Innovation
Uber and Hyundai team up to put flying taxis in the sky
Uber and Hyundai revealed a flying taxi at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas recently. The companies said the four-seat, electric flying vehicle will be available through the Uber app at some point in the future. A Hyundai spokesperson said the first prototype will be ready in 2023. According to CNN: “A human pilot will fly the air taxi until the companies finalize software to autonomously control it, the company said.”
Toyota to Build Prototype City of the Future
Toyota recently unveiled plans to build a prototype “city” of the future on a 175-acre site at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. The “Woven City” will have a fully connected ecosystem powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Toyota envisions it as a “living laboratory,” with full- time residents and researchers who will be able to work on technologies such as autonomy, robotics, personal mobility, smart homes and artificial intelligence in a real-world environment. “Building a complete city from the ground up, even on a small scale like this, is a unique opportunity to develop future technologies, including a digital operating system for the city’s infrastructure,” Akio Toyoda, president, Toyota Motor Corporation, said in a release.
Retail
Starbucks expands vegan selections with new oat milk, almond milk and coconut milk signature drinks
Starbucks recently introduced three new vegan signature drinks: Almond Milk Honey Flat White, Coconut Milk Latte, and Oat Milk Honey Latte. This marks the first time nondairy beverages have been a permanent offering at Starbucks. The oat milk option will only be available in the Midwest, when it comes to 1,300 stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin later this month.
Social Media
NFL Teams Tap Instagram To Promote New Merch During The Playoffs
During this NFL postseason, teams like the San Francisco 49ers are leveraging one of Instagram’s shopping features to market memorabilia to fans. Fans can tap product tags on individual posts shared by the companies that direct them to the 49ers’ online team store to complete purchases. Photos of players donning championship apparel also have been shared on Instagram and Facebook as part of the paid social advertising bought by the team, according to Meghan Ryan, the 49ers director of digital and social media.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Boyd Gaming Donates Over $130,000 To Non-Profits Across The Country
Boyd Gaming Corporation [boydgaming.investorroom.com/2020-01-07-Boyd-Gaming-Donates-Over-130-000-To-Non-Profits-Across-The-Country-In-2019-Trees-Of-Hope-Contest]donated more than $130,000 to non-profit organizations through the company’s annual charitable tree-decorating competition, “Trees of Hope.” Trees at 17 Boyd Gaming properties were decorated by 125 participating non-profits in 2019. Boyd Gaming has awarded more than $700,000 over the past 13 years. “Giving back to the communities we call home is at the core of Boyd Gaming's culture and mission," said Marianne Johnson, Boyd Gaming's Vice Chair, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “Each year, Trees of Hope fulfills this commitment in a fun and meaningful way, supporting non-profit organizations across the nation in a memorable celebration of the holiday season.”