The Comunicano Sunday Edition for April 20th 2025

Happy Easter

You know, every so often the news cycle reads like a mashup of Black Mirror, The Jetsons, and a corporate press release. This week? No exception.

Let’s start with OpenAI—because apparently, the smarter the model, the more creative it gets… with the facts. Their latest releases, o3 and o4-mini, are hallucinating like they just left Burning Man. We’re talking 33 to 48% factual inaccuracies. That’s not innovation—that’s improvisation. And in industries where decisions hinge on data? That’s dangerous.

Meanwhile, AI’s creeping deeper into the creative world. Tools like Firefly and Copilot can churn out content at scale—but originality? Emotional nuance? Still MIA. Turns out, copying style doesn’t mean capturing soul. Good news for creatives: your job isn’t obsolete. Yet.

In science, we’ve discovered a new color. Yep, a legit never-before-seen hue called “olo.” Thanks to some laser wizardry, our understanding of vision just got an upgrade. If you thought color correction was tricky before, just wait.

Over in D.C., Trump’s Easter Egg Roll turned into CES meets Capitol Hill. With Amazon, Meta, and Google slapping logos on eggs, the event morphed into a branded spectacle. Forget church and state—how about brand and ballot?

DHL also made headlines, halting consumer shipments to the U.S. from China and Hong Kong. Why? A crackdown on loopholes that let packages skip customs. E-commerce just hit a bump—one that’ll ripple across global trade.

And finally, China’s humanoid robot ran a half-marathon. It didn’t break records, but it broke new ground—literally and figuratively.

So, what do we take from this week? We’re moving fast—maybe too fast. And in our rush toward the future, let’s not lose sight of truth, creativity, and yes, even a little humanity. Which is why you need to keep reading, THE COMUNICANO!!!

Andy Abramson

OpenAI Watch

OpenAI's Newest Models Hallucinate More Often Than Before (Mashable)—Despite advancements, OpenAI’s latest models—o3 and o4-mini—are generating incorrect information at troubling rates. According to internal testing, o3 has a 33% hallucination rate, while o4-mini climbs to 48%, nearly triple the 16% seen in the earlier o1 model. These hallucinations emerged during PersonQA evaluations, designed to benchmark factual accuracy. OpenAI admits it doesn't fully understand the cause. While these models exhibit stronger reasoning, they also take more liberties with facts—a red flag as AI continues infiltrating decision-making domains. Read more here

AI Watch

AI Might Be Coming for Your Job, But It Can't Take Your Creativity (Creative Bloq)—AI tools like Adobe Firefly and Copilot streamline repetitive design tasks, but they fall short in capturing brand nuance and emotional depth. While they can generate numerous variations quickly, the outputs often lack originality, leading to homogenized designs. Moreover, many AI models are trained on artists' works without consent, raising ethical concerns. Despite AI's capabilities, human creativity remains essential for meaningful and distinctive design work. Read more here

Color Watch

A New Green Emerges with 'Olo' Vision Tech (Popular Science)—Scientists have unlocked a never-before-seen color dubbed "olo," using a pioneering technology called the Oz Vision System. By targeting specific retinal cells with laser precision, researchers stimulated only the medium-wavelength cones—something natural light can't do. The result? A pure green-blue hue humans have never experienced. This proof-of-concept, recently published in Science Advances, could redefine our understanding of color perception and even aid the color blind in seeing new shades. It's a glimpse into a surreal spectrum—like something out of Oz. Read more here

Holiday Watch

Big Tech Sponsors Trump’s Easter Egg Roll in Corporate Turn (Rolling Stone)—This year’s White House Easter Egg Roll, hosted by Donald Trump, came with a notable twist: sponsorships from tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Google. Once a quaint family affair, the event was heavily branded with corporate booths and digital experiences. Critics are calling it an alarming blend of politics, power, and capitalism, especially given ongoing antitrust scrutiny against some of the sponsors. With a $200,000 price tag for “premier” sponsorships, the event reflects a shifting White House approach to public-private partnerships—and the blurring line between governance and promotion. Read more here

Tariff Watch

DHL Halts US Consumer Shipments Amid New Customs Crackdown (South China Morning Post)—DHL Express has suspended business-to-consumer shipments over US$800 to the US from Hong Kong and China, following the Biden administration’s decision to end the “de minimis” exemption for those regions. Now, all packages must go through full customs clearance, creating delays and added costs. This policy shift, targeting Chinese imports, has prompted similar moves from other carriers like Hongkong Post. The disruption threatens e-commerce channels that rely on fast and duty-free entry into the U.S. market. Read more here

Robot Watch

China’s Humanoid Robot Half Marathon Winner Aims to Be the 'Android' of Robotics (South China Morning Post)—The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, known as X-Humanoid, gained attention after its robot, Tien Kung Ultra, finished a 21km half marathon in Beijing’s Yizhuang district in about two hours and 40 minutes. Standing 180cm tall and weighing 55kg, the robot showcases China’s rising capabilities in humanoid robotics. Formed in November 2023 as a joint venture with companies like Xiaomi Robotics and UBTech, X-Humanoid now pushes Hui Si Kai Wu — a universal AI robotics platform aiming to be the Android of humanoids. Read more here

Sports Watch

LeBron James Steps Into His Most Vital Role Yet: Father (Washington Post)—More than courtside mentoring, LeBron James is modeling modern fatherhood as he supports son Bronny’s basketball journey. In an emotionally resonant column, Kevin Merida spotlights how LeBron’s nurturing presence offers a rare example of Black fatherhood in elite sports. Through ups and downs—including Bronny’s G League path—LeBron remains his son’s biggest advocate. This isn’t legacy management. It’s love, commitment, and vulnerability in public view. Read more here

Media Watch

Britain’s 'Saturday Night Live' Faces Tough Odds (Washington Post)—Sky is bringing a UK version of Saturday Night Live to screens, but expectations are low. British satirical tastes differ drastically from America’s late-night formula, and the UK lacks the same star-studded performer pipeline. The production’s smaller budget and absence of network tradition put it at risk of becoming a pale imitation. Even with Lorne Michaels producing, critics doubt the magic will translate across the Atlantic. Read more here

Fashion Watch

The Best Denim Brands in 2025: From Classics to Cutting Edge (Wallpaper)—Wallpaper’s definitive 2025 denim guide blends heritage craftsmanship with forward-thinking style. From Levi’s and Wrangler to fashion darlings like The Row and Kapital, the list showcases a global array of designers shaping modern denim. Highlights include Carhartt WIP’s utilitarian edge, Junya Watanabe’s avant-garde tailoring, and eco-conscious labels like Jeanerica and ELV Denim. Whether you’re after vintage cuts, Japanese selvedge, or futuristic collaborations, this curated lineup fuses quality, design, and cultural relevance—keeping denim fresh, versatile, and timeless. Read more here