The City of Tech - Silicon Valley

Welcome to TechKona!!

It’s a Wednesday that feels like Monday.

In today’s email:

1. City of Tech (Silicon Valley).

2. New Billionaire vehicles.

3. X is flooded with Israel–Hamas war misinformation.

4. Shout Out Kona.

San Francisco Bay area(Silicon Valley)

Today's story is about the best place to be in tech, The San Francisco Bay area affectionately referred to as Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is the global nucleus of innovation and entrepreneurship, where groundbreaking ideas come to life and redefine our digital landscape.

Little more about the area.

• Silicon Valley is a global center of technological innovation located in the South San Francisco Bay Area of California.

• The area was named after the primary material found in computer microprocessors.

• Silicon Valley is home to dozens of major technology, software, and internet companies.

• Some of the major companies in the region include Apple, Alphabet's Google, Chevron, Meta(formerly Facebook), and Visa.

• It is one of the wealthiest regions in the world and one of the hottest real estate markets.

Understanding Silicon Valley:

Silicon Valley, a term originating in 1971, has evolved from its semiconductor beginnings into a global tech hub. Covering around 1,854 square miles in California's Bay Area, it includes counties like Santa Clara and San Mateo, along with parts of Alameda County and Scotts Valley in Santa Cruz County. Its key city is San Jose, and it hosts institutions like Stanford University, fostering a robust research and development (R&D) environment. Silicon Valley's innovation has attracted substantial venture capital investment, with numerous high-profile IPOs exceeding $253 billion by December 2020. As of 2020, it was home to 38 Fortune 500 companies, including tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Meta.

How rich is Silicon Valley?

As of 2021, Silicon Valley boasts a median household income that surpasses the national average by a significant margin. With households earning an average of $138,804(Ksh20 million) annually, Silicon Valley residents enjoy a substantially higher income compared to the national average of $69,717.

Silicon Valley is renowned as one of the world's wealthiest regions, with Forbes reporting a staggering 313 tech billionaires worldwide, holding a combined net worth of $1.9 trillion. Among these tech magnates, the top 20 alone amass a remarkable wealth exceeding $660 billion.

In 2022, Silicon Valley was home to an impressive 84 billionaires, further underscoring its affluence. However, it's worth noting that several notable business leaders have opted to relocate their companies elsewhere in recent times.

Silicon Valley is home to some of the world's most influential companies:

1. Apple: Founded by Steve Jobs. Apple reported a remarkable revenue of $394.33 billion in 2022. The tech giant boasts a market capitalization of $2.73 trillion.

2. Alphabet: Known for its Googleplex headquarters in Mountain View, Santa Clara County, Alphabet reported substantial full-year revenue of $282.84 billion in 2022. With a market cap of $1.66 trillion.

3. Chevron: This multinational energy corporation reported $235.72 billion in revenue in 2022. Chevron holds a market cap of $307 billion.

4. Meta: As one of the world's largest social media networks, Meta is headquartered in Menlo Park, San Mateo County. With a market cap of $750.12 billion. Meta generated $116.61 billion in revenue in 2022.

5. Visa: Operating from San Francisco, Visa provides payment services and reported $29.31 billion in revenue in 2022. The company holds a market cap of $485.08 billion.

6. Wells Fargo: Established in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, this financial services company earned $73.78 billion in revenue in 2022. With a market cap of $155.43 billion

New Billionaire vehicles:

Super Sub

U-Boat Worx, the renowned manufacturer of high-performance submersibles, has recently unveiled its latest, the Super Sub. The Super Sub was showcased at the Monaco Yacht Show. It is not only the fastest private submersible available, but it is also the epitome of luxury and cutting-edge technology.

Capable of diving to depths of 300 meters, the Super Sub offers a thrilling underwater experience. The Super Sub has a top speed of up to 10 knots underwater. That’s 3-4 knots faster than the top cruising speed of a bottlenose dolphin, and 7 knots faster than the average submersible. The spacious interior is adorned with leather seats and a large panoramic window, providing passengers with unparalleled comfort and breathtaking views.

Safety and reliability are paramount in the design of the Super Sub. Constructed with a robust hull crafted from high-strength steel and titanium, this submersible ensures the utmost protection for its occupants. In case of an emergency, a safety buoy can be released, and a backup battery system, life support system, and communication system equipped with distress signal capabilities and GPS coordinates are in place for added security.

While the Super Sub offers an extraordinary experience, it comes with a hefty price tag of approximately $5 million(Ksh 800,000,000) and requires a special license for operation. However, for those with a passion for underwater exploration and the means to indulge, the Super Sub presents a unique opportunity to delve into the wonders of the ocean with style and comfort.

CruiseUp

CycloTech, an Austrian company that specializes in CycloRotor technology, has unveiled its first concept aircraft called the CruiseUp. It's an air car that uses CycloRotors to fly. The CruiseUp is the result of 15 years of development and testing by CycloTech.

CycloRotors are spinning barrels with wing blades that can tilt and change their pitch as they rotate. This way, they can direct thrust in any direction. That means the CruiseUp can hover, accelerate, brake, and maneuver very precisely and smoothly. It also means it doesn't have to tilt or bank like other eVTOLs.

The CruiseUp is designed for two passengers who want to travel comfortably and sustainably within urban, suburban, and rural areas. It has a top speed of 150 km/h and a range of 100 km, which is enough for most trips. It's also electric, thus providing a smooth quiet ride. The CruiseUp is just 50% bigger than a regular car, so it can fit in most places. And it looks pretty sleek and futuristic too.

Drawbacks to this technology include; increased maintenance requirements due to moving parts and drag produced by the blades when not producing thrust which affects overall efficiency.

The Israel-Hamas conflict misinformation flooding X.

Researchers and fact-checkers are deeply concerned about the social platform's shift from a reliable source of live news updates to a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation. While some misleading content is flagged, many videos falsely linked to the ongoing conflict circulate without warnings.

For instance, a video depicting urban flashes supposedly from an Israeli bombardment in Gaza turned out to be fireworks in Algeria. Another video, claiming to show an Israeli helicopter shot down by Hamas, was actually from the video game Arma 3.

Unfortunately, X's owner, Elon Musk, hasn't helped guide users toward credible sources. In a since-deleted post, he recommended two accounts for real-time war updates, both of which have a history of spreading disinformation, including antisemitic comments.

So, why has X become a hub for dubious information? Experts argue that the platform's transformation under Musk has made it easier for unverified content to spread. Paying users now receive the coveted blue checkmark, previously reserved for news organizations and verified individuals, amplifying their content. This may explain how a now-suspended account posing as the Jerusalem Post gained over 700k views for a false claim about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Furthermore, the dismissal of most employees responsible for curbing misinformation has contributed to the platform's problem.

For reliable, fact-checked updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict, media organizations like the BBC, the Associated Press, and Haaretz provide verified information. Trustworthy journalists like Nic Robertson and Rushdi Abualouf are reporting directly from Israel and Gaza.

📢Shout Out Kona

Are you ready to supercharge your tech journey? GDSC DeKUT is your gateway to boosting your development skills and connecting with a vibrant community of tech enthusiasts. From coding to AI and everything in between, we're here to support your exploration of diverse tech fields. Join us for collaborative learning, teamwork, and endless opportunities. Step into an exciting tech adventure with us and let's shape the future together!

Follow them on twitter for more “ @gdsc_dekut

Share Tech Kona

You currently have 0 referrals, only 1 away from receiving Tech Kona goodies.

copy and paste this link to others:https://thetechkona.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Follow us on twitter for updates @TheTechKona