Located in the birthplace of Silicon Valley, Hyatt Centric Mountain View offers a uniquely themed stay with circuit-inspired design, a tech-history library, and proximity to the Alamo Drafthouse’s A Chip Odyssey screening. A favorite among Taiwanese executives and global innovators, the hotel blends business convenience with local culture. Don’t miss dining at Fairchilds Public House. Mention Sparknify for a possible discount.

From Meiji Japan to modern Taiwan, the spirit of global learning has transformed nations. This article traces how Fukuzawa Yukichi’s 19th-century vision of education and Western knowledge laid the foundation for Japan’s rise—and how Taiwan echoed that model to become a global semiconductor leader. Featuring insights from A Chip Odyssey and Taiwan Demo Day, it reveals how openness to the world continues to shape innovation across generations.

Silicon Valley, the birthplace of innovation and dreams powered by silicon, is about to witness a cinematic event that hits closer to home than any superhero film or sci-fi spectacle. “A Chip Odyssey” — the groundbreaking documentary that swept audiences in Taiwan — is coming to Alamo Drafthouse Mountain View on November 2, 2025, in a special screening event that includes a Q&A with the director and producers.

When OpenAI’s Sam Altman announced that ChatGPT will soon allow erotica for verified adults, it wasn’t just a policy update — it was a cultural tremor. The adult industry, long intertwined with technological innovation, now faces a revolution driven by generative AI. For creators like Zara Dar, who famously left her PhD in bioengineering for OnlyFans stardom, this shift raises a deeper question: what happens when machines learn to perform desire better than humans?

What if the everyday objects around you — a spring, a pipe, a piece of metal — could sing? In this episode of Silicon Valley Spotlight, we explore the mind of Bryan Day, an experimental sound artist, inventor, and performer who transforms found materials into mesmerizing sound sculptures. From tinkering with discarded electronics to performing with self-built instruments, Bryan challenges how we define music, noise, and art. 🔍 Inside this SV Spotlight episode: How Bryan Day

In the landscape of Mandarin music, Taiwan has always been a cradle of creativity and cultural fusion. From the folk song movement to pop icons, from indie rock to experimental electronic sounds, this island continually gives birth to music that reflects the pulse of its era. Among these genres, rap stands apart — bold, unfiltered, and unapologetically real.

For centuries, aging was seen as an inevitable process of decline—a slow drift from vitality to frailty. But in the 21st century, that definition is being rewritten. Today, aging is increasingly understood as something that can be measured, managed, and perhaps even reversed. We are on the cusp of a world where longevity doesn’t just mean adding years to life, but adding life to years.

AI is transforming every corner of society — and education is no exception. From reshaping how students learn to redefining the admissions process, the future of learning is here. But what happens when algorithms, not humans, begin to evaluate what makes a “good student”? In this episode of SV Up (Silicon Valley Unplugged), filmed live in Palo Alto, we bring together experts and innovators to tackle one of the biggest questions of our time: How will AI disrupt education an

The culture of Silicon Valley places a strong emphasis on embracing failure as a fundamental part of the innovation journey. Unlike traditional business environments that prioritize risk aversion, Silicon Valley champions the idea of “failing fast” and “failing forward.” Here, failure is not only expected but viewed as a valuable learning experience that can drive the next wave of breakthroughs. This mindset, is rooted in experimentation and rapid iteration.

A glamorous news anchor, Peiyu Hung. A brilliant software engineer, Kelly Tsai. Alongside Silicon Valley pros George Hsieh and IC (Yi-Chien Chan), the four cross the Pacific to swap stories, laughs, and insights. From workplace culture clashes to media industry struggles, from Jensen Huang’s private jet to the ultimate foodie maps — nothing is off the table. The conversation flows between Taipei and Silicon Valley, giving you a front-row seat to two exciting worlds at once.

Society has long celebrated tallness — CEOs tower over averages, studies link height to wealth, and cultural myths cast tall figures as leaders. But what if shortness hides a quiet advantage? From nerve conduction in the human body to GPU communication in AI clusters, the science of distance reveals a surprising truth: shorter isn’t smaller, it’s smarter.

In a world where truth and fiction collide at the speed of a swipe, one story from Japan captured global attention. A glamorous young “biker goddess” built a loyal following on social media, posting photos that combined style, speed, and charisma. The twist? She wasn’t a goddess at all. Behind the account was a 50-year-old man using FaceApp, an AI-powered photo manipulation tool, to transform his appearance into that of a youthful woman.

Hosting a tech event is more than logistics — it’s a strategic opportunity to influence investors, customers, and media. From defining clear objectives to crafting a powerful narrative, designing memorable experiences, leveraging hybrid tools, and choosing the right event planning service partner like Sparknify, these five considerations can turn your company’s next event into a growth catalyst.

Discover why investors judge startups by their events. Learn how launch demos, networking nights, and event planning shape investor perception.

China recently completed a 158-kilometer resurfacing of the Beijing–Hong Kong–Macao Expressway, and it looked nothing like traditional roadwork. Instead of crews in hard hats and reflective vests, the site was managed entirely by AI-driven drones, self-driving pavers, and robotic rollers. No manual laborers were present. No one stood in harm’s way.

Launching a new product in today’s hyper-competitive tech landscape is more than a press release or a social media blast. It’s about creating an unforgettable experience that positions your brand, excites customers, and captures the attention of investors and media. That’s where the right tech event planner makes all the difference. For CMOs and event directors, choosing the right partner isn’t just a logistics decision—it’s a strategic one. Here’s a practical checklist for v

Could drone racing become the next major sport? In this fast-paced episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged, we take you inside the world of FPV drone racing — where high-speed machines and elite pilots push the limits of innovation and adrenaline. Meet Bay Area champions Timofey Din Germanov, Colby Curtola, Jon Gaiser, and Bryson Hagerman as they break down what it takes to compete, what’s driving the growth of this emerging sport, and how drone tech is evolving at lightning spee

Taco Bell’s ambitious rollout of AI-powered drive-thru ordering—now installed in more than 500 locations through a collaboration between Yum! Brands and NVIDIA—was intended to revolutionize efficiency and customer experience. Instead, it rapidly became a case study in the challenges of real-world AI deployment. Customers found humor in flaws, such as the infamous “18,000 cups of water” prank, and staff noted frustrating glitches during peak times. AI Failing.

For nearly three decades, banner ads have been the wallpaper of the internet. From the garish, blinking rectangles of the 1990s to the slick, programmatically placed units of today, banners have served as the default monetization layer for online publishers. Entire industries were built around their buying, selling, and optimization.

For investors searching for the next major shift in digital advertising, the breakthrough is already here—and it’s unfolding in a way that most consumers haven’t even realized yet. Global advertising spend is expected to exceed $1.1 trillion in 2025, with nearly three-quarters of that already flowing into digital channels. Within that enormous pool, a brand-new layer is emerging: ads that no longer sit on web pages or in social feeds