Google's AI Co-Scientist, Localising Your Design, Hunter Thompson's Philosophy and more

A lab partner that never sleeps.

Author

Charbel Zeaiter
February 21, 2025

Happy Friday everyone,

Today’s newsletter is packed with more than ever. I’d love to hear from you and hear how - and if - you’re using this newsletter.

It’s a lot of fun and it’s worth the effort. Feel free to reach out!

Yours in Wonder,
Charbel
Founder of Velvet Onion, Faster Zebra and more to come …

Today’s Highlights

  • AI: Google’s AI Co-Scientist: Everyone’s Lab Partner for the Future

  • Design: Universal vs. Culturally Aware Design

  • Science & Tech: Migraines Are More Than Just Headaches

  • Founding: Hunter S. Thompson’s Philosophy: Choose the Ninth Path

  • Product: Is Growth Always Good?

  • Today’s AI image: Google Has Sent Help

  • Quote for the day: Flow Like Water

AI

Google’s AI Co-Scientist: Everyone’s Lab Partner for the Future

Google has unleashed an AI co-scientist powered by Gemini 2.0, a multi-agent research assistant that speeds up discoveries in medicine, genetics, and beyond.

Think of it as a digital colleague that never sleeps, never complains, and definitely doesn’t steal your lunch from the fridge.

How It Works

  • Six AI specialists handle everything from brainstorming to peer review—no coffee breaks required.

  • Tested at Stanford and Imperial College, where it pinpointed new drug applications and gene transfer mechanisms in record time.

  • Smarter than your average AI, with 80%+ accuracy on expert-level benchmarks, outperforming both algorithms and actual scientists.

  • Early access via the Trusted Tester Program, with research institutions getting first dibs.

  • Not just a theory machine, it verifies its own work, making sure its findings aren’t just sci-fi.

Why is this a big deal?

OpenAI’s Sam Altman recently hinted that AI would soon make real scientific discoveries. Google seems keen to prove him right.

This could be the beginning of AI as a full-fledged research partner, helping scientists move faster, think bigger, and maybe even take a weekend off.

Also in AI

  • Microsoft’s Muse AI – Generates minutes of gameplay from just one second

  • Evo 2 – AI trained on 9 trillion DNA sequences predicts cancer mutations

  • Perplexity R1 1776 – Open-source AI with top-tier reasoning, no built-in limits

  • Majorana 1 – Microsoft’s quantum chip aims for more reliable computing

  • iPhone 16e – Apple’s most affordable AI-powered iPhone at $600

  • Proxy 1.0 – AI web agent that clicks, types, and navigates for you

  • Protoclone – Bipedal android with an eerily human-like body and 500 sensors

Design

Universal vs. Culturally Aware Design

Designers love the idea of creating something that works everywhere, but culture and language have other plans.

  • Like in Japan, blue and green share the same word (ao), so a “blue apple” is actually green.

  • Ancient Greeks had a different colour palette. Homer described the sea as "wine-dark" and honey as "green" because Greek colour terms were completely different.

  • Japanese stoplights have an extra-blue shade of green to match local language perception.

  • Greek, Turkish, and Spanish split blue into light and dark shades, meaning speakers literally perceive them as separate colours.

  • Red symbolises danger in the West but luck and joy in China.

  • A thumbs-up means approval in the West but can be offensive in parts of the Middle East.

  • Right-to-left languages like Arabic and Hebrew change how designs need to be structured.

  • Pepsi once (allegedly) translated its slogan into Chinese as “Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave.”

Language Does More Than Change Colours

  • Time moves differently in different cultures – English speakers see the past behind them, while the Aymara people believe it’s in front (since you can see it) and the future is behind (because you can’t).

  • Directions aren’t always relative – Some Aboriginal languages use only cardinal directions (north, south, east, west), meaning speakers always know which way they’re facing.

  • Words define perception – The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis suggests if a language doesn’t have a word for something, its speakers struggle to perceive or describe it.

Why This Matters for Design

A good design adapts to different cultural perspectives rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach.

The real challenge? Balancing global accessibility with local relevance.

Get it right, and your designs will resonate with a diverse audience.

Get it wrong, and you might just create the next “blue apple” of design fails.

Also in Design

Science & Tech

Migraines Are More Than Just Headaches

For centuries, migraines were brushed off as mere headaches.

Now, they’re recognised as complex neurological events with wide-ranging symptoms. While new drugs like gepants offer relief to some, many still struggle, pushing researchers to rethink migraine’s root causes.

All You Need To Know

  • These drugs block CGRP to prevent attacks, but they work for only a fraction of sufferers.

  • Symptoms include light sensitivity, nausea, brain fog, and even hallucinations, often persisting beyond headache episodes.

  • Migraines unfold in stages, with triggers ranging from stress to hormones and diet.

  • Once dismissed as psychological, migraines are now linked to brain activity, thanks to modern imaging.

  • Research points to a ‘migraine network’ involving the hypothalamus and limbic system, suggesting new treatment avenues.

Why This Matters

With one billion sufferers worldwide, migraines remain a major, often misunderstood burden.

The success of CGRP blockers proves progress is possible, but there’s more work to do.

Understanding the brain’s role could lead to truly effective treatments; finally giving relief to those still waiting.

Also in Science & Tech

Founding

Hunter S. Thompson’s Philosophy: Choose the Ninth Path

1. The Tech Rebound

The tech sector is bouncing back after a rough patch.

With interest rates stabilising and mergers & acquisitions gaining momentum, 2025 could be the year for a solid recovery.

2. AI Goes Mainstream

AI has stopped being a trend and become a game-changer.

Companies are weaving AI into their daily operations, from customer service to data management, making it a must-have, not a luxury.

3. The Squeeze of Shrinking Budgets

Budgets may be tight, but the expectations are sky-high.

CMOs will need to get smart, optimising teams and resources to drive results with less—efficiency is everything now.

4. SEO Takes a Hit

Traditional SEO is losing ground to AI-driven results.

Organic traffic is giving way to direct answers, forcing marketers to rethink how they engage customers in an AI-powered world.

5. CEOs as Social Media Stars

Social media is no longer just a brand tool—it’s now a personal stage.

CEOs with large followings on platforms like LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) are gaining an edge by connecting directly with their audiences.

6. The Video Revolution

Forget long articles—video is where it’s at. Short-form content on TikTok, Reels, and LinkedIn Shorts is essential for staying relevant.

AI tools are making this easier for brands to master.

7. Newsletters Are Back

Amid all the noise on social media, newsletters are making a comeback.

By building engaged email lists, companies can control their messaging, bypassing fickle social algorithms.

According to Thompson, in 2025, the key to success lies in adapting to the changing tech landscape.

While AI, video, and personal influence are reshaping the game, the true winners will be those who stay grounded, optimise their teams, and focus on what really matters: authentic, strategic growth.

Stay ahead, stay smart, and don't let the hype distract you from the essentials.

Product

Is Growth Always Good?

AI's Rapid Disruption

The AI revolution is happening at a breakneck pace, unlike past tech booms like the internet or mobile.

This shift is fuelled by urgent corporate spending and the emergence of scrappy, agile startups.

Fast Growth Isn’t Always a Victory

Startups like Glean, Harvey, and Eleven Labs are growing at an unprecedented rate, but rapid growth may not equate to market dominance.

With many startups emerging at the same time, traction is now more about finding a temporary goldmine than building lasting success.

AI Vendors and the "New Wave"

The traditional tech giants like IBM are struggling to keep up with the new wave of youthful, scrappy AI innovators.

These “kids” are leading the charge with demos and disruptive energy, often making older players seem outdated.

Pinterest's Mystery

Pinterest’s model, focused on directly selling products rather than harvesting data like Google or Facebook, stands out.

While this could make it incredibly valuable, it remains a puzzle why it isn’t a giant like its rivals.

The Future of Work and AI

AI is transforming the workplace, and while it might free us from mundane tasks, it could also place us into tedious roles like Jira admins.

The truth about AI’s impact might not be as glamorous as promised.

While the AI hype is real, the landscape is trickier than ever. Rapid growth doesn’t guarantee lasting success, and today’s promising startups might just be chasing fleeting opportunities.

In a market full of risk and velocity, it’s the brand and durability that will ultimately determine which businesses survive.

Today’s AI Image

Google Has Sent Help

Quote of the Day

Flow Like Water

"The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings."

Kakuzō Okakura

What we’re working on

Velvet Onion & Friends

The new Velvet Onion & Friends will be launched soon. It’s our latest evolution, helping companies build products. It’s more than services.

Faster Zebra

February 2025 - the product and venture school journey begins. Whitepaper launching in January.

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Charbel

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