‘X’ Marks the Spot: Google to Solve World’s Problems, Declares Global Think-Tank Open
Internet search giant Google has launched a forum and a Web site called wesolveforx.com… an ambitious idea that promises radical solutions to any variety of problems, particularly large-scale ones. Google

Internet search giant Google has launched "Solve for X" - a forum and a Web site... an ambitious idea that promises radical solutions to any variety of problems, particularly large-scale ones.

In its own words, "Solve for X is a place to hear and discuss radical technology ideas for solving global problems. Radical in the sense that the solutions could help billions of people. Radical in the sense that the audaciousness of the proposals makes them sound like science fiction. And radical in the sense that there is some real technology breakthrough on the horizon to give us all hope that these ideas could really be brought to life."

According to a verge.com report, Google's "Solve for X" could probably be something similar to the TED-like think tank that promotes a freewheeling intellectual discussion amongst a large number of people. The ultimate aim, it seems, is to produce a succession of ideas aimed at some of the world's more common, pressing and hitherto unsolved problems.

"Solve for X is a place where the curious can go to hear and discuss radical technology ideas for solving global problems," said a statement on Google's blog. The statement also said the project was looking for "moonshot" ideas and the fruits of some of these labours were already on the horizon.

"Moonshots can come from anywhere--people of all ages and places, companies, academia, inspired experts, enthusiastic newcomers, and often from accidental discoveries," the statement added.

Meanwhile, a note by Richard DeVaul, a researcher in Google's secret lab, on his Google+ page suggested that a top-secret, invite-only "Solve for X" conference had already been held, between Feb. 1 and Feb. 3, at the CordeValle Resort in San Martin, California. Apparently, the meeting had discussed ways of transforming education and creating "5x improvements in agriculture through better decision support, synthetic biology, and carbon-negative biofuels."

Finally, the most convincing evidence, perhaps, of the presence of this mysterious "Solve for X" group is a leaked photograph, from within the Web site's CSS; it details ten steps to pitch and prepare for a "Solve for X" talk.

Google has now invited the world at large to learn more about "Solve for X" and join the conversation. The videos and materials from the conference will be updated to a new YouTube channel.

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