or saturated fat but does have 8 grams of protein. That’s on the higher end of the average egg from a chicken.
These fermented non-chicken eggs seem to be the wave of the future. They use far fewer resources than traditional farming and also erase the moral issues around chickens who live their whole lives in a cage. While they will only be found in select restaurants right now, look for wider adoption over the next few years. Hopefully in the near future, you’ll have the ability to purchase standard eggs, cage-free and free range eggs, or eggs that have come from no chicken at all in the same aisle.
💬 Quote of the Week
"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."
-Anne Lamott
🎥 Content Review
May December
Here’s another recent film that’s getting some Oscar buzz. It’s called May December and it’s available now to stream on Netflix.
It’s a suspenseful thriller that had me hooked from the first scene. Natalie Portman plays an actress cast as a controversial real-life mother played by Julianne Moore. Portman spends several days with the complicated woman and her family trying to absorb all of her tendencies to better understand the role.
The acting is excellent and I’d be surprised if none of the central players here are nominated in the best actor categories for the Oscar. If you need a break from the holiday viewing, go watch May December.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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