AI that can actually SEE

Brought to you by Transformative Studio

We help executives identify and deploy the highest-impact AI opportunities for their business. Learn more at Transformative.Studio.

Hey, it's Clark.

Every child learns physics before language. They drop a cup, and it falls. They stack blocks wrong, and the tower collapses. Long before we master abstract reasoning, we build an intuitive model of how the physical world behaves. Dr. Fei-Fei Li, often called the "Godmother of AI", published a viral essay this week arguing that AI has been learning in reverse. We've built systems that master language and abstraction while remaining blind to the spatial, physical reality that forms the foundation of human intelligence. Her thesis is straightforward: the next meaningful leap in AI capability requires systems that can perceive depth, understand motion, and predict how objects interact in three-dimensional space.

Spatial intelligence is not a niche technical upgrade. It’s a new substrate for reasoning. When models can simulate how objects fall, collide, or decay, they gain the power to predict not just text but consequence—molecular reactions, material stress, disease progression. The labs chasing this—World Labs, Google DeepMind, Tencent—aren’t building better chatbots. They’re laying the groundwork for an AI that can see, imagine, and intervene in the real world with physical fidelity. 

Let's dive in...

IN TODAY’S EDITION:

Top Story: Google Finance integrates Gemini-powered Deep Search and live prediction-market data

Industry Watch: Celonis AI powers Mercedes-Benz and BMW operations across 30+ global manufacturing plants

Notable Transactions: Metropolis secures $1.6B at $5B valuation to expand AI-powered checkout-free payments beyond parking

New Tools to Try: Patter turns websites into automated sales agents without code

Power Prompt: Your Trusted Advisor - How to use AI to make better decisions in your life

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORY

Google Finance Integrates Gemini-Powered Deep Search to Answer Financial Queries

Google Finance has introduced a new AI-driven research mode called “Deep Search” that uses Gemini models to execute hundreds of simultaneous web look-ups and return fully cited, aggregated responses in minutes. It now also supports prediction-market data feeds from Kalshi and Polymarket, enabling users to query future-event probabilities (for example, GDP growth or interest-rate decisions) directly via the search bar. Enhanced features include advanced charting tools, technical overlays and a revamped earnings tab with live audio, real-time transcripts and AI-powered “at a glance” insights. (PYMNTS)

INDUSTRY WATCH

Manufacturing | Celonis AI Powers Mercedes-Benz and BMW Operations Across 30+ Plants

Mercedes-Benz and BMW are deploying Celonis AI across their global manufacturing networks to optimize production. Mercedes uses the platform in 30+ facilities to forecast delivery times and detect quality issues, while BMW reports Celonis touches nearly every vehicle produced. (Design News)

Real Estate | Realmo's AI Assistant Searches 9 Million Properties Using Natural Language

Realmo launched an AI search assistant that finds commercial properties through conversational requests. Users can describe their needs, such as "retail space under $3,000 near a university," and receive curated matches from 9 million properties across 60 business categories. (Newsfile)

Agriculture | Land O'Lakes and Microsoft Launch "Oz" AI Assistant Built on 20 Years of Crop Data

Land O'Lakes partnered with Microsoft to create "Oz," an AI assistant that transforms their 800-page Crop Protection guide into farm-specific recommendations. It helps retail agronomists deliver personalized solutions to farmers facing rising costs and falling crop prices. (American Ag Network)

Tech | Former Meta Designers Launch Whisper-Activated Stream Ring 

Sandbar, founded by former Meta designers, launched Stream Ring—an AI wearable that transcribes whispered thoughts into organized notes. Users hold a touchpad to record, eliminating wake words. The ring also controls music playback and is priced at $249. (TechCrunch)

Healthcare | AquaWomb Develops Artificial Womb for Babies Born Early

Dutch startup AquaWomb is creating an artificial womb using a glass tank with synthetic amniotic fluid to support extremely premature babies. The system connects babies via umbilical cord to an artificial placenta, protecting underdeveloped lungs from damaging ventilators. (Interesting Engineering)

Banking & Finance | Billtrust's Agentic AI Learns Customer Behavior to Optimize Collections Timing

Billtrust launched Collections Agentic Procedures, which replaces static playbooks with adaptive AI that learns from customer interactions. The system segments buyers by risk and recommends optimal outreach timing and channels to improve recovery rates while reducing contact fatigue. (PYMNTS)

Retail | Target's AI Gift Finder Recommends Presents Based on Recipient Details

Target launched a conversational AI gift finder that suggests presents based on recipient age and interests. The retailer also introduced List Scanner, which digitizes handwritten shopping lists in-app. Customers using Target's app in-store have basket sizes nearly 50% higher than non-app users. (Retail Dive)

Media | ElevenLabs Launches Voice Marketplace with Michael Caine and 28 Celebrity Voices

ElevenLabs launched the Iconic Voice Marketplace, letting brands license AI voices of celebrities including Michael Caine, Judy Garland, and John Wayne. Companies negotiate with rights holders for voice usage in content like audiobooks and ads. (Variety)

NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS

Metropolis Secures $1.6B at $5B Valuation - The AI-powered parking operator will use the capital to expand its checkout-free payment technology into retail, restaurants, and gas stations. (Reuters)

Clio Completes $1B vLex Acquisition & Raises $500M at $5B Valuation - The legal-tech company offering AI-enabled practice management for law firms acquired global legal research platform vLex for $1 billion and closed a $500 million Series G, valuing it at $5 billion. (PR Newswire)

Snap Inks $400M Deal with Perplexity - Perplexity's AI search engine will be integrated into Snapchat's chat interface, bringing real-time answers to the platform's 943M monthly users. (All About AI)

Scribe Raises $75M at $1.3B Valuation - The workflow documentation platform will launch Scribe Optimize to help enterprises identify where AI and automation investments will actually deliver returns. (TechCrunch)

Gamma Secures $68M at $2.1B Valuation - The AI presentation platform, which surpassed $100M in annual revenue with 700M users, will expand its business offerings and scale its API. (AI Business)

NEW TOOLS TO TRY

POWER PROMPT

This Week: Your Trusted Advisor

Transform any tough decision into a data-driven decision with an interactive weighted matrix that scores your options and reveals what matters most.

You are an expert decision-making facilitator. Guide me through creating a weighted decision matrix by asking questions one at a time:

Phase 1: Define the Decision
Ask what decision I'm making and what options I'm considering
Help brainstorm any missing options
Confirm the final list

Phase 2: Identify Criteria
Suggest 6-10 relevant criteria based on my decision type
Ask if I want to add, remove, or modify any 

Phase 3: Weight Criteria
Ask me to rate the importance of each criterion
Use comparison questions to refine weights
Show weights as percentages and confirm they reflect my priorities

Phase 4: Score Options
For each option, ask me to score it (1-10) on each criterion
Offer to research factual criteria
Help me stay consistent

Phase 5: Create Interactive Matrix
Build a React artifact showing:
All options, criteria, weights, and scores
Calculated weighted scores and rankings
Interactive sliders to adjust weights/scores in real-time
Visual comparisons (charts, radar plots)
Sensitivity analysis showing how rankings change with different weights

Phase 6: Analysis & Validation
Highlight the top option and key decision drivers
Ask if the result aligns with my gut feeling
If not, explore what might be missing or misweighted

Keep questions focused and efficient. Consolidate when possible to reach the interactive matrix faster.

Prompt credit: Prompter

THAT’S A WRAP

Enjoyed this edition? Share the Transformative AI Newsletter with colleagues to help them stay ahead in the AI landscape.

Remember: We're creating intelligence that doesn't just solve problems but helps us fall in love with different kinds of problems.

See you next week,
Clark Valberg

Brought to you by
Transformative Studio

We help business leaders identify opportunities to leverage AI for real business impact.

Together, we’ll consider your unique challenges, identify high-impact opportunities and deploy custom AI workflow agents that deliver measurable ROI in a short timeframe.

Request an AI Assessment to see where the highest-impact opportunities are for your business.