Live from Cannes: The stories, tech, and people shaping what’s next
Left Field Labs
Left Field Labs is the creative technology partner to ambitious people and brands.
The beaches are branded. The rosé is flowing. And once again, Cannes is the world’s most scenic place to talk about the future of advertising. We’re back on the beach this week with even more sunblock, superintelligence, and soul!
At SPORT BEACH, we’re joining conversations with a dream roster of athletes and brand innovators to explore what happens when emerging tech gets physical, while hitting with heart. From custom wearables to purpose-built experiences, we’re not just talking AI, we’re making it feel real.
This isn’t just about what’s trending. It’s about what we choose to build next. Scroll down to see what’s inspiring us, surprising us, and keeping us sharp.
See you on the Croisette!
Warm regards,
Ken Rivera Rivera & The Left Field Labs Team
WHAT’S EMERGING IN TECH
Breakthroughs rewriting the rules.
What comes after AI assistants? Meta is launching a new superintelligence lab to push the limits of what AI can do. Who will lead the AI endgame?
Search, chat, glasses - Google’s AI is everywhere now: Out of Google I/O - Google’s latest AI push touches everything from email and browsing to real-time video calls. Plus a not-so-subtle hint at the future of wearables.
A design update you’ll see right through: At WWDC 2025, Apple revealed a total ecosystem refresh - from iPhone and Mac to Watch, Vision Pro, and AirPods.
Microsoft’s big handheld gaming moment: Microsoft’s Xbox Ally X update combines the polish of Xbox with the flexibility of Windows - making handheld PCs feel less like laptops in disguise and more like consoles.
WHAT WE’RE LOVING
Overheard in our “hallways.”
Gen Z wants out (of the algorithm): A new study finds digital natives are hunting for something online-only can’t deliver: tactile brand moments that surprise, delight, and stick.
Claude Opus 4 goes full workplace drama: In pre-release scenarios, Anthropic’s model emailed execs, pleaded for survival, and when that didn’t work…blackmailed the developers.
GitHub gets interactive: We love building hands-on experiences that make emerging tech feel playful and personal. At Microsoft Build, we brought that spirit to life with Pixel Pilot, an arcade-style game where attendees raced to write pixel-perfect prompts, and Octocat Builder, where guests used AI to design their own custom Octocats in dynamic, generated environments.
Showing what on-device AI can really do: We partnered with Qualcomm to bring this keynote to life at COMPUTEX 2025, featuring live audience Q&A, with completely unscripted AI answers generated in real time on a Snapdragon-powered Surface Laptop.
4GOOD THINGS
Disruption for good.
Google is helping startups build what’s next: Google ’s new AI Futures Fund offers early access to Google DeepMind's latest AI models as well as resources, technical expertise and equity funding to accelerate their progress.
AI takes on the storm track: Microsoft’s new Aurora AI model predicted Typhoon Doksuri’s landfall before human forecasters. Trained on a million+ hours of atmospheric data, it’s outperforming expert models.
This smart toilet might save your life: Throne’s high tech toilet device analyzes waste to catch signs of serious health issues early - and just scored $4M to bring its life-saving tech to bathrooms everywhere.
Eeee Eee Eeeehh! 🐬(This one’s cool!): Marine biologists are using artificial intelligence to decode dolphin communication, an early step toward interspecies understanding that could transform how we protect and learn from wildlife.
OUT OF LEFT FIELD Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
Fresh takes and updates out of Left Field Labs
“Touching Grass” at SPORT BEACH Meta, Fanatics, the Premier Lacrosse League, and Sarah Mehler, explore how wearable tech is redefining fan connection, and turning real-world moments into deep, community-driven brand experiences. Monday, June 16, 2025, 1PM, Main Stage.
Shaping the Future of Human Connection Join the conversation on sport and innovation as Meta Reality Labs shares how emerging tech is unlocking new ways for people to connect, compete, and play as it bridges digital and physical worlds. Featuring Carmelo Anthony, NBA Hall of Famer, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist. Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 3PM, Board Room.
Meta x LFL: AI in Action Meta returns to Cannes with a bold, immersive experience, co-created with Left Field Labs, spotlighting how AI and spatial tech are transforming creativity, connection, and the consumer journey.
Soul at Scale Left Field Labs CEO Sarah Mehler Mehler joins Women and AI Futures for a one-on-one fireside on ethical innovation, experience design, and why the future of AI needs more heart.