Author: openjargon

• Brick Fest Live was promoted as the "UK's biggest Lego festival." It was not affiliated with the Lego company.
• Instead, the "bleak" convention hall left fans feeling like they'd been conned. 
• The event is being compared to the disastrous Willy Wonka experience that went viral for being so bad.

British Lego fans were left feeling less than impressed last weekend after a convention dubbed the "UK's biggest Lego festival" turned out to be a "bleak" half-empty room.

Brick Fest Live UK was held from May 25 to 27 in the British city of Birmingham. It promised to bring fans a "jaw-dropping collection of brick creations from across the globe under one roof."

It was not sponsored by or affiliated with Lego.

The poster promised a Lego brick pit, life-sized models, floor mosaics, derby races, and a "glow zone."

Instead, footage from the event appeared to show a large convention hall with a few large models scattered about the room, a shop, and a small children's playpit.

The event's disappointing offering has been compared to the Willy Wonka experience fiasco held in Scotland last February, which went viral because it was such a letdown.

'It's as bad as that Willy Wonka experience in Scotland, hardly anything there, both of my kids were so disappointed," one mother told Birmingham Live.

Another attendee shared a video of his experience at Brick Fest Live on his Youtube channel, saying he paid $50 for a VIP ticket and was "filled with regret."

"Most of the event is empty space and piles of loose Lego," the Lego enthusiast, whose channel is called Block Party UK, said.

"It is one of the biggest cons I've ever experienced, and I've been coming to conventions for 15 years."

Fellow angry fans commented on the video, agreeing that the festival had been a disappointment and was "utter rubbish." Several said that they were demanding a refund.

"They shouldn't be allowed to get away with this blatant false advertising," commented a father who had brought his 10-year-old son to the event.

Brick Fest Live UK's website and social media sites were all inactive when Business Insider tried to contact the organizers.

"We are aware that Brick Fest Live is potentially not delivering for adult-level enthusiasts, and there are elements of the show that are not of satisfaction for this sector of customers," Brick Fest Live UK said in a statement shared with The Sun.

It confirmed that it was considering customer feedback.

The convention originated in the US nearly a decade ago and is supposed to be a showcase and fan celebration of all Lego creations.

• MrBeast criticized copycat creators for lacking originality and relying on his formula.
• Copying MrBeast's content misses what drives his success, and knockoffs probably won't succeed.
• Experts agree that a unique voice is vital for longevity in content creation.

MrBeast is the most successful YouTuber of all time, but copying him isn't likely to yield the same results.

In a recent interview with the journalist and YouTuber Jon Youshaei, Jimmy Donaldson, AKA MrBeast, said some creators attempt to "copy and paste" successful content, while others are inspired by their peers.

YouTube is full of creators trying to imitate MrBeast's style. Some have the same type of thumbnail, same overlay text, and even visit the same places Donaldson does. Many even try to impersonate him by mimicking his voice and characteristics.

Youshaei said there's a difference between "plagiarism, which is not good, and remixing and elevating."

'Copy with taste'

He describes the latter as "copy with taste," which "is elevating the past, giving credit, and then blending from different sources."

Donaldson agreed that copycat content is noticeable because a creator will post a video where the only difference between his and theirs is their level of resources.

"We don't need someone else doing my videos with lower budget and less effort," Donaldson said. "We need people doing their own version of it with their own unique spin and taste."

Donaldson pointed to Ryan Trahan, a YouTuber with 15 million subcribers, as an example of a creator who was inspired by him but has developed his own original style.

"Ryan has his own voice; he's quirky," Donaldson said. "We need more people like that."

Xavier English, the founder of content creation agency Supermix, told Business Insider that simply copying the surface layer of a popular video is "missing the point."

While it may help in the short term by generating a good number of views, there will remain a lack of understanding about why it worked in the first place, and that will backfire, he said.

Creators that do this also "ooze fakeness," English said, which "audiences can smell a mile away."

"You could drop MrBeast at a Neanderthal campfire 50,000 years ago, and he'd probably tell a story with a 70% audience retention rate," English said.

"His content doesn't succeed because of what you can see on the surface or flash-in-the-pan trends. It's because of a deeper understanding of timeless human psychology."

Copycats are 10 steps behind

Katya Varbanova, the owner of content marketing firm Viral Marketing Stars, told BI that being yourself is in, and copying what others do is out.

"The difference between pioneers like MrBeast and copycats is that pioneers are 10 steps ahead," she said, "making it impossible for copycats to win because the pioneer is learning from and making mistakes the copycat hasn't even gotten to yet."

Knockoffs of popular creators aren't likely to win in the long run, Varbanova said, because "they'll always be a few steps behind."

The main difference between copying and inspiration is "lazy research," Varbanova added.

"Copying is where you simply follow what your competitors do," she said. "Inspiration is when your competitors' content is only one piece of the puzzle in your research."

Donaldson, for instance, started out performing challenges in his bedroom (like counting to 100,000 in one sitting). He gradually increased the ambition, budget, and scale of his stunts until he is where he is now: recreating Squid Game, shredding Lambourginis, burying himself alive, or stranding himself on a desert island.

Isla Moon, a fishing influencer and OnlyFan star, told BI it's difficult to find "a truly original idea" as a content creator. But copying is not the answer.

"It just leaves a sour taste in your mouth because it's simply a lack of effort on their part," she said.

Copying Donaldson will also not work because he has such vast resources that almost nobody else has access to, so any copycats are likely to be underwhelming.

"If you're basing your whole content idea on what someone else is doing, you'll run out of ideas eventually because you're solely dependent on what someone else is doing without throwing in anything new," she said. "It's just not sustainable."

Kaye Putnam, a psychology-based brand strategist at Freewyld, told BI that originality pays off in the end, not being a "secondary version" of someone you aspire to be like.

The key to building a strong brand is for creators to understand who they are and how they can express that to the world — looking inward before focusing on others for inspiration.

"Stop trying to model what success looks like," Putnam said. "Yes, it's natural to model success, but the less you try to be like someone else, the more attention that you get for your work."

• Jason Cooper discovered a stegosaurus fossil on his Colorado property in May 2022.
• The fossil, named Apex, is about 70% complete and could fetch up to $6 million at auction.
• Apex will be sold by Sotheby's in July, with some paleontologists arguing it belongs in a museum.

On his 45th birthday in May 2022, Jason Cooper was strolling through his Colorado property when he came across part of a stegosaurus bone sticking out of a rock wall.

He began excavating it, cleaning and assembling the skeleton, and named it Apex.

As a professional commercial fossil hunter, Cooper knew that Apex was an impressive find. The fossil stands about 11 feet tall, spans over 20 feet long, and is about 70% complete, he told BBC News.

But he might have been surprised to learn that Sotheby's believes it could fetch up to $6 million at auction.

Apex is "virtually complete" and well preserved, with 274 possible bone elements mounted on a steel armature, Sotheby's said in a press statement.

According to the auction house's global head of science and popular culture, Cassandra Hatton, it is "one of the best fossils of its kind ever unearthed."

Apex will be auctioned in July during Sotheby's annual "Geek Week" sale. It's estimated to be worth $4-6 million, with the auction house describing it as one of the "most valuable dinosaur fossils ever offered."

The stegosaurus was discovered in the Morrison Formation in Colorado, a stretch of sedimentary rock dating back to the Jurassic period.

The area is a rich source of dinosaur fossils, according to the National Park Service.

BBC News reported that Cooper and his family live on a property with just under 100 acres of land.

According to the BBC, Cooper recorded data about where the fossil was found, covered up the bones, and then began cleaning and reassembling the skeleton using a pneumatic chisel, microscopes, and sand-blasting jets.

Sotheby's said there were no signs of combat or predation-related injuries on the fossil, but there was evidence of arthritis, which suggests the dinosaur lived to an old age.

The upcoming sale is attracting some controversy.

While the skeleton will be on exhibition at Sotheby's galleries in New York before being auctioned, some paleontologists argue it shouldn't be privately sold.

Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology at the University of Edinburgh, told CNN that Apex belongs in a museum.

"It is a great shame when a fossil like this, which could educate and rouse the curiosity of so many people, just disappears into the mansion of an oligarch," he told the news outlet.

BBC News reported in 2019 that celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, and Nicolas Cage are among the famous people who have bought prehistoric remains.

• JPMorgan just published its 25th annual summer reading list.
• The bank suggests 11 titles it believes capture a world experiencing "radical shifts."
• AI, Formula 1, and Matt Damon all feature on JPMorgan's recommendations.

JPMorgan's annual reading list might be the closest thing the US has to a billionaire's book club.

For a quarter of a century its private banking division has offered up its summer must-reads, based on recommendations from client advisors around the world.

JPMorgan Asset and Wealth Management's chief communications officer Darin Oduyoye touted the bank's picks as an attempt to capture a world experiencing "radical shifts." It may come as little surprise that the AI revolution is the main theme of one title on its list.

Other picks focus on Gen Z anxiety and Formula 1, while Matt Damon, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Google's productivity czar Laura Mae Martin are among the authors featured.

Check out the 11 books JPMorgan says you should be reading this summer.

1. "Supercommunicators" by Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg's "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection" is a deep dive into the latest research about how to have better conversations.

The former New York Times reporter zeroes in on a wide range of examples — including divided jury rooms and CIA agents tapping up foreign sources.  

2. "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt

Jonathan Haidt's latest book tackles what the social psychologist calls "the great rewiring of childhood," referring to the massive impact smartphones are having on the lives of younger people.

He argues that parents and governments need to act now to address rising sleep deprivation, loneliness, and addiction among children.

3. "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys"

"Giants" showcases selections from Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys' Dean Collection, which coincides with an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. It celebrates the work of nearly 40 groundbreaking Black artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat and Gordon Parks.

4. "Brave New Words" by Salman Khan

Earlier this month, Bill Gates took to social media to recommend "Brave New Words," by Salman Khan, the founder and CEO of the Khan Academy nonprofit.

The book argues that advances in AI will transform education and offers a guide for teachers, parents, and students on navigating a fast-changing world.

5. "Love & Whiskey" by Fawn Weaver

Fawn Weaver, who became the first African-American woman to head a major spirits brand when she founded Uncle Nearest in 2017, reflects on her journey to uncover the life of Nearest Green, who played a pivotal role in the development of Jack Daniel's.

6. "The Formula" by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg

Formula 1 is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US, thanks to the huge popularity of Netflix's "Drive to Survive" and new races in Miami and Las Vegas.

Clegg and Robinson, who also coauthored one of the definitive books about the rise of Premier League soccer, team up again to give readers an inside look at the history and future of F1.

7. "Secret Stays" by Melinda Stevens, Issy von Simson, and Tabitha Joyce

This coffee-table book published by Assouline introduces readers to 22 little-known travel spots, ranging from a secluded Croatian monastery to a Japanese townhouse.

JPMorgan describes the title as "a fresh look at the diverse and ever-evolving face of travel today."

8. "Finding Fortunato" by Adam Pearson

Adam Pearson's "Finding Fortunato" charts the history of the entrepreneurial Peruvian family that found the Nacional white cacao bean — setting the stage for it to start making what's become known as "the Rolex of chocolate."

9. "Uptime" by Laura Mae Martin

Google's productivity advisor Laura Mae Martin, who's worked for Alphabet for more than a decade, shares easy-to-follow steps to boost your output and avoid burnout in her new book.

10. "The Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles" by Jake Gyllenhaal, Greta Caruso and Dan Santat

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal, his childhood best friend Greta Caruso, and illustrator Dan Santat teamed up to write this ode to uncles, aunts, nieces, and nephews.

11. "The Worth of Water" by Gary White and Matt Damon

To mark its 225th anniversary, JPMorgan highlighted this book, reflecting its earliest predecessor's origins as a waterworks company.

Garry White and Matt Damon outline a trial-and-error approach to solving the water crisis, emphasizing the role that collective action could play.

• The 10 wealthiest sports owners collectively own 15 major sports teams.
• These owners include tech moguls, hedge fund managers, and heirs to massive fortunes.
• Forbes data highlights their diverse origins, from Walmart heirs to hedge fund managers.

As sports team values continue to skyrocket, the people who can afford to invest in these franchises are among the wealthiest people on the planet.

Today, the list of wealthiest sports team owners includes two separate heirs to the Walmart fortune, Rob Walton and Ann Walton Kroenke, along with Bill Gates' former assistant Steve Ballmer.

Business Insider compiled a list of the wealthiest individuals who own a majority stake in a team from a major professional sports league and looked at how they made their fortunes, using data from Forbes.

These 10 billionaires —along with some of their families — are worth a combined $548.8 billion and own four soccer teams, four NBA teams, three NFL teams, two NHL teams, an MLB team, and a cricket team in India.

10. Steve Cohen

Net worth: $19.8 billion

Teams owned: New York Mets (MLB)

Steve Cohen made his billions as a founder of several hedge funds, including Point72, which manages $33.9 billion in assets. The firm has 185 investing teams and its primary focus is stock-picking.

In 2020, Cohen purchased a 95% share of the New York Mets for an estimated $2.4 billion.

9. David Tepper

Net worth: $21 billion

Teams owned: Carolina Panthers (NFL), Charlotte FC (MLS)

David Tepper spent many years working for Goldman Sachs but left in the early 1990s when he was passed over for partner. He founded the Appaloosa Management hedge fund in 1993, which holds $6.7 billion in assets. Its biggest holdings are in Alibaba and Adobe.

Tepper purchased the Carolina Panthers in 2018 for a then-record $2.2 billion.

8. François Pinault

Pinault and family net worth: $26 billion

Teams owned: Stade Rennais FC (French Ligue 1)

François Pinault is the founder and owner of Kering, a luxury group that owns several iconic fashion brands, including Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga. Pinault's first success came in the timber industry before pivoting to wine and retail.

Pinault purchased his hometown soccer club, Stade Rennais FC, in 1998.

7. Stan Kroenke and Ann Walton Kroenke

Net worth: $27 billion ($16 billion via Stan Kroenke and $11 billion via Ann Kroenke)

Teams owned: Los Angeles Rams (NFL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Arsenal FC (English Premier League), Colorado Rapids (MLS)

Stan Kroenke made most of his fortune in real estate development through the ownership of The Kroenke Group. He is married to Ann Walton Kroenke, the niece of Walmart founder Sam Walton and one of the heirs to the family's fortune. Together, they are one of the largest landowners in the US.

The Kroenkes own many sports franchises through their holding company Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, including some esports teams.

6. Dan Gilbert

Net worth: $28 billion

Teams owned: Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)

Dan Gilbert grew his fortune as the founder of an online mortgage lending company called Rock Financial that was purchased by Intuit in 1999 at a valuation of $370 million. That year, the company was rebranded to Quicken Loans. Today, Gilbert owns over 100 businesses, including the highly successful online sneaker marketplace StockX.

Gilbert purchased the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005 for a then-NBA record $375 million.

5. Miriam Adelson

Adelson and family net worth: $32 billion

Teams owned: Dallas Mavericks (NBA)

Miriam Adelson is the widow of Sheldon Adelson, the former owner of the Las Vegas Sands casino, who died in 2021. She and her family own more than half of the gambling kingdom.

In 2023, Adelson and her family purchased the Dallas Mavericks from Mark Cuban for $3.5 billion.

4. David Thomson

Thompson and family net worth: $72 billion

Teams owned: Winnipeg Jets (NHL)

David Thomson is the head of Canada's wealthiest family, which made its money from a publishing and media empire. Additionally, Thomson is the chairman of the Thomson Reuters Corporation.

Thomson is also a co-owner of the sports and entertainment ownership and management company True North Sports + Entertainment. In 2011, True North purchased the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and moved the team to Canada, where it became the Winnipeg Jets.

3. Rob Walton

Walton and family net worth: $82 billion

Teams owned: Denver Broncos (NFL)

Rob Walton is the former Walmart chairman and son of the Walmart founder. When his father died in 1992, he inherited a large chunk of the family fortune.

Walton and his family purchased the Denver Broncos in 2022 for $4.65 billion. At the time, it was the highest price ever paid for a professional sports team.

2. Mukesh Ambani

Net worth: $114 billion

Teams owned: Mumbai Indians (Indian Premier League)

Mukesh Ambani is the richest person in India and the patriarch of the wealthiest family in Asia. He is one of the heirs to the Ambani fortune, which began with a fabric and textile company, Reliance Industries. Ambani is the owner and chairman of what is now a massive conglomerate that includes energy, retail, telecommunications, media, and entertainment companies.

In 2008, upon the formation of the new cricket league, the Indian Premier League, Reliance Industries purchased the Mumbai Indians for $112 million.

1. Steve Ballmer

Net worth: $127 billion

Teams owned: Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)

Steve Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as Bill Gates' assistant. He eventually negotiated a contract that included an equity stake in the company, which helped him build most of his fortune. He eventually rose to CEO of Microsoft. At the time of this writing, Forbes ranked him the 10th richest person in the world.

In 2014, Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion. Many believed he overpaid for the team at the time, with the price not in line with other contemporary sales of NBA teams. However, according to Forbes, the franchise is now worth $4.7 billion.

• A DC basic income program lets participants choose their monthly payment amounts, no-strings-attached.
• The CashRx pilot by Bread for the City aims to improve health outcomes for low-income residents.
• Deborah Ogarro Kelly, a participant, is using the money to afford medicine and rent. 

For Deborah Ogarro Kelly, $1,400 a month is what she needs to cover household medical bills.

Kelly, 47, isn't able to work because she's the main caregiver for her husband, who is blind and has health issues. And since last fall, she's been a participant in a Washington DC-area guaranteed basic income program.

With her husband's SSDI disability benefit, the couple lives on a fixed income of under $2,000 each month, which is separate from their guaranteed basic income. However, she often worries about paying for their rent, groceries, and prescriptions.

Basic income has alleviated some of her financial anxiety, but she said "it's still not enough" to feel stable.

"I want to be able to pay all my bills, and I want to handle my balance and not owe anybody," Kelly told Business Insider. "It's a lot, but I want to be able to work, and I want my husband to get all the resources that he needs."

The basic income program Kelly participates in is one of over 100 pilots across the US. Since 2019, GBI has become an increasingly popular strategy to address poverty. The model differs from traditional social services like SNAP or Medicaid because participants can choose how to spend their money.

"There's a reduction of barriers that guaranteed income provides and the real ability for someone to make the decision for their family about what's going to advance themselves," Shafeka Hashash, associate director of Guaranteed Income at the Economic Security Project, previously told BI. "I think guaranteed income is such a strong system."

CashRx, the guaranteed basic income pilot Kelly is participating in, is run by Bread for The City. The nonprofit provides medical, legal, food, and work assistance to low-income DC residents. All participants in the GBI cohort must be established patients at Bread for the City's medical clinic.

The yearlong basic income program, which began payments in November 2023, allowed each of its five participants to choose the amount of their no-strings-attached monthly checks. Kelly chose $1,400 a month because it's what her family needs to offset out-of-pocket medical costs. Other participants chose between $1,100 and $1,400 a month.

The program's funding is provided through the Community Foundation's Health Equity Fund — a $95 million fund established to address health disparities in DC — and several grants.

Although Bread for the City hopes to eventually expand the GBI pilot to 10 participants, the program is intentionally small. In a spring program report provided to BI, the nonprofit said its goal is to improve health outcomes for its clients by addressing circumstances like economic instability and housing insecurity.

CashRx follows Bread for the City's previous basic income program. It was an implementation partner for THRIVE East of the River, a basic income pilot that gave $5,500 to about 600 low-income families in DC between summer 2020 and winter 2022.

Kelly still worries about money, but basic income makes her feel less "stuck"

Kelly feels like her expenses keep growing. Many of her husband's medications and appointments are out-of-pocket, and she also has to pay for her own healthcare needs. The couple has Medicaid, but insurance doesn't cover everything.

She pays several thousand dollars in rent for her apartment, and she's not sure what she'll do if her landlord raises the price or doesn't renew their month-to-month lease. She has tried to apply for a rental assistance voucher because of her husband's medical conditions but hasn't been granted one.

"Where are we going to go if the money runs out in that situation?" Kelly said. "We don't have anything stable."

For food, Kelly said she and her husband qualify for some assistance through SNAP, but it's just over $100 a month and usually isn't enough to pay for groceries.

On top of that, she said it's difficult to find money to pay for their transportation, cellphone bills, household necessities, and the storage unit they need for their belongings.

Costs are still a concern, but Kelly said basic income has been the financial help she and her husband needed to keep supporting themselves. She still hopes she can go back to work someday. Her husband would enjoy working too, so Kelly is hoping he can get the support he needs to maintain a part-time job.

"We've gotten a lot of things straight as far as health and getting our mouths fed," Kelly said. "If it wasn't for Bread for the City, we would still be stuck."

Participants report that GBI has helped them improve their mental health

Similar to Kelly, DC basic income participants have told Bread for the City that cash payments allowed them to afford housing and utilities, start saving toward emergency funds, spend more time with family, and improve their mental health, per Bread for the City's spring program report.

One participant told Bread for the City that they were able to get prescription eye glasses for their child, while others were able to buy ingredients for food that better matches their preferences and cultures.

As basic income programs across the US face legislative opposition from Republican lawmakers, Kelly wishes more people understood that they can give people a chance to afford their basic needs. She's grateful for the assistance right now. And, at some point, she knows someone else will need help too.

"You give people a chance, and you see what they're going to do, they do the right thing," Kelly said. "And once I get on my feet, then you can pass it on to the next person."

Have you benefitted from a guaranteed basic income program? Are you open to sharing your story? If so, reach out to allisonkelly@businessinsider.com.

• Anant Yardi took a majority stake in WeWork through its bankruptcy process.
• WeWork struggled post-2019 from pandemic constraints and long lease obligations.
• Yardi plans to focus on small businesses and use hotel-like tech for real-time booking.

WeWork's new owner prefers to stay out of the spotlight — and he's already sketching out new plans for the embattled office company.

Anant Yardi, who, alongside his wife, founded the widely-used commercial real estate software Yardi Systems, took a majority stake in WeWork through its bankruptcy process. In total, he invested more than half a billion dollars in debt and equity. Japanese investor SoftBank and hedge fund King Street now own minority stakes.

WeWork catapulted to a household name on the heels of founder Adam Neumann's eccentric leadership and SoftBank's billions of dollars in investment, and fell from grace in 2019 for largely the same reasons. The company's ensuing turnaround was constrained by the pandemic and long lease obligations inked under Neumann, who failed to buy back the company out of bankruptcy.

Yardi, unlike Neumann, likes to build in the background and only recently started flying business class, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Yardi said he's planning to expand WeWork's marketing to focus on small businesses. That represents a major shift for the company, which has spent the last several years courting enterprise businesses, including under Neumann. Companies, especially in tech, prioritize bigger businesses in hopes that those customers will provide more stability and value than small startups and freelancers — WeWork's original customers.

But WeWork's enterprise business never fully realized its ambitions. Even back in 2019, the sales team missed targets, Business Insider reported at the time. WeWork pushed for enterprise sales hard in the wake of the pandemic, as companies rethought their office footprints.

In March 2021, WeWork had just over 200,000 enterprise customers — 52% of its customer base, excluding countries including China and Israel. By June 2023 — the latest time such data is publicly available — WeWork counted 240,000 enterprise memberships, 41% of the customer base.

WeWork will also look to use technology similar to the hotel industry, like real-time booking, and partner with other coworking companies, Yardi told the FT.

WeWork's balance sheet, now less constrained by leases, "looks very good," Yardi said.

"WeWork is such a popular and well-known brand, it didn't seem right to let it go down," Yardi told the FT. "I realize financial decisions are not made on right and wrong. But there's also a tremendous opportunity in terms of turning around WeWork."

At WeWork's peak in January 2019, SoftBank valued the company at $47 billion. Last month, WeWork advisers valued the company at about $750 million.

WeWork did not immediately respond to a request for comment, sent outside standard business hours.

• Nvidia could soon become the world's most valuable company.
• That's despite the chipmaker being no household name or big consumer brand such as Apple or Amazon.
• Investors are betting the maker of graphics chips will play a crucial role in the AI revolution.

It's a little weird to think a business that many people have never heard of or bought anything from — and has a name they don't know how to say — could soon become the world's most valuable company.

Nvidia stock has surged more than sixfold since the start of last year, catapulting the chipmaker's value to almost $2.8 trillion. It's now worth more than Amazon (about $1.9 trillion) and Alphabet ($2.1 trillion), and could soon leapfrog Apple ($2.9 trillion) and even Microsoft ($3.1 trillion).

The semiconductor giant sticks out from its Big Tech peers, whose products are so integral to daily life. People work, play, and communicate on their iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. They search on Google, watch YouTube videos, and use Gmail.

They scroll Facebook, post on Instagram, and chat on WhatsApp. They shop on Amazon, read books on Kindles, and watch movies and TV shows on Prime Video. They use Windows PCs, rely on applications like Word and Excel, and game on Xbox consoles.

It's a similar story with non-tech titans like Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which is worth $870 billion or less than a third of Nvidia. The famed investor's conglomerate owns consumer brands like Geico, Duracell, and Dairy Queen, and holds large stakes in Coca-Cola, Kraft Heinz, and other public companies.

Buffett himself has trumpeted the power of Apple's brand, and how indispensable its products are, as key reasons why he made the tech titan his top holding.

By contrast, Nvidia isn't a household name among people who don't follow the tech sector or stock market. Excluding gamers and computer hobbyists, its products don't touch everyday life in the same way as other mega-cap companies and thus lacks their cultural cachet.

Nvidia ranked 117th on BrandFinance's annual ranking of global brands in 2023. It jumped to 30th spot this year, but still trailed the likes of Allianz and UnitedHealthcare. Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon took the top four spots.

Huge demand

Of course, Nvidia's monster valuation is pricing in investors' expectations that it will become critical to society in the future. They're betting its chips will be vital to the artificial-intelligence revolution, and become ubiquitous in smart devices and the data centers connecting them.

Nvidia's graphics chips may be niche among consumers, but there's huge demand for them from companies such as Meta. As a result, Nvidia's revenue more than doubled to $61 billion last year, fueling a nearly sevenfold rise in net income to $30 billion.

For comparison, Apple's sales hit $383 billion and profits were $97 billion last financial year, but it's growing far more slowly.

It'll be fascinating to see whether Nvidia becomes a major consumer brand over time, or keeps powering other companies' AI efforts while largely staying out of the spotlight.

• Aircraft service provider Ameco created the "Fly-Buddy Hub," an economy concept with lie-flat beds.
• The six-seater design is described as a "versatile social hub" for families or business groups.
• Adding lie-flat beds to economy is not new, with Air New Zealand pioneering the idea back in 2011.

Lie-flat beds have historically been reserved for business and first-class travelers, but Chinese aircraft services provider Ameco has developed a new bed-equipped product called the "Fly-Buddy Hub."

The concept, which arranges two rows of six seats facing each other across a table, was selected as a finalist for this year's Crystal Cabin Awards.

This "versatile social hub" resembles the classic quad-seating on a train, but the tray tables retract, allowing the rows to convert into beds.

Ameco design department manager Ping Li told CNN Travel that the spacious seat caters to families or business groups as multiple people can dine, socialize, or meet during the flight.

But the amenities don't appear to stop there.

Based on Ameco's renderings, a stowable television can be installed next to the windows for gaming and streaming.

A similar "gamer class" idea was thought up by English startup carrier Global Airlines, a yet-to-fly company hoping to operate Airbus A380s across the Atlantic. However, the company has since removed the renderings from its website — suggesting such an ambitious cabin may be too costly to sustain.

Still, Ameco's innovative concept is nothing to balk at, considering some carriers are already flying with lie-flat beds in economy class.

In 2011, Air New Zealand introduced the famous "Skycouch" — a row of three economy seats that convert into a bed by raising the leg rests.

The bed, which is an add-on cost, comes with linens and an appropriately named "cuddle belt" — something two passengers flying together can use to buckle up when sleeping.

ANZ has since patented the design as an affordable lie-flat option in economy class. Other airlines, such as Brazil's Azul Air, Japan's All Nippon Airways, and Kazakhstan's Air Astana, have created their own versions of the coach bed.

With the success of the Skycouch, ANZ is adding another concept to its line-up of innovative economy cabins: the Skynest.

The triple bunk beds don't have televisions but offer a long, lie-flat bed and linens for passengers to sleep.

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• The Google I/O conference takes place every year in California, typically in May.
• Google I/O is a flagship event for developers, featuring Google's latest updates and launches.
• Here's what went down at Google I/O in the last few years and how to watch it every year.

Google's annual developer conference, called Google I/O, is Google's flagship event for developers. It's where the company shares its latest updates and makes major announcements, including launching new products and services.

As Google's Chaim Gartenberg put it in a company blog post, "Googlers — and the world — expect at least a little magic from I/O."

The event features a range of speakers, including Google's CEO, VPs from across the company, and executives from branches like Google DeepMind, Android, and Google Labs.

Here's everything to know about the annual developer conference and a timeline of major announcements made at the event over the years.

What is Google I/O?

Google I/O is the company's most important annual event for developers.

"I/O is representative of everything that Google has to offer for developers and beyond," Mike Pegg, who previously helped lead I/O, said in a company blog post. "It's when we share what we're working on with the world, and we've had some incredible moments over the years, like when Android launched in 2008, or when support for HTML 5 was announced in 2011."

Following the event, Google offers I/O Connect, which is a hands-on, in-person developer event series focused on demos and live sessions from the event's updates.

Google also offers I/O Extended, which are global, community-hosted events by Google Developer Groups. These events are held throughout May and June around the world, from Chicago to Santa Cruz and Brazil.

What does I/O stand for?

When Google launched its first I/O in 2007, it was called "Google Developer Day."

So how did it get this obscure name?

If you look up what I/O stands for on search, you'll find two definitions. The first is that I/O stands for "input/output," referencing the concept of interfacing between a computer system and the outside world. The second is that I/O stands for "innovation in the open."

The tech giant cleared up the confusion in a blog post for Google I/O 2023 — and it turns out both meanings are accurate.

The name I/O was originally based on the numerical value googol, which is a one followed by 100 zeros. Google took the first one and zero to create the event's logo. Then, as the company brainstormed what the one and zero could represent, it came up with "input/output" and "innovation in the open."

Google director of events and experiences Lorin Platto said in the post that the intent was to make it stick with developers, "so the name 'Google I/O' was almost like a puzzle to figure out."

Google also now releases actual puzzles every year for developers to figure out the event date.

How to watch the Google I/O keynote

The main Google I/O keynote typically takes place in May and lasts about two hours. The event is open to a small in-person audience and also livestreamed online. You can register for Google I/O to stay up to date with the content and schedule. You can also create a developer profile to save and view content.

Even if you don't register, you can watch the full keynote on YouTube, and you can find out more about each annual event by looking up "Google I/O" followed by the year. Each event has a dedicated site with links to the keynote livestream and other workshops that take place during the conference. You can also watch shorter recaps to get a quick version of the most important updates.

Google I/O announcements history

2024

At Google I/O 2024, which took place on May 14, CEO Sundar Pichai declared Google was fully in its "Gemini era."

Pichai also described new AI-powered features coming to Google Photos that could pull information from images and help summarize photo memories.

Demis Hassabis, the head of Google DeepMind, made his debut at the event to announce "Project Astra," a prototype AI agent that can use video and voice features.

The Project Astra demo featured a Google employee walking through the DeepMind office in London. At first the employee used the agent on her phone, but she then switched to a pair of prototype smart glasses, calling to mind the discontinued Google Glass.

The company also provided a glimpse at what the new Google Search looks like with generative AI, Android AI tools like "Circle to Search," and custom Gemini bots called "Gems."

The event's theme was clear, with Pichai revealing at the end that the word "AI" was said 120 times during the keynote.

2023

Google I/O 2023 marked the event's 15th anniversary. The company revealed generative AI updates and tools and announced that it would integrate its big AI model, PaLM 2, into its AI offerings.

For example, you could use Google Lens to point your camera at objects and ask Google's AI assistant to write captions for them. You could also ask the chatbot to create speaker notes based on images you insert into a Google Slides presentation.

Google also announced visual updates to its Gemini AI (then known as Bard) and opened it up to over 180 countries and territories.

2022

A major highlight of Google I/O 2022 was the unveiling of its latest affordable smartphone, the Pixel 6a.

The company also added 24 new languages to Google Translate, advanced Google Maps to show more locations and detailed imagery, automated summarization for Google Docs and other apps in Workspace, and launched LaMDA, their "breakthrough conversation technology" at the time.

2021

A notable moment at Google I/O 2021 was Pichai's demo of its new LaMDA AI language model for dialogue applications, which included a conversation with Pluto and a paper airplane.

Google also revealed Android 12's "Material You," which updated the design of Androids and gave users the opportunity to change system colors.

Google also announced updates to Maps, including indoor access and eco-friendly route suggestions. It also announced a partnership between Samsung's Tizen and Google's Wear, which resulted in longer battery life for Google-powered smartwatches.

2020

2020 marked a big year for Google I/O — but not because of the announcements. Google canceled the event at its usual Shoreline Amphitheatre location due to the pandemic. The virtual event was later canceled as well.

2019

During the event, Google unveiled the cheaper version of its flagship smartphone, Pixel 3a. The smartphone started at $399 and has a similar camera to the Pixel 3, supporting features like Portrait Mode. It also offered updates on Android Q and announced a new smart home device called Nest Hub Max.

It also had Google Lens updates, like the ability to split the bill and calculate the tip at a restaurant if you point the lens to your check.

2017

Google shared 101 announcements at Google I/O in 2017, according to a blog post from the company.

Google Lens was the biggest announcement. The technology is embedded in different Google apps and allows you to recognize objects and places. For example, you can point your phone at a WiFi router and Lens will show you your saved password. Or you can point your phone at a restaurant on the street and it will pull up information about the restaurant.

Google Home also announced several new updates, including Hands-Free Calling, which recognizes the user's voice and allows you to call anyone in the US or Canada for free.

2016

At its 2016 I/O event, Pichai focused on Google's plans to incorporate AI into its offerings.

The tech giant also launched Google Home, a smart speaker with Google's new virtual assistant. The technology is a similar product to Amazon Echo, responding to voice commands and performing tasks like playing a song or sharing the weather forecast.

It also released two messaging platforms: Allo and Duo. Allo was an instant messaging app that has since been discontinued, and Duo was a video chat platform that merged with Google Meet.

2015

Google's 2015 I/O keynote focused mainly on Android updates, like Android Pay, its new digital wallet similar to Apple Pay. It also introduced Doze, which saves battery by using motion detection to go into a deeper sleep if inactive for a certain amount of time.

Now on Tap was another Android update that allows users to hold the home button to bring up information related to what they're seeing on the screen. It also announced a revamped Google Photos app with an unlimited number of photos and videos for free sorted by timestamp and location.

Google also announced offline maps and Chrome in developing countries to make these offerings more accessible for people with poor connections.

2014

At Google I/O 2014, the tech giant revealed its latest version of Android, Android L. The new "Material Design" had a cleaner look with some shadows, layers, and animations.

Google also gave demos of Android Wear and announced LG and Samsung now have Android Wear watches available.

Google also announced Android TV, a new platform for TVs, its second attempt at creating TV software. The new platform for TVs lets users voice-search to find content and integrates Chromecast, which has features like setting your own photos as the background of your TV.

2013

Google updated some of its key products at I/O 2013, like Google Maps and Google+. It also released a streaming music service competitor to Spotify called Google Music All Access, which was priced at $9.99 per month.

The biggest surprise of the event was Larry Page, the CEO at the time, who appeared for a live Q&A and gave a speech about the future of technology.

2012

Google I/O in 2012 hosted 6,000 in-person attendees, according to a recap of the event. Google announced its latest milestone at the event: One million Android devices are activated every day. Other Google product announcements that year included Nexus 7, a seven-inch tablet running Android 14.1.

Project Glass was one of the biggest updates at Google I/O in 2012. Google had reportedly worked on the computerized glasses for a few years and announced they would become available in early 2013. The product has since been discontinued, but there may be a new version of it coming to market in the future.

2011

Google announced an upgrade to Honeycomb, which it rolled out the day of the event to Verizon customers and allowed for more efficient app switching.

It also had several updates to Google TV and came out with Music beta by Google, which allowed users to build playlists based on any song they picked.

Google also announced Android devices could now act as USB hosts, which was a big step forward in importing content like photos.

2010

Google I/O 2010 was the company's first attempt at merging TV with the internet. Although unsuccessful, it marked an important step forward in the future of smart TV.

Google I/O 2010 also reveals how fun some of the names of Google products used to be, like Android Froyo, which brought faster speed and mobile hotspot.

Google claimed Froyo had the fastest browser and demonstrated it next to an Eclair phone and an iPad. Google also announced a Chrome Web Store to make a market for browser apps.

2009

Google I/O in 2009 focused on developer tools, especially for app creation. The company also introduced Google Web Elements, which let users embed Google products on their pages, like YouTube videos.

It also revealed Google Wave, a cloud service that let users exchange messages and media or collaborate on documents. Wave was discontinued a little over a year later, in 2010.

2008

Google I/O in 2008 marked the launch of the Android platform, which was a major step forward in the evolution of smartphones.

Google also announced the app engine, which was a platform for developing apps.

2007

Google held its first developers event in 2007, but the name at the time was "Google Developer Day" rather than I/O, and the event's structure was also different. Google held developer gatherings worldwide that were focused on educating groups on Google's technologies.