The Comunicano for Thursday September 12, 2024
All The News You Need To Know & A Birthday Message Too!!
This week in tech, AI, and the ever-spinning world of culture—things are getting weird and wonderful….Let’s look at Google’s NotebookLM where they just introduced “Audio Overview,” which lets you convert your documents into a podcast hosted by AI. Imagine your PowerPoint slides, memos, or essays narrated by a smooth-talking robot. Cool, right? But don’t get too excited—there are bugs. Large files slow it down, and sometimes the summaries aren’t perfect. Still, it’s great for those who’d rather listen than read. Multitasking, meet your new best friend….
Meanwhile, Nevada’s trying to fix its unemployment claim backlog with what *looks* like AI magic—but it’s really just algorithms on autopilot. No real "thinking" going on here. The process is faster, sure, but there’s a transparency issue. Is it AI if it’s just following a script? Who’s making the real decisions? Tech sleight of hand, anyone?
Adobe is gearing up to drop Firefly Video, an AI tool that will let you edit videos with text prompts. No more wrestling with complex software—just type “Make the sky pink” or “Add slow-motion,” and Firefly handles it. Pros and newbies alike will eat this up when it drops in late 2024. Expect a flood of TikToks and YouTube videos that look like Spielberg made them—at least, until everyone has the same tools.
And then there's James Earl Jones, who secured his Darth Vader legacy with AI. His iconic voice will live on in perpetuity thanks to tech. The guy made a deal with the AI devil to keep the force alive, even when he’s not around. Darth Vader forever? That’s cool but kinda eerie too.
In Hawaii, a newspaper thought AI avatars would be cheaper than human reporters. The result? Stiff, awkward newscasters that make you long for the charisma of a cardboard box. Trying to save cash? Sure. But AI news anchors? Let’s just say we won’t be subscribing to their channel anytime soon….Over at ESPN, they’re letting AI generate sports reports for women's soccer and lacrosse. It’s a clever way to cover more ground, but how original can an algorithm be? There’s nothing like the human passion behind a great sports story…..Oprah’s back with a new special on AI, exploring how it’s changing our lives, jobs, and creativity. Experts weigh in on whether AI will be our best friend or our worst enemy. Spoiler alert: It’s probably both.
And speaking of algorithms, Bluesky is trying to stand out by letting users upload videos, stepping further into the social media race. It's TikTok meets decentralization—but will anyone care?…..On the darker side of tech, a security researcher just exposed a $20 loophole in WHOIS infrastructure that allowed him to hijack sensitive data from major organizations. Twenty bucks, folks. Wreaking havoc on the internet is cheaper than a bad meal these days.
Bottom line? AI is everywhere—making our lives easier, more efficient, and sometimes just plain weird. But no matter how advanced things get, there’s always room for a bit of human unpredictability. Tech might be evolving, but we’re still the wild cards in the game.
Key takeaway: AI’s rewriting the rules, but it’s not always getting it right—and sometimes, the joke’s on us and now….on to the news!!!!
Andy Abramson
VoIP Watch
Happy Birthday, Jeff Pulver! Your pioneering work in VoIP revolutionized communication, and you continue to inspire innovation. Celebrate big!
Be sure to wish Jeff a happy birthday today on Facebook, or, better yet, give him a call, but just make sure it’s a VoIP call!!!
AI Watch
Talk To Me, Yay—Google's NotebookLM now includes an "Audio Overview" feature, which allows users to convert documents, slides, and other sources into audio discussions led by AI hosts. This feature summarizes materials, makes topic connections, and can be downloaded for on-the-go listening. While the tool is still experimental and may contain inaccuracies or delays with large files, it offers a new way to engage with information, particularly for those who prefer auditory learning. Try it by generating audio summaries within your notebooks.
Check out TechCrunch’s take.
AI for the Unemployed—Nevada is addressing its unemployment claim backlog by using a system that looks like AI-driven decision-making but actually involves predefined algorithms with minimal human oversight. This approach speeds up the process while maintaining a veneer of advanced technology, even though the AI is not making true judgment calls. The method has sparked debates over transparency and the role of AI in critical government functions.
More on this from Gizmodo and The Nevada Independent
Adobe Generates Video-Adobe announced the upcoming Firefly Video model, which is set to bring generative AI capabilities to video creation. This tool will allow users to create, edit, and enhance videos through text-based prompts, making complex tasks like color adjustments, scene transitions, and advanced effects easier for creators. Integrated into Adobe's suite of video tools, Firefly aims to streamline workflows for professionals and beginners alike. The model is expected to be available in late 2024.
See what Cnet has to say.
LLMs Are Merging—Merging AI models has the potential to significantly boost their capabilities, offering enhanced performance by combining different model strengths. However, this technique also presents challenges like increased complexity, higher resource demands, and potential bias issues. As the trend grows, researchers must navigate these hurdles while exploring the advantages of hybrid AI systems.
From The Dark Side—Before his passing, actor James Earl Jones signed over the rights to use AI to recreate his iconic Darth Vader voice before stepping back from the role. This decision allows filmmakers to continue using his voice for the character without him physically recording new lines. Jones' move reflects a growing trend in entertainment, where AI is being used to preserve legendary performances. This technology was first applied in the Disney+ series *Obi-Wan Kenobi*.
From Aloha to Awkward—A Hawaiian newspaper has started using AI-generated newscasters to produce online video content instead of human journalists. These AI avatars have been criticized for their awkward, “janky” delivery. While the move is intended to reduce costs, it has sparked concerns about job losses and the quality of journalism. This shift highlights the growing use of AI in the media industry, raising questions about automation's role in news reporting.
Oprah on AI—Oprah Winfrey is hosting a special interview focused on the role of AI in modern society. The discussion explores how AI is reshaping industries, personal lives, and the future of work, with attention to the opportunities and concerns it presents. Experts weigh in on ethical implications, the potential for job displacement, and AI’s role in creativity and entertainment. This special taps into the growing public interest in AI’s impact on human experiences.
AI Gets Sporting—Not to be left behind, ESPN is exploring using generative AI to create automated sports reports for women's soccer, lacrosse, and the Premier League. The technology aims to quickly generate written content from game data, allowing the network to cover more sports events efficiently. While this could expand ESPN's coverage, it also raises questions about the quality and originality of AI-generated sports reporting.
Sports Watch
Are You Ready For Some Football???—The NFL set a new Week 1 ratings record for the 2023 season, averaging 21 million viewers per game across various networks and digital platforms. This marks a 19% increase from 2022 and includes a strong performance for prime-time games, with the Detroit Lions' win over the Kansas City Chiefs drawing 27.5 million viewers. The rise in viewership highlights the league's continued popularity.
Social Watch
It’s Not Just Text Any More—Bluesky has introduced video-sharing capabilities on its platform, allowing users to upload and share videos directly. This update aims to enhance user engagement by expanding the types of content that can be posted. The feature comes as Bluesky continues to grow and differentiate itself from other social networks by focusing on decentralized social media experiences.
Internet Watch
Going Back, Back. Wayback—The Internet Archive has introduced a new feature allowing users to access archived web pages directly through Google search results. When a live site is down or unavailable, Google will display a "View Archive" link, redirecting users to the Wayback Machine's saved version. This enhancement aims to improve access to historical web content and provide more reliable information retrieval for users.
Check out more on this from How To Geek and 9to5Google.
Security Watch
It’s Not Really Them—In a startling $20 experiment, security researcher Benjamin Harris exploited a flaw in WHOIS infrastructure by purchasing an expired domain for the .mobi top-level domain (TLD). This allowed him to control a rogue WHOIS server, inadvertently receiving millions of queries from prominent organizations. Harris could manipulate HTTPS certificates and track sensitive communications, demonstrating severe weaknesses in the trust-based WHOIS system. This breach highlighted vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure like email verification and certificate authority systems, raising concerns about future exploitation by malicious actors.
Australia Gets Tougher on Scams—Australia is implementing new anti-scam measures and ransomware reporting requirements. The government is focusing on enhancing protections for consumers and businesses by enforcing stricter scam prevention rules and mandatory ransomware incident disclosures. These initiatives aim to reduce financial losses and improve cybersecurity across industries, as scams and ransomware attacks continue to rise globally.
iPhone 16 Watch
It’s All About The Camera—Apple's new "camera control" feature enhances the iPhone's camera functionality beyond basic photography. Compared to earlier mobile devices like the Nokia N95, Apple is making advancements with the camera as a tool for augmented reality and visual intelligence. The iPhone camera now acts as a "third eye," offering information about objects and places through visual recognition, pushing the camera to become a central tool for interaction. Apple's innovation could redefine how users search, shop, and interact with the world using their cameras while pushing developers to expand what’s possible.
Shhh. It’s Private—Apple's new "on-device" AI, Apple Intelligence, focuses on privacy by processing many tasks directly on users' devices. It utilizes a smaller on-device language model and a more extensive cloud-based system called Private Cloud Compute for more complex tasks. This approach promises enhanced privacy, as no personal data is used for training models. Experts see this as a significant step for enterprise AI, though challenges remain, such as securely managing AI interactions. The move reflects a broader industry trend toward localized AI processing.
WhatsApp Watch
WhatsApp Doc—Meta has expanded its "Meta Verified" feature to small businesses on WhatsApp in India. This subscription-based service offers businesses a verified badge, improved impersonation protection, premium support, and advanced features like customized messages with customer names. These messages can include call-to-action buttons and be scheduled for delivery, helping businesses create more personalized interactions. Meta is also launching an initiative called "WhatsApp Bharat Yatra," which will provide in-person training to help small businesses in India maximize their use of WhatsApp for growth and customer engagement.
Workplace Watch
Where Are You Working—PWC is using employee tracking tools as part of a hybrid work strategy, sparking discussions on the future of workplace monitoring. This approach raises questions about employee privacy, productivity, and trust in a post-pandemic work environment. Advocates argue that tracking helps optimize efficiency, while critics express concern over surveillance and the potential negative impacts on work culture. The move underscores the balancing act between flexibility in hybrid work models and maintaining oversight.
EV Watch
Ride Longer and Faster —Mercedes is set to adopt new ultra-efficient all-solid-state EV batteries, which promise improved range, safety, and charging speed for electric vehicles. These batteries offer higher energy density than traditional lithium-ion cells and are seen as a breakthrough in advancing electric mobility. The technology, still in development, could greatly enhance Mercedes' future EV lineup, making their vehicles more competitive in the electric car market.
Europe EV Scene Heats Up—The electric vehicle market in 2024 is rapidly evolving with significant advancements in battery technology, charging infrastructure, and regulatory support across Europe. Key trends include increasing competition among automakers, EV range and efficiency improvements, plus a focus on reducing production costs. Companies are also exploring new business models, such as battery-as-a-service, to enhance consumer adoption. This environment is fostering innovation, but challenges remain, including supply chain constraints and the need for widespread charging infrastructure.
Bottle Watch
It’s Just Water—Staying hydrated is essential, and a reusable water bottle is a smart way to reduce waste. After extensive testing, the NY Times Wirecutter chose five top bottles based on versatility, design, insulation, and practicality. They range from bottles with straws, ideal for drivers, to glass bottles for those avoiding plastic. Key features of a good bottle include being leakproof, easy to hold, and perfectly sized (20-24 ounces). Insulation matters, too, although glass lacks this benefit. With this guide, there's a perfect bottle for every need, from daily use to travel.
States Watch
Get Happy—WalletHub's 2024 report ranks the happiest U.S. states based on emotional well-being, work environment, and community ties. Hawaii claimed the top spot, followed by Utah and Minnesota. The study used metrics such as depression rates, income levels, and job satisfaction to assess overall happiness. States ranking lower, such as West Virginia and Louisiana, faced challenges like higher unemployment and lower health scores.
Theatre Watch
Backstage Humor—Theater traditions, like never saying "Macbeth" inside a theater or wishing someone to "break a leg," have fascinating origins. For example, the superstition around "The Scottish Play" is believed to stem from the play’s history of accidents during performances. "Break a leg" is a way to wish good luck without actually saying it. These traditions add charm and mystery to the theater world, making performances even more engaging.
Robot Watch
I Want One—-This short video introduces Isaac, a robot assistant built for the home. The clip shows Isaac interacting with a person in a home environment, suggesting that the robot can perform tasks like making coffee and more.
Highlights
🤖 Isaac is a robot assistant.
☕️ Isaac can make coffee.
🏠 Isaac is designed for the home.
🗣️ Isaac can interact with people.
App Review of The Day
SaneBox: A Smarter Way to Manage Your Email
SaneBox is an email management service designed to help users regain control of their inboxes by automatically sorting, organizing, and prioritizing emails. I’ve been using it since 2015, with almost no setting changes across four and as many as five email accounts, and I love it.
Whether you're dealing with hundreds of emails a day or just a few too many, SaneBox promises to cut down the noise and save you precious time. While it’s not an app you download from the App Store or Google Play, it works with most popular email platforms, including Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and even Apple Mail, so that you can access it across all your devices, both on desktop and mobile.
Key Features of SaneBox
1. Automatic Email Sorting:
The star feature of SaneBox is its ability to sort your incoming emails into different folders intelligently. For instance, lower-priority emails land in the "SaneLater" folder, allowing your primary inbox to stay clutter-free with only important, high-priority emails. This alone can drastically reduce the stress of managing email.
2. Snooze and Follow-up Reminders:
SaneBox also allows users to snooze emails, deferring them to return at a later time when you can better handle them. There's also a nifty reminder feature to alert you if someone hasn't replied to your message, keeping you on top of essential conversations without manual follow-up.
3. SaneBlackHole:
Are you sick of those annoying, irrelevant newsletters and marketing emails? Instead of simply unsubscribing (which can still get you on future lists), you can drag an email to the SaneBlackHole folder. Once done, all future emails from that sender will be automatically filtered out without cluttering your inbox.
4. Attachments Handling:
One of SaneBox’s standout functionalities is "SaneAttachments," which automatically moves attachments from your inbox to cloud storage platforms like Dropbox or Google Drive. This keeps your inbox lighter and more organized.
5. Custom Folder Creation:
You can create custom folders that help streamline workflows. For instance, if you receive many project-related emails, setting up folders like "SaneFinance" or "SaneProjects" will ensure these messages go straight to where they belong without manual sorting.
6. Security and Privacy:
SaneBox doesn’t store or read your emails. It uses metadata (headers, timestamps, and subject lines) to decide how to sort messages. This gives privacy-conscious users an added layer of security and peace of mind.
Benefits
- Improved Productivity: By managing and categorizing your emails for you, SaneBox helps keep you focused on important tasks rather than constantly checking and clearing your inbox.
- Time-Saving: It’s reported that SaneBox can save an average user several hours per week. When you stop sorting through irrelevant emails manually, the time saved adds up quickly.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Since it integrates directly with your email account, SaneBox works wherever you check your email—whether that’s on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
- Reduced Email Anxiety: One of the most underrated aspects of SaneBox is how much calmer it can make you feel about your inbox. Many users experience less stress when they know their inbox is under control and sorted.
Best Use Cases
SaneBox is perfect for professionals who receive a high volume of emails and find it difficult to stay on top of their inboxes. It's also great for anyone prone to distraction from unnecessary or non-urgent emails. Entrepreneurs, managers, salespeople, and even students can benefit from its email triage capabilities. It’s a great tool if you juggle multiple projects or rely heavily on email communication for business or personal needs.
Competitors and Comparisons
While there are a few other email productivity apps out there, such as Unroll.me, Spark Mail, and Clean Email, SaneBox focuses more on organizing emails in a hands-off way rather than offering a whole new email interface. Unlike Unroll.me, which focuses mainly on unsubscribing from unwanted emails, SaneBox takes it further by organizing and prioritizing emails. Spark is more of a comprehensive email client with collaboration tools, whereas SaneBox’s strength lies in enhancing your email setup.
Pricing and Availability
SaneBox operates on a subscription-based model. Plans start at $7 per month, depending on your desired features. The service comes with a 14-day free trial to test it out without commitment. While the price point might be a little higher than free alternatives, the time and sanity you save could justify the investment.
Final Thoughts
SaneBox is a powerhouse for anyone who wants to automate and organize their email routine. The ability to prioritize messages and keep unnecessary ones out of sight means less wasted time and more focus on what matters. Since it works with almost any email client, SaneBox is widely accessible and integrates into your existing workflow, whether on iOS, Android, Mac, or PC.
You can check out and sign up for SaneBox at SaneBox.com.
