Good morning readers. In case you missed it, former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at the RNC rally in Butler, PA, days before he was to accept the Republican nomination for the third time. Minutes after Trump stepped on stage to address the crowd, a series of shots went off, one grazing the former president’s ear, right before he dropped to the ground in panic. The shooter, a 20 year old male from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was gunned down in the process. Experts are now saying this might be the biggest security crisis for the Secret Service since Reagan was shot in 1981.

Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, moments later to let everyone know he was doing fine.

Click the link here for the latest on the investigation.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Google is taking on another AR glasses project

• Headline Hustle: AT&T suffers another breach while millions of records get exposed, Meta is lifting its ban on Donald Trumps social media accounts, Google is in talks to buy cybersecurity firm Wiz for $23 billion

• Travelling to space in an air balloon

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

TECH

Google is getting serious about AR…again

Imagine stepping into a world where your glasses not only frame your face but also your reality.

At Google’s IO developer conference this May, spectacles weren't just for seeing but for believing, as the tech giant amazed attendees with Project Astra, an AI wizard that not only cracks jokes but can also spot your misplaced glasses.

From smartphone to smart glasses

During the reveal, there was one moment that stood out: when Astra transitioned from a smartphone to a pair of what looked suspiciously like augmented reality glasses. The spectacle was less of a product launch and more of a teaser trailer for the potential of Google's AI expertise in an AR accessory. As tantalizing as it was, the tech giant was not resurrecting its Iris smart glasses but rather setting the stage for what could be.

And the company’s timing couldn’t be better.

• As the world tilts towards augmented reality (AR), Google is sprinting to consolidate its efforts. Despite past stumbles in the AR arena—remember the Google Glass gaffe?—the tech titan is not shying away.

• In fact, Google cofounder Sergey Brin once dubbed glasses the "killer app" for AI, highlighting their seamless integration as a home for futuristic features.

Internally, the gears are turning rapidly. Google's teams are now laser-focused on Android XR, hoping it becomes the go-to software for hardware partners eager to dabble in everything from immersive headsets to sleek, glasses-like devices. The company is even partnering with Samsung to develop a headset, yet, insiders whisper of delays and high expectations, pushing the launch to next year.

Not everyone’s on board. Some Google employees have jumped ship, frustrated with the company's AR strategy duds. And with competitors like Apple and Meta sprinting ahead, Google's AR endeavors might seem a bit like showing up to a marathon in flip-flops.

IN THE KNOW

Headline Hustle

📶 AT&T suffers another breach, has millions of records exposed. AT&T revealed a major data breach exposing call and text records of millions of customers from mid-to-late 2022. The breach, impacting both AT&T and other wireless network users, included telephone numbers and logs of interactions but not call contents or personal data like Social Security numbers. AT&T blamed an illegal download on a third-party cloud platform, Snowflake, and said it is investigating. The Department of Justice had delayed public disclosure, citing national security concerns. AT&T shares fell 1% following the news.

📱 Meta is lifting its ban on Trump’s social media accounts. Meta announced it will lift restrictions on former President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts ahead of the Republican National Convention next week. The move ensures Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has equal standing with Democrat President Joe Biden. Trump’s accounts were reinstated in early 2023 after a two-year ban following the January 6, 2021, insurrection, with additional guardrails to prevent repeat offenses. Meta confirmed that no penalties have been necessary since the accounts' reinstatement.

💻️ Google is in talks to acquire cybersecurity firm Wiz for $23 billion. Google is in advanced talks to acquire cybersecurity firm Wiz for $23 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. Founded in 2020, Wiz has rapidly grown under CEO Assaf Rappaport, achieving a $12 billion valuation as recently as May. If completed, this would be Google’s largest acquisition, highlighting its focus on cybersecurity amid rising threats. Google has faced antitrust scrutiny and had considered acquiring Hubspot, but those talks reportedly cooled. Neither Google nor Wiz commented on the report.

SPACE

You can now fly to space in an air balloon

The stratosphere just got a lot more accessible.

If rocketing into space sounds a bit too intense, three innovative startups—Zephalto from France, Space Perspective from Florida, and World View from Arizona—are offering a gentler lift to the edge of our atmosphere using high-tech balloons and luxury capsules.

These six-hour balloon rides promise a breathtaking view from 15 to 19 miles above Earth, a stark contrast to the 50 miles deemed 'space' by the U.S. government. While passengers won't find themselves in a weightless wonderland, the experience is similar to flying in a plane, complete with comforts like a bar and bathroom facilities right on board the capsule.

"This isn't your typical rocket blast but a gentle ascent into the blue," said Ryan Hartman, CEO of World View, highlighting the uniqueness of this calm aerial journey.

Despite a lighter lift-off, interest is sky-high:

• World View has pre-sold 1,250 tickets, and Space Perspective follows closely with 1,800.

• Zephalto remains tight-lipped on sales but boasts fully booked initial flights, with tickets ranging from $50,000 to a lofty $184,000.

A trip everyone can take (almost): Unlike their rocket-powered counterparts, these balloon trips promise the serenity of a plane ride, sans the weightlessness, making them accessible to anyone who can board a flight.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Elon Musk posted on X that he "fully" endorses Donald Trump, moments after the former president was rushed off stage by Secret Service following gunshots at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

• Judge dismisses the voluntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin after a years long battle.

• Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic in straight sets at the Wimbledon Final, winning his fourth grand slam title.

• Spain won a record-breaking fourth European Championship by defeating England 2-1 in a dramatic second half of the Euro 2024 final on Sunday in Berlin.

• The world lost two legends over the weekend: Shannen Doherty, ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘Charmed’ died at 53. Richard Simmons also passed away at 76.

Was this email forwarded to you? Feel free to sign up using the following link: https://www.pulseofprogress.info/

⚡️ Want to feature in this newsletter?

Elevate your brand's visibility to over 7,000+ decision makers by partnering with Pulse of Progress and seize the chance to connect with our rapidly expanding, highly engaged audience! Reach out for more details.