The Comunicano for Thursday May 29th 2025

Timely Thursday

Let’s start with Apple. According to Mark Gurman, Apple may be running on fumes when it comes to innovation, while still revving its marketing engine. Gurman critiques the company’s so-called “Version of the Year” culture, claiming the tech giant is dressing up incremental updates in grand language. Even Apple ally John Gruber admits: the software is solid, but the hype could backfire, eroding trust among users and developers. Adding to the shift, Apple may ditch version numbers altogether. Instead of iOS 18, get ready for iOS 2025 by mirroring Microsoft and Google’s playbooks to align branding with a more iterative reality.

Speaking of Google: it’s going all in on AI. At I/O 2025, the company unleashed a tidal wave of 100 AI announcements from smarter search with Gemini 2.5 to cinematic video creation with Veo. Meanwhile, Google Photos turns 10, and it’s going democratic. Magic Editor, once reserved for Pixel users, will soon be in everyone’s hands with free and premium tiers. It’s a clear signal: AI is no longer elite. It’s everyday.

Over at Anthropic, co-founder Jack Clark is sounding alarms. White-collar disruption isn’t coming—it’s here. From customer service to coding, AI is changing knowledge work faster than policies can keep up. And Claude 4 Sonnet? Brilliant brain, weird vibe. Smart, structured, but still searching for emotional EQ.

Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, on the other hand, is celebrating: Meta AI now touches one billion people monthly across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company’s investment in open-source models and in-house chips is paying off.

In privacy and security: X halts encrypted DMs without warning, Victoria’s Secret shuts down its site over a security breach, and UK watchdogs are demanding action on facial recognition. And in a twist, CAPTCHAs, once the frontline defense against bots, are now easier for AI than humans. That’s irony with a side of concern.

Finally, Elon Musk exits Trump’s orbit, denies a $300M Telegram-xAI deal, and refocuses on tech.

One thing is clear: Every company wants to own the AI future. The question is: Will consumers keep up or burn out?

And that’s the news you need to know. All right here, in THE COMUNICANO!!!

Andy Abramson

Apple Watch

Gurman: Apple’s ‘Version of the Year’ Culture Creates More Hype Than Substance (Daring Fireball)—John Gruber reflects on Mark Gurman’s critique of Apple’s update cycle, highlighting how the company increasingly markets each new OS release as groundbreaking, even when the changes are incremental. Gurman argues that Apple’s push to label every iteration as the “biggest ever” has led to a mismatch between marketing and actual innovation. Gruber concurs, suggesting that while Apple’s software remains solid, the overhyped rollouts could erode trust and set unrealistic expectations for users and developers alike. Read more here

Apple May Ditch Version Numbers for Year-Based OS Naming Strategy (PowerPage)—Apple is reportedly planning to transition from version numbers to a year-based naming system for its operating systems, beginning potentially with this year’s releases. Under the rumored strategy, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and others would adopt names like “iOS 2025” instead of “iOS 26.” The move mirrors approaches used by Microsoft and Google, aiming to simplify branding and make update cycles more transparent. It also reflects the incremental nature of modern OS updates, which focus more on refinement than reinvention. Apple has not officially commented on the speculation. Read more here

Google Watch

Google Photos Editor Now Offers AI-Powered Edits to All Users (The Verge)—Google is expanding access to its AI-powered photo editing tools, including Magic Editor, for all Google Photos users. Previously limited to Pixel and paid subscribers, these features—like sky adjustments, object removal, and background blur—will now be available more broadly starting June 2025. Free users will get 10 Magic Editor saves per month, with unlimited access for Google One subscribers. The move aligns with Google's broader AI strategy, integrating generative features into everyday products to enhance usability and creativity for the average user. Read more here

Google Photos Turns 10: Best Tips and Features for Smarter Memories (Google Blog)—Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Google Photos highlights its evolution from a simple storage tool to a dynamic, AI-powered memory manager. The blog post recaps user favorites like automatic photo enhancements, Memories, and powerful search tools using machine learning. Google also shares tips for organizing albums, rediscovering past moments, and using tools like Locked Folder and cinematic photos. With 10 billion photos viewed in Memories daily, the service remains a cornerstone of Google’s ecosystem, focused on helping users relive and personalize their photo collections. Read more here

Google I/O 2025: 100 Ways Google Is Betting Big on AI (Google Blog)—Looking back in retrospect at last week’s Google I/O 2025, it was clear that Alphabet delivered a firehose of 100 AI-driven announcements, underscoring just how all-in the company is on artificial intelligence. From a smarter Gemini 2.5 powering Search, Workspace, and Android, to Veo—Google’s cinematic answer to OpenAI’s Sora—nearly every product saw a generative overhaul. Project Astra introduced real-time visual AI assistance, while Android and Pixel devices leaned deeper into on-device, privacy-conscious intelligence. With enhancements across health, education, and video creation, the message was clear: every corner of Google is being reimagined through the lens of AI. Read more here

Anthropic Watch

Anthropic Warns of AI-Driven White-Collar Job Disruption (Axios)—Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark cautions that white-collar job disruption from AI is not a distant scenario—it’s already happening. Speaking with Axios, Clark argues that AI is beginning to impact knowledge work, from customer service to software engineering, more quickly than policy and society are prepared for. He calls for urgent public debate and proactive planning to manage the transition. The piece highlights growing concern that AI, once thought to mostly automate manual tasks, may now be redefining professional roles, productivity norms, and employment stability in sectors once seen as safe. Read more here

Claude 4 Sonnet Review: Impressive Intellect, Awkward Vibes (Every.to)—Every.to’s Chain of Thought newsletter delivers a nuanced take on Anthropic’s Claude 4 Sonnet, praising its intelligence but noting offbeat social tone. While Claude excels at structured reasoning, long-form memory, and context awareness, the reviewer finds its tone often too formal or overly enthusiastic, sometimes bordering on robotic. It’s powerful for productivity tasks, but less natural than competitors in casual conversation. Claude 4 Sonnet shines in its technical depth and safety measures, yet still has room to grow in emotional nuance and user relatability. Read more here

Meta Watch

Zuckerberg Says Meta AI Hits One Billion Monthly Users (CNBC)—Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta’s suite of AI tools has surpassed one billion monthly active users, marking a major milestone in the company’s pivot to generative AI. Integrated across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta AI powers everything from content recommendations to chat assistants and creative tools. The growth follows heavy investment in open-source models like Llama and infrastructure like the company’s in-house chips. Zuckerberg framed the achievement as proof that Meta’s long-term bet on AI is paying off, positioning it as a key driver of the next generation of social and productivity tools. Read more here

AI Watch

New York Times in Talks With Amazon Over AI Licensing Deal (The New York Times)—The New York Times is negotiating a licensing deal with Amazon to allow the tech giant to use its content for training AI models, signaling a potential industry shift in how media companies monetize intellectual property in the AI era. While no agreement has been finalized, sources say discussions are ongoing and part of broader talks Amazon is holding with multiple publishers. This follows similar deals between OpenAI and other news outlets. The Times previously sued OpenAI and Microsoft, making these talks a significant turn in its stance toward AI partnerships. Read more here

Can AI Really Replace Your Keyboard and Mouse? (Digital Trends)—Digital Trends explores whether AI interfaces—like voice assistants and gesture recognition—can truly replace traditional input methods. While companies are investing in hands-free, intelligent interaction models, the article argues that keyboards and mice still offer unmatched precision and control, especially for tasks like gaming, programming, and design. Current AI tools show promise in accessibility and multitasking but often fall short in speed and accuracy. Experts believe AI may complement rather than replace these tools in the near future, forming a hybrid input experience rather than a full substitution. Read more here

Security Watch

Victoria’s Secret Shuts Down Website Amid Security Incident (BleepingComputer)—Victoria's Secret has taken its website offline and limited some in-store services due to a security incident. While physical stores remain open, the company is working to restore full operations. CEO Hillary Super informed employees that recovery efforts may take time. Details about the nature of the incident, including whether it was a ransomware attack, have not been disclosed. This event follows recent cybersecurity breaches at other major fashion brands, highlighting the industry's vulnerability to such threats. Read more here

The CAPTCHA Paradox: Bots Are Outsmarting Humans (Talking Robot)—CAPTCHAs, once a digital gatekeeper against bots, are now being routinely solved by AI faster and more accurately than humans. This piece explores the irony of a tool designed to tell humans and machines apart becoming more of a hurdle for people than for bots. As AI systems rapidly improve at visual and language-based puzzles, CAPTCHAs have become frustrating for users while offering little real security. The article calls for a rethinking of human verification online, suggesting new, behavior-based methods may be the only path forward. Read more here

Censorship Watch

U.S. Targets Foreign Officials Over Censorship of Americans (Reuters)—The U.S. State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, has introduced a new visa policy targeting foreign nationals involved in censoring Americans—especially in relation to social media. The policy applies to those who threaten or impose legal consequences on U.S. citizens for online speech or who coerce American tech companies into adopting foreign content moderation rules. Rubio argues such actions violate free expression and overstep international boundaries. This policy signals a stronger U.S. stance on digital sovereignty and the protection of constitutional rights abroad. Read more here

Privacy Watch

UK Urged to Rein in Facial Recognition Amid Legal and Ethical Gaps (Financial Times)—A new report from the Ada Lovelace Institute calls on the UK to overhaul its fragmented approach to regulating facial recognition technology. With nearly 5 million faces scanned by police last year, and deployments expanding to retail and stadiums, experts warn the legal framework is outdated and inconsistent. Campaigners are pressing the government to enact clear laws, citing risks to privacy, protest rights, and data protections. While officials acknowledge the need for review, critics argue the UK lags far behind the EU and U.S. in establishing safeguards for AI-powered surveillance. Read more here

X Temporarily Halts Encrypted DMs, Raising Privacy Concerns (Engadget)—X (formerly Twitter) has paused support for encrypted direct messages, citing technical upgrades and infrastructure changes. The decision has sparked backlash from privacy advocates, who view encrypted messaging as essential in an era of surveillance and platform overreach. X did not provide a clear timeline for restoring the feature, only saying it plans to reintroduce encryption with improvements. The move follows other controversial moderation and feature decisions under Elon Musk’s ownership, further clouding the platform’s privacy credibility. Read more here

Musk Watch

Elon Musk Exits Trump Administration to Refocus on Tech Ventures (Axios)—Elon Musk has confirmed his departure from the Trump administration, where he served as a "special government employee." Despite stepping back from official political roles, he remains an influential adviser to President Trump. Musk is undertaking a media campaign to rehabilitate his image and redirect attention to his engineering projects, including SpaceX's Mars colonization efforts and Tesla's electric vehicles. He expressed disappointment with a recent federal spending bill, stating it undermines the cost-cutting goals of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he led. Musk acknowledged that his political involvement may have detracted from his focus on his companies. Read more here

Grok Watch

Elon Musk Denies Telegram’s $300M xAI Partnership Claim (The Block)—Telegram claimed a $300M partnership with Elon Musk’s xAI, but Musk quickly refuted it, stating “no deal has been signed.” The supposed partnership, announced at Token2049, was positioned as a major integration of xAI’s ChatGPT rival Grok into Telegram. Musk’s denial throws cold water on expectations for a deep collaboration between his AI venture and the popular messaging app. This public contradiction leaves observers questioning whether there were talks that fell through, or if Telegram overstated its relationship with xAI. For now, there’s no formal agreement between the two tech entities. Read more here

Browser Watch

Arc Browser’s AI Pivot: A Familiar Tale of Overpromising and Underdelivering (manuelmoreale.com)—Manuel Moreale critiques The Browser Company's shift from the Arc browser to an AI-centric product. He argues that Arc was essentially a Chromium skin lacking a sustainable business model. The company's new direction, focusing on AI-driven browsing, is seen as another attempt to capture attention without addressing core issues. Moreale is skeptical about the viability of AI browsers, especially when tech giants like Google can integrate similar features into their existing platforms. He emphasizes that most users prefer pre-installed, free browsers, making it challenging for new entrants to gain significant market share. Read more here

Marketing Watch

Is the Company Blog Dead? Not Quite—It Just Needs a Rethink (MKT1 Newsletter)—Emily Kramer and Kathleen Estreich argue that company blogs aren’t dead—they’ve just lost their way. Many brands treat blogs as SEO bait or announcement boards, ignoring audience relevance and long-term value. Instead, the authors advocate for editorial strategy rooted in audience needs, clear messaging, and consistent voice. Done right, blogs can drive engagement, authority, and conversion. The piece calls for a return to thoughtful, strategic content over click-chasing filler. Read more here

Bitcoin Watch

Block Launches Bitcoin Checkout on Vegas Strip, Eyes Global Expansion (CNBC)—Square, under Jack Dorsey’s Block, debuted real-time bitcoin payments at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas. Attendees can now buy merch using Lightning Network-powered transactions—fast, cheap, and settled off-chain. This marks Block’s boldest step toward positioning bitcoin as “everyday money.” Led by Bitcoin Product Lead Miles Suter, the rollout aims to expand to all eligible Square merchants by 2026. It builds on last year’s Bitcoin Conversions tool and is part of a broader push to make bitcoin mainstream in retail. Block’s vision includes giving small businesses tools to accept, convert, and manage bitcoin seamlessly. Read more here