The Comunicano for Tuesday October 1st 2024
Who Said Keep It Private
Alright, let’s take a little stroll through the news of the day—whimsical, witty, and maybe with a raised eyebrow or two, but we’re not here to judge. We’re here to observe. After all, the world spins madly on, and today’s headlines? Well, they’re no exception. Buckle up.
First up, OpenAI—ah yes, the altruistic startup with a dream to save the world from its own artificial creations. Noble, right? Except now, it seems they’ve traded in their cape for a crisp corporate suit. That’s right, folks, the *nonprofit* has gone full-profit, and Sam Altman’s got more control than a poker player with four aces. You can practically hear the clinking of champagne glasses in the boardroom, can't you? Critics are up in arms, of course. They’re worried AI will start prioritizing dollars over doing good. But hey, when hasn’t that happened in tech? The robots aren’t in control just yet, but you can almost hear them clearing their digital throats.
Meanwhile, over in the land of online education, Udemy pulled a fast one. Instructors were given a chance to opt out of having their precious content gobbled up by AI models. The only catch? You had to do it faster than a New York minute. Most instructors missed the memo, and now their hard-earned lessons might be out there training the bots. Transparency, folks—clearly, not everybody’s favorite word of the day.
Speaking of bots, Google’s getting creative—NotebookLM, anyone? It’s like they took the idea of podcasting, threw it in a blender with a couple of AI hosts, and hit ‘puree.’ The result? A conversational podcast that sounds eerily real but with zero human intervention. The magic of AI, or the beginning of our future robot overlords’ radio show? Time will tell.
Now, over in Android land, Google’s rolled out “Gemini Live Voice Chat.” What’s that, you ask? Oh, just your friendly AI assistant now engaging in full-blown conversations. It’s like that chatty coworker you can never quite shake—except this one lives in your phone, and thankfully, you can mute it.
Oh, but don’t think we forgot about privacy—Meta certainly didn’t. Or did they? In true fashion, they’ve refused to confirm if those Ray-Ban smart glasses are sneakily training AI on your snaps. How very Meta of them.
And in customer service news, forget those old-fashioned journey maps. Now, it’s all about understanding our modes—like we’re some kind of emotional chameleons in need of brands to keep up. You know what? Maybe we are.
To wrap things up with a little drama, Verizon went dark—well, in parts of the country at least. Thousands of customers went from five bars to none, with that dreaded “SOS” showing up instead. A modern horror story, really. But not to worry, service was restored. Eventually.
So there you have it, folks. The news of the day, served with a smile and a wink. Hold on tight—tomorrow’s sure to bring more delightful absurdities all here in “The Comunicano.”
Andy Abramson
AI Watch
Sell Out—OpenAI, once founded with a mission to prioritize safety and public good, has shifted fully into a for-profit corporation, with CEO Sam Altman gaining significant control and equity. This move undermines its original nonprofit structure aimed at benefiting humanity. The changes reflect a departure from safety-first principles, driven by financial pressure and escalating AI development costs. Critics, including former employees, argue this transformation compromises OpenAI's founding mission and call for regulation to curb potential AI risks as corporate incentives prioritize profits over public welfare.
No Way Out—Udemy recently provided instructors with a brief opportunity to opt out of having their content used to train generative AI models, but the window to do so has already closed. Many instructors were unaware of this deadline, sparking concerns about transparency and the potential for their educational content to be used in ways they did not approve. The platform's quick turnaround on the decision highlights ongoing debates around AI data usage and consent.
NotebookLM Watch
The Magic of Google’s Newest Baby Explained—Google's NotebookLM feature, which automatically generates audio podcasts based on user-provided content, simulates realistic dialogue between two AI hosts. Using multiple content sources, it produces a structured, conversational podcast that mimics human interaction with impressive audio quality. Powered by Google technologies like Gemini 1.5 and SoundStorm, NotebookLM crafts personalized audio overviews and insights. Its’ potential highlightes its effectiveness despite being driven entirely by AI-generated scripts.
Gemini Watch
New Voices Heard From— Google has rolled out its new "Gemini Live Voice Chat" feature for all Android users. This feature enables real-time voice conversations with AI-powered Gemini, making communication with the assistant more interactive and natural. To use it, users simply activate the assistant and engage in voice chat. The update aims to enhance user interaction, providing more dynamic assistance.
Workspace Watch
You’ve Got Tighter Security—Google has upgraded Gmail's security by requiring OAuth authentication for third-party apps starting October 2024. This move enhances user protection by phasing out less secure access methods that previously relied on basic username-password logins. OAuth offers a more secure way for users to grant apps limited access to their Gmail data without sharing passwords, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Meta Watch
No Comment—Meta has refused to confirm whether the photos captured by its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are used to train AI models. The company's reluctance to disclose this information raises concerns over privacy and how user-generated content might be utilized in the development of AI technologies. The issue highlights ongoing debates about transparency in AI data practices, particularly in the context of wearable tech and user privacy.
CX Watch
The Journey Continues—Traditional customer journey maps are too linear and fail to capture the dynamic nature of customer interactions. Instead, using a "Customer Mode Map," which focuses on understanding the context, emotions, and motivations of customers at different stages. This approach prioritizes a deeper comprehension of customer needs rather than just mapping touchpoints, helping companies design more effective experiences.
Mobile Watch
Verizon’s Back Up—Verizon experienced widespread outages on Monday, with over 100,000 users reporting disruptions across areas like Tampa, Atlanta, and New York City. By evening, reports had dropped to 2,900, and Verizon engineers restored full service. A company spokesperson advised users still facing issues to restart their devices and apologized for the inconvenience. The outages caused some phones to display "SOS," indicating lost cellular service. AT&T users were also affected due to a separate issue from another carrier, though the company confirmed it wasn't their own network that was impacted.
Time To Pay Up—T-Mobile agreed to a $31.5 million settlement with the FCC after four data breaches between 2021 and 2023 exposed sensitive customer information. The settlement includes a $15.75 million fine and an additional $15.75 million investment in cybersecurity upgrades. T-Mobile will adopt measures like zero-trust architecture, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits. The FCC aims to ensure that telecom providers improve cybersecurity to protect consumer data, reinforcing that future negligence will have consequences. This follows similar settlements with AT&T and Verizon over privacy violations.
Snapchat Watch
It’s So Sexy—A lawsuit filed against Snap Inc. alleges the company failed to adequately warn users, particularly minors, about the risks of "sextortion" on its platform. The lawsuit claims that Snap did not provide sufficient safety measures or information to prevent incidents where users are coerced into sending explicit images, which are later used for blackmail. The case highlights concerns over the company's responsibility in protecting vulnerable users from exploitation.
Courthouse Watch
Courts Are At Risk—A recent investigation revealed that software systems used by courts and government agencies across the U.S. are filled with security vulnerabilities. These flaws could expose sensitive data, disrupt services, or even allow attackers to tamper with court records. Despite handling highly sensitive information, many of these systems rely on outdated technology and lack basic cybersecurity protections. The report emphasizes the urgent need for upgrading these systems to safeguard critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
Hurricane Helene
Disconnected—A major communications outage hit Buncombe County and parts of western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene severed fiber optic lines, leaving around 70% of cell phone towers offline. Residents were left without the ability to call, text, or use data, severely impacting emergency services. Mobile cell sites have been deployed to restore some service, but the timeline for full restoration remains unclear. Verizon, AT&T, and other providers are working to repair the damage, but progress has been slow due to power outages and downed trees.
Baby’s On Fire—In Florida, a Tesla caught fire after being submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Helene. Lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) can be prone to catching fire when exposed to saltwater, a risk highlighted during recent hurricanes. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, emphasizing the dangers posed by EVs in flood-prone areas. Authorities are advising caution and recommending EV owners be aware of potential risks following storms.
Music Video of the Day
Trailer of the Day
App of the Day
Route: The Ultimate Package Tracking App for Online Shoppers
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Key Features:
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Why You’ll Love Route:
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- Sustainability: Opt for carbon-neutral shipping to make your shopping habits more eco-friendly.
Comparisons:
If you're familiar with apps like Shop by Shopify, you’ll notice that Route takes a similar approach but with more advanced package protection and a stronger focus on real-time tracking and issue resolution. Where Shop emphasizes brand discovery and marketing, Route prioritizes giving you control and transparency in your shipping journey.
Overall, Route is a must-have for anyone who shops online frequently. With its robust tracking system, seamless user experience, and issue resolution features, it’s no surprise that over 50 million people rely on Route to keep their shopping organized and stress-free. You can download it for free from the App Store or Google Play.
