The Comunicano for Friday June 6th 2025
Fearless Friday
We’re standing at the edge of a moment. Not just a tech cycle. Not a product launch. But a pivot point. In China, they’re no longer trying to catch up—they’re already out front. Not chasing models, but building agents. Useful ones. Those who write code, tutor students, and sell ideas before a coffee break ends. The AI arms race isn’t about theory anymore. It’s deployment. Scale. Integration. And the Chinese know: whoever builds the most helpful agents wins.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific, the mood is different. Not slower, just... more human.
Runway says their AI won’t replace the filmmaker. It’ll make the next generation of them. Tools, not threats. Lights, camera, algorithm….At PMG, AI personas are placing ads where brands once feared to tread—on Fox News—without losing a wink of sleep or a drop of brand equity. Imagine that: 34% of conversions from just 18% of spend. That’s not magic. That’s math—multiplied by machine intuition.
And then there’s Coign. A credit card company with no actors, no cameras, and still, a national TV spot. All AI. All under a day. All for less than lunch.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is going back in time to move forward—printing ideas on paper with a new magazine. In an age of noise, they’re betting on quiet.
Anthropic is betting on engineers and visionaries walking side by side, building AI not just with horsepower, but purpose. Google wants us coached by the best with Kim Scott, in a screen, in your pocket.
And in the skies above Tampa, drones are not just testing—they’re delivering. There, Walmart’s flying past the sidewalk wars, turning rooftops into runways. Meanwhile, Amazon quietly teaches robots how to climb stairs with your package, smile or not.
Meta’s newest glasses see what you see, hear what you miss, and track the flutter of your eyes. This isn’t science fiction—it’s just not quite retail yet.
In Hainan, China, firewalls flicker as the internet opens up just a crack. Enough to breathe. Enough to signal a change.
And even in the sky, where time once stood still, United Airlines is letting Spotify stream into seatbacks. Because silence is no longer golden. It's curated.
So here we are, in a world built by humans, shaped by algorithms, and fueled by both ambition and restraint.
The question isn’t whether the machines are coming. They’re already here.
The question is: who are we going to be, now that they are? Well, keep finding out, every day, in THE COMUNICANO!!!
Andy Abramson
AI Watch
China’s AI Agent Boom Signals Strategic Shift in Global Tech Race (MIT Technology Review)—China is aggressively ramping up its development of AI agents—autonomous systems that perform complex tasks like research, marketing, and customer service. Fueled by intense competition and state support, Chinese tech firms are pivoting from large language models to deployable agents capable of real-world utility. Unlike Western counterparts focused on foundational models, China is prioritizing rapid commercialization and user integration. Startups like Baichuan and Moonshot AI are already rolling out agents at scale, aiming for mainstream adoption in business and education. This signals a strategic shift in China’s AI agenda—from catching up to leading global deployment. Read more here
Runway CEO Pushes for AI Video Tools to Empower Creators, Not Replace Them (The Verge)—Runway CEO Cris Valenzuela makes the case for using AI video tools as creative amplifiers in film and media, not as substitutes for human talent. Speaking on Decoder, he highlighted how Runway aims to streamline the production pipeline while lowering entry barriers for new storytellers. Valenzuela rejected fears of copyright violations, arguing that their tools are generative and not derivative of training data. He also emphasized transparency and ethical deployment, pointing to partnerships with Lionsgate and AMC. The real challenge, he says, is helping the creative class transition and thrive alongside these evolving tools. Read more here
PMG Uses AI Personas to Drive High-Performing Ads on Fox News Without the Usual Brand Risk (Adweek)—Marketing agency PMG is rewriting the playbook on brand safety using AI agents from Mobian to smartly navigate ad placements on Fox News. Historically avoided due to its polarizing content, Fox News delivered surprising results—just 18 percent of ad spend there drove 34 percent of campaign conversions, with a 46 percent lower cost per conversion. Mobian’s AI simulates brand-aligned consumer behavior, allowing PMG to target safe, relevant segments of controversial platforms through The Trade Desk. This approach signals a potential shift in how advertisers view news content, unlocking performance without sacrificing brand values. Read more here
Coign Unveils First Fully AI-Generated National TV Spot, Reshaping Ad Economics (Neuron Expert)—Coign, a credit card brand for conservative consumers, has released what it claims is the first fully AI-generated TV commercial to air nationally. The 30-second ad, featuring entirely AI-created characters and voices, was produced in under a day for less than one percent of a traditional ad's cost. It centers on themes of fiscal responsibility and American values, aligning with Coign’s brand. Backed by a $250 million funding deal with Oaktree Capital, Coign aims to scale its AI-driven content strategy. This marks a turning point in ad production, offering a glimpse at a leaner, faster, more targeted future. Read more here
Microsoft Watch
Microsoft Launches 'Signal' Magazine to Cut Through Digital Clutter (The Verge)—To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Microsoft has introduced a print magazine titled Signal, aiming to offer a more thoughtful and enduring alternative to the fleeting nature of digital content. The 120-page publication delves into AI, featuring in-depth articles on Microsoft's technologies, executive interviews, and lighter content like quizzes. Produced by Microsoft's communications team in collaboration with the UK's Slow Journalism Company, Signal seeks to engage business leaders directly, bypassing the digital noise. An initial run of 1,500 copies was distributed at business events, with plans for quarterly issues based on demand. While promotional in nature, the magazine includes insightful case studies, such as Vodafone's AI implementations. Signal embodies Microsoft's strategy to reshape audience engagement through curated physical media. Read more here
Anthropic Watch
Anthropic’s CPO Mike Krieger on What Comes Next in AI (Lenny’s Newsletter)—Mike Krieger, Instagram co-founder and now Chief Product Officer at Anthropic, breaks down how AI is reshaping product development from the inside out. At Anthropic, AI generates up to 95% of code in some areas, shifting the bottleneck from engineering to clarity of vision and deployment. Krieger stresses the need for tight collaboration between product managers and AI researchers to drive meaningful outcomes. He introduces the Model Context Protocol—a new standard for agent-like behavior—and details Anthropic’s strategic focus on developer tools over end-user apps. Krieger also shares candid reflections on the closure of Artifact and lessons in product-market fit. Read more here
Google Watch
Google Labs Introduces 'Portraits' for Personalized AI Coaching (Google Blog)—Google Labs has launched 'Portraits,' an experimental AI tool offering conversational coaching through digital representations of real-world experts. The inaugural Portrait features Kim Scott, author of "Radical Candor," providing users with guidance on workplace communication and leadership. Built in collaboration with the experts themselves, these AI avatars utilize Google's Gemini model to deliver responses that reflect the expert's voice and content. The initiative aims to offer accessible, expert-driven advice, with plans to expand the roster of Portraits in the future. Users in the U.S. aged 18 and over can interact with Kim Scott's Portrait at labs.google/portraits. Read more here
Drone Watch
Walmart’s Drone Delivery Takes Flight with Major Southeast Expansion (DroneXL)—Walmart and Wing are taking their drone delivery alliance to new heights, launching in Orlando, Tampa, and Atlanta following success in Texas. The service, capable of flying goods within a 6-mile radius in under 30 minutes, will now reach up to 75 percent of the Orlando population. Drones will launch from store rooftops, showcasing a new logistics model that transforms Walmart locations into neighborhood fulfillment hubs. Wing’s air-traffic software and automation allow for safe, efficient deliveries, while Walmart sharpens its competitive edge in same-day delivery wars. This is more than a test—it’s rollout at scale. Read more here
Amazon Watch
Amazon Shuts Down Posts Program Amid Strategic Shift (Adweek)—Amazon is discontinuing its Posts program, a social media-style feature that allowed brands to share lifestyle images and videos on the platform. Citing declining impressions and upcoming site redesigns, Amazon announced that the ability to create new Posts will end on June 16, with the program fully shutting down by July 31. Industry experts noted that Posts never gained significant traction, as it attempted to encourage browsing behavior on a platform primarily used for direct purchasing. The closure reflects Amazon's move away from social-style features, following the earlier discontinuation of its Inspire program, and signals a focus on more effective advertising solutions. Read more here
Amazon Is Training Humanoid Robots to Deliver Your Packages (The Verge)—Amazon is quietly building the next leap in delivery—humanoid robots trained to navigate stairs, sidewalks, and curbs. In a San Francisco test facility, the company is fine-tuning robots with AI that enables real-world interaction, including loading and unloading from Rivian vans. Amazon is piloting robots like Digit from Agility Robotics and a model from Unitree to evaluate who might be best suited to handle doorstep drops. It’s all part of a shift from rigid automation to adaptive robotics, driven by Amazon’s new “agentic AI” team. The goal? Reimagine the future of last-mile delivery. Read more here
Meta Watch
Meta’s Aria Gen 2 Glasses Reveal the Future of Smart Wearables (Meta AI Blog)—Meta has unveiled Aria Gen 2, a next-generation research eyewear platform developed by Reality Labs. Designed for cutting-edge AI and AR research, the glasses pack a robust set of sensors—per-eye gaze tracking, blink and pupil monitoring, four computer vision cameras, a heart-rate sensor in the nosepad, and an ambient light sensor. A contact microphone boosts voice capture even in noisy settings. The design is sleeker, with folding arms and a lighter 75-gram frame offered in eight sizes. Aimed at advancing spatial computing, Aria Gen 2 is set to be available to researchers in late 2025. Read more here
China Watch
Hainan Opens Gateway to the Global Internet in Free-Trade Port Push (South China Morning Post)—-China’s Hainan province is piloting a bold initiative called “Global Connect,” allowing employees of registered companies to apply for expanded internet access beyond the country’s Great Firewall. Applicants must hold a 5G plan from a state-backed carrier and provide company details. While content remains somewhat filtered, the program marks a significant shift in China’s digital openness, especially in pursuit of positioning Hainan as a global free-trade port. The move is part of broader efforts to attract international firms and talent to the island by easing long-standing internet restrictions. Read more here
Travel Watch
Spotify Touches Down: United Airlines Adds Streaming Audio and Video In-Flight (The Verge)—United Airlines is giving its in-flight entertainment a major upgrade by integrating Spotify across more than 130,000 seatback screens. Travelers can now access curated playlists, audiobooks, and video podcasts—no account required. A feature allowing Spotify login for personalized content is expected in 2026. For passengers flying on Starlink-equipped aircraft, streaming directly to devices is also now possible thanks to United’s rollout of high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi. It’s a strong play to modernize the flying experience and meet passengers where they are—plugged in and streaming. Read more here
Movie Watch
Tom Cruise Breaks Guinness World Record With Fiery ‘Mission: Impossible’ Stunt (CNN)—Tom Cruise has officially landed in the Guinness World Records for performing 16 consecutive burning parachute jumps while filming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.” Jumping from 7,500 feet with a parachute doused in aviation fuel, Cruise completed each flaming descent before switching to a backup chute. The stunt adds to his legacy of hands-on, high-stakes action and reinforces his reputation as Hollywood’s most daring actor. It’s a record-setting moment that reflects both Cruise’s relentless drive and the escalating spectacle of blockbuster filmmaking. Read more here
