Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Beware of AI-Driven "Pop Up" Tech Firms Like SPRX Masquerading as Tax Professionals

By: NewsUSA

(Tax Watch America) - It's tax season and consulting firms are touting their quick and easy services to relieve the stress caused by filing complex returns.

However, this year, businesses should be on the lookout for AI-driven "pop up" technology firms pretending to be expert tax consultants—their speedy "solutions" might land you an audit rather than tax credits.

One of the worst of these shady "fly-by-night" scamsters is a company called SPRX. Their CEO Dominic Vitucci is notorious for making claims that are too good to be true or flat out misleading, ranging from attacking the expertise of CPAs to downplaying the risks of IRS audits.

For example, Vitucci argues SPRX's AI model represents the true "expert" in the field rather than CPAs, stating, "You know what's a real expert? An AI model that is trained on the entire body of R&D tax credit rules."

He even admits SPRX "entirely automates the R&D tax credit claiming process using AI."

But to credibly claim R&D tax credits requires careful legal and regulatory analysis—beyond what AI models are capable of.

These types of claims echo the 2023 IRS "Dirty Dozen" list, which included firms that aggressively marketed the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) with misleading promises. The IRS also cautioned against over-relying on AI for tax filings, emphasizing that AI lacks the ability to make complex, accurate legal determinations.

A true tax professional would acknowledge the risk of overreliance on AI, yet SPRX's CEO never does. Nor does he explain what steps his firm takes to ensure their AI is generating accurate and defensible analysis for their clients.

Vitucci tries to console potential clients, stating SPRX will "represent them in an IRS exam if an agent ever questions our report." However, SPRX hasn't been around long enough for any of their clients to have been audited.

SPRX fails to mention that if their AI-generated tax advice results in an audit, their customers, not the firms themselves, are held legally liable. It remains unclear if SPRX would also represent clients in these scenarios during court proceedings.

AI can be risky during audit preparedness too. AI-generated claims may lack the necessary documentation and substantiation required to withstand an IRS audit, leaving taxpayers exposed to financial and legal risk.

All of these false or misleading claims paint a clear picture of SPRX: their overreliance on AI for R&D tax credits is a risk businesses cannot afford to take.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.