The Comunicano for Wednesday October 30th 2024

It's Humpday

Gather 'round, because there's a lot going on in the wild world of tech, retail, and everything in between! We’re living in a time where it feels like everyone’s vying for a slice of the future, and, oh, do we have some bold moves from our usual suspects.

Let's start with Mr. Bezos. He’s been packing his bags for Washington, D.C. You see, Jeff’s not just interested in packages anymore; he’s interested in policies and partnerships. Amazon is securing contracts in defense, healthcare, and cloud computing. Essentially, he’s working on being as indispensable to the government as your morning coffee.

Meanwhile, over at Apple, they’ve put out AI writing tools that can make edits without anyone the wiser. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Sounds handy, but can it beat human wit?” Well, iA Writer thinks you might want a second opinion. Their Authorship feature highlights every change, like a friend who remembers your every word. Because sometimes, it’s nice to know who’s really speaking.

Then there’s Google, our old standby. They’re holding off on releasing their new AI agents until they’re absolutely ready. And Chrome? It’s introducing all sorts of bells and whistles to manage performance and memory usage. Think of it as Google giving its browser a little spa day—making sure it’s sleek, efficient, and ready to help you avoid those “oops, my browser ate all my RAM” moments.

Over in the world of FinTech, Coinbase and Visa have teamed up to make crypto more accessible, which might be great news if you're into instant trades and faster fund transfers. And while you’re doing all that, beware of online reviews. Turns out, up to 40% might be, well, not exactly trustworthy. It’s all part of a growing challenge for the FTC to sift through what’s real and what’s just wishful thinking.

LinkedIn’s in on the AI game too, launching a Hiring Assistant for recruiters who need a helping hand—or perhaps a helping algorithm. This AI might just be the recruiter’s new best friend, helping with job descriptions and candidate sourcing, but don’t expect it to throw a retirement party just yet.

And in the spirit of comings and goings, Starbucks is giving their Oleato drinks the boot. They’ll be off the menu soon, sparing baristas the trouble and, let’s be honest, some customers from the digestion issues that came along with them. Meanwhile, in the stadium, fans are getting ejected for interfering with plays, and over at OpenAI, ChatGPT has learned how to keep track of your conversations—so you won’t have to scroll through that endless chat history anymore.

There you have it—a little bit of intrigue, a little bit of tech, and a lot of industry titans who just can’t sit still. But hey, that’s what keeps it interesting, right here in THE COMUNICANO.

Andy Abramson

Amazon Watch

Mr. Bezos Goes To Washington—Jeff Bezos is intensifying efforts to expand his influence in Washington, DC, by deepening partnerships with the federal government through Amazon. The company is leveraging connections for contracts across sectors like defense, healthcare, and cloud computing, reflecting Bezos's vision to entwine Amazon's operations with national interests. This strategic pivot aligns with Bezos’s approach to position Amazon as indispensable to government functions, particularly in technology and data infrastructure.

Where The Hubs Are—A recent report highlights that Chinese cities now outnumber U.S. hubs within Amazon’s seller network, underscoring the rapid growth of Chinese e-commerce businesses on the platform. Cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou lead in the volume of sellers, with local manufacturers and entrepreneurs capitalizing on Amazon's global reach. This trend reflects China's established infrastructure for mass production and the increasing sophistication of Chinese e-commerce strategies.

Apple Watch

Write On—Apple’s AI Writing Tools, now integrated into its OS, can replace user text without visible tracking. A competitor, iA Writer’s Authorship feature counters this, highlighting Apple AI’s changes for transparency, preserving original text, and allowing users to distinguish between AI-generated and personal writing. While Apple’s AI lags behind competitors, iA Writer enables careful use, giving users control over automated edits, markdown formatting, and more.

Google Watch

Not Ready Yet—Google's next-generation AI agents, initially expected sooner, are now delayed until at least 2025. This postponement reflects Google’s focus on refining and ensuring readiness for the advanced functionalities these AI systems will bring. The delay may provide Google time to advance these agents' capabilities, aligning with user expectations for reliability and robust functionality upon launch.

A Better Browser—Google Chrome has introduced enhanced performance controls, including a *Performance Detection* tool for identifying issues with one-click fixes and a *Memory Saver* with three modes: Standard, Balanced, and Advanced, each managing memory to fit users’ needs. Additionally, users can customize settings, keeping essential tabs active and toggling visual indicators. These updates aim to optimize browsing speed and efficiency. Check out more from 9 To 5 Google.

FinTech Watch

A Crypto Visa—Coinbase has expanded its partnership with Visa to include real-time cryptocurrency purchases and cash-out options for U.S. and EU customers using Visa debit cards. This integration allows users to fund Coinbase accounts instantly, facilitating fast trades and easier fund transfers. Visa Direct, which powers this feature, supports secure 24/7 access to funds, enhancing flexibility and convenience for crypto transactions.

Integrity Watch

Is it Real or Is It Fake—Fake online reviews are increasingly pervasive, comprising 16-40% of total reviews, and range from AI-generated praises to sabotages by competitors. The FTC is enforcing penalties, while platforms bolster detection. Spotting fakes is challenging; users can assess reviews by checking for profile pictures, scrutinizing vague or overly enthusiastic language, and looking for consistent, sensory details. Experts recommend avoiding extremes, like one- and five-star ratings, and cross-checking across platforms to identify copied reviews. By focusing on moderate reviews and real details, travelers can navigate toward more authentic feedback.

Tell Me Lies —The latest Axios Vibes survey reveals that nearly half of Gen Z voters and about a quarter of U.S. voters have lied about their voting choices to people close to them. This trend reflects rising polarization, making many—especially younger generations—reluctant to share political views openly due to fears of social fallout or judgment. Among Gen Z and Millennials, high levels of political disagreement have also led to distancing from some family members over politics, with a notable portion opting for discretion over confrontation. Overall, 58% of respondents prefer to keep their voting choices private, highlighting a broader move toward "social privacy".

LinkedIn Watch

Getting Some Help—LinkedIn has launched "Hiring Assistant," its first AI-driven tool aimed at automating recruitment tasks like drafting job descriptions and sourcing candidates. Now available to select enterprise clients, it leverages OpenAI’s GPT model to streamline tasks traditionally handled by recruiters. Integrated with LinkedIn’s vast dataset, the assistant also links with external application tracking, assisting in everything from candidate engagement to interview scheduling. This tool highlights LinkedIn’s investment in AI as a central business driver, especially within its B2B services for recruiters.

X Watch

Helping The Community—X (formerly Twitter) has improved its Community Notes feature for faster information sharing. Updates allow for quicker crowdsourced context on posts, enhancing transparency and user engagement by delivering notes to relevant tweets more promptly. This change reflects X’s focus on community-based moderation and improved content reliability.

Starbucks Watch

She’s Gone—Starbucks is discontinuing its olive oil-based Oleato drinks on November 7 as part of a menu streamlining strategy. The move, which was decided before the new CEO, Brian Niccol, 's recent start, aims to ease barista workloads, improve service speed, and refocus on popular items. Introduced by former CEO Howard Schultz, Oleato drinks had mixed reviews, with some customers experiencing digestive discomfort. This shift aligns with Starbucks’ broader efficiency and growth goals, which include reducing in-store complexity and encouraging corporate employees to return to the office.

Sports Watch

You’re Outta Here—During Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, two fans were ejected after one interfered with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts' catch, causing a controversial out call on Gleyber Torres. The interference occurred in the first inning with the Dodgers initially leading, though they ultimately lost 11-4 to the Yankees. This was the second instance of fan interference affecting Torres in the series. Betts emphasized focusing on the next game despite the unusual disruption.

AI Watch

No Longer Skeptical—Generative AI is increasingly trusted as a tool for software quality, shifting from skepticism to mainstream acceptance as more organizations implement it. AI's use in software quality assurance (QA) offers efficiencies in debugging, testing automation, and identifying vulnerabilities in real-time. As companies integrate AI-driven QA systems, they see potential for faster releases and better resource allocation, particularly when AI is tailored to understand and adapt to specific QA environments. These benefits, combined with AI's evolution in handling complex programming tasks, are helping organizations rethink their approaches to software reliability and security.

ChatGPT Can Look Back—OpenAI has introduced a chat history search feature for ChatGPT's web app, allowing users to easily search past conversations for specific topics or details. This tool is aimed at making it quicker for users to find and revisit previous discussions, enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows. Users can now access the feature directly within the web interface, making it especially convenient for ongoing projects or research, where referencing past chats is valuable. This addition reflects OpenAI’s focus on improving usability for both personal and professional users.