The Comunicano for Thursday September 26th 2024

I'm AA. They're AI.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the marvels in your hands, the platforms you interact with, and the technology transforming your world. Now, think about that transformation on a scale as grand as the cloud—but this time, it’s right here, in your pocket on your smartphone.

Enter Meta and ARM. These two giants just looked at your smartphone and said, “It’s time to get even smarter.” Together, they’re not just working on AI—they’re crafting a future where your device, right now, can perform tasks you only dreamed of. More power, more efficiency, all without relying on some far-off cloud. Imagine AI so advanced, yet so accessible, it feels like magic in your hand. No delays, no loading screens, just AI that flows as seamlessly as your thoughts.

But, of course, OpenAI couldn’t just sit back and watch the world turn. Honestly, the company feels more like a soap opera every month. This time, it’s Mira Murati, the visionary behind ChatGPT, who has moved on to explore new horizons, leaving a legacy that’s almost impossible to replicate. And with OpenAI restructuring, rumors swirl about what comes next. Maybe it’s Sam Altman with his own $150 billion valuation; maybe it’s your next great AI assistant right around the corner. But whatever happens, the world of AI is shifting, and it’s doing so quickly.

Let’s pause for a second. You, right now, could be testing out ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice—talking to it, not just typing. It’s uncanny how human it feels. I mean, we’ve come a long way from chatbots that gave robotic, stilted answers. Now? It’s a conversation. Fluid, witty, sometimes even more insightful than that one friend who always has a hot take on Twitter. Yeah, you know the one.

But let’s not forget the battle happening in Europe. Meta vs. Deutsche Telekom—oh, it’s getting spicy. Meta’s refused to pay, Deutsche said, "Nope," and slapped them with a €20 million bill. The fight? It’s about who should foot the bill for the rivers of data you and I stream every day. It’s less of a legal dispute, more of a "who blinked first" scenario in tech’s ongoing saga of power struggles.

And speaking of seeing the future, how about Meta’s Orion AR glasses? Augmented reality you wear like Ray-Bans, but with a side of “Iron Man” thrown in. Yes, they’re still in the prototype stage, but come on, we’re practically living in a sci-fi novel. You can already tell this is going to change the game.

Folks, what we’re talking about isn’t just innovation; it’s the transformation of everyday life. And if you’re not watching closely, you’re going to miss it. Welcome to the future. Welcome to The Comunicano. Please. Read on.

Andy Abramson

Open AI Watch

ChangeTime—Mira Murati, OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer, announced her departure after six and a half years, citing a desire for personal exploration. This marks the latest in a series of high-profile exits from OpenAI. Murati was instrumental in the development of technologies like ChatGPT and DALL-E. CEO Sam Altman expressed his gratitude for her contributions, though no successor has been named yet. This leadership change comes amid reports that OpenAI may restructure to become more attractive to investors.

AI Everywhere—Meta and ARM are collaborating to bring more AI capabilities to smartphones and other devices. Their focus is on improving efficiency and performance in mobile AI, with the goal of enabling more advanced AI applications on devices that don’t rely on cloud computing. This collaboration leverages Arm’s expertise in chip architecture and Meta’s focus on AI, seeking to push innovations in areas like augmented reality and on-device machine learning. This partnership could potentially transform mobile experiences by making AI processing more powerful and efficient.

More Changes—OpenAI's Chief Research Officer, Bob McGrew, and VP of Research, Barret Zoph, have left the company shortly after CTO Mira Murati announced her departure. CEO Sam Altman confirmed that these exits were independent but were announced together to facilitate leadership transition. Mark Chen has been promoted to SVP of research, while OpenAI restructures its leadership to handle its rapid growth and mission. These high-profile departures come as OpenAI undergoes significant organizational changes, including moving toward a for-profit structure.

MoneyTime—.OpenAI is planning a significant restructuring that will remove the control of its non-profit board over its for-profit subsidiary. This change aims to attract more investors by transforming OpenAI into a for-profit benefit corporation. As part of the move, CEO Sam Altman is expected to receive equity in the company for the first time, potentially valuing his stake at up to $150 billion. While the non-profit entity will retain a minority stake, the new structure seeks to make OpenAI more competitive while raising concerns about governance and AI safety.

Voice Watch

Talk To Me, Yeah—A first encounter with ChatGPT Advanced Voice was an otherworldly experience, noting the fluidity and depth of the AI's responses. ChatGPT feels more like a conversational partner than previous AI tools, handling queries with surprising nuance and coherence. While engaging, the interactions also raise broader questions about the future of AI in everyday life, its potential uses, and the ethical considerations of interacting with systems that simulate human-like understanding. This dynamic AI-human exchange is both fascinating and a bit unsettling for newcomers.

Meta Watch

Picking a Fight—Deutsche Telekom (DT) has accused Meta of abusing its market power after the two failed to agree on a new peering arrangement. Meta, unhappy with DT's fees, terminated direct peering and began routing traffic through third-party providers. DT won a court case earlier this year, forcing Meta to pay €20 million in unpaid fees. At the heart of the dispute is the broader issue of whether large tech firms like Meta should pay telecoms for the vast amounts of data traffic they generate, an ongoing debate in Europe.

What Happened At Connect—At Meta Connect 2024, several major announcements were made, including the debut of **Orion AR glasses**, which promise immersive augmented reality with AI integration, and the launch of the budget-friendly **Meta Quest 3S VR headset**. Meta also updated its **Ray-Ban smart glasses** with enhanced AI features, such as real-time translation and natural language commands. Additionally, **Meta AI** now offers celebrity-voiced chatbots and enhanced photo-editing capabilities. These innovations signal Meta’s continued push into AR, VR, and AI.

What Do You See—Meta has introduced Orion, its first true augmented reality (AR) glasses. Orion combines the look of regular glasses with immersive AR technology, offering a large field of view, holographic displays, and contextual AI. It allows users to multitask, interact with holograms, and access tools like Meta AI. While not yet available to consumers, Orion serves as a polished prototype for future AR glasses that meta plans to refine the technology and eventually release consumer-ready AR products based on these innovations.

New Specs —Meta is updating its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with new AI features. These include real-time speech translation, memory aids like recalling where you parked, and the ability to send voice messages via WhatsApp or Messenger hands-free. Video capabilities enable Meta AI to assist with identifying landmarks or planning meals. Meta has also expanded music integrations with Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart, and introduced a special edition transparent frame design.

AI Watch

Open Sesame—A new open-source AI model, which is notably smaller and more efficient, has been shown to perform as well as much larger, more powerful models. This development offers a promising alternative for AI applications, as it requires less computational power, making it accessible for a wider range of devices, from smartphones to edge computing. The model's performance could help democratize AI by reducing dependency on massive infrastructure while maintaining accuracy and capability similar to the largest AI models currently in use.

Medical Watch

Doctor, Doctor—AI is now drafting patient messages within portals like MyChart, offering responses similar in quality to those written by human doctors. These AI systems, powered by models like GPT-4, aim to reduce clinician burnout by handling non-emergency queries about prescriptions, appointments, and test results. Studies show AI-generated replies can be both accurate and empathetic, freeing up significant time for healthcare providers. While not used for urgent care, this tool helps clinicians manage increasing administrative workloads, especially as patient portal usage continues to rise post-pandemic.

Google Watch

Move. Counter Move-Google has introduced the **Customer Engagement Suite with Google AI**, an advanced solution that integrates the latest generative AI innovations, including the **Gemini 1.5 model**, into contact center operations. This suite is designed to enhance customer experiences across omnichannel platforms, allowing seamless interactions via text, audio, and images. It also supports both rule-based and generative AI workflows, which enables businesses to tailor customer interactions for higher accuracy and better outcomes. The suite aims to boost efficiency in customer support by blending AI with human agents, and it includes support for third-party tools like CRM systems.

Notion Watch

Notion AI Grows Up—The new Notion AI integrates multiple functionalities, including search, content generation, analysis, and chat, all within one platform. This AI-driven enhancement streamlines workflows by offering tools like personalized AI-generated answers, data analysis, and text-based interaction in real time. The update aims to improve user productivity, making Notion a more powerful hub for managing tasks, projects, and knowledge bases. For more detailed information, you can visit the full article.

Musk Watch

Elon Left Out—Elon Musk criticized the UK government after not being invited to its International Investment Summit, reportedly due to his controversial social media posts during the August riots. Musk's comments, including a conspiracy theory about detainment camps, were condemned by UK ministers. Despite his absence, the summit aims to attract major foreign investment, a key priority for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Musk's exclusion reflects the government's concerns about reputational risks, despite his previous interest in building a Tesla gigafactory in the UK. The decision highlights the UK's delicate balancing act between attracting investment and managing public controversies.

Food Watch

Food Fight—The threat of food fraud, such as mislabeling and adulteration, is increasing due to rising food prices and supply chain disruptions. Technology offers solutions, including blockchain for transparency, AI for risk detection, and advanced testing methods. Companies need to adopt these tools and work closely with suppliers and regulators to maintain consumer trust, as food fraud can damage both public health and brand reputation. Empowering consumers through education is also crucial in combating this growing issue.

Watch What You Eat—All-you-can-eat buffets may seem like a great deal, but they often cut corners to stay profitable. Some secrets include reusing food across different meals or days, strategically placing cheap, filling items like bread at the front, and sometimes even mixing older food with fresh to minimize waste. Buffets are also designed to maximize profit while encouraging diners to eat less by providing smaller plates or using tactics to make you feel full sooner.

WordPress Watch

It’s A SlugFest—Matt Mullenweg has fired back on his blog about how WP Engine misuses the WordPress trademarks. He states that Automattic has tried negotiating with WP Engine, offering options like paying a licensing fee or contributing to the open-source project. However, WP Engine has refused both, leading to legal actions. Mullenweg emphasizes the importance of respecting trademarks within the GPL framework, as WP Engine has benefited significantly from the WordPress community without giving back appropriately.

Movie Trailer of the Day

Music Video of the Day

App of the Day

Discord

Discord has become the go-to platform for online communication. Originally built for gamers, it is now used by a wide range of communities. Its flexibility and feature-rich environment make it one of the best tools for group chats, meetings, and casual hangouts. 

Let’s explore why Discord stands out and what makes it a must-have app on any device.

Key Features

1. Cross-Platform Availability:  

One of Discord’s greatest strengths is its compatibility across multiple platforms. Whether you're using Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android, Discord ensures a seamless experience with real-time syncing of chats, voice calls, and files across all devices. You can also use Discord directly in a browser, making it accessible wherever you go.

2. Voice, Video, and Text Chat:  

Discord provides high-quality voice and video channels that let you connect instantly with friends or teammates. You can jump into a voice chat without ringing someone or scheduling a call, which mimics the feel of casually sitting in a room with friends. The video streaming and screen-sharing features are also highly rated for their low latency, allowing groups to watch, game, or work together as though they're in the same room.

3. Customization and Personalization:  

Discord allows you to show your personality, from custom avatars to unique statuses. You can organize servers and channels with role-based access, enabling you to easily manage communities. Want to express yourself more? Discord Nitro, a premium subscription service, enhances your experience with perks like animated avatars, custom emojis across servers, larger file uploads (up to 500MB), and high-definition (4K, 60fps) streaming.

4. Community Building and Server Features:  

Discord servers are powerful tools for fostering communities. Each server can be divided into multiple channels for specific topics, and channels can be organized by text, voice, or video. The server boost feature, available with Nitro, unlocks server-wide perks like better audio quality, more emoji slots, and custom server profiles.

5. Gaming Integration:  

Originally designed with gamers in mind, Discord integrates beautifully with popular games. It allows users to see what their friends are playing and even join sessions directly. Game overlay features let users chat with friends while gaming without leaving the screen, making it ideal for coordinating game nights or hanging out while playing.

6. Server Management Tools:  

For server admins, Discord offers advanced moderation tools. Permissions can be configured to create different roles, ensuring a safe and well-organized environment. You can easily create channels for announcements, use bots for automation, and even host events.

Nitro Benefits

The Nitro subscription enhances the experience by adding even more customization options:

- Custom Emojis and Stickers across all your servers

- Larger file uploads (up to 500MB)

- HD video streaming in up to 4K resolution

- 2 free server boosts for your communities

- Special badges, avatars, and themes to add a personal touch.

Nitro is perfect for those who want to amplify their presence on the platform. It gives users more ways to personalize their profiles, share larger files, and enhance their community's experience with better server tools.

Best Use Cases

- For Gamers: Discord shines as the ultimate gaming companion. Voice channels make it easy to coordinate teams, while the game overlay helps you chat without distraction.

- For Communities: If you're running a fan club, study group, or creative collective, Discord’s server system helps you keep conversations organized and accessible. Multiple channels, permission-based roles, and moderation tools make it easy to scale.

- For Remote Teams: With text, voice, and video chat options, plus integrations with apps like Google Docs and Trello, Discord is great for remote teams who need an informal but feature-rich workspace.

Where to Get Discord

Discord is available for free download across major platforms:

- Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux

- Mobile: iOS and Android

You can also access Discord via your web browser for ultimate flexibility.

Final Thoughts

Discord has evolved far beyond its gaming roots to become a comprehensive communication tool for communities, teams, and social groups. Discord offers the perfect blend of flexibility, functionality, and fun, whether managing a growing online community, collaborating on a project, or just chatting with friends. For those seeking more, Discord Nitro offers premium features to enhance both personal and community experiences, making it well worth considering.

With its combination of voice, video, text, and collaboration tools, Discord is the ultimate platform for staying connected, no matter what you're into.