The Comunicano for Friday July 4th 2025
It’s the Fourth of July in America.
A time when we remind ourselves what we stand for: independence, resilience, and the right to shape our own future. Not just in how we live, but in what we build.
Take Apple. Somewhere deep in Cupertino, they had a crazy idea: “What if we built our own cloud?” Not just borrowed space on someone else’s hard drive in the sky—but made one ourselves. They didn’t launch it—at least not yet—but they tried. That’s what matters. Because trying to build your own tools… that’s American.
And Microsoft? Well, they’re laying off thousands, not because they’re shrinking—but because they’re growing. Smarter. Leaner. More driven by artificial intelligence than ever before. It’s hard, sure. But progress always is.
Then there’s Anthropic, one of those names you don’t hear at backyard barbecues yet, but you will. They’ve grown from scrappy startup to a $4 billion juggernaut because people believe in what they’re doing. They believe in Claude, their AI, and maybe, just maybe, they believe in making technology a little safer, a little more human.
Netflix is going retro, bringing back live shows, trivia nights, even rocket launches. Sounds like the golden age of TV is having a second act, on demand, on your phone, and on your schedule. It’s the past and the future, rolled into one.
Meta? They’re backing digital rules for kids and hiring the world’s best minds to build the world’s most powerful AI. That’s not just big tech. That’s big ambition.
Meanwhile, in Europe, they’re saying “no more delays” to AI regulations. Because real freedom isn’t lawless. It’s knowing the rules and still daring to dream within them.
Even Wall Street got a taste of humility. After trying to shut out China, America blinked. Because sometimes real independence means admitting we’re interdependent. And that maybe the best way forward… is together.
This is the new American frontier.
It’s not west of the Mississippi or on the moon. It’s in datacenters and algorithms, in live-streamed wrestling matches and tokenized stocks, in voicebots answering your calls and beauty gadgets in your bathroom.
But the spirit’s the same.
We’re still building. Still dreaming. Still trying to make something better than what came before.
That’s what Independence Day is really about.
And thank God, we’re still free to try. And you’re still free to read, THE COMUNICANO!!!
Andy Abramson
Apple Watch
Apple Explored Building Its Own AWS Competitor (9to5Mac)—Apple reportedly explored launching its own cloud infrastructure to rival Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud, according to people familiar with the matter. The project—internal code-named "Keystone"—was considered for powering external services like Apple Music, App Store, and iCloud, as well as internal AI initiatives. Although Apple ultimately decided not to compete publicly with AWS, the initiative highlights the company's long-term infrastructure ambitions. The effort has influenced Apple's ongoing investments in data center builds and partnerships with public cloud providers, reinforcing its strategy to retain more control over key backend systems. Read more here
SaaS Watch
$4.6 Trillion Opportunity in 'Service as Software' (Foundation Capital) (Foundation Capital)—Foundation Capital examines the explosive growth of "Service as Software"—where platform businesses embed services directly into their products—as a $4.6 trillion market opportunity. In Year One analysis, the firm highlights early adopters across health, finance, logistics, and developer services, noting standout strategies like modular APIs, usage-based pricing, and platform integrations. The report argues that embedding services reduces friction, deepens customer relationships, and opens new monetization avenues. Key lessons include designing for modularity, output-based SLAs, and viewing services as continuous innovation loops—not one-off transactions. Early success stories suggest this model could redefine software consumption at massive scale. Read more here
Microsoft Watch
Microsoft to cut up to 9,000 jobs as it invests in AI (BBC News)—Microsoft announced plans to lay off as many as 9,000 employees across multiple divisions, including its Xbox gaming unit, as it reallocates resources to develop and scale its AI infrastructure. The tech giant is making a massive $80 billion investment in datacenters and AI capabilities, redefining priorities and streamlining operations amid surging profit margins and rising share prices. As AI handles more routine coding and support work, Red Hat-style shifts are underway with Microsoft effectively trading labor for automation, optimizing efficiency at the cost of human roles. Read more here
Anthropic Watch
Anthropic Annual Revenue Hits $4 Billion (PYMNTS)—Anthropic, the AI startup behind Claude, reportedly generated $4 billion in annual revenue as of early July 2025, according to a report from The Information cited by PYMNTS. This marks a sharp rise from its $1.4 billion annualized pace in March and $3 billion in May. The leap is driven by enterprise demand, especially from key clients like Brightcoding's Cursor, which relies heavily on Claude's models. Anthropic is also actively recruiting top Claude product leads, further boosting its aggressive expansion amid fierce competition in the AI space. Read more here
Netflix Watch
Netflix Rebuilds the Bundle with Live Shows, NASA Launches, and Unscripted Content (The Drum)—Netflix is reshaping its content strategy by adding live events, music competitions, and unscripted formats, echoing the variety of old-school TV bundles. From streaming NFL games and WWE Raw to NASA rocket launches and trivia shows, Netflix is betting on appointment viewing to reduce churn and boost its ad-supported tier. Live content attracts consistent audiences, while unscripted shows like Star Search reboots and music collabs help drive engagement globally. This pivot marks a strategic evolution from on-demand dominance to becoming the all-in-one destination for scheduled and spontaneous viewing. Read more here
Meta Watch
Meta Backs EU Plan for Unified 'Digital Majority' Age Requirement (RTE)—Meta has voiced support for EU proposals to establish a common “digital majority” age across member states, which would require parental consent for minors to access social media. Countries like France, Spain, and Greece are leading the charge, aiming to implement mandatory age verification and parental controls across digital devices. Meta emphasized this should extend beyond social platforms to cover gaming, streaming, and browsing. While supporting broader regulation, Meta rejected government-imposed bans, arguing that app stores and operating systems should manage access to digital services via ecosystem-wide verification. Read more here
Meta Recruits Daniel Gross to Lead New Superintelligence Team (Silicon Republic)—Meta has lured Daniel Gross—co-founder of Safe Superintelligence Inc.—to lead its ambitious Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), working alongside heavyweights like Nat Friedman and Alexandr Wang. This strategic poach signals Meta’s aggressive campaign to assemble top-tier AI minds. Gross’s departure prompted Ilya Sutskever to step up as CEO of SSI, keeping the startup focused on safe, cutting-edge AI. Meta’s move underscores the intensifying talent war as major players scramble to dominate the next phase of artificial intelligence innovation. Read more here
AI Watch
Ilya Sutskever Takes Over at Safe Superintelligence After Gross Exit (Economic Times)—After Daniel Gross left to join Meta’s AI initiative, Ilya Sutskever, the former OpenAI co-founder, has taken over as CEO of Safe Superintelligence. The shift maintains the startup’s momentum and signals a doubling down on its mission to prioritize safety in advanced AI development. With Meta aggressively acquiring top AI leaders, SSI’s internal leadership transition highlights the escalating competition and strategic recalibrations unfolding across the sector. Read more here
EU Declares No Delays for AI Act Rollout (Reuters)—The European Commission confirmed it will proceed with enforcing the AI Act as scheduled—August 2025 for general-purpose AI and August 2026 for high-risk categories. Despite lobbying from tech heavyweights including Meta, Google, and Mistral, the Commission stated there will be "no pause, no grace period." A voluntary code of practice for large language models is expected later this year. This firm stance underscores Europe's intent to lead in responsible AI governance and establish clear regulatory expectations across the industry. Read more here
Context Engineering Essential for AI Agents (LangChain Blog)—Context engineering, the art of optimally populating an LLM's context window, is critical for enabling complex agentic systems that interweave LLM reasoning and tool use. LangChain identifies four key strategies: write (external scratchpads or memory), select (pulling relevant information in), compress (summarizing long histories), and isolate (structuring state to expose only needed info). These reduce hallucinations, confusion, and inefficiencies. LangGraph is built to support these strategies explicitly, offering both short-term checkpoints and long-term memory. This framing shifts focus from prompt crafting to dynamic system design for reliable large-scale agent performance. Read more here
Crypto Watch
Fintech Platforms Race to Tokenize Stocks for Global Access (This Week in Fintech)— Coinbase, Robinhood, Kraken, Gemini, and BitGo are leading a fintech push to tokenize stocks—bringing equity onto blockchain rails. These tokenized shares often exclude voting rights but offer 24/7 tradability, fractional ownership, and potential dividend access. Robinhood is launching over 200 U.S. stocks as tokens for EU users; Gemini is starting with MicroStrategy; and Republic is trialing “mirror tokens” for private companies like SpaceX. The trend aims to democratize finance, increase market efficiency, and bridge traditional assets with decentralized finance, all while regulators like the SEC explore formal frameworks. Read more here
Chips Watch
Tech Trade Liberation: America Blinks First (CNN)—Washington just lifted its chip design software export restrictions on China, essentially admitting that economic warfare has consequences. Three major software giants,Synopsys, Cadence, and Siemens, got their get-out-of-jail-free cards from the Commerce Department after Trump's administration realized that choking off 70% of China's semiconductor design market was hurting American companies more than Beijing. The reversal comes as part of a London trade deal where China agreed to resume rare earth exports while the US backed down on tech restrictions. Sometimes the most powerful form of independence is knowing when to stop being stupid about interdependence. The market's response? Synopsys and Cadence stocks jumped 6.7% and 5.9% respectively—because Wall Street understands what Washington sometimes forgets. Read more here
Software Watch
Gartner Highlights Top Software Engineering Shifts for 2025 and Beyond (Gartner)— Gartner identifies major strategic trends transforming software engineering, including AI-augmented development, platform engineering, green software, software engineering intelligence, and cloud development environments. These trends signal a shift toward intelligent code assistance, sustainable software practices, and integrated platform architectures aligned with business outcomes. The insights reflect how engineering teams are adapting to fast-evolving tech demands by embracing modular, efficient, and environmentally-conscious development approaches. Read more here
Beauty Technology
AI-Powered and Sustainable Beauty Gadgets Driving Consumer Demand (Exploding Topics)—Consumer interest in beauty tech is booming in 2025. Major trends include AI-driven personalization tools that analyze skin conditions, professional at-home treatments, eco-friendly beauty devices, and inclusive product development. Smart beauty gadgets are gaining traction as users seek results comparable to salon-grade treatments along with sustainable, tailored experiences. Read more here
CCaaS Watch
CCaaS and AI Voicebots to Spur 60% Surge in Global Contact Centre Calls (Telecom Reseller)—A recent item in Telecom Reseller forecasts a 60% global rise in contact centre interactions over the next four years, driven by AI-powered voicebots and Contact-Centre-as-a-Service (CCaaS) platforms. AI voice tools are enhancing customer satisfaction, trust, and operational efficiency, prompting wide-scale adoption of intelligent automation in customer service infrastructure.
Read more here
