

Discover more from SparkNews
This week we are highlighting top innovators and their potential in seeing opportunity everywhere. Check out our highlights below for more!
Here’s what we’ve put together for your weekly Spark News:
Google I/O Event 2023 🗯
From Surfboard to Electric Boat: Sidhant Gupta 🚤
Our tribe is growing, welcome to Cyrus Lai ⚡️
The Vegas Loop 🚅
2024 AI Elections 👀
THE LATEST ON GOOGLE 📲
Google I/O Event: 2023 👁
Don’t Miss This:
When: May 10, 1PM ET / 10 AM PT
What: Google’s upcoming event, Google I/O 2023
Google's upcoming event, Google I/O 2023, is set to put a strong emphasis on AI technology as the company showcases its latest advancements in chatbot technology with Bard. Google will also reveal other generative technologies it's developing to compete with rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Microsoft's Bing. Along with AI, the event is expected to include previews of the next wave of Pixel devices, such as the highly anticipated Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, and Pixel 7A. In addition, attendees can expect to learn about the latest features of Android 14 and updates to Google Maps, Photos, and Assistant, as well as the latest augmented reality tools.
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT: SIDHANT GUPTA 🌟
CEO & Founder of Clearbot 👀
Meet Sidhant Gupta, the CEO and co-founder of Clearbot - a company revolutionizing ocean cleaning with their AI-powered electric boats. From witnessing locals collecting trash manually on surfboards during a Bali trip, Sidhant and his co-founder Utkarsh created Clearbot. However, the early days weren't without challenges, and they faced a classic chicken and egg problem. To learn how they overcame this obstacle, read on to discover how a phone call from a CEO created a pivotal moment in their journey of growth, and how they're working to scale their business from 10 to 100 boats.
SPARKMATE NEW EMPLOYEE ⚡️
We Are Excited to Introduce: Cyrus Lai ⚡️
Exciting news, everyone! We are thrilled to introduce our newest teammate, Cyrus Lai who is joining our Hong Kong hub. Cyrus is originally from Hong Kong, but grew up in the greater Vancouver area in Canada since he was 11 years old. He's currently in his fourth year of Mechatronic System Engineering studies at Simon Fraser University in Surrey, B.C. In addition to his academic pursuits, Cyrus is a talented car enthusiast who enjoys building and repairing his own vehicle. We can't wait to see what innovative ideas and unique perspectives Cyrus will bring to the team.
Welcome, mate!
TOP INNOVATION: ELON MUSK NEWS 🚨
The Vegas Loop 🚊
Elon Boring Company’s mission is to expand its "Vegas Loop" system by the Clark County Commissioners, adding 18 new stations and 25 miles of additional tunnels. The expansion marks a significant vote of confidence in Musk's vision of using an underground network of Teslas to ease traffic congestion. Despite The Boring Company's unreliable reputation, the approval of this expansion indicates growing support for Musk's idea of futuristic transportation.
Goals:
4,400 passengers on board/hour
720 MPH
51 stations
29 miles of tunnels
Reduce highly congested traffic
ELECTIONS BUT AI? 🤖
2024 Election: Not What It Seems? 🕘
The Republican National Committee wasted no time in launching an attack ad against President Biden's reelection campaign, using fake visuals to depict a bleak future under his leadership. The 30-second spot included scenes of China invading Taiwan, financial markets crashing, and immigrants overrunning the border. However, the ad came with a disclaimer that it was "Built entirely with AI imagery."
Experts are warning that this ad is just the beginning of what could be the first AI election cycle in 2024, with artificial intelligence potentially playing a crucial role in swaying voters. This development is causing concern, as it could lead to the spread of fake news and disinformation, as well as exacerbate political polarization.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, experts are warning that this could be the first AI election cycle and that these digital tools could generate false material that appears authentic, leading to mass manipulation of voters. Without required disclosure, voters may not even be aware that they are viewing fake videos or images. The potential for disinformation and its impact on voter decision-making is dangerous for democracy.
Exciting things are happening every day ⚡️ Follow us on social media to stay tuned!