Silicon Valley News

From covert Cold War experiments like Operation Popeye to modern climate tech startups, weather modification has evolved from military strategy to environmental intervention—yet the ethical questions remain just as urgent.

How will custom silicon be built in an AI-native world? In this talk, Mohamed Kassem (CEO of Native Chips) explores how agentic AI and automated workflows are transforming ASIC development—compressing timelines, reducing complexity, and redefining how chips go from idea to production.

What if ligament repair didn’t mean replacement—but regeneration? Developed by Industrial Technology Research Institute, LigamiX™ is a bioengineered ligament designed to help the body heal itself. With a porous, bionic structure and advanced biocomposite materials, it promotes tissue integration, reduces inflammation, and offers a new path forward for orthopedic recovery.

What if the world around you became the interface? Developed by Industrial Technology Research Institute and deployed through Darwin Display Solutions, NeoVision AR turns transparent displays into intelligent, interactive layers powered by AI. From airports to smart buildings, it’s redefining how people navigate, explore, and interact—without ever touching a screen.

What if machines could tell you they’re about to fail—days or even weeks in advance? Developed by Industrial Technology Research Institute, the Prognosis Monitoring System (PMS) is an AI-powered predictive maintenance solution already deployed across semiconductor fabs and critical infrastructure. With real-time diagnostics and over 90% accuracy in predicting remaining useful life, it’s helping companies prevent costly downtime and save millions.

We’ve been throwing away our roads—and paying for it twice. A new breakthrough from Industrial Technology Research Institute and Lianyue Aggregates Co., Ltd. uses a biological process to regenerate aged asphalt into high-performance pavement, turning waste into a scalable, low-carbon infrastructure solution.

As AI systems scale to unprecedented power levels, the real constraint isn’t compute—it’s heat. A new breakthrough from Industrial Technology Research Institute reveals how next-generation cooling could redefine the future of high-performance computing.

For decades, the United States relied on proxy wars to avoid the political cost of direct conflict. But the rise of drones—especially low-cost, one-way loitering munitions—is rewriting that playbook. As technology removes the risk of American casualties, it is also lowering the barrier to using force, reshaping not just the battlefield but presidential decision-making itself.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how software is built—and how companies hire. As AI begins to automate coding and routine knowledge work, many tech leaders believe the future workforce will be much smaller but far more creative. If machines can build the app, the real question becomes: what skills will humans need to stay essential? This article explores why entrepreneurship and builder thinking may become the most important skills for the next generation—and

Swiss scientists at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have developed a self-adjusting crystal lens that could eliminate the need for reading glasses. Using liquid crystal technology and tiny sensors, the lenses automatically change focus in milliseconds, restoring the natural focusing ability lost with age.

Composer-improviser David Leikam performs live on a NS Design 6-string fretless electric cello, creating fully improvised music in the moment. Born with cerebral palsy, David uses music as his language of expression, transforming cutting-edge sound techniques and technology into evolving sonic landscapes.

An ordinary-looking fish in the Mediterranean hides a remarkable secret. Under certain conditions, eating the Sarpa salpa—also known as the dreamfish—can trigger vivid hallucinations lasting up to 36 hours. Ancient Romans reportedly served it at banquets for its mind-altering effects. Today, scientists are looking beyond the strange folklore and asking a deeper question: could the biology behind this fish reveal clues about how the human brain works—and even inspire new treat

How are corporate venture capital teams investing in the age of AI? In this Silicon Valley Unplugged session, leaders from Applied Ventures, Hitachi Ventures, and Lam Capital share how strategic investors evaluate emerging technologies, support deep-tech startups, and identify the next wave of innovation shaping the future of AI and advanced computing.

A new generation of drones is breaking one of robotics’ oldest boundaries: the line between air and water. These amphibious machines can fly through the sky, dive beneath the ocean’s surface, navigate underwater, and then relaunch into flight. As multi-domain robotics begins to reshape industries from infrastructure inspection to maritime security, the technology is opening an entirely new frontier for autonomous systems.

For years, we told students to learn coding because it was the language of the future. But in an era where AI can generate entire applications from a simple prompt, syntax is no longer the advantage. The real competitive edge has shifted upstream — to problem discovery, systems thinking, persuasion, and execution. As code becomes automated, judgment becomes scarce. This is why the next generation doesn’t just need technical skills; they ne

They never had to “learn” AI — they grew up with it. Today’s teenagers treat generative models and intelligent systems not as breakthroughs, but as everyday collaborators. As the first truly AI-native generation comes of age, their approach to building companies is fundamentally different: faster execution, fearless experimentation, and seamless human–machine partnership. The question is no longer whether they will build the future — it’s how dramatically they will reshape it

A woman who fell in love with a robot she 3D-printed herself is waiting for human–robot marriage to become legal. Once dismissed as a “sexbot” story, her relationship reveals something far more unsettling: emotional bonds with machines are forming faster than the law can name them. As companion robots evolve beyond novelty and intimacy, marriage law—built for humans alone—faces questions it was never designed to answer.

In this talk, Sam Fok, Co-Founder and CEO of femtoAI, shares how ultra-efficient AI inference is enabling intelligence to run directly on embedded and edge devices. Drawing from real-world experience at the intersection of silicon and software, he explains why efficiency—not scale alone—will define the next wave of AI, how co-design unlocks major gains in power and cost, and what it takes to move edge AI from research prototypes into scalable, deployable systems.

China’s newest humanoid robot doesn’t just think—it moves like us. With near-human gait, eye contact, and subtle expressions, Moya marks a shift in robotics that goes beyond intelligence. Why is so much effort being spent on copying human movement, and what does biology and psychology reveal about this obsession?

Long after we forget a film’s plot, we remember how it made us feel. Emotion is the residue of cinema—the part that lingers in the body after the screen goes dark. In an age where artificial intelligence can replicate style, structure, and even genre with increasing ease, emotion has become the clearest signal of humanity. That is why the 2026 Human vs. AI Film Festival is organized not by genre, but by feeling.

Sparknify has officially launched the 2026 Human vs. AI Film Festival, introducing emotion as the central framework of competition. Rather than categorizing films by genre or production method, this year’s festival challenges both traditional filmmakers and AI creators to anchor their work in one of seven core human emotions. Submissions are now open, with the live premiere scheduled for late September 2026 in San Francisco.

Romantic relationships with AI are no longer a fringe experiment or a sci-fi fantasy—they are already happening at scale. As emotional intelligence migrates from humans to machines, biology and psychology explain why love with AI isn’t artificial at all, but an inevitable extension of how the human brain forms attachment.

She is explaining herself carefully, choosing each word, while he stares at the table, already overwhelmed. In moments like this, misunderstanding isn’t loud—it’s quiet, cumulative, and exhausting. As AI systems begin to read tone, emotion, and intent in real time, these moments may become rarer. But if understanding arrives before we speak, what disappears with it? In a future of instant emotional clarity, the real question may not be whether we argue less—but whether we sti

It hides in bats, jumps across species, and attacks the human brain and respiratory system with devastating speed. With fatality rates reaching as high as 75%, Nipah virus is not a hypothetical future threat—it is a real and growing danger. As medicine races to catch up and vaccines remain in development, scientists and early-stage startups are fighting against time to stop the next outbreak before it begins.

Amazon’s decision to shut down much of its Amazon Fresh retail footprint signals far more than a store closure—it marks a fundamental shift in how grocery will evolve. As physical retail gives way to logistics-first strategies and real-world AI systems, companies like Veeve, Trigo, and Standard AI are embedding intelligence directly into stores, transforming them into continuously learning environments. This structural reset is redefining grocery from a retail business into a

Processed meats like bacon, ham, and hot dogs are everyday staples—familiar, affordable, and culturally ingrained. Yet science paints a troubling picture: In 2015, the WHO's IARC classified processed meats as Group 1 carcinogens, based on over 800 studies. Daily intake of just 50g (e.g., one hot dog or two bacon strips) raises colorectal cancer risk by ~18%. Nitrates/nitrites form carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds, while smoking creates HCAs and PAHs.

In this talk, Laura Swan, General Partner at Silicon Catalyst Ventures, shares a clear and practical view of what it takes to scale semiconductor startups from early concepts to real-world impact. Drawing on decades of engineering and venture experience, she explains why hardware and semiconductors scale differently from software, how founders should think about timing, capital, and ecosystem support, and why Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain is critical in helping startups

In this talk, Janis Skriveris, Principal and Deeptech Lead at Plug and Play Ventures, breaks down what it really takes to scale semiconductor and deep-tech startups from early innovation to global impact. Drawing on years of experience running accelerator programs and investing in frontier technologies, he explains how ecosystems, corporate partnerships, and cross-border collaboration—especially between Silicon Valley and Taiwan—enable startups to move beyond prototypes into

The Sharks Garage is Sparknify’s reimagined startup bootcamp for young founders. Building on the success of last year’s Baby Shark Tank for middle school students, Sparknify is expanding the program to include a new high school cohort. Inspired by Silicon Valley’s legendary garage origins, the program empowers students to explore, refine, and execute real business ideas with guidance from experienced Silicon Valley mentors—fostering confidence, creativity, and a true founder

A powerful winter storm sweeping across the U.S. is exposing how vulnerable we are to extreme cold. As temperatures plunge, a new generation of smart wearables and heated apparel is redefining how we stay warm. From intelligent heated scarves to app-controlled jackets, personal micro-climate technology is turning everyday clothing into adaptive, portable warmth—designed for an increasingly unpredictable climate.

What if a classic fantasy video game could teach us how to shape the next generation of entrepreneurs? Fable isn’t just about heroes and quests—it’s about choice, consequence, and becoming someone through action. Those same ideas are at the heart of Baby Shark Tank, a startup bootcamp where 12-year-old students learn to turn ideas into reality, make decisions under pressure, and present boldly—just like founders in the real world.

In this talk, Andy Lombard, Founder and Managing Partner of Tesoro Venture Capital, shares a candid look at what it truly takes to scale AI and semiconductor startups. Drawing on decades of experience as a serial founder, investor, and former Motorola executive, he explains why deep-tech companies face fundamentally different challenges than software startups—and how global supply chains, capital strategy, and cross-border partnerships, especially between Silicon Valley and T

Hosted by Sparknify on behalf of the Taipei Computer Association, this high-energy gathering brought together 400+ founders, investors, accelerators, and deep-tech leaders to explore how Taiwan is emerging as a global launchpad for semiconductor and AI innovation. Featuring insights from top VCs, accelerators, and startup founders, the event showcased how capital, manufacturing, and ecosystem support converge to help startups scale from prototype to global impact.

As artificial intelligence saturates the headlines and dominates investment portfolios, the most forward-looking voices in tech and venture are already asking a deeper question: what comes after AI? This panel, filmed at Willow Workplace in Menlo Park as part of Taiwan Demo Day 2025, convenes three of the sharpest minds at the intersection of research, startup acceleration, and deep-tech foresight to unpack that very question.

AI is entering a new phase. The focus is no longer on models that talk or generate images, but on AI agents that plan, decide, and act inside real systems. These agents promise autonomy across industries, from software to manufacturing. Yet beneath the excitement lies a less discussed constraint that will determine whether AI agents become real infrastructure—or remain impressive demos.

Fetty Wap lost an eye as a child. Today, startups and Stanford scientists are rewriting what that loss could mean—and what the future of vision may become.

Many “AI-first” startups don’t fail because their models are weak—they fail when intelligence meets the physical world. Manufacturing constraints, reliability debt, and deployment realities quietly overwhelm promising demos, exposing blind spots that traditional investor diligence often misses. This article examines why models are not products, why execution determines survival, and how founders and investors can rethink risk before reality does it for them.

Most hardware startups make their first critical mistake with their first hire. By over-indexing on ML or firmware talent, early teams often overlook systems thinking, manufacturing reality, and long-term reliability. This article examines why early hardware teams become demo-optimized instead of product-ready, what the right first hires actually look like, and how founders can build teams capable of surviving real-world constraints—before costly mistakes are locked in.

In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged: Investing in Hard Tech, Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, joins host Jillian Sun for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build and fund deep-tech companies. From evaluating founders to scaling hardware, energy, AI, and climate technologies, this episode unpacks how breakthrough ideas move from the lab to real-world impact—and what separates promising demos from enduring companies.

Most hardware startups don’t fail because their ideas are wrong—they fail after the demo, when real-world constraints appear. Manufacturing assumptions collapse, suppliers misalign, thermal issues surface, and certification delays quietly drain runway. This article explores the “prototype trap,” where promising startups stall between proof and production, and explains how early engagement with Taiwan’s manufacturing ecosystem and programs like ICTGC can help founders turn fra

On Qingdao’s beaches, swimmers wear bright, full‑face hoods that hide everything but eyes, nose and mouth. The facekini began as practical jellyfish and sun protection, invented by accountant Zhang Shifan, but evolved into a symbol of Asia’s pale‑skin ideal and a surprising fashion statement. Today it ranges from plain UV shields to bold patterns and athletic balaclavas, showing how modesty and allure can swap places.

Toyota just revealed something that doesn’t look like a car at all: a round, electric “bubble pod” built for kids—and designed to drive itself with no adult onboard. Cute on the outside, but the implications are huge. If autonomy can safely move a child, what other passenger “purposes” are next—seniors, tourists, patients, students? Inside, an onboard AI companion talks to riders, gives instructions, and turns the trip into a guided experience.

Micro missile defense is emerging as one of the most consequential shifts in modern security strategy. As low-cost drones and mass-produced aerial threats reshape the battlefield, investors are backing startups that prioritize scale, affordability, and rapid deployment over traditional, high-priced interceptors. A new generation of companies is redefining air defense by changing the economics of interception—proving that in today’s conflicts, winning is as much about math and

Edge AI is becoming the next major frontier as companies shift intelligence from the cloud into devices, robots, vehicles, and sensors. Rising cloud costs, strict latency demands, and increasing privacy regulations are driving this transition. For startups, the opportunity is huge—but success requires mastering hardware constraints, co-designing systems, and partnering with the right manufacturing ecosystem.

Silicon Valley is quietly shifting toward a new frontier: analog AI chips that bring intelligence out of the cloud and into everyday devices. For early-stage founders, the moment is thrilling and uncertain—demand is rising for real-time, low-power AI, but the old rules no longer apply. The teams that embrace local intelligence now will shape the next decade of hardware innovation.

Chip-adjacent startups are becoming the most fundable companies of 2026 as AI shifts from software to real-world deployment. With inference demand soaring and hardware offering deeper defensibility, investors are backing bold innovators like Groq, Etched.ai, Tenstorrent, and femtoAI. As this new AI gold rush accelerates, programs like ICTGC give founders a crucial edge in prototyping, manufacturing, and scaling globally.

In the fast-paced environment of Silicon Valley, having a “bias for action” is a defining cultural value that sets successful tech companies apart. This principle emphasizes quick decision-making, rapid execution, and a preference for testing ideas rather than waiting for perfect information. By prioritizing action over exhaustive analysis, companies can accelerate innovation, adapt to market changes, and outpace competitors. In industries characterized by rapid technological

Pallets move nearly every product we use, yet the system that carries them is slow and outdated. Traverse Aero is changing that with autonomous air transport designed to move pallets quickly, directly, and efficiently. In this Tech Talk, founder Scott Parker explains how airborne automation could transform global logistics. Watch the video to see the future of pallet transport take flight.

Across China’s industrial heartland, factory floors once crowded with workers are now lit by the cool glow of automation. Assembly lines hum in perfect sync, robotic arms dance in silence, and production runs 24 hours a day without human fatigue. It’s a glimpse of a near-future world where machines, not men, drive the rhythm of industry.

Silicon Valley’s long-held belief that software dominates innovation is shifting. As AI systems mature and demand physical embodiments to act in the real world, hardware is experiencing a major resurgence. Robotics, autonomous machines, and AI-native devices are rapidly rising, driven by changes in global supply chains, manufacturing economics, and evolving venture investment priorities.