Nerd goggles 🥽

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Silicon Valley's surprise summer must-have: nerd goggles

Move over, AirPods—this summer, Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are the unexpected tech accessory everyone’s talking about in Silicon Valley.

Brian Solis, head of global innovation at ServiceNow, recently wore his Ray-Ban Metas to dinner, and they quickly stole the spotlight. With their sleek Wayfarer design, AI assistant, spatial audio, and 12-megapixel camera, his friends couldn’t resist getting their own pairs. “If I was earning a commission, it would be a notable amount of money,” he quipped.

These glasses, now in their second generation and priced around $300, have become a cult favorite, gaining popularity through word of mouth rather than a big marketing push. Users like Kyle Russell and Michael Miraflor rave about their clear audio, stylish look, and smart features.

The success of these "nerd goggles" has led Meta to consider a stake in Ray-Ban’s parent company, with other tech giants also showing interest. As Miraflor put it, “Meta might not realize it, but it has a hit on its hands.”

Workers are embracing AI faster than their employers…

In a surprising twist, workers are outpacing their employers in the race to embrace AI technology. According to a new McKinsey report, a staggering 91% of employees now use generative AI in their daily tasks—a dramatic leap from just six months ago when only 30% reported doing so. This rapid adoption marks what McKinsey calls an "inflection point" in the workplace, as AI tools become as common as Slack notifications and the inevitable sad desk salad.

But while workers are diving headfirst into AI, companies are dragging their feet. Only 13% of businesses have implemented six or more AI use cases, putting them in the "early adopter" category, while 60% are stuck in the experimentation phase. This lag is attributed to hurdles like AI hallucinations, high costs, and inadequate data governance, which are slowing down large-scale implementation.

Interestingly, employees seem unfazed by these challenges. Nearly all workers using AI believe it enhances their communication, critical thinking, and creativity, with 70% considering themselves "light users" and 21% identifying as "heavy users."

This disconnect between employee enthusiasm and corporate caution is creating a unique dynamic in the workplace. McKinsey suggests that companies should harness this grassroots adoption by establishing governance structures, investing in upskilling, and offering more robust support for AI integration. By doing so, businesses can close the gap, fully unlocking AI's potential while mitigating the risks that come with it.

Why selling your startup in an ‘acqui-hire’ might be better than you think

In a tough venture capital market, even promising startups can struggle to raise funds. If your startup can't secure new financing or become self-sustaining, getting acquired—often for much less than you hoped—might be the only option. While it may feel like a letdown, especially if you dreamed of building a billion-dollar company, an acqui-hire can actually offer unexpected benefits.

Unexpected perks for founders and key employees: Acqui-hires, where a company is bought primarily for its talent, can lead to big rewards for founders and key staff. “Acquisitions are a great opportunity from a financial standpoint,” says Nivas Ravichandran, an early employee at Frilp, which was acqui-hired by Freshworks. "Pay and equity can be better than if you joined the acquiring company as a regular hire.”

Startups that get acqui-hired often see their founders and senior employees leapfrog in pay and rank. “Founders entering at level seven or eight after only a few years in the industry is common,” notes Sri Chandrasekar from Point72 Ventures. This jump can take a decade for others.

Why acqui-hires work for big companies: Big companies are often willing to offer better deals to keep the talent they've acquired. This includes higher salaries, senior positions, and extended equity packages. The goal? To make sure key people stick around and contribute to the company’s success.

For some, the compensation and responsibility that come with an acqui-hire make staying worthwhile, even if they initially resist working for a larger corporation. For example, many employees from Frilp, who once swore they’d leave soon after the acquisition, ended up staying for years, benefiting from the accelerated career growth that came with the deal.

The bottom line: In today’s market, an acqui-hire isn’t just a fallback—it’s a strategic move that can set you up for long-term success. Founders and key employees can secure better pay, faster career advancement, and valuable experience at larger companies. And when the time is right, there’s always the opportunity to start something new again.

AI search startup Perplexity faces tough competition from Google and OpenAI

Perplexity.ai, a San Francisco startup, offers AI-powered search that directly answers questions using trustworthy sources, setting it apart from traditional search engines. However, it now faces intense competition from Google’s AI Overviews and OpenAI’s SearchGPT, both aiming to dominate the future of search.

Perplexity’s unique approach includes a custom web index and a focus on accurate, citation-backed answers. Despite challenges, including disputes with major publishers, the startup has raised $165 million and is preparing to launch an advertising model.

With 250 million questions answered in July, Perplexity is growing but remains small compared to Google’s massive search volume. To succeed, it must continue innovating in a rapidly evolving market.