The Comunicano for Tuesday May 20th 2025
Terrific Tuesday
So this is where we've arrived. A world roaring into the future on rails it doesn’t understand, afraid to ask who laid the tracks. Today, they cheer as the President signs the Take It Down Act—a law born not from courage but fear. Fear of shadows cast by machines. Fear of freedom misused. I am not here to defend cruelty. But when a society outlaws images without asking why people want to control the image in the first place, it confesses something deeper: it no longer trusts itself.
Europe, meanwhile, stands bewildered in the garden of its own red tape, wondering why nothing grows. Innovation choked not by lack of genius, but by the smothering embrace of “protection.” And what of America? We dominate with machines that speak better than men—but fewer still who dare to speak the truth.
AI now pens our stories, answers our questions, even dares to impersonate our legends. A machine whispered Darth Vader’s voice this week, and the unions howled. But where were they when real voices were silenced in boardrooms, on campuses, in digital town squares? When the algorithmic noose tightened around unpopular opinion? They didn't cry for authenticity then.
And Elon Musk—our Prometheus in sneakers—secures trillion-dollar handshakes in gilded desert rooms while the rest of us are told to live smaller, think humbler, comply faster. The dealmakers grow fatter. The dreamers get compliance training.
Somewhere in New Orleans, cameras watched and judged without consent. Somewhere in the EU, bureaucrats taxed hope in cardboard boxes. Somewhere, a man looked at his paycheck, then at his wife, and wondered if he was still a man at all.
They call this progress. I call it a counterfeit future built on borrowed time and borrowed truths.
I am who I am. And I do not run from the future. I demand we earn it—not by regulating it into submission, but by summoning the will to build it. Freely. Bravely. Unapologetically alive. And reading THE COMUNICANO!!!
Andy Abramson
AI Watch
President Trump Signs 'Take It Down' Act into Law (White House)—President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act, criminalizing the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. The law mandates up to three years in prison for violators and requires social media platforms to remove flagged content within 48 hours. While receiving bipartisan support, some civil liberties groups express concerns about potential overreach and suppression of legitimate content. Read more here
Europe’s Tech Struggles Highlighted by AI Shortcomings (WSJ)—Europe continues to lag in the global tech race, lacking homegrown giants like Google or Amazon. Factors such as risk-averse culture, complex regulations, limited venture capital, and fragmented markets hinder innovation. Despite strong research foundations, Europe's slow decision-making and regulatory challenges stifle growth. Only four of the top 50 global tech firms are European, and venture capital investment is just a fifth of that in the U.S. This tech shortfall impacts Europe's broader economic vitality. Read more here
Microsoft CTO Envisions AI-Driven Decentralized Web (The Verge)—Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott discusses AI's potential to reshape the web through open-source tools and the Model Context Protocol, allowing websites to integrate natural language AI search. This approach aims to decentralize search from dominant indexes like Google and Bing, giving site owners more control. Scott emphasizes the need for new business models and ethical considerations in AI's evolution. Read more here
AI-Generated Content Dominates New Web Pages (Ahrefs)—A study by Ahrefs reveals that 74.2 percent of newly created web pages in April 2025 contained AI-generated content. Using their AI detector, they found that only 25.8 percent were purely human-written. The prevalence of AI tools in content creation is making AI-generated content the default, raising questions about content authenticity and quality.Read more here
SAG-AFTRA Files Complaint Over AI-Generated Darth Vader Voice (Variety)—SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labor complaint against Epic Games for using an AI-generated voice of Darth Vader in Fortnite without prior negotiation. The union argues that replacing human performers with AI without consent violates fair labor practices. This case underscores the broader industry tensions over AI's impact on creative labor. Read more here
Google Watch
Google Launches Standalone NotebookLM Apps for Android and iOS (TechCrunch)—Google has officially released its AI-powered note-taking app, NotebookLM, for Android and iOS devices. Previously accessible only via desktop, the mobile versions retain core features like smart summaries and document-based Q&A. Notably, users can now generate "Audio Overviews" — AI-created, podcast-style summaries of their documents — with support for background and offline playback. The app also allows users to create and manage notebooks, and add new sources directly from websites, PDFs, or YouTube videos via the share menu. This launch comes just ahead of Google’s I/O 2025 conference. Read more here
Shopping Watch
US Buyers Surge on Alibaba.com Following Tariff Truce (SCMP)—In the week after the US and China agreed to a 90-day pause on new tariffs, Alibaba.com saw a sharp increase in activity from American buyers. Inquiries from US-based businesses rose over 40 percent between May 12 and May 18 compared to the previous week. Many small and mid-sized enterprises are using this window to stock up on goods ahead of any potential tariff changes. Notably, demand for Christmas-related products grew by more than 20 percent, showing early seasonal planning. The spike highlights how quickly buyers react to shifts in trade policy. Read more here
Google Recommends Including Brand Names in Product Titles (Search Engine Roundtable)—Google Merchant Center now advises sellers to add the product's brand name to titles when it's a differentiating factor. This recommendation aims to enhance product visibility and user understanding. While not yet mandatory, adopting this practice could improve search performance and prepare sellers for potential future enforcement. Read more here
Spotify Enables Direct Audiobook Purchases on iPhone Following Legal Shift (The Verge)—Spotify has updated its iOS app to allow US users to purchase audiobooks directly within the app, a significant change following a recent court ruling in the Epic Games v Apple case. Previously, Apple’s App Store policies restricted such transactions, leading Spotify to remove in-app audiobook purchases in 2022. The new legal environment prohibits Apple from collecting fees on external purchases and from controlling how developers direct users to external payment options. With this update, Spotify Premium subscribers can also buy additional audiobook listening hours directly through the app, enhancing user experience and accessibility. Read more here
EU Targets Fast-Fashion Giants with New Import Fee (Financial Times)—The European Union is set to implement a 2 euro handling fee on small packages imported directly from abroad, particularly affecting online retailers like Temu and Shein. Annually, around 4.6 billion such items are delivered directly to consumers' homes within the EU. The proposal, presented by Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, also outlines a lower 0.50 euro fee for items directed to warehouses rather than individual addresses. The new tax aims to address a spike in the import of potentially dangerous or non-compliant goods and to mitigate complaints from EU-based retailers about unfair competition. Revenue from the fee will help fund additional customs checks and contribute to the EU's overall budget. This measure marks a significant development in the EU’s efforts to regulate e-commerce imports and ensure safe, fair trade practices. Read more here
Airbnb Watch
Airbnb Experiences Face Growth Hurdles Despite Relaunch Efforts (Skift)—Airbnb has relaunched its Experiences platform with a 250 million dollar push, but scaling remains a challenge. Experiences still make up a small part of Airbnb’s overall business. User engagement is low, with many guests not booking add-ons after securing lodging. The average booking value lags behind hotels, and maintaining consistent quality across global experiences is difficult. Add in fierce competition from seasoned tour operators, and the growth path becomes steep. Despite ambition, Airbnb must solve core issues before Experiences becomes a meaningful revenue driver. Read more here
SpaceX Watch
Elon Musk and Family Benefit from Gulf Investment Deals (The New York Times)—During President Trump's May 2025 Middle East tour, Elon Musk and his family reportedly secured substantial investments from Gulf nations. The trip, aimed at bolstering US economic ties, resulted in significant deals, including Saudi Arabia's 600 billion dollar investment in US sectors like AI and defense, Qatar's 1.2 trillion dollar economic exchange agreement, and the UAE's 1.4 trillion dollar investment plan focusing on advanced technologies. Musk, serving as a senior advisor, was part of the delegation, and his companies are poised to benefit from these agreements. The intertwining of political diplomacy and private enterprise in these deals has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Read more here
Innovation Watch
Revolutionary Cooling Technologies Aim to Combat Climate Change (BBC News)—As global temperatures rise, innovative cooling solutions are emerging to address environmental concerns. Traditional air conditioners rely on hydrofluorocarbons, powerful greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. New technologies like solid-state cooling, thermoelectric devices, and magnetocaloric systems aim to replace harmful refrigerants. Companies such as Magnotherm and Phononic are leading development in this space, promising greater efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Although these systems are still costly and not yet widely scalable, they mark a crucial step toward sustainable and climate-friendly cooling methods. Read more here
AV Watch
Autonomous Cars with 'Social Sensitivity' Reduce Road Risks (Financial Times)—A new study shows that autonomous vehicles equipped with social sensitivity features can significantly reduce road harm. Developed by researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the system uses cognitive models to assess the vulnerability of different road users like pedestrians and cyclists. Integrated with a planner that prioritizes ethical decisions, the model was tested in 2,000 scenarios and reduced total risk by over 26 percent. This approach may guide safer AV deployment and aligns with EU goals for fair risk-sharing in traffic systems. Read more here
Telegram Watch
France Restricts Telegram Founder Pavel Durov's Travel (Politico Europe)—French authorities have barred Telegram founder Pavel Durov from traveling to the U.S. for business, citing his ongoing legal issues in France. Durov was arrested in August 2024 and faces charges related to illicit activities on his messaging app. He remains under strict legal control and cannot leave France without permission. Read more here
Privacy Watch
New Orleans Police Secretly Used Facial Recognition Cameras (Washington Post)—An investigation reveals that New Orleans police secretly employed a network of over 200 facial recognition cameras, violating a 2022 city ordinance. The surveillance system, managed by the nonprofit Project NOLA, sent automatic alerts to officers' phones, leading to at least 34 arrests. The program was paused in April 2025 pending legal review, raising concerns about privacy and due process. Read more here
Societh Watch
Earning Power and Male Self-Esteem: Navigating Shifting Gender Roles (BBC)—A recent BBC article explores how traditional ideas of masculinity are challenged when men earn less than their female partners. Many men in these situations report feeling judged or emasculated, which can negatively impact mental health and lead to increased rates of depression. While more women are now primary earners, societal expectations around male breadwinning remain largely unchanged. This disconnect creates pressure on men’s identity and self-worth. The article highlights the importance of reshaping cultural norms to support emotional well-being and healthier relationship dynamics. Read more here
