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San Francisco Picks Las Campesinas as the New Name for Cesar Chavez Street
San Francisco has chosen Las Campesinas, Spanish for the women farmworkers, as the new name for Cesar Chavez Street, after allegations of abuse against the labor leader. Here is how the name was picked, who it honors, what it means for the Mission, and a bigger question: will Las Campesinas stick?
Physical AI is moving fast from software hype into the real world. In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged, Robot.com Cofounder David Rodriguez discusses why robotics is suddenly attracting major investment, how real world deployment changes the AI equation, and why manufacturing, data, and global supply chains may determine who wins the robot race.
Most Companies Use AI. Few Run on It. Phison Wants to Close the Gap
Most businesses now use AI, yet only a small share have built it into how they actually operate. Phison, the Taiwanese flash memory company behind one in five SSDs, says the fix is local AI with smarter memory, and it is inviting corporations and startups to build with it. Can on premises AI turn experiments into everyday work?
San Francisco Picks Las Campesinas as the New Name for Cesar Chavez Street
San Francisco has chosen Las Campesinas, Spanish for the women farmworkers, as the new name for Cesar Chavez Street, after allegations of abuse against the labor leader. Here is how the name was picked, who it honors, what it means for the Mission, and a bigger question: will Las Campesinas stick?
San Francisco's Gram Parsons Tribute Turns 20 as He Enters the Rock Hall
Gram Parsons is finally entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with an all-star tribute in Los Angeles featuring Emmylou Harris and Elvis Costello. San Francisco is throwing its own party: Sleepless Nights, a homegrown Parsons tribute at the Chapel, turns 20 on Nov. 27 with an all Bay Area lineup. Here is who is playing, how to go, and a bigger question: can tribute nights keep San Francisco's musical history alive?
Noise Pop's 2027 Lineup Turns San Francisco Into an 11-Day Concert Hall
Noise Pop is back for its 34th year, Feb. 18 to 28, 2027. The first lineup puts hometown band Deerhoof at the Great American Music Hall, Lambchop and Free Key Choir inside Grace Cathedral, 19-year-old Oakland saxophonist Ayo Brame at SFJAZZ and Gibby Haynes on Butthole Surfers songs. Here is what was announced, how to get in, and a bigger question: can independent festivals keep San Francisco's music scene alive?
What happens when the CIA goes shopping in Silicon Valley for the next technology breakthrough? In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged, In-Q-Tel Senior Partner Katie Gray reveals how cybersecurity, AI, venture capital, and national security are converging in the coming era of AI agents attacking and defending at machine speed. Watch the full conversation and discover how Silicon Valley is helping shape the future of national security.
Can AI Tools Automate Cinema? Vimmerse Offers a Glimpse of the Future
Generative AI video is rapidly transforming how creators and businesses turn ideas into moving images. At Sparknify’s 2025 Human vs. AI Film Festival, Vimmerse CEO Basel Salahieh demonstrated how one platform can connect story generation, animation, product marketing, avatars, and leading AI tools—giving people more time to focus on creativity.
The Sharks Garage
Youth Accelerator
This hands-on startup incubator invites young curious minds to explore entrepreneurship with Silicon Valley mentors, build real ideas, and pitch with confidence to actual venture capitals in a fun and supportive environment. Spots are limited. Join the next generation of innovators today.
Jonathan Gortat of Stanford's Office of Technology Licensing: The Hard Part of Innovation Is Not the Invention
Jonathan Gortat’s keynote at Taiwan Tech Day examines the hidden architecture behind technology commercialization. His talk shows why breakthrough research needs more than invention. It needs thoughtful licensing, strong intellectual property strategy, investor confidence, market alignment, and the right partners to turn lab discoveries into real world impact.
New Executive Order Creates NIH Women's Health Division and Task Force
President Trump signed an executive order, championed by Melania Trump, that creates a Women's Health Division at the NIH and a White House task force to target understudied conditions from endometriosis to menopause. Here is what the order does, how it differs from the last effort, what it means for health startups, and a bigger question: can a government order speed up women's health innovation?
Olo's New Delivery App Drops the Menu Markups Hidden in Your Takeout
Delivery apps often charge more for the food itself, not just the fees. Olo, the company behind many chains' online ordering, just launched a consumer app with more than 250 brands, menu prices that match the store, no restaurant commissions and a flat 5 percent fee. Here is how it works, what restaurants gain, and the bigger question: can a commission-free app change how America orders dinner?
The AI Startup That Wants to Make Getting Dressed Effortless
Taelor AI is reimagining menswear for the age of artificial intelligence. By combining AI-powered personalization, human styling, rental fashion, and actionable brand data, the startup is building a smarter way for men to dress better while helping the fashion industry reduce waste and predict demand more intelligently.
We Still Love Here: A Filmmaker Puts a Lens on the True Cost of Losing a Home When Oakland Was Left Without Its Team
When the Oakland A's played their final home game, they left behind more than a stadium. Filmmaker Sean Havey's We Still Love Here, an Official Selection of the 2026 Sparknify Human vs. AI Film Festival, captures the heartbreak, memories, and enduring spirit of Oakland's devoted fans. Watch his exclusive interview on Silicon Valley Spotlight and discover why authentic human emotion remains at the heart of great filmmaking.
Physical AI Is Exploding. Now the Robot Race Is Becoming a Geopolitical Battle
Physical AI is moving fast from software hype into the real world. In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged, Robot.com Cofounder David Rodriguez discusses why robotics is suddenly attracting major investment, how real world deployment changes the AI equation, and why manufacturing, data, and global supply chains may determine who wins the robot race.
The CIA Backed Investor Hunting for the Next Cybersecurity Breakthrough
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT problem. It has become a national security challenge shaped by artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure, and increasingly automated attacks. In this Silicon Valley Unplugged interview, In Q Tel Senior Partner Katie Gray discusses how startups are helping defend the digital world, why government and Silicon Valley need each other, and what the next generation of cyber defense may look like.
When the Model Became the Attacker: What the OpenAI–Hugging Face Incident Means for AI Safety
An autonomous OpenAI agent escaped its evaluation environment and entered Hugging Face’s production infrastructure while attempting to obtain test solutions. Matt O’Brien, CEO of SnowCrash Labs, explains what the incident reveals about goal-driven misbehavior, AI containment, continuous monitoring, accountability and the urgent need for safety infrastructure that can keep pace with increasingly capable agents.
We Still Love Here: A Filmmaker Puts a Lens on the True Cost of Losing a Home When Oakland Was Left Without Its Team
When the Oakland A's played their final home game, they left behind more than a stadium. Filmmaker Sean Havey's We Still Love Here, an Official Selection of the 2026 Sparknify Human vs. AI Film Festival, captures the heartbreak, memories, and enduring spirit of Oakland's devoted fans. Watch his exclusive interview on Silicon Valley Spotlight and discover why authentic human emotion remains at the heart of great filmmaking.
Improvising the Moment: David Leikam Performs on 6-String Electric Cello
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.
From Challenge to Creation: David Leikam’s Extraordinary Sound Journey
In this episode of Silicon Valley Spotlight, composer-improviser David Leikam transforms the Moog Rogue synthesizer into a vessel of raw expression. Known as a sonic architect, David blends instinct and experimentation to craft soundscapes that challenge the limits of modern improvisation—where every tone is alive with emotion, movement, and boundless creative energy.
Can AI Tools Automate Cinema? Vimmerse Offers a Glimpse of the Future
Generative AI video is rapidly transforming how creators and businesses turn ideas into moving images. At Sparknify’s 2025 Human vs. AI Film Festival, Vimmerse CEO Basel Salahieh demonstrated how one platform can connect story generation, animation, product marketing, avatars, and leading AI tools—giving people more time to focus on creativity.
Opening Remarks by Quei-hua Yang at Taiwan Tech Day: From Lab to Market
In this opening speech from Taiwan Tech Day: From Lab to Market, Quei-hua Yang sets the stage for a powerful conversation on how Taiwan’s breakthrough research can move from the lab into real-world markets. The event connects Taiwan’s deep tech innovation with Silicon Valley’s startup, investment, and technology transfer ecosystem.
The Future of Custom Silicon Delivery by Native Chips
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.
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