The Comunicano for Tuesday October 22nd 2024

Alright, folks, welcome to another edition of The Comunicano. Let’s kick things off by talking about something that's heating up faster than a Phoenix summer—lawsuits in the AI world. The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post are taking Perplexity AI to court. Why? Because they claim Perplexity is snatching up their articles without asking for permission. This is a classic battle of new tech versus old-school media. AI companies want to push boundaries, but they can’t forget the basics—like intellectual property laws. You can’t just take other people’s work and think no one’s going to notice. Let’s be real, if you’re using it, give credit, pay up, or face the consequences. It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out because it could set the tone for how media and AI companies interact going forward.

Now, let’s switch gears to something a little more fun but equally serious: fake news. The Washington Post has dropped a quiz where you can test your skills at spotting real news from AI-generated nonsense, and it's focused on the 2024 election. Why does this matter? Because the line between fact and fiction is getting blurrier by the day, especially with AI. You think you’re reading a legit news story, and boom—it was cooked up by a machine. This quiz is a reminder that we’ve all got to stay sharp as elections approach. Don’t just trust what you see or read—double-check, triple-check. Misinformation is a real problem, and we can’t afford to sleep on it.

And hey, before I go to all the news, let’s talk about Meta suspending accounts that track private jets of high-profile figures like Elon Musk. Look, I get the privacy concerns, but these are public figures and public flight data. The decision might have been about safety, but it’s also about control. Remember when Sweeney’s ElonJet account got banned on Twitter? Same playbook here. It raises the question: Who gets to control the narrative when public info is at play?

Alright, that’s a brief rundown of today’s COMUNICANO. Remember, folks, in this fast-changing world, stay informed, stay skeptical, and stay connected!!!!

Andy Abramson

The Comunicano Deep Dive

No Time To Read. Just Listen

AI Watch

See You in Court—The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post are suing Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search tool, for allegedly using their content without permission. The lawsuit claims that Perplexity AI improperly accesses and reproduces articles from these news outlets without authorization, which violates intellectual property laws. The case highlights ongoing tensions between media organizations and AI companies over the use of proprietary content in AI-driven platforms, particularly regarding news aggregation and distribution practices.

Fake News—The Washington Post has created an interactive quiz to test users' ability to differentiate between real and AI-generated content about the 2024 U.S. election. This exercise highlights the growing challenge of identifying misinformation, particularly as AI tools become more sophisticated in creating fake images, videos, and text. The quiz aims to raise awareness of how easily people can be misled by AI-generated content, urging vigilance as elections approach.

Fintech Watch

Who’s Counting—According to a new report by venture capital firm Accel, Klarna alumni have created 62 startups, the highest of any European fintech unicorn. The report, titled “Fintech Founder Factory,” highlights how fintech unicorns are becoming "founder factories," with Klarna leading, followed by Revolut and Wise. In total, 82 out of 98 venture-backed fintech unicorns in Europe and Israel have spun off 635 startups. Klarna, despite recent workforce reductions, continues to generate new ventures. Most startups by ex-fintech employees are founded in the same cities as their original companies, driving a "flywheel effect" in Europe's fintech ecosystem.

Meta Watch

No Tracking Allowed— Meta has suspended several Threads and Instagram accounts tracking the private jets of high-profile figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Kim Kardashian, citing privacy concerns. Jack Sweeney, known for the ElonJet account, likened the move to his previous suspensions on Twitter (now X). Meta reportedly acted to prevent potential physical harm, though Sweeney received no prior notice. The suspended accounts, which used public flight data, now appear inaccessible. Sweeney, who has faced multiple platform bans, compared the situation to December 2022, when his original ElonJet account was permanently banned on Twitter.

It’s All Fake—Meta plans to introduce facial recognition technology to combat scammers who use celebrities like Elon Musk and Martin Lewis in fraudulent ads. This system will compare flagged ad images with celebrities' social media profile pictures, automatically removing confirmed scams. Meta, facing pressure to address this issue, is testing this feature following promising results. Additionally, facial recognition will assist users in recovering locked social media accounts, though the system won’t be available in regions like the UK and EU due to regulatory restrictions. Concerns around privacy and security remain.

Saving Grace (and others too)—WhatsApp will soon allow users to add contacts from any device, not just their primary phone. This upcoming feature will enable contact management via web clients, Windows PCs, and other linked devices. Users can also save contacts exclusively to WhatsApp, avoiding phone syncing. This is helpful for those sharing devices or managing multiple accounts. Additionally, WhatsApp plans to introduce usernames for added privacy, letting users connect without sharing phone numbers. These updates will roll out gradually in the coming months.

MilTech Watch

You’re In The Army Now—The Pentagon is reportedly seeking to recruit top tech executives from Silicon Valley to serve in the military as part of an initiative to bridge the gap between the U.S. Department of Defense and the tech industry. The aim is to bring in expertise in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced technologies to enhance the U.S. military's capabilities. This recruitment effort signals a growing focus on integrating cutting-edge technology into defense strategies. However, it raises questions about how this move could reshape the relationship between tech and national security.

Deal Watch

Hey Bunny—Cooper Hefner, son of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, is preparing a bid to take over Playboy Enterprises. He plans to submit a formal offer to acquire the brand and take it private, aiming to steer Playboy back to its original roots while focusing on digital and lifestyle products. Hefner, who previously served as Playboy's chief creative officer, has been critical of the company’s recent direction and wants to restore its iconic legacy. The details of his offer are still forthcoming.

Streaming Watch

Oh, That Magic Kingdom—Disney is no longer allowing customers to sign up for Hulu or Disney+ subscriptions via Apple's App Store. This move eliminates the need to pay Apple's 15-30% transaction fees for in-app purchases. Existing Apple-billed subscribers are unaffected, but new subscribers must go directly through Disney's websites. The change aligns with recent price increases for both platforms and comes as part of efforts to boost revenue while avoiding App Store fees. Robot Watch

Tesla Watch

Copy Right—Elon Musk and Tesla are facing a lawsuit for allegedly using imagery from the 1982 film *Blade Runner* during a recent event promoting Tesla's robotaxi. The lawsuit claims that Tesla used this iconic content without proper authorization during a promotional video at the event. This incident underscores ongoing legal issues regarding intellectual property, especially in high-profile, tech-related presentations.

Qualcomm Watch

Who’s First Now—Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, designed for flagship Android phones, significantly outperforms Apple's iPhone chips, making the iPhone feel outdated by comparison. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers advanced AI capabilities, enhanced graphics, and faster processing speeds, catering to future mobile technology needs like generative AI and real-time data processing. This new chipset raises the performance bar, setting Android phones up to potentially outshine iPhones in the upcoming year.

Telecom Watch

Where The Numbers Are—The UK Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) market is thriving due to a shift toward cloud-based solutions and the integration of AI-driven technologies, according to a report by GlobalData. Businesses are increasingly adopting these technologies to enhance flexibility, collaboration, and productivity. The demand for cloud UCC services, driven by remote work trends, is expected to grow, with AI tools playing a key role in optimizing operations and improving customer experience.

Mobile Watch

It’s Over for 2G—Deutsche Telekom has announced plans to phase out its 2G network in Germany by June 2028. The operator will repurpose the 900MHz spectrum currently used by 2G for newer technologies, aiming to expand 4G and 5G coverage. Areas relying solely on 2G will receive 4G upgrades before the shutdown. Deutsche Telekom advises customers using older handsets or IoT devices to transition to modern technologies like 4G and 5G to ensure service continuity.

WorkPlace Watch

So Lonely—Workplace loneliness continues to harm employee well-being, affecting healthcare costs, absenteeism, and turnover, with one in five workers feeling lonely. This article debunks myths that in-person work or team assignments automatically solve loneliness. Instead, the authors emphasize that it’s an organizational issue, shaped by work environments. To combat this, companies should measure loneliness, create slack in workflows, and foster social activities like communal lunches. Building a culture of connection is key, helping reduce loneliness and boosting employee happiness, health, and productivity. Solutions are within reach if organizations prioritize social connection.

Travel Watch

It’s Time To Go—Dunedin Airport in New Zealand has introduced a three-minute time limit for goodbye hugs at its drop-off zone to reduce congestion. The rule encourages passengers and their companions to keep farewells brief, reserving longer goodbyes for the parking area. This policy aims to improve traffic flow around the busy terminal, sparking discussions about the balance between efficiency and emotional moments during travel.

Quasimodo Will Be Home Soon—Notre-Dame Cathedral is set to reopen on December 8, 2024, after extensive restoration following the 2019 fire. The project has involved over 1,000 skilled workers using traditional techniques and materials. While the cathedral will be partially open, full restoration won’t be complete until 2026, with updates to the apse, sacristy, and new stained-glass windows by modern artists. A free app will allow visitors to book tickets, ensuring access for individuals, not large groups. The restoration costs have reached around €700 million, with €550 million spent so far.