Tech News Digest: Monday, 25 May 2026

Today in tech, we're looking at the growing pains of the AI revolution, from creative marketing metrics to the ethical minefield of digital resurrection. We’ve also got updates on the wearable tech trying to find a home on your face—and your lapel.

Berlin’s Peec signals the rise of 'AI SEO'

Berlin-based startup Peec has seen its revenue skyrocket as brands scramble to understand how they appear in AI-driven search results. It’s a clear sign that the industry for tracking AI mentions is no longer a niche hobby, but a vital necessity for any modern business looking to stay visible.

The ethical battle over AI-reconstructed voices

The boundaries of AI ethics are being tested as enthusiasts use cockpit recordings to recreate the voices of deceased pilots, forcing safety regulators to lock down public archives. It’s a messy new frontier where the ability to 'resurrect' the dead through generative audio is clashing head-on with the privacy rights of grieving families.

Amazon’s ‘Bee’ wearable brings AI to your collar

Amazon's new 'Bee' wearable is generating plenty of buzz for its clever productivity features, though its constant recording capability is raising eyebrows among the privacy-conscious. It highlights the ongoing trade-off in the gadget world: we want seamless AI assistance, but we aren't always comfortable with a microphone that never sleeps.

Xreal and Google aim to make smart glasses mainstream

Smart glasses might finally be shaking off their awkward reputation as Xreal and Google lean into sleeker designs and more practical daily use cases. With hardware finally catching up to the software hype, the dream of a heads-up display for your everyday life is looking more like a reality than a gimmick.

A reality check for AI startup valuations

A fresh look at the AI boom suggests some startups and VCs are using inflated revenue metrics to justify eye-watering valuations. For those of us watching the market, it’s a timely reminder that while the tech is transformative, the financial 'hype cycle' still requires a healthy dose of scepticism.

Thanks for joining us for your Monday morning briefing; we'll see you back here tomorrow.