Analysis

Industries

When Will the Future Cities Get Here?

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photos via NEOM Newsroom, Dan Lundberg via CC BY-SA 2.0, Palácio do Planalto via CC BY 2.0, and Loriski via CC BY-SA 3.0

We check in on two planned smart cities in Saudi Arabia and Guyana to see if the future is any closer to arrival.

5 min read

Photo by ACC District via CC BY 2.0

Patent Drop

Apple’s AI Waiting Game May Finally Be Over

Apple’s been biding its time on AI. Don’t count it out of the race.

5 min read
Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photos via Freepik

Industrials

The Natural Diamond Industry is Cracking Up

The diamond industry is undergoing a major shake-up. But can just how far can the bottom fall for the industry?

5 min read
Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Consumer

Can Upstart Entrants Shake Up the Soda Industry?

Once thought to be fizzling, fizzy drinks are bubbling with growth and investment at a pace not seen in years.

5 min read

Media & Entertainment

Can a Paramount Sale Break the Mold of Media Mergers?

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photos by Rawpixel and Zlatko Plamenov via Freepik

Just what, exactly, would Sony and Apollo Global Management be getting out of a Paramount Global acquisition?

6 min read

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photo via Lilium Media

Industries

The Future is Almost Now for Flying Cars and eVTOLs

Hundreds of aviation startups are funneling billions of dollars toward what they hope will be a new form of low-emission air travel.

6 min read
Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Energy

Can We Solve Climate Change by Suing Polluters?

Climate litigation is rapidly transforming to offer the promise of big victories and big cash prizes for lawyers.

6 min read
Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

International Economics

Japan Looks to Leave its Lost Decades Behind

After years of chronic stagnation, prices are rising again, with inflation exceeding the Bank of Japan’s 2% target for two years running.

7 min read

Media & Entertainment

America’s Shortening Attention Spans are Corporate Gold

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photo by Tohamina via Freepik

The stakes for media and tech companies have never been higher, even if attention spans have never been shorter.

5 min read

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Artificial Intelligence

Finding the Real in Artificial Intelligence

Does the AI hype actually hold any substance? As long as you don’t get distracted by shiny things, these venture capitalists say.

5 min read
Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Industries

America’s Passenger Rail has a New Ticket to Ride

The US’ often neglected railways might be on track for better days as the country pumps billions of dollars into outdated infrastructure.

6 min read
Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Technology

Humanoid Robots Have Arrived

Humanoid robots are taking their first tentative steps into the real-world workforce. But will they pass their probation period?

5 min read

Consumer

Can Rideshare Giant Uber Sustain its Recent Success?

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Uber, finally having achieved sustainable levels of market dominance, may just be facing its biggest roadblocks yet.

5 min read

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photos by EKSRX via CC BY 2.0 and Upklyak via Freepik

Geopolitics

My Kingdom for a Sport: Saudi Arabia Goes All in on Athletics

Why is Saudi Arabia spending a king’s ransom on sports? The Middle East powerhouse doesn’t care if you call it sportswashing.

6 min read
Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Industrials

Deep-Sea DNA Is Becoming the World’s Buried Treasure

Bioprospecting for genes of new species in the world’s oceans has become complex and extremely lucrative.

5 min read
Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Media & Entertainment

Can Hollywood Reboot the Bundle?

Hollywood may be rethinking its business model of direct-to-consumer, a la carte streaming services — meaning the bundle may be back.

6 min read

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