The Comunicano for Monday February 3rd 2025
It's a Monday
The world of technology never sleeps, and neither does the debate around its impact on our lives. We stand today at the crossroads of innovation and regulation, where AI is no longer just a tool—it's a force shaping our future.
Let’s talk about what’s happening in the AI space. The European Union has drawn a hard line, enforcing its Artificial Intelligence Act to ban AI systems deemed too risky. Predictive policing? Restricted. Social scoring? Off-limits. Mass facial recognition? Not happening—unless you count the loopholes for law enforcement and national security. And let’s be honest, there are always loopholes. Companies that don’t comply? They’re staring down fines of up to €35 million or 7% of their annual revenue. That’s not pocket change; that’s a message.
But across the pond, while Europe clamps down, OpenAI is opening doors. They’ve introduced “Deep Research,” an AI-powered agent designed to handle complex, multi-step research tasks autonomously. A game-changer for those looking to make sense of an information-heavy world. Ask it a question, and within minutes, it scours the internet, pulls from sources, analyzes data, and delivers a comprehensive report—citations included. The catch? It’s only available to ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the U.S. for now. And while this sounds revolutionary, let’s not forget the AI rulebook: Always verify. Because even the best models still struggle to separate fact from fiction.
Speaking of AI’s growing influence, let’s talk DeepSeek. This Chinese start-up is shaking up the industry by developing advanced AI models at a fraction of the cost of their Western counterparts. Open-source, cost-effective, and powerful—DeepSeek’s approach is forcing the industry to rethink the way AI is built and deployed. It’s even got Sam Altman of OpenAI taking notes. And when Altman pays attention, you know something big is happening.
But AI isn’t just disrupting research and regulations—it’s now rewriting history. The Beatles, the most legendary band of all time, just won a Grammy for "Now and Then," a track completed with AI assistance. A posthumous John Lennon collaboration, made possible by technology. A moment of nostalgia? Yes. A moment of controversy? Absolutely. Some argue it’s not really the Beatles without all four members present in the flesh. But AI has done what time could not—given us one last song from the Fab Four.
And while music lovers debate authenticity, Dell has made a decision with no room for debate: remote work is over. Employees within an hour of a Dell office must return in person, five days a week. Love it or hate it, the corporate pendulum is swinging back to the office. Will others follow? History suggests they will.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk is making waves—not with AI this time, but with politics. His financial backing of Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign has sparked conversations about tech billionaires influencing elections. Is this about policy? Business? Power? Maybe all three. But one thing is certain: Musk isn’t just shaping the future of technology; he’s shaping the future of governance.
So here we are, at the intersection of AI, business, and politics. Regulation and innovation are colliding. The boundaries between human creativity and machine assistance are blurring. And the question we have to ask ourselves is this: Are we leading the technology, or is the technology leading us?
The answer, my friends, will define the next decade, and that’s what you’re reading in THE COMUNICANO!!!
Andy Abramson.
AI Watch
EU Enforces Ban on Harmful AI Applications (AlgorithmWatch)—As of February 2025, the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act enforces prohibitions on AI systems deemed to pose unacceptable risks to safety, health, and fundamental rights. Banned practices include manipulative AI techniques, exploitation of vulnerabilities, certain forms of social scoring, and indiscriminate facial recognition data collection. Partial bans target predictive policing based on personality traits and biometric categorization inferring sensitive attributes, though exceptions exist for law enforcement. Notably, retrospective remote biometric identification remains unbanned, and national security applications are exempt, presenting potential loopholes. Non-compliance may result in fines up to €35 million or 7% of annual turnover. Read more here
OpenAI Watch
OpenAI Unveils 'Deep Research' Tool for Comprehensive Analysis (OpenAI)—OpenAI has introduced "Deep Research," an AI agent designed to autonomously conduct multi-step research tasks on the internet. Leveraging the upcoming o3 model, this tool independently discovers, reasons about, and consolidates insights from various online sources, including text, images, PDFs, and spreadsheets. Users can submit complex questions with additional context, and within 5 to 30 minutes, Deep Research provides thorough, documented reports with citations. Initially available to ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the U.S., the feature is set to expand to mobile and desktop apps later in February. While promising, experts advise users to verify AI-generated outputs, as the tool may sometimes produce inaccuracies or confuse authoritative information with rumors.
Read more here
OpenAI Unveils New ChatGPT Agent for Deep Research (TechCrunch)—OpenAI has launched a new ChatGPT agent designed to perform deep research tasks. This agent autonomously plans and executes multi-step trajectories to gather necessary data, providing process summaries with citations. Users can submit questions with additional context through various formats, and the system responds within 5 to 30 minutes. Despite its capabilities, the agent may sometimes produce inaccuracies and confuse authoritative information with rumors. The feature is currently available to Pro users with 100 queries per month, with plans for a faster version in the future.
Read more here
SoftBank Commits to Joint Venture with OpenAI (CNBC)—SoftBank has announced a significant investment in a joint venture with OpenAI, aiming to advance artificial intelligence technologies. This partnership seeks to leverage SoftBank's extensive resources and OpenAI's cutting-edge AI models to develop innovative solutions across various industries. The collaboration underscores SoftBank's commitment to AI and its potential to transform sectors such as telecommunications, finance, and robotics. Details regarding the financial terms and specific projects of the joint venture have not been disclosed.
Read more here
DeepSeek Watch
Global AI Experts Assess DeepSeek's Impact (South China Morning Post)—Leading figures in artificial intelligence, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Google scientist Andrew Ng, have acknowledged the achievements of Chinese start-up DeepSeek. The company has garnered attention for developing advanced AI models at a fraction of the typical cost. DeepSeek's open-source reasoning model, R1, released on January 20, demonstrates capabilities comparable to proprietary models from established firms like OpenAI. This development has sparked discussions about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of current AI training methodologies. Altman noted that OpenAI may need to reconsider its open-source strategy in light of DeepSeek's approach.
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Alibaba Integrates DeepSeek's AI Models into Its Cloud Services (South China Morning Post)—Alibaba Cloud has announced the integration of DeepSeek's artificial intelligence models into its platform, following similar moves by tech giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Huawei. Users can now access DeepSeek's latest models, including the advanced V3 and R1, through Alibaba's PAI Model Gallery. This integration allows developers and enterprise users to efficiently deploy these models for various applications, streamlining the AI development process. Alibaba's initiative reflects a growing trend among major tech companies to support and leverage DeepSeek's open-source AI systems to enhance their service offerings.
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Running DeepSeek R1 Locally on Mac and Windows for Free (BGR)—DeepSeek's open-source AI model, R1, has gained significant attention for its advanced capabilities and cost-effective development. Users interested in exploring this model can run it locally on Mac and Windows computers without needing cloud-based resources. The guide provides step-by-step instructions for installation, setup, and usage, allowing users to test DeepSeek R1's reasoning abilities on their own devices. This offers greater control over AI execution while reducing reliance on proprietary cloud platforms.
Read more here
Grammy Watch
The Beatles' AI-Restored 'Now and Then' Wins Grammy Amid Controversy (The Verge)—The Beatles' 2023 release, "Now and Then," crafted using artificial intelligence to enhance John Lennon's late 1970s demo, secured the Grammy for Best Rock Performance. This marks the band's eighth Grammy win. The track was completed with contributions from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, utilizing AI to isolate and clean Lennon's original vocals and piano. Despite some backlash over AI's involvement, McCartney clarified that no artificial elements were created; existing recordings were refined.
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Critique: 'Now and Then' Unworthy of Grammy Recognition (BGR)—Some long-time Beatles fans argue that "Now and Then" did not merit its Grammy win. The song, based on an unfinished John Lennon demo, was completed posthumously with AI assistance, raising ethical concerns about using a deceased artist's work without explicit consent. Critics also contend that the track's quality does not match the band's classic hits, suggesting it serves more as a tribute than a genuine Beatles song.
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Comprehensive List of 2025 Grammy Winners (BBC News)—The 2025 Grammy Awards honored various artists across multiple categories. In the Rock and Metal genre, The Beatles' "Now and Then" won Best Rock Performance, competing against The Black Keys, Green Day, Pearl Jam, and St. Vincent.
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VoIP Watch
WhatsApp's Latest Features Enhance User Experience (Hindustan Times Tech)—In January 2025, WhatsApp unveiled several new features to enrich user interaction. The AI Studio introduces AI personalities, enabling users to chat with various virtual figures. iPhone users benefit from a built-in dial pad, allowing direct number dialing without saving contacts. A double-tap gesture now lets users quickly react to messages with emojis. The app also supports creating custom stickers from personal photos and sharing sticker packs via links. Additionally, users can apply background effects to photos before sending and add personalized messages when forwarding content. These updates aim to make communication more engaging and personalized.
Read more here
AI Voice Agents: 2025 Update (Andreessen Horowitz)—In January 2025, Andreessen Horowitz released an update on AI voice agents, highlighting significant advancements in the field. The report emphasizes that voice, as a primary mode of human communication, has become "programmable" due to AI, offering substantial opportunities for application companies. For enterprises, AI voice agents can replace human labor, providing cost-effective, reliable, and efficient customer interactions around the clock. For consumers, voice is anticipated to be the primary interface with AI, serving as companions, coaches, or democratizing services like language learning. The report notes that advancements in model development have streamlined the infrastructure, resulting in voice agents with lower latency and improved performance. Additionally, the cost of conversational models has decreased, making them more accessible. The voice agent market saw significant growth in the latter half of 2024, with companies building with voice representing 22% of the most recent Y Combinator class. The report also identifies key verticals for AI voice agents, including financial services, insurance, government, support services, and healthcare. As models improve, voice is expected to become the wedge for broader platforms, not just a product feature.
Read more here
Apple Watch
New Siri Features in iOS 18.3: Availability and Limitations (CNET)—After updating to iOS 18.3, some users are puzzled by the absence of anticipated Siri enhancements. The latest update introduces advanced capabilities, including more natural language processing and expanded contextual understanding. However, these features are currently limited to newer devices equipped with the A18 Bionic chip or later, such as the iPhone 16 and subsequent models. Older devices lack the necessary hardware to support these improvements. Additionally, the new Siri functionalities are initially available only in select regions, with a broader rollout planned throughout the year.
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Apple to Discontinue Upfront Multi-Year AppleCare+ Plans in Retail Stores (Cult of Mac)—Apple will no longer offer customers the option to prepay for two or three years of AppleCare+ coverage at its retail locations. Instead, customers can only purchase AppleCare+ on an annual basis. This change aligns with Apple's broader strategy to emphasize recurring revenue streams. Existing multi-year plans remain valid until their expiration.
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Apple May Launch New iCloud Feature Codenamed 'Confetti' This Week (MacRumors)—Apple plans to introduce a new iCloud-based service for event invites, codenamed 'Confetti,' as early as this week. The service aims to offer users a new way to invite people to parties, functions, and meetings. It's currently unclear whether this functionality will be available through a new standalone app or integrated into an existing app like Calendar. This initiative underscores Apple's commitment to enhancing user experiences within its ecosystem.
Read more here
Mobile Watch
Samsung Phases Out Messaging App in Favor of Google Messages (PhoneArena)—Samsung has announced the discontinuation of its proprietary messaging app, directing users to Google Messages instead. The app has been removed from the Play Store, and future devices will come preloaded with Google Messages. This decision reflects Samsung's collaboration with Google to promote Rich Communication Services (RCS), aiming to provide an enhanced messaging experience. Existing users of Samsung's messaging app can continue using it, but new features and updates are unlikely.
Read more here
Tariff Watch
Canadian Fans Boo U.S. National Anthem at Hockey Game Amid Trade Tensions (KTLA)—In response to President Donald Trump's recent imposition of tariffs on Canadian imports, fans at an Ottawa Senators hockey game expressed their displeasure by booing the U.S. national anthem. The economic emergency declared by the president places duties of 10% on all imports from China and 25% on all imports from Mexico and Canada; energy imported from Canada – including oil, natural gas, and electricity – would be taxed at a 10% rate. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods and encouraged citizens to support domestic products. This incident reflects the growing tension between the two nations as the trade dispute escalates.
Read more here
Workplace Watch
Dell Ends Remote Work, Mandates Full-Time Office Return (TheStreet)—Dell Technologies has announced the termination of its hybrid and remote work policies, requiring employees residing within an hour of a Dell office to return to in-person work five days a week, effective March 3. CEO Michael Dell emphasized that in-person interactions enhance efficiency compared to prolonged digital communication. Employees living farther from an office may continue remote work but will face restrictions on promotions unless approved by senior leadership. This move aligns Dell with other major corporations reversing remote work flexibility in favor of traditional office environments.
Musk Watch
Elon Musk's Financial Support for Trump's 2024 Campaign (The Washington Post)—Elon Musk has emerged as a significant financial supporter of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. Through substantial donations and leveraging his platform, X (formerly Twitter), Musk has played a pivotal role in promoting Trump's candidacy. This involvement marks a notable shift in Musk's political engagement, reflecting a broader trend of tech industry leaders aligning with conservative politics. The alliance between Musk and Trump has raised discussions about the influence of wealthy individuals in political campaigns and the evolving dynamics within the tech industry.
Read more here
