The Comunicano for Friday October 4th 2024
It's a Rock'em, Sock'em News Day
Well, let me tell you something, folks! Hold onto your hats because we’ve got a lineup of news hotter than a Texas summer, faster than a rocket, and more electrifying than a steel cage match at WrestleMania! That’s right, The Comunicano is here to break it down, snap into it, and bring you the juiciest tidbits from the world of tech, AI, and beyond!
First up, can you smell what Google’s cooking? Oh yes, they've dropped a bombshell with their October 2024 Search update. Now, we’ve seen Google do some crazy stuff in the past, but this time, they’ve gone full-throttle AI! Imagine this: you’re out in the wild, you whip out your phone, point it at a squirrel doing a backflip, and BOOM—Google Lens knows exactly what you’re looking at! You can even shout questions at it in real time while you record a video! It’s like you’ve got your own personal Grand Wizard of search engines, always there to slam down answers faster than a clothesline from the top rope!
But wait, the story doesn't end there, no, no, no! Over in New Zealand, Google’s throwing down the gauntlet. If the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill goes through, Google says they might just take their ball and go home—no more news links for you, Kiwis! It’s a classic standoff, folks. Will the tech titan budge? Will New Zealand blink first? Either way, it’s a heavyweight title match you won’t want to miss!
And speaking of title contenders, OpenAI is stepping into the ring with Canvas, a new tool for ChatGPT. You think ChatGPT was already a star? Well, now it’s got a tag-team partner! Together, you’ll be editing, coding, and refining projects like never before. It's the ultimate combo move—precision and power in one! Not to mention, they’ve just secured a whopping $10 billion. That’s right, brother, 10 BILLION dollars! They’re stacking chips like Andre the Giant stacks opponents!
On the other side of the arena, Amazon’s gearing up for the holiday season, and it’s bringing in 250,000 new workers. That’s an army, folks! If you thought their delivery game was strong before, just wait until this holiday season. It’s going to be bigger than the Royal Rumble!
Meanwhile, Uber’s rolling into Dallas with—you guessed it—robots! That’s right, soon you’ll be hailing robot taxis and getting your dinner delivered by their new robotic overlords. The future is here, and it’s driving itself!
But, oh, don’t look away, folks, because New York City is dealing with a bit of fire—a real firestorm, thanks to e-bike batteries! The city’s cracking down hard on lithium-ion battery safety. If you’re riding an e-bike, you better be packing UL-certified batteries or you might just be in hot water—literally!
And with that, The Comunicano has just given you the rundown of the tech world! Stay tuned, because the action is only going to get wilder from here! Keep your feet on the ground, your head in the clouds, and your tech in your hand—because this is the future, and it’s coming at you faster than a flying elbow drop! Oh yeah!
Andy Abramson
No Time To Read-Listen to the Deep Dive
For your Reading Pleasure
Google Watch
Look What You Can See—Google’s October 2024 Search update introduces advanced AI-powered features to enhance user experience. The Google Lens update now allows users to search using videos, enabling real-time questions about moving objects. Users can record videos while asking questions aloud for instant AI-driven insights. Additionally, voice input for photos and easier product shopping via Lens has been introduced. These updates are part of Google's broader efforts to integrate AI across search, offering richer and more dynamic ways to explore information. The new features are available via Search Labs for English queries globally. Read more from How To Geek.
The News May Stop—Google has warned that it will stop linking to New Zealand news if the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill is passed. This proposed law would require tech giants like Google to pay news publishers for the content featured in search results and news platforms. Google argues that the bill's "link tax" would harm smaller publishers and create significant business uncertainties. They claim the law is inconsistent with the open web principle, citing similar legislation in Australia and Canada, where companies like Meta have stopped showing news links. The company has proposed alternative solutions but remains in discussions with the government.
OpenAI Watch
A Not So Blank Canvas—OpenAI has introduced Canvas, a new tool for ChatGPT that enhances collaboration on writing and coding projects. Available in beta, Canvas allows users to work side-by-side with ChatGPT to refine text and code through an interactive interface. Key features include making edits, adjusting document length, debugging, and translating code. It opens automatically when needed or can be triggered manually. This tool is designed for more complex, iterative tasks and aims to improve the user experience beyond simple chat interactions. There’s more from Fast Company.
Show Me The Money—OpenAI has secured a $4 billion revolving credit line on top of its recent $6.6 billion funding round, bringing its total liquidity to over $10 billion. This financial boost will help the company continue investing in AI infrastructure, particularly in purchasing expensive computing resources like Nvidia chips. The credit facility involves major financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase and Citi, and ensures that OpenAI can maintain its competitive edge in the rapidly growing and costly AI industry. Here’s the official announcement from OpenAI.
It’s About Data Centers Now—OpenAI's recent $6.6 billion funding round has raised expectations for the company to deliver tangible AI advancements. Despite significant spending on infrastructure and training models, critics are concerned about the profitability of AI ventures, with heavy losses anticipated in 2024. Investors remain hopeful due to the long-term potential of AI. OpenAI's focus is on building more powerful systems, including the development of GPT-5, but the pressure is on to prove AI's business value, particularly for data centers supporting its vast compute needs.
Amazon Watch
You’re Hired—Amazon plans to hire 250,000 workers across the U.S. for the 2024 holiday season. These roles include full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions in customer fulfillment and transportation. All new employees will earn at least $18 per hour, with access to benefits like healthcare from day one. Amazon is also investing $2.2 billion in additional pay for these roles, boosting average compensation to $29 per hour. The company encourages those interested to apply quickly, as positions fill up fast during the busy season.
Uber Watch
The Robots Deliver—Uber and Avride have teamed up to bring autonomous robot taxis and meal deliveries to Dallas. Starting later in 2024, Uber Eats will feature Avride's delivery robots, with a full robotaxi service expected in 2025. This partnership highlights Uber's push into autonomous services, aiming to offer innovative solutions for both mobility and delivery. Avride's technology, already in use for deliveries in other countries, will expand Uber’s capabilities in Dallas, offering a futuristic and efficient way for users to get around and receive food. Check out Uber’s official announcement.
Tesla Watch
Oh, Taxi—Tesla’s highly anticipated "Robotaxi" reveal on October 10, 2024, promises to showcase a purpose-built, fully autonomous vehicle designed to disrupt traditional ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft. The vehicle, dubbed the Cybercab, is expected to operate without a driver, leveraging Tesla’s advanced Full-Self Driving technology. Investors and enthusiasts alike are looking to see how Tesla plans to turn this concept into a commercial reality, including regulatory approvals and the broader implementation of autonomous ride-sharing networks.
Drone Watch
Look Up In The Sky—Serve Robotics and Wing Aviation have partnered to integrate sidewalk robots and drones for restaurant deliveries in urban areas. Serve's robots will collect orders from restaurant curbsides and transport them to Wing's AutoLoader hubs, where Wing’s drones will then deliver the packages to customers up to six miles away. This pilot program marks the first sidewalk and aerial delivery integration, aiming to streamline and extend delivery options.
E-Bike Watch
All Fired Up—New York City has faced a growing issue with lithium-ion battery fires, particularly from e-bikes, with over 100 fires and 13 deaths reported in 2024 alone. In response, Mayor Adams and city officials have launched initiatives to promote safer use of these batteries. This includes stricter regulations on battery sales, public awareness campaigns, and even a battery-swapping program to replace unsafe devices with UL-certified batteries. The city is also working on setting up safe public charging stations and expanding enforcement on risky battery-related practices.
Venture Watch
Where The Money Is—Mobility tech IPOs have slowed, with just $2.3 billion in exits during the first half of the year—down 76% from last year. However, emerging trends in electrification and autonomous transportation create IPO potential. PitchBook highlights 10 venture-backed mobility startups poised for IPOs, with drone delivery company Zipline, backed by Sequoia, leading the list. Zipline's advanced logistics capabilities and having completed 1 million deliveries underscore its 97% IPO likelihood, as determined by PitchBook’s VC Exit Predictor.
Music Watch
The Cassette Is Back—Cassette tapes are returning as a niche music format, embraced by artists like Taylor Swift and indie musicians. However, finding tape decks is challenging since manufacturers have stopped producing them. Music fans turn to vintage solutions, like using old car stereos or scouring thrift stores for old cassette players. The nostalgia-driven resurgence reflects a pushback against digital formats as listeners appreciate the tangible, imperfect quality of tapes. New companies like We Are Rewind produce modern cassette players, blending retro appeal with modern technology like Bluetooth.
Spotify Watch
Spotify Offline—Spotify has introduced an Offline Backup feature that automatically creates playlists for users without an internet connection. The playlists are based on recently streamed and queued tracks, evolving as users listen. Available to Premium subscribers, the feature ensures users always have music accessible, even in areas with no signal or during flights. Users must enable Offline Listening in settings and update their app to activate it. The feature appears in the Home feed whenever a phone is offline.
YouTube Watch
Taking It In The Shorts—YouTube is ramping up its competition with TikTok by extending the maximum length of its Shorts to 3 minutes, a feature rolling out on October 15, 2024. This update follows creator feedback requesting more flexibility for storytelling. Along with longer videos, YouTube is introducing templates to help creators easily replicate popular formats, as well as a new "Trends" page to track the latest viral content. Additionally, the platform is enhancing its player design and adding AI-powered custom backgrounds through the "Dream Screen" feature to further boost creativity.
Music Video of the Day
Trailer of the Day
App of the Day
Fast.com
Fast.com is an internet speed testing tool provided by Netflix. It offers a clean, ad-free experience designed to give users a quick snapshot of their download speed. What makes Fast.com standout is its simplicity—just open the website, and it automatically starts the test, displaying your download speed in large, easy-to-read numbers.
Key Features:
- Instant Testing: Your download speed is measured when you land on the page.
- Download, Upload, & Latency: Clicking “Show More Info” reveals additional metrics, including upload speed and latency (ping), which are helpful for gamers and video callers.
- Powered by Netflix: Fast.com uses Netflix’s servers, making it particularly useful for users who want to check if their network can handle video streaming, especially on platforms like Netflix itself.
- Ad-Free & Cross-Platform: The site works across all devices – smartphones, tablets, desktops – as long as they have a browser. Whether you’re using iOS, Android, Mac, or Windows, Fast.com will run effectively without downloading.
Usability:
The interface couldn’t be more straightforward. As soon as the site loads, the test begins without clicking anything. Once the results are displayed, users can click "Show More Info" to get deeper insights into their network performance. This makes it great for casual users looking to confirm their connection is good for streaming and tech-savvy individuals who want more detailed data.
Comparison to Competitors:
Fast.com compares well with other speed test sites like Speedtest.net. While Speedtest offers more detailed metrics upfront (like packet loss, jitter, and server selection), Fast.com’s ease of use and Netflix-centric results make it a perfect choice for those focused on streaming performance rather than raw network diagnostics.
Best Use Cases:
- Streamers: Those who want to see if their network can handle high-definition Netflix streaming.
- Quick Checks: Perfect for those who need a no-frills, one-click speed test without unnecessary details.
- Mobile & Desktop Users: It works equally well across platforms, so users can check their internet on the go or at home.
In conclusion, Fast.com is the go-to for anyone who values a quick, clean speed test experience, mainly if streaming is a top concern. It’s available via any web browser and works seamlessly across all devices. Visit Fast.com to test your speed today.
