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.