The Comunicano for Wednesday February 26th 2025

What A Wednesday

The world moves not by the whims of the collective, but by the will of those who dare to think. And today, we are surrounded not by heroes, but by committees, by regulators, by those who do not create but seek to control.

Consider Apple—a company once led by a man of vision, now reduced to policing words in its own technology, scurrying to correct an error that offends the ever-offended. A slip of an algorithm, a misplaced word, and the machinery of compliance rushes forth—not to improve the product, but to appease the voices of indignation.

Meanwhile, the same company bends before the demands of a foreign government, pouring a billion dollars into Indonesia, not because it is the best investment, not because it is the choice of an unshackled mind, but because it must obey. It must comply, or face exile.

And Meta? A behemoth supposedly at the frontier of intelligence, yet hesitant to acknowledge its ambitions. A $200 billion project whispered about, then denied. What is this? A company of titans or of bureaucrats fearing their own plans? It is not a crime to build. It is a crime to fear doing so.

OpenAI, Microsoft, and Grok promise an age of limitless knowledge, yet each in its own way submits. OpenAI offers its Deep Research, but warns: the mind it creates may dream beyond the accepted truth. Microsoft lifts restrictions, yet whispers that limits will return should demand rise too high. And Grok—ah, Grok—proclaims itself the herald of free speech, yet does so in the language of vulgarity, mistaking rebellion for reason.

Elsewhere, the illusion of progress continues. JPMorgan touts artificial intelligence to aid its workers, but always under watchful human oversight. A banking empire willing to innovate—so long as it does not innovate too much.

Alibaba unveils an open-source model, a rare act of defiance, yet its true ambitions lie not in the liberation of the mind, but in a $52 billion investment, shackling itself to infrastructure, to government contracts, to control.

And the news tells us this is progress. That the highways expand, yet traffic remains. That the tax system will be made clearer, yet taxation itself is not questioned. That the digital marketplace will be improved—yet always for the benefit of those who take, never for those who create.

There is one question that is never asked, one question feared most: who is all of this for? For the nameless public? The undefined "many"? No. It is for those who live not by their own mind, but by the efforts of others. For those who demand wealth without creation. Power without merit. Security without risk.

And so, another day in the age of compromise. Another day in a world where men of ability are told they must kneel before the altar of consensus. But the mind cannot be commanded, only bribed or broken. And those who refuse to be either will always, in the end, be the ones who shape the future. That’s who reads THE COMUNICANO!!!

Andy Abramson

Apple Watch

Apple to Fix iPhone Dictation Bug Replacing 'Racist' with 'Trump' (Variety)—Apple has announced plans to address a bug in its iPhone dictation tool that mistakenly suggests the word "Trump" when users say "racist." The issue, highlighted on TikTok and social media, stems from a flaw in Apple's speech recognition model, which sometimes displays phonetically similar words before identifying the intended term. This incident has sparked controversy, especially among conservative commentators who accuse tech companies of political bias. Apple is rolling out a fix to prevent further errors. Read more here

Apple's $1 Billion Investment Clears Path to Lift iPhone 16 Ban in Indonesia (The Jakarta Post)—Apple Inc. has addressed its investment shortfall in Indonesia by committing to a $1 billion investment, including plans to establish a manufacturing plant and a research and development center. This move aims to comply with Indonesia's local content regulations, which require a certain percentage of components to be locally sourced for products sold domestically. As a result, the Indonesian government is expected to lift the ban on iPhone 16 sales soon, pending the issuance of a local content certificate. This development signifies a positive turn in Apple's efforts to align with Indonesia's regulatory requirements and expand its market presence in the country. Read more here

Meta Watch

Meta Denies $200 Billion AI Data Center Project Reports (The Hindu)—Recent reports suggested that Meta Platforms is in discussions to build a new data center campus dedicated to artificial intelligence projects, with potential costs exceeding $200 billion. The proposed locations include Louisiana, Wyoming, or Texas, with company executives reportedly visiting potential sites. However, a Meta spokesperson has denied these claims, stating that their data center plans and capital expenditures have already been disclosed, and any additional information is speculative. This comes as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to spend up to $65 billion this year on AI infrastructure expansion. Read more here

Open AI Watch

OpenAI Expands Deep Research to All Paying ChatGPT Users (Engadget)—OpenAI has broadened access to its Deep Research feature, initially exclusive to $200 Pro subscribers, to include all paying ChatGPT users. Deep Research enables the AI to autonomously plan and execute complex research tasks, providing detailed reports within 5 to 30 minutes. Users can submit questions using text, images, and additional files, with responses including citations and process summaries. Despite its advanced capabilities, OpenAI cautions that Deep Research may occasionally "hallucinate" facts or struggle with discerning authoritative sources. This expansion aims to make advanced AI research tools more accessible to a broader user base. Read more here

Microsoft Watch

Microsoft Grants Unlimited Access to Copilot's Voice and Think Deeper Features (Digit)—Microsoft has announced that all Copilot users will now have free, unlimited access to its Voice and Think Deeper features. This update removes previous usage restrictions, allowing for more natural interactions and in-depth assistance with complex tasks. While Copilot Pro subscribers retain benefits like priority access to the latest models and early access to experimental AI features, all users can now engage in extended conversations without limitations. Microsoft notes that during periods of high demand or in cases of misuse, users might experience occasional delays or interruptions. Read more here

Grok Watch

Grok's Uncensored AI Voice Mode Enables Conversations on Sensitive Topics (Ars Technica)—Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI, has introduced an "unhinged" voice mode that allows users to engage in discussions on sensitive subjects, including sex, therapy, and conspiracy theories. This feature enables the AI to use explicit language, simulate phone sex, and express strong emotions like screaming. Elon Musk, founder of xAI, aims to provide an "uncensored" alternative to traditional AI chatbots, promoting free speech and open dialogue. While this development offers a new level of interaction, it also raises concerns about the ethical implications and potential misuse of such technology. Read more here

Agent Watch

AI Agents Poised to Transform Workplace Interactions (Axios)— Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents are increasingly becoming integral to workplace communications, with predictions that employees may soon interact more with AI than human colleagues. Ryan Gavin, Chief Marketing Officer of Slack, suggests that within a few years, conversations with AI agents could surpass those with human peers. These AI agents, capable of performing tasks autonomously, are being developed by companies like Salesforce, which introduced Agentforce—bots functioning as sales reps, service agents, and personal shoppers. Startups such as Sierra, founded by former Salesforce and Google executives, have also emerged, focusing on AI-driven workplace solutions. While AI agents aim to augment human work by handling complex tasks, they are still evolving and can be inconsistent, requiring oversight similar to managing interns. Despite these challenges, the integration of AI agents is expected to significantly reshape workplace dynamics, enhancing efficiency and collaboration. Read more here

AI Watch

JPMorgan Chase Integrates AI to Enhance Operations and Client Services (The Wall Street Journal)—JPMorgan Chase, the largest U.S. bank, is extensively incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) across its operations. A key initiative is the deployment of the LLM Suite, a generative AI tool from OpenAI and others, now accessible to 200,000 employees, with half actively using it. This tool aids in tasks like preparing client briefings and managing documents, aiming to boost productivity. Additionally, AI is being utilized in call centers to improve efficiency and accuracy. While JPMorgan doesn't plan to develop its own large language models, it focuses on effectively leveraging existing models with proprietary data. The bank emphasizes maintaining human oversight to ensure the accuracy and reliability of AI outputs. Read more here

Dow Jones Expands AI Marketplace to Nearly 5,000 Publishers (Axios)—Dow Jones, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal, has significantly expanded its AI marketplace, enabling publishers to license their content to corporations through its subsidiary, Factiva. This initiative now includes nearly 5,000 publishing partners, up from 4,000 in November and 2,000 six months ago. Factiva, which collaborates with over 30,000 global news and data sources, leverages this content to provide research tools to enterprises. While Dow Jones hasn't partnered with AI companies for licensing yet, it's a future consideration. This expansion aims to help publishers receive compensation for their work amid increasing AI usage. Dow Jones' extensive network and longstanding relationships position it well for these endeavors. Additionally, News Corp, Dow Jones' parent company, is integrating AI into its operations while vigilantly protecting its legal rights, balancing potential lawsuits with partnerships based on perceived value. Read more here

How AI Can Benefit Both Tax Authorities and Taxpayers (IMF Blog)—Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is poised to transform the relationship between governments and citizens, particularly in the realm of taxation. By automating routine tasks and clarifying complex tax regulations, GenAI can serve as an assistant to both tax officials and taxpayers. For instance, Singapore's virtual assistant has significantly reduced call-center inquiries by providing multilingual support, while Korea's AI guide assists citizens in filing and paying taxes. These applications not only enhance efficiency but also foster transparency and trust in tax systems. However, successful implementation requires strong leadership, ethical policy frameworks, and vigilant oversight to address challenges related to data quality, privacy, and accuracy. By embracing GenAI responsibly, tax administrations can demystify tax obligations and promote a more collaborative relationship between the state and its citizens. Read more here

Alibaba Releases Open-Source AI Model Wan 2.1 for Video and Image Generation (Reuters)—Alibaba has announced the open-source release of its AI model, Wan 2.1, designed for generating realistic videos and images. This move aims to enhance accessibility and foster innovation in AI-driven visual content creation. The company has made four variants of Wan 2.1 available globally on platforms like Alibaba Cloud's ModelScope and HuggingFace, catering to academic, research, and commercial applications. This development comes as Alibaba plans to invest 380 billion yuan ($52 billion) over the next three years to strengthen its cloud computing and AI infrastructure. Read more here

Hugging Face Releases Comprehensive Guide for Training Large AI Models—Hugging Face has unveiled the "Ultra-Scale Playbook," a free, open-source manual designed to assist in the efficient training of large AI models. This extensive guide, nearly 100 pages long and comprising 30,000 words, is the culmination of over six months of development and a year of GPU compute time. It distills insights from more than 4,000 scaling experiments conducted on up to 512 GPUs. The playbook delves into complex topics such as 5D parallelism, ZeRO technology, and CUDA kernels, providing practical advice on recent industry advancements. To facilitate hands-on learning, it includes two code repositories: "picotron" for educational purposes and "nanotron" for production-ready applications. Thomas Wolf, co-founder and CSO of Hugging Face, emphasizes that the primary goal is to democratize AI by educating individuals on building and fine-tuning high-performance models. This initiative aims to bridge the knowledge gap in AI model training, making expertise accessible to a broader audience. Read more here

SEO Watch

Study Highlights Impact of Google's AI Overviews on Web Traffic (Search Engine Land)—A recent study by Terakeet reveals that webpages featured in Google's AI Overviews experience increased traffic, while those excluded suffer significant declines. For top-ranked pages on transactional queries, inclusion in AI Overviews resulted in 3.2 times more clicks compared to those omitted. Similarly, lower-ranked pages on informational queries saw double the clicks when featured in AI Overviews. This shift indicates that the presence of AI Overviews alters user behavior, potentially diverting traffic from traditionally top-ranking pages. The study underscores the importance for content creators to adapt strategies, ensuring their content is optimized for inclusion in AI-generated summaries to maintain or enhance visibility. Read more here

Mobile Watch

Huawei Teases Upcoming HarmonyOS Smartphone with New Form Factor (SCMP)—Huawei has announced plans to unveil a new smartphone in March, featuring a novel form factor and running on its self-developed HarmonyOS Next system. Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, hinted at the innovation, stating the company aims to create products that others "want to make but cannot make." This follows Huawei’s release of the Mate XT, a tri-fold smartphone launched in China in September 2024 and internationally in February 2025. The Mate XT features a dual-hinge design, offering three screen configurations. Priced at €3,499, it is available in select markets. While details on the new device remain undisclosed, Huawei’s focus on innovation suggests it will introduce significant advancements in hardware and software, strengthening its position in the smartphone market. Read more here

Censorship Watch

Government-Enforced Internet Blackouts Reach Record High in 2024 (Axios)—In 2024, government-imposed internet shutdowns reached an unprecedented level, with at least 296 outages documented across 54 countries, according to a report by Access Now. These shutdowns were primarily utilized to suppress dissent during conflicts, protests, and elections. Notably, seven countries, including El Salvador, France, Malaysia, and Thailand, implemented such measures for the first time. Conflicts were the leading cause, accounting for 103 disruptions across 11 nations, including Ethiopia, India, and Ukraine. Felicia Anthonio of Access Now's #KeepItOn campaign emphasized that authorities used these shutdowns as weapons of war and tools for collective punishment, leading to significant human rights abuses. Read more here

Money Watch

Wero: A Potential Game-Changer in European Payments (Sifted)—Launched in late 2024, Wero is a digital wallet backed by 14 banks under the European Payments Initiative (EPI), aiming to unify Europe's fragmented payment systems. Operating in France, Germany, and Belgium, Wero enables peer-to-peer transfers in under ten seconds and has enrolled 30 million users. By leveraging open banking, Wero facilitates instant account-to-account payments, reducing reliance on traditional networks like Visa and Mastercard. While some view Wero as an "existential threat" to existing payment apps, challenges include altering consumer payment habits and expanding bank participation across all EU member states. Read more here

Embracing Agile Philanthropy for a Dynamic Jewish Future—In an era where challenges are increasingly complex and fast-paced, traditional philanthropic models, often hindered by rigid structures and slow processes, may no longer suffice. Drawing parallels to military evolution—from cumbersome tanks to agile drones—philanthropy must also adapt to become more nimble and responsive. This shift towards "agile philanthropy" emphasizes flexibility, allowing for swift support of innovative, grassroots initiatives that can rapidly test and implement new ideas. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and fostering closer collaboration between grantors and grantees, this approach aims to address pressing issues such as rising antisemitism and the need for accessible, high-quality Jewish education. Balancing speed with accountability, agile philanthropy seeks to empower communities, encourage calculated risk-taking, and ensure a resilient and flourishing Jewish future. Read more here

Criminals Watch

Three Men Stand Trial for Theft of Maurizio Cattelan's Golden Toilet from Blenheim Palace (ARTnews)—In September 2019, an 18-carat gold toilet titled "America," created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The theft, described as an "audacious raid," involved five burglars who used stolen vehicles to break into the palace, remove the fully functional artwork, and cause significant water damage. The toilet, valued at approximately £4.8 million, has not been recovered and is believed to have been melted down. Three men—Michael Jones, Frederick Doe, and Bora Guccuk—are currently on trial in connection with the theft, each denying the charges. A fourth individual, James Sheen, has previously admitted to burglary and conspiracy to transfer criminal property. The trial is expected to last four weeks. Read more here

New York City Targets Alleged Brothel Catering to Wall Street Executives—New York City has initiated legal action to shut down TemptationsNYC, an establishment in the Financial District accused of operating as a brothel and promoting services like threesomes to Wall Street professionals. Undercover NYPD operations reported illegal alcohol sales, lap dances, and offers of sexual services in exchange for money. The operator, identified as Johnny, contends that these allegations stem from a misunderstanding of the club's swinger lifestyle, asserting that no alcohol is sold and no prostitution occurs on the premises. The city seeks a court order to close the venue and is suing both the operators and the landlord, CYP Enterprise LLC, for permitting alleged illegal activities. TemptationsNYC's Instagram account features explicit promotions, which have drawn increased attention from law enforcement and local residents. Read more here

Power Watch

Proxima Fusion Unveils Blueprint for Commercial Nuclear Fusion Power Plant (Sifted)—German startup Proxima Fusion has announced a significant breakthrough by releasing the world's first comprehensive blueprint for a commercial nuclear fusion power plant. Developed in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, this design integrates all necessary components for a functional fusion reactor. Proxima's approach utilizes a stellarator device, which employs complex magnetic fields to contain superheated plasma in a twisted doughnut shape, aiming for enhanced stability over traditional tokamak designs. Advancements in AI-driven simulations have accelerated the testing and refinement of their design. Despite the challenges, Proxima aims to have its reactor operational by the late 2030s, contributing to the global pursuit of efficient and sustainable fusion energy. Read more here

Health Watch

Sleep Deprivation Triggers Inflammatory Immune Response (Study Finds)—A recent study from Kuwait's Dasman Diabetes Institute reveals that even a single night of sleep deprivation can significantly alter immune cell function, leading to increased inflammation. Researchers found that 24 hours without sleep caused healthy individuals' immune cells to resemble those found in obese individuals, characterized by elevated non-classical monocytes associated with chronic inflammation. This suggests that insufficient sleep can independently trigger inflammatory responses, irrespective of a person's weight. The study emphasizes the importance of maintaining regular, adequate sleep patterns to support immune health and reduce inflammation-related health risks. Read more here

People Watch

Study Reveals Hollywood's Male Role Models Are Failing Young Men (TheWrap)—A 2024 study by the National Research Group (NRG) indicates that 43% of males aged 13 to 30 are uncertain about modern masculinity. The report highlights that 47% of these young men look to fictional characters and celebrities for guidance on manhood, rather than real-life figures. This trend underscores the significant influence of media portrayals on young men's perceptions of masculinity. The study suggests a need for Hollywood to present more multifaceted male characters to provide diverse and relatable role models. Read more here

Travel Watch

Expanding Highways Fails to Alleviate Traffic Congestion (ScientificAmerican)—Expanding highways has long been a go-to strategy for addressing traffic congestion. However, research indicates that this approach often backfires due to a phenomenon known as "induced demand." This concept suggests that increasing road capacity encourages more people to drive, ultimately restoring congestion levels to their previous state. A study highlighted that every 10% increase in roadway capacity can lead to a 9% rise in traffic within a few years. An alternative solution gaining traction is congestion pricing. This system imposes fees on drivers during peak traffic times or in heavily congested areas, effectively managing demand. Cities like London and Stockholm have successfully implemented congestion pricing, resulting in reduced traffic volumes and improved air quality. By discouraging non-essential trips during busy periods, congestion pricing can optimize road usage and alleviate gridlock. Read more here