1. The Commerce Casino & Hotel

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, The Commerce Casino & Hotel is renowned for its extensive gaming options. With over 240 tables, it is one of the largest card rooms in the world. Guests can indulge in games like poker, blackjack, and baccarat while enjoying the comfort of their stylish rooms. The hotel also features gourmet dining options, including the acclaimed Arena Sports Bar & Grill, offering a diverse menu and a lively atmosphere.

2. The Bicycle Hotel & Casino

The Bicycle Hotel & Casino, commonly known as “The Bike,” is a premier gaming destination in Los Angeles. This luxurious hotel boasts a variety of gaming options, including poker, table games, and more. The well-appointed rooms and suites provide a comfortable retreat after a day of gaming. Guests can also enjoy fine dining at The Bike Brewery, which offers an impressive selection of craft beers and delicious meals.

3. Hollywood Park Casino

Hollywood Park Casino combines the thrill of gaming with the glamour of Hollywood. This iconic casino features a wide range of table games and poker tournaments, attracting both locals and tourists. The casino’s modern design and vibrant atmosphere make it a popular choice for entertainment. After a night of gaming, guests can relax in the elegantly designed hotel rooms and savor delectable dishes at the on-site restaurant.

4. Hustler Casino

Hustler Casino, founded by Larry Flynt, offers a unique gaming experience with a touch of sophistication. The casino features a variety of table games, including poker, blackjack, and roulette. The upscale ambiance and friendly staff create a welcoming environment for guests. The adjacent hotel provides luxurious accommodations, ensuring a comfortable stay. Dining options include the popular Larry Flynt’s Bar & Grill, known for its delicious American cuisine.

5. San Manuel Casino

Located just outside Los Angeles, San Manuel Casino is a top choice for gaming enthusiasts. This expansive casino offers an impressive array of slot machines and table games. The recently added luxury hotel provides guests with plush accommodations and stunning views of the surrounding area. The casino also boasts several dining options, including The Pines Modern Steakhouse, offering a fine dining experience with a menu featuring premium steaks and seafood.

Final Thoughts

Los Angeles is home to some of the finest casino hotels in the country, each offering a unique blend of gaming, luxury, and entertainment. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a casual gamer, these top five casino hotels promise an unforgettable experience. Enjoy the thrill of the games, indulge in gourmet dining, and relax in luxurious accommodations—all in the vibrant city of Los Angeles.

Scientists have trained an AI algorithm to count the number of flowers on fruit trees using only smartphone images. The system could predict the size of a harvest months in advance — saving farmers time, money, and water.  

Researchers from Chile, Spain, and the UK’s National Robotarium developed the algorithm. The Robotarium is a centre for robotics and AI based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The team looks to address a global problem.

“In countries all across the world, farmers often rely on manual methods to estimate their yields, which can have a significant error margin,” said lead researcher Fernando Auat Cheein, an associate professor at the National Robotarium.  

Agriculture uses around 70% of the world’s freshwater and wastes almost half of it. Around 50% of the fruit and vegetables grown for human consumption are also lost. 

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The flower-counting AI could reduce this waste. It could also boost farmers’ yields by improving their allocation of water and fertiliser. 

“By focusing their efforts on areas of the farm that are expected to yield the most fruit, farmers can optimise resources, reduce their environmental footprint, and maximise both the quantity and quality of their harvest,” said Cheenin.

The team has already tested the AI at an orchard in Spain. It predicted flower counts there with 90% accuracy. Manual counts typically range from 50% to 70%, for comparison. The system recognises the unique patterns, shapes and colours of flowers even when they overlap or are partially obscured. 

In September, the researchers will validate the AI’s predictions against the real peach harvest. If the approach proves effective, they believe it could be adapted for other important crops such as apples, pears, and cherries. 

“The principles behind this technology could be applied to a wide range of fruit crops worldwide, including those grown in the UK,” said Cheein. The system arrives in rapidly changing times for agriculture.

Farming is one of the world’s oldest industries, but also one of the least efficient. Increasingly, however, farmers are adopting technologies like AI, drones, and robots in a bid to make their jobs easier, greener, and more profitable.  

For instance, German startup Constellr has developed a satellite-based crop monitoring system that helps farmers identify crop damage days or even weeks in advance. Another startup, Belgium’s Robovision, has created a platform for managing AI-based vision systems on farms.

If you’ve already secured your ticket for TNW Conference 2024 taking place June 20 – 21 in Amsterdam, you probably already have your eye on several fascinating talks set to take place (if not, get some inspiration from our team here, here, and here).

But there’s a lot more you can and should take advantage of while you’re there.

Here are a few things not to be missed:

Secure a spot on one of our new TNW Tech Tours & Industry Meet-ups

This year, we’re introducing a new TNW Tech Tours & Industry Meet-ups component. Whether you’re interested in Emerging Tech, AI & ML, MarTech, SaaS, FinTech, or Climate Tech, these exclusive tours provide firsthand access to cutting-edge technologies within each field.

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Each 45-minute tour is followed by an exclusive meet-up that connects you with industry experts from leading companies and startups in the space.

There are limited spots, so sign up as soon as possible here

Receive expert insights into accelerating DEI in your organisation

We’ll be hosting the second edition of the DEI Coalition alongside TNW Conference. Over the two days, we’ll have a special programming track of workshops, mentoring sessions, and networking opportunities all dedicated to accelerating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in tech.

Check out the DEI Coalition agenda for Day 1 and Day 2 here or stop by our DEI Lounge to get more information. And don’t miss the DEI drinks on Thursday, 20 June, from 16:00 to 17:00.

Take advantage of our networking platform

TNW Conference isn’t just about hearing from experts, but also being able to meet them in person. Whether you just want to chat about the latest trends in the field or make new business contacts, our networking platform was built to help you find new connections.

You can access the networking platform by downloading the TNW Conference app here.

The app also has a scanning tool you can use to easily scan contact’s badges and store their contact information. Last but not least, you can use the app to pre-plan and schedule the events you’d like to see most and navigate the conference floor plan.

Choose from over 50 side events taking place June 19 – 21

Aside from our normal conference programming, we also have over 50 side events taking place around the conference and in Amsterdam from June 19 – 21. From pitch battles to networking opportunities, and karaoke cruises to padel court fun, there’s really something for everyone.

Check out the different side events here

If you’re interested in attending TNW Conference (and saying hi to our editorial team) we’ve got a special offer for our readers. At the ticket checkout, use the code TNWXMEDIA to get 30% off your business pass, investor pass, or startup packages (Bootstrap and Scaleup).

BT Ireland’s Michael McNamara talks about the upcoming NIS2 Directive and what leaders need to do to become more cyber resilient.

Read more: What are the main cyberthreats facing companies right now?

Revolut said users can trade these points for services, including discounts on travel and for certain Irish businesses.

Read more: Revolut brings its loyalty points scheme to Ireland

A fact-checking startup has accelerated plans to banish AI hallucinations after securing €1mn in funding.

Norway-based Factiverse uses machine learning to verify content generated by artificial intelligence. The company’s tools automatically detect inaccurate outputs. These errors now frequently cause controversy.

A New York lawyer, for instance, had to apologise for using bogus court citations sourced from ChatGPT. CNET needed to correct 41 of the 77 stories that the news outlet had written with an AI tool. Microsoft’s Bing AI has produced numerous errors in analyses of earning reports. The company’s chatbot has also claimed it spied on employees.

Factiverse offers a solution to these problems. Founded in 2019, the company builds patented models that analyse AI-generated content. These models harness research by Vinay Setty, the company’s co-founder and CTO. Setty is also an associate professor in machine learning at University in Stavanger. He has spent over a decade investigating text and graph mining for fact-checking.

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Setty’s research laid the foundations for the Factiverse AI Editor. Launched last year, tool detects biases and mistakes in text created by the likes of ChatGPT. It also surfaces reliable sources for the findings.

Funding for fact-checking

The new cash injection will fund further refinements. Investors include Murshid Ali, who founded Huddlestock and Skyfri, Johann Olav Koss, an entrepreneur and four-time Olympic gold medallist in speed-skating, and Yasmin Namini, a former C-level executive at the New York Times. Investment firms Herfo and Valide Invest also contributed.

Factiverse’s CEO and co-founder, Maria Amelie, announced the raise today at TNW Conference.

“This investment will allow us to accelerate the development of our now crucial fact-checking solutions and empower even more businesses to leverage the power of AI with confidence,” she said. 

Alongside the funding, Factiverse has also launched a journalist trial program. Users will get 30 days of free access to the fact-checking tech. No payment card is needed for the trial.

Factiverse wants the new trial and funds to broaden the startup’s user base. Espen Egil Hansen, the company’s chairman, views AI hallucinations as a mainstream concern.

“Instances of companies facing legal repercussions for factual errors in their chatbots are already a reality,” he said. “As AI becomes more deeply ingrained in our daily lives, ensuring the accuracy of AI models isn’t just about good business; it’s the bedrock upon which democratic values are built.”

Apple may not launch some upcoming features in the EU until 2025 and claims the DMA would force it to compromise in terms of data security and privacy.

Read more: Apple delays AI feature launch in EU over DMA concerns

HubSpot’s LinkedIn integration boosts sales efficiency with real-time data sync but presents new challenges for SMBs in marketing and consolidation.

Salesforce has had a tight integration with Sales Navigator for a while, dominating the market by using LinkedIn data to target the right decision-makers. HubSpot, meanwhile, has long lacked this native two-way sync integration — until recently.

HubSpot’s Smart CRM now works with LinkedIn Sales Navigator to make your sales team more efficient and effective. This integration streamlines data sharing between the platforms, helping your team stay organized and focused on closing deals.

However, while the integration itself was announced earlier this year, the ensuing conversation — about LinkedIn as a sales tool — is now hotter than ever. And that’s because the way companies find customers is evolving.

Business development is changing fast

As AI-generated content floods traditional communication channels, cold email is becoming more challenging, search marketing is in its decline and the amount of meaningless word salad content online is skyrocketing. Conventional online channels are looking less effective than they used to be.

To make matters worse, consumer trust has plummeted to a decade-low, driving people to rely more on individuals than companies for their purchases. This makes LinkedIn a more valuable platform, full of opportunities for sales conversations. 

However, it also brings new challenges to marketing and sales operations. I’ll discuss that in a minute, but first, what is this integration all about?

Dig deeper: How to optimize sales and marketing processes for efficient customer acquisition

What does the LinkedIn-HubSpot integration do?

Sellers can now access LinkedIn insights directly within HubSpot, update CRM records with real-time information and log key activities with ease. 

This translates to a seamless two-way flow of data between the two, reducing the need to switch between platforms and helping sales teams stay organized and focused on closing deals. 

Some notable features include:

Real-time LinkedIn data integration: Access LinkedIn insights directly in HubSpot,  instantly.

Streamlined data entry: Update CRM records quickly with minimal effort.

Effortless logging of Sales Navigator activities: Easily record LinkedIn actions in HubSpot.

The integration is available to customers with Sales Hub Pro or Enterprise along with LinkedIn Sales Navigator Advanced Plus plans. However, this leaves some SMBs without access, so they may turn to alternative solutions like HubLead, Dripify or LinkMatch to facilitate sales communication and track messages and connection requests on the platform.

Challenges posed for marketing and sales operations

In the quest for consolidation, a new problem arises: sales and marketing teams know they need employee advocacy campaigns on LinkedIn, with leaders and sales teams posting and engaging with their audience through content and comments. However, as part of the rising trend of customer data debt, they lack visibility into reportable activities, making accountability difficult. 

With this integration, a few other challenges become apparent:

If SMBs have to find yet another tool to bolt onto HubSpot for this purpose, it complicates consolidation and adds another connection to monitor.

From a strategy perspective, this means marketing and executive teams must align on how they’re using LinkedIn to develop opportunities and drive brand awareness. 

In a sales capacity, leaders want SQLs and meetings booked — but approaching LinkedIn like this could backfire and actually lead to negative commentary on the platform

Instead, LinkedIn should be used for thought leadership, with strong calls to action when contacts are ready to engage. However, this requires a robust content library, proper training and organizational buy-in — it’s not just cold emailing on a different platform.

Dig deeper: How to align B2B sales and marketing teams

Our thoughts 

LinkedIn presents a great opportunity for companies already leading with content and positioning their sales team as “consultants” rather than mere product peddlers. 

The best approach varies, but the building blocks are the same as any good marketing channel: 

The right strategy.

The right audience.

The right message or content.

The technology to manage and track it all.

LinkedIn is becoming a much more important platform for business development, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see more HubSpot features designed to better leverage the platform. Staying ahead of these developments with a relationship-centric approach to LinkedIn — and a willingness to update how you approach sales — will help ensure that your business development efforts stay effective in the future.

Dig deeper: 7 ways to end the sales and marketing Catch-22

The post What HubSpot’s LinkedIn integration means for the future of sales and marketing appeared first on MarTech.