DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist

 DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF              

By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

YOUR CHOICE: PLANE, BOAT OR UNDERWATER BULLET TRAIN?

Source:  UAE

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has proposed a new mode of transportation from the UAE to Mumbai:  an underwater bullet train.  Here's what we know:

1. It would cross the Arabian Sea from Fujairah, UAE to Mumbai, India
2. Could travel at speeds up to 600 mph
3. Could shave one hour off of flight times of 3 hours
4. UAE would export oil to Mumbai and Mumbai would export fresh water to UAE as part of this project
5. Distance between the 2 destinations is just less than 1,240 miles 
6. Project will cost several billion dollars
7. Key issue will be technical feasibilities of constructing underwater
8. Perspective:  Channel Tunnel connecting England and France is 35 miles with a train that travels at 70 mph; the UAE proposal is far more ambitious and would offer the world a fascinating new way to travel
9. UAE is positioning itself as a global capital of innovation and is actively pursuing this extraordinary project.

AG-TECH ROBOTS ELIMINATING WEEDS

                                                                Source:  Aigen

• Ag-tech startup Aigen, which makes solar-powered weed thumping & weed whacking robots, just landed another round of investment backing, to the tune of $12 million.  Here's what we know:

1. Aigen has created solar powered robots that use advanced computer vision to spot and kill weeds
2. Their robot, called Aigen Element, has 2 robotic arms that thump out weeds and other unwanted plants on farms
3. Completely renewable powered by the Sun
4. Robots can operate for 14 hour stretches
5. Kirkland, Washington-based company, founded by entrepreneur Kenny Lee and engineer Rich Wurden, is expanding operations with the new funding
6. It's focused on renewable energy power and using AI to automate intensive farming tasks
7. Developing new AI robot that uses low amounts of energy to send real-time crop information to a farmer's mobile app
8. New AI robot is designed to cut costs, provide crop insights and reduce carbon emissions
9. Ag-tech is a big area of growth and interest to investors
10. A recent McKinsey & Co. survey found that 39% of farmers globally will invest in ag-tech within the next 2 years.

GOOGLE ENDING PASSWORDS

                                        Source:  Google

• Google wants to get rid of passwords and replace them with passkeys as the new entranceway to your personal google account.  Here's what we know:

1. Google is moving toward easy log-ins by making passkeys the new standard for personal accounts on its network
2. Passkeys are typically 4-digit PINs or biometric credentials
3. Google believes it will cut attempts by thieves to gain access to your account
4. Google will start sending prompts to get you started on your account.

 "Daily Innovation Brief"© By Edward Kane