The Comunicano for Tuesday November 26th 2024
A Tasty Tuesday Treat
Well, folks, today’s a day to marvel at the wonders of our modern world and chuckle at its quirks, too. Let’s dive in together, shall we?…First off, Zoom—you know, the trusty tool we all leaned on during the pandemic—has decided to drop “Video” from its name. Now it’s just “Zoom Communications Inc.” The idea is to let the world know they’re stepping beyond just video calls and planting their flag in the fertile field of AI-powered work tools. Seems like they want to be your go-to for all things digital communication. So, if you’re looking to future-proof your company, calling yourself “AI-first” is the trendy thing to do.
Meanwhile, over in Philadelphia, the 76ers had a little design hiccup that gave folks a hearty laugh. A misplaced letter or two in the word “final” made it read like something you wouldn’t want your grandma to see. They quickly pulled it down, but it’s a reminder that in design, as in life, the little things matter, proving that everything isn’t really a slam-dunk….Now let’s talk about Microsoft. Yesterday, their email and collaboration tools threw a fit, leaving users scrambling. It’s a humbling reminder that even the tech giants stumble now and then. They’ve mostly patched things up, but a few folks lost some hair waiting for their calendars to load.
Switching gears, the big players in AI—Google, Meta, Amazon—are duking it out in a high-stakes game of “who runs the future.” Google’s getting cozy with its Gemini AI, weaving it into everything from YouTube to Gmail. But Uncle Sam’s Justice Department has stepped in to question if Google’s playing too rough. And while the titans battle it out, upstarts like Anthropic are quietly crafting open standards to make AI talk to all your tools like old friends….On a lighter note, a Japanese company is bringing back the “human washing machine.” Just sit back, relax, and get scrubbed clean in 15 minutes—sounds like a spa day from the future….Finally, a toast to ingenuity: ride-share drivers are going solo, building their own businesses to keep more of their hard-earned cash. It’s proof that even in tough times, folks find a way to forge their own paths.
So, whether it’s Zoom redefining work or a kerning slip making us laugh, these stories remind us of the resilience and creativity that keep our world spinning. Stay curious, stay connected and most importantly, stay tuned to THE COMUNICANO!!!
Andy Abramson
Zoom Watch
What’s In A Name—Zoom has officially rebranded from "Zoom Video Communications Inc." to "Zoom Communications Inc.," signaling its evolution into an AI-first work platform. CEO Eric Yuan emphasized the company's commitment to modern, hybrid work solutions that extend beyond traditional video conferencing. This strategic shift aims to position Zoom as a comprehensive communication tool, integrating advanced AI capabilities to enhance productivity and streamline workplace tasks.
Design Watch
Talk About Dropping The Ball—The Philadelphia 76ers recently experienced a typographical mishap that underscores the critical role of kerning in design. In a social media post displaying the team's final score, the letters 'f' and 'i' in the word 'final' were spaced too closely, merging to resemble an 'a' and inadvertently forming a profane term. This error, attributed to the retro font style and improper letter spacing, led to the swift deletion of the post. The incident serves as a humorous yet poignant reminder of the importance of meticulous attention to letter spacing to ensure clear and professional communication.
Microsoft Watch
Not A Good Outlook—Yesterday, Microsoft 365 services, including Outlook and Teams, experienced a significant global outage, affecting thousands of users. Users reported difficulties accessing emails, loading calendars, and opening applications like PowerPoint. Microsoft acknowledged the issues related to Exchange Online and Teams calendar functionalities, attributing them to a recent change. The company began working on a fix and stated that by noon ET, it had resolved issues in approximately 98% of impacted environments. However, recovery efforts faced delays, and Microsoft expressed an understanding of the event's significant impact on businesses, committing to providing relief as swiftly as possible.
AI Watch
Stop Playing Monopoly—The generative AI race is reshaping tech as giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon invest heavily to dominate. These firms leverage vast ecosystems—Google alone integrates its Gemini AI into products like Search, Gmail, and YouTube, each with over 2 billion users. The Department of Justice (DOJ) seeks to curb Google’s dominance in search, which could disrupt its AI strategy. Google's seamless integration gives it an edge, as successful AI products must be frictionless and ubiquitous. The DOJ’s proposed remedies could introduce competition, altering AI’s future trajectory. The stakes extend beyond technology, influencing market control and global AI leadership.
Setting New Standards—Anthropic has introduced the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open-source standard designed to seamlessly connect AI assistants with diverse data sources, including content repositories, business tools, and development environments. This initiative addresses the challenge of fragmented integrations by providing a universal protocol, enabling AI systems to access necessary data more efficiently. Developers can now build secure, two-way connections between data sources and AI applications using MCP servers and clients. Early adopters like Block and Apollo have integrated MCP, while platforms such as Zed, Replit, Codeium, and Sourcegraph are enhancing their systems with this protocol. This collaborative effort aims to create a more connected and context-aware AI ecosystem. More from TechCrunch on this.
Follow The Money—In the rapidly evolving AI landscape, major tech companies strategically invest in leading AI startups to bolster their technological capabilities and market positions. OpenAI: Microsoft has significantly invested in OpenAI, contributing $13 billion to support the development of advanced AI models like ChatGPT. This partnership has integrated OpenAI's technology into Microsoft's products, enhancing their AI offerings. Anthropic: Amazon has deepened its collaboration with Anthropic, investing an additional $4 billion, bringing its total investment to $8 billion. This move positions Amazon Web Services (AWS) as Anthropic's primary cloud provider, granting AWS customers early access to Anthropic's AI models. Perplexity: Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search engine startup, is reportedly seeking to raise $500 million at a valuation of $8 billion. The company has attracted investments from notable figures, including Jeff Bezos and Nvidia. These investments underscore the strategic importance of AI advancements and the competitive dynamics among tech giants to secure partnerships with leading AI innovators.
Starbucks Watch
Burnt Coffee—Starbucks is currently facing disruptions in employee scheduling and payroll due to a ransomware attack on its software supplier, Blue Yonder. This incident has affected the company's ability to manage barista schedules and process payments accurately. In response, Starbucks has implemented manual tracking methods to ensure employees are compensated for their hours worked. Despite these internal challenges, customer service remains unaffected across 11,000 North American stores. Blue Yonder, a UK-based subsidiary of Panasonic, is actively working to resolve the issue but has not provided a specific timeline for restoration.
Ridesharing Watch
Go Your Own Way—As earnings from Uber and Lyft decline, many drivers are establishing their own private ride services to secure better income and autonomy. Drivers like Brian, who began with Uber in 2013, now use the platform to connect with clients for their independent businesses. This approach offers more reliable and higher-paying opportunities, as it eliminates the commission cuts taken by ride-hailing apps. Despite additional responsibilities such as vehicle maintenance and obtaining commercial insurance, drivers find the increased earnings and independence worthwhile. Industry observers note that this trend has grown over the past eighteen months, reflecting drivers' pursuit of greater financial stability and control.
EV Watch
Who Ordered Chinese—Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are actively seeking entry into the U.S. market, despite facing significant tariffs and political challenges. Companies like BYD and NIO are exploring strategies such as establishing manufacturing facilities in Mexico to circumvent U.S. import duties. This approach leverages the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which allows vehicles produced in Mexico to enter the U.S. with reduced tariffs. However, this strategy has raised concerns among U.S. and Canadian officials about potential circumvention of trade policies. The U.S. government has implemented measures to protect domestic automakers, including increasing tariffs on Chinese-made EVs to 100% in May 2024. Despite these barriers, Chinese EV makers remain determined to penetrate the U.S. market, aiming to offer competitively priced and technologically advanced vehicles to American consumers. Industry analysts suggest that the success of Chinese EVs in the U.S. will depend on their ability to navigate trade policies, establish local manufacturing partnerships, and address consumer perceptions regarding quality and reliability. As the global EV market continues to expand, the presence of Chinese manufacturers in the U.S. could introduce new competition and potentially drive innovation and affordability in the sector.
All Washed Up—Science Co., a Japanese showerhead manufacturer, has unveiled a prototype "human washing machine" that cleans and dries users in just 15 minutes. Inspired by Sanyo Electric Co.'s 1970 Ultrasonic Bath, this modern iteration features a pod-like design where individuals sit while sensors monitor vital signs to customize the experience. The machine adjusts water temperature and pressure based on the user's stress levels and projects images onto its inner walls for relaxation. Aimed initially at the hospitality industry, Science Co. plans to showcase this innovation at the Osaka Kansai Expo in April 2025, with potential future versions for home use.
Social Watch
It’s Not All BlueSky—Bluesky, the decentralized social network, has experienced a significant user surge, surpassing 22 million following the recent U.S. presidential election. This rapid growth has intensified content moderation challenges, notably an increase in child sexual abuse material (CSAM) reports. In response, Bluesky plans to quadruple its content moderation team from 25 to 100 members to maintain a safe environment. The platform's trust and safety head, Aaron Rodericks, emphasized the necessity of human oversight in addressing complex moderation issues, highlighting the platform's commitment to user safety amid its expanding community.
Instagram Updates—Instagram has introduced several new features to enhance user interaction within Direct Messages (DMs):
Expanded Sticker Collection: Users can now access 17 new sticker packs, totaling over 300 stickers, allowing for more expressive conversations. Additionally, users can favorite stickers shared by friends or create custom ones using the cutout feature.
Nicknames in Chats: To personalize interactions, users can assign nicknames to themselves or friends within DMs. These nicknames are exclusive to specific chats and do not alter usernames elsewhere on Instagram. Users have control over who can change nicknames, with default settings allowing only mutual followers to make updates.
Live Location Sharing: To simplify meet-ups, users can share their live location privately in DMs for up to one hour. This feature is designed for coordinating events like concerts or outings and includes safeguards such as expiration after one hour and visibility limited to specific chat participants. Currently, live location sharing is available only in select countries.
These updates reflect Instagram's commitment to fostering more meaningful and secure connections among users.
Getting Threaded—Meta's Threads platform is testing a feature that allows users to set their default feed upon opening the app. Users can choose between the "For You" feed, the "Following" feed, or any custom feeds they've created. To set a default feed, users in the test group can tap and hold any feed at the top of the app, select "edit feeds," and reorder them, placing the preferred feed in the first slot. This update aims to provide users with more control over their app experience, addressing a long-standing request.
Las Vegas Watch
Formula One Numbers—The Las Vegas Grand Prix drew conflicting attendance figures, spotlighting the complexity of event metrics. Formula 1 reported a total weekend audience of 306,000, likely aggregating daily entries across the multi-day spectacle. In contrast, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department estimated a peak crowd of 150,000, reflecting those present simultaneously. This discrepancy underscores how different methodologies—organizers’ cumulative counts versus authorities’ real-time tallies—can create vastly differing perspectives on crowd size. Such variations are routine for major events, emphasizing the importance of clarifying what “attendance” truly measures. Despite the debate on numbers, the Grand Prix cemented its place as an attention-generating event for Las Vegas.
Travel Watch
Is This The Last Stand—London's Gatwick Airport is trialing innovative Smart Stand technology aimed at revolutionizing aircraft turnaround management. This first-of-its-kind initiative, conducted in collaboration with the airport's partners, seeks to enhance operational efficiency and reduce delays. The Smart Stand system integrates advanced sensors and real-time data analytics to monitor and manage aircraft movements more effectively. By providing precise information on aircraft positioning and turnaround status, the technology enables ground handlers and air traffic controllers to make informed decisions, optimizing gate usage and minimizing turnaround times. This trial reflects Gatwick's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to improve airport operations and passenger experience.
