The Comunicano for Friday October 18th 2024
Friday on My Mind
Well, it seems the headlines these days have a little bit of everything. Let’s dive in, shall we?….First up, OpenAI and Microsoft are having a bit of a lovers' spat. Microsoft, having poured a mere $14 billion into OpenAI, is starting to feel like it's over-invested in a bad Netflix series. OpenAI, meanwhile, is eyeing other tech suitors like Oracle—because, why settle when you can shop around? Tensions are running high, with disagreements on both sides over money, governance, and who gets the bigger office. But don’t worry, they’re still collaborating, like an old married couple who can't agree on the wallpaper but keep the house standing…..Over at Microsoft HQ, they’re throwing themselves a pre-50th anniversary bash. After all, they’ve had quite the AI journey—from Clippy to Copilot. And let’s be real, Microsoft isn’t just reminiscing about the good ol' days; it's planning to dominate the next half-century.
Meanwhile, Apple is rolling out AI upgrades like Oprah handing out gifts. Siri will soon be as smart as ChatGPT—finally! You ask Siri for movie suggestions, and she won’t just shrug and play some soft jazz. Apple's also giving you more reasons to whip out your iPhone to pay for things, with shiny new reward features and the ever-tempting installment plans. Just when we thought there was no more room in our lives for more Apple tech, here we are….On the ethical AI front, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Some clever devs have found a way to scrape data from any video like they’re peeling potatoes. That’s right, your precious Zoom calls might not be as secure as you thought. Time to upgrade those privacy settings—or just say everything with a nod and a wink….In other news, Meta is testing AI to generate entire movies, which should terrify both Hollywood and audiences alike. Imagine a world where every Blumhouse horror flick is co-written by a robot. Terrifying, right?
And over at Amazon, the vibes are much less friendly. CEO Matt Garman essentially told remote workers to "take a hike" if they don’t like the back-to-office mandate. Nothing says “collaboration” like a little corporate tough love, huh?…Finally, we have Tesla, which is either on the brink of EV domination or a dystopian traffic jam, depending on who you ask. Their self-driving cars are under investigation (again), but at least their Cybertruck charges like a teenager's smartphone—fast and always nearly dead.
All in all, the tech world keeps spinning—fast, loose, and a little out of control. Let’s hope they know where the brakes are! You can read all that and more, all in today’s, not tomorrow’s, COMUNICANO!!!
Andy Abramson
The Deep Dive
No Time To Read—Just Listen
OpenAI Watch
The Honeymoon Is Over—Tensions between Microsoft and OpenAI have surfaced as both companies renegotiate their partnership. OpenAI, facing financial pressures and high computing costs, seeks more autonomy and flexibility, while Microsoft grows concerned about over-reliance on OpenAI. Despite Microsoft’s heavy investments, including hiring staff from competitors, OpenAI is securing deals with other companies like Oracle to reduce costs. Disagreements between staff, notably with Mustafa Suleyman's team at Microsoft, have further strained the relationship, although the companies continue to collaborate on AI advancements.
The Root of All Evil—OpenAI and Microsoft are negotiating how Microsoft's $14 billion investment in OpenAI's nonprofit structure will convert into equity as OpenAI transitions into a for-profit company. Microsoft is OpenAI's largest investor, having invested $13.75 billion since 2019, and the outcome will significantly impact both companies' future. The talks involve governance rights and equity distribution, with Microsoft seeking a large stake, though this could attract antitrust scrutiny. Both sides have hired major investment banks to help guide the complex negotiations. There’s more to read about this in the New York Times.
ChatGPT Now Does Windows—OpenAI has launched a Windows desktop app for ChatGPT, aiming to integrate its AI more deeply into user workflows. The app, available to select subscribers, allows easy access via a keyboard shortcut and offers seamless interaction without needing a browser. This move signals OpenAI's ambition to position ChatGPT as a key productivity tool, potentially reshaping enterprise software by embedding AI into everyday tasks. However, as OpenAI grows commercially, it must also address ethical concerns and balance innovation with responsible AI deployment.
Microsoft Watch
Dream On—In celebration of Microsoft’s upcoming 50th anniversary, GeekWire explores the company's long journey in AI development including key milestones, such as the impact of foundational research and investments that fueled Microsoft’s AI advancements, including its partnership with OpenAI. It delves into how AI has integrated into products like GitHub Copilot and Azure, driving substantial revenue growth. The story underscores Microsoft's challenges and competitive landscape, as AI becomes central to its future strategy.
Perplexity Watch
Perplexing Files—Perplexity, a chatbot, now has the ability to search the web while simultaneously working with files, enabling users to upload documents for more in-depth answers. This integration lets the AI analyze and reference information from both uploaded files and live web data, streamlining the research process. This combination of web and file-based search makes the chatbot more powerful, especially for users needing detailed, cross-referenced insights. The approach positions Perplexity as a useful tool for both casual users and professionals dealing with extensive research or documentation tasks. Read about the concerns with this in
The Decoder.
Apple Watch
AI Is Getting Closer—Apple is preparing to integrate ChatGPT with Siri in iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2. This will allow Siri to offload complex queries to ChatGPT for text and image generation, enhancing Siri's capabilities. The integration will use OpenAI's GPT-4o model and is part of Apple's broader AI initiative, Apple Intelligence. The update will be free, with no data stored or tracked, ensuring privacy. Apple is also working on features like Visual Intelligence, allowing users to get information about objects via the iPhone camera.
Apple Pay is Rewarding—Apple Pay has introduced new features, including support for card rewards and installment payment options. Users can now link credit card rewards directly to Apple Pay, making transactions more rewarding. Additionally, installment plans allow customers to spread payments over time, offering more flexibility when purchasing items. These updates enhance Apple Pay’s convenience and appeal, aiming to attract more users and integrate it deeper into their daily financial routines.
AI Watch
Scraping Away—AI video scraping tools have advanced to the point where they can extract data from any screen recording with relative ease and low cost. This technology can analyze and capture information from videos, including sensitive data displayed on screen, raising privacy and security concerns. The capability to scrape video content opens up both positive uses, such as automating data collection from visual content, and negative implications, like potential misuse in extracting private or confidential information. The rise of these tools may push industries to enhance video-related data security measures.
Meta’s House of Horrors—Meta has partnered with Hollywood studio Blumhouse and other filmmakers to test AI-powered movie generation models. The collaboration aims to explore how AI can be used in filmmaking, with a focus on generating scenes, scripts, and even full films. This initiative reflects Meta's growing interest in creative AI applications, positioning the technology as a tool for storytelling and content creation within the film industry. The project is still in its experimental stages but could revolutionize traditional filmmaking processes.
Claude Get’s Smarter—Anthropic has released a significant update to its Claude AI, enhancing its capabilities. The new features include better context management, allowing it to remember past interactions for more personalized responses. Claude also offers improved reasoning abilities, handling more complex tasks, and has enhanced creative functions, such as summarization and content generation. The update further boosts security and ethical considerations, making the AI more aligned with user safety. This update positions Claude as a more competitive player in the AI space, particularly for both professional and creative tasks.
Amazon Watch
Take a Hike—AWS CEO Matt Garman has made it clear that employees who are unhappy with Amazon's new five-day return-to-office mandate should seek employment elsewhere. Garman emphasized that the in-person work policy is vital for fostering collaboration and driving innovation. Despite pushback from employees, including concerns about work-life balance and the flexibility remote work provided, AWS leadership is standing firm, believing the policy strengthens their culture. This reflects a broader trend among large tech firms recalibrating their approach to remote work post-pandemic. Employees are now reconsidering their future at the company.
It’s Prime Time Now—Amazon has announced that Brian Williams will host a special live election night coverage on Prime Video, marking the company's first venture into live news. The special, titled *"Election Night Live with Brian Williams"*, will stream on November 5, 2024, offering a non-partisan take on election results with various guest commentators. This marks Williams' return to the anchor chair since his departure from MSNBC in 2021. The coverage will stream free on Prime Video, aiming to provide a unique, globally accessible news experience with minimal commercial breaks.
X Watch
It’s A Boldface Lie—Elon Musk's acquisition of X (formerly Twitter) in 2022 led to the reinstatement of previously banned accounts, including those of figures like Alex Jones and Marjorie Taylor Greene. These accounts, barred for spreading misinformation, resumed posting false claims, particularly about elections, immigration, and weather manipulation. A New York Times analysis of 50,000 posts shows how these reinstated accounts have amplified disinformation and gained millions of followers, with Musk himself interacting with many of these users, further boosting their reach.
FCC Watch
Mind the Cap—The FCC is taking action against data caps, expressing frustration with internet providers who impose limits on data usage. The agency aims to investigate how data caps impact consumers, particularly as they affect broadband access and fairness. With growing public concern over these caps, the FCC is exploring regulatory measures to ensure fair internet practices and prevent providers from unnecessarily restricting data, which can hinder productivity and access to essential services.
Can You Hear Me Now—The FCC will soon require all hearing aids and mobile phones to be compatible with each other, a move aimed at improving accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments. This new regulation will ensure that hearing aids can connect with all phones, making it easier for users to communicate without technical barriers. The change is part of a broader effort to promote inclusivity and better integrate assistive technologies with everyday devices.
EV Watch
Crashing the Party—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into approximately 24 million Tesla vehicles regarding potential issues with collisions involving the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. The probe was launched after several incidents where Tesla vehicles, using FSD, reportedly crashed. This investigation aims to determine whether a defect in Tesla's autonomous driving technology poses safety risks. The outcome could lead to further scrutiny or regulatory action regarding Tesla’s FSD technology.
Getting Faster All the Time—A Tesla Cybertruck set a new charging speed record of 405 kW using a 600-kilowatt charger in Slovakia, surpassing the previous U.S. record of 327 kW. This charge allowed a full battery in just over an hour. The Cybertruck’s 800-volt battery enables it to handle such powerful charges, showcasing its advanced battery management system. Though the peak charging rate lasted briefly, this accomplishment signals ongoing improvements in EV charging technology, further reducing charging times in the future.
Getting Bigger All the Time—Tesla has reached an impressive milestone with its Supercharger network, now boasting 60,000 chargers worldwide. This achievement highlights Tesla's ongoing efforts to expand EV infrastructure, making long-distance electric vehicle travel more convenient and accessible. The network, known for its reliability and fast charging speeds, is a crucial part of Tesla's strategy to support its growing customer base. With more stations being added globally, Tesla continues to lead in EV charging infrastructure.
RoboTaxi Watch
Taxi Rank—A recent analysis by the EFF’s Brad Templeton ranks various robotaxi players, with Waymo leading the charge and Tesla ranking last. The ranking is based on the progress and timelines for deploying fully autonomous vehicles. While Tesla remains ambitious about its Full Self-Driving system, the report suggests it lags behind other companies in developing fully operational robotaxi services. Other companies like Cruise, Motional, and Zoox also rank ahead of Tesla, reflecting the autonomous vehicle industry's competitive and rapidly evolving nature.
Robot Watch
Deliver This—Starship Technologies, a robot delivery startup, has partnered with European food delivery and ride-share company Bolt to enhance its services. The collaboration aims to expand robot deliveries across Europe, integrating Starship's autonomous delivery robots with Bolt's food delivery platform. This partnership is expected to streamline delivery operations, reduce delivery times, and offer a more sustainable solution for food logistics.
