How are we finding the next Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg? Why, X-Factor for Tech, of course!

posted by Daniel P. / Oct 01, 2012, 5:01 AM

How are we finding the next Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg? Why, X-Factor for Tech, of course!

Will.i.am, who is a well-established geek, among his other virtues, and Simon Cowell, are allegedly discussing the launch of a new X-Factor contest, this time aiming to discover the new Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg.

Simon has allegedly scrapped the idea he was working on with Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith's wife, to find the best DJ, and has turned his energy to the X-Factor for Tech discussion (working title).

There's no doubt that since the first iPhone, tech and assorted geekery around smartphones and tablets has become more mainstream than ever, especially with the younger crowd, so trying to find the the best talent other than in song and dance would diversify the X-Factor franchise, and take it away from the often frowned-upon reality show whiff.

Will.i.am has a nonprofit called i.am.angel, where one of the goals is to inject "education, opportunity and inspiration" and transform lives, with a subsection on spotting and nurturing the next Bill Gates, and apparently that idea caught the attention of Simon, too.

"We’re working on a project called X Factor for Tech - and it’s going to be out of this world," said Will.i.am. "Singing and performance create a couple of jobs. But this will create lots.... It’s about getting in touch with youth and giving them a platform to express themselves — whether that’s in science or mathematics."

A pretty commendable undertaking, given how America needs a boost in science, math and engineering grads, as Microsoft recently complained the lack of skilled candidates in the US to fill thousands of its vacant positions is approaching crisis levels. And a hit TV contest form like the X-Factor might just add that aura of "cool" that is needed to nudge you in that direction.

via TheSun

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19 Comments

1. D.Aceveda

Posts: 430; Member since: Jun 30, 2012

Mark Zuckerberg isn't anyone special. He stole the idea of Facebook and there were already sites like Facebook before Facebook became popular. Putting his name along time Steve Jobs and Bill Gates is like putting George W Bush along side George Washington and Abe Lincoln

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 5:11 AM 13

2. D.Aceveda

along side* Auto correct

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 5:26 AM 2

3. PhenomFaz

Posts: 1236; Member since: Sep 26, 2012

Zuckerberg's a moron with absolutely no business acumen whatsoever! Don't disgrace iconic names with crap like zuckerberg. And who's on facebook these days?...only everybody's parents...the cool crop stopped hanging out at the 'bummer joint' (facebook) ages ago!

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 5:26 AM 3

6. tigermcm

Posts: 861; Member since: Sep 02, 2009

lol I had to laugh thanks. you say only parents use facebook, seriously??? if thats the case what do kids use?

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 6:47 AM 2

12. PhenomFaz

it cool to laugh man and glad i could provide it :) hmmm kids...kids are really smart these days! compared to the kids of today i must've been like a caveman kid or a cavekid! they use twitter for news, linkedin for connections and youtube to become pop sensations :)

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 8:35 AM 1

15. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

naaaa alot of people are still on face book man...they just use others as well like twitter, google plus, instagram.....but people still use FB no doubt

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 3:33 PM 0

17. PhenomFaz

a lot of peeps are still on fb cuz they dont wanna delete their accounts...its like orkut at its sttale stages...accounts are there and that's about it fb has posts which no one really cares about and the invasion of privacy. You tell your girlfriend that you cant go out today cause you gotta study for that oh-so-important management test coming up. And then you go out and hang out with the guys...a few pics get clicked...someone tags you...your girlfriend is connected to the person who tagged you...she sees it and comes to bite your head off! OMG! WTF? its just my opinion though :)

posted on Oct 02, 2012, 5:39 AM 0

18. itiswhatitis

Posts: 423; Member since: Jan 23, 2012

Personal experience?

posted on Oct 03, 2012, 2:24 AM 0

19. PhenomFaz

Alot of personal EXPERIENCES :)

posted on Oct 03, 2012, 4:04 AM 0

16. tigermcm

I've NEVER heard kids using linkedin

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 4:52 PM 0

4. QWIKSTRIKE

Posts: 1457; Member since: Mar 09, 2010

Mark Zuckerberg was smart enough to take an idea and make it his own by creating something way bigger than what the intended idea would have been. He created something bigger and better whether you love him or hate him his idea was better!

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 6:24 AM 4

11. PhenomFaz

he got lucky! and in a competitive world luck dont count for smarts nor does it take you too far :)

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 8:31 AM 0

7. MeoCao unregistered

You guys are very unfair about Zuck, before Google there was Yahoo but Google are way better, it's the same between Facebook and My Space. To have some idea is 1 thing, but to turn it into something big is very different.

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 7:54 AM 1

5. Topcat488

Posts: 1411; Member since: Sep 29, 2012

Last i heard the C.I.A. hangs out the most, on Facebook... X_x

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 6:25 AM 2

10. Hina14

Posts: 7; Member since: Mar 23, 2012

Yeah, the C.I.A is like the second largest contributer to Facebook. Something like that...

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 8:28 AM 1

8. MeoCao unregistered

Hey what about Larry Page and Sergey Brin? They are the creators of the best tech company ever.

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 7:56 AM 3

13. ZEUS.the.thunder.god unregistered

+ 1 for you sir. just love Google

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 9:33 AM 0

9. mercorp

Posts: 1045; Member since: Jan 28, 2012

Count me in.

posted on Oct 01, 2012, 8:12 AM 0

14. speckledapple

Posts: 902; Member since: Sep 29, 2011

if its going to be about the sensationalistic nature of the current x-factor, then it is not a good idea. The point should be about the substance not the ratings on televisions. If they are looking for the next steve jobs or bill gates, you will most likely not find them on a show like this.