The Comunicano Sunday Edition for May 18th 2025
Sunny Sunday
You know, people ask me what innovation really means. They think it’s faster chips, higher resolution, another sleek product in anodized aluminum. But that’s not it. “Innovation is about pushing humanity forward. Not automating it into oblivion,” I say.
This week, Google rolls out its latest vision of the future—Gemini 2.5, Android 16, Auracast, Wear OS 6. All these acronyms and platforms and promises. They’ll tell you it’s about connection. But I want to ask—connection to what?
Smarter notifications, they say. But are we becoming smarter, or just more distracted?
They’re integrating AI into every part of the ecosystem. But if the ecosystem no longer includes your judgment, your curiosity, your soul—what exactly are we building?
You see, Apple didn’t build the Macintosh so a machine could think for you. Apple built it so you could think differently. Apple believed the people who were crazy enough to think they could change the world—would.
Now, YouTube launches podcast charts, and Joe Rogan sits on top. Tony Hinchcliffe surges, controversy and all. That’s not an accident. People crave unfiltered voices. Not sanitized scripts. Not curated timelines. They want raw. They want real. But what they’re getting is algorithmic slop.
And behind the scenes, nations are making deals for GPUs and AI dominance—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Nvidia, Apple and Alibaba. This isn’t about creativity. It’s about control. About owning the rails of intelligence before it becomes general, before it becomes power.
Even Elton John is speaking out. Artists are being hollowed out by machines trained on their own voices, without consent. And governments shrug. Because convenience wins elections. But remember this: technology alone is not enough. It's technology married with the liberal arts. With the humanities. With the things that make our hearts sing.
So here’s my call: Don’t settle for smarter tech. Demand wiser design. Don’t just ship products. Ship purpose. Build tools that help us be more human—not less.
Because the ones who truly shape the future aren’t building smarter notifications.
They’re building better questions.
Stay hungry. Stay foolish. And, keep reading, THE COMUNICANO!!!
Andy Abramson
What I Wrote This Week
Thought Processing: The AI Revolution That’s Quietly Changing How We Think
Why Voice Powered AI Services are Game Changers
The Andy Analysis: Cox and Charter to Merge?
The Andy Analysis: Notion’s AI Meeting Notes and the Tectonic Shift in Meeting Productivity
Why Notion AI Transcript Targets Standalone Meeting Apps
Partners vs. Allies: The Terminology Trap in Business Relationships
Google I/O Watch
Google I/O 2025: Anticipating Major AI and Android Announcements (TechCrunch)—Google I/O 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for the company, with announcements expected around the upgraded Gemini AI platform and Android 16. Gemini 2.5 Pro is rumored to be a major highlight, offering improved capabilities for coding and software development. Android 16 may include smarter notifications, lock screen widgets, Auracast Bluetooth features, and expanded accessibility tools. Google is also expected to showcase updates to its mixed reality platform Android XR, and its smartwatch OS, Wear OS 6. All eyes will be on how Google blends AI deeper into its ecosystem. Read more here
How to Watch Google I/O 2025 and What's Likely to Be Announced (SammyGuru)—Google I/O 2025 will be livestreamed on May 20–21 across Google's YouTube and developer portals. Expect the spotlight to shine on AI, particularly the Gemini platform's evolution and new Android 16 features. Rumors suggest advances in Android XR for mixed reality and enhancements to Wear OS are also on deck. The theme is clear: tighter AI integration, deeper personalization, and smarter cross-device experiences. For developers and users alike, this year's I/O promises more than just iterations — it hints at a smarter, more unified Google universe. Read more here
YouTube Watch
YouTube Launches Weekly Podcast Charts, Crowning Joe Rogan at the Top (YouTube Charts)—YouTube has officially rolled out weekly podcast rankings in the U.S., marking a significant shift in how podcast success is measured on the platform. Leading the first chart is “The Joe Rogan Experience,” followed closely by Tony Hinchcliffe’s “Kill Tony,” with other shows like “Rotten Mango” and “48 Hours” also making the list. Rankings are based on watch time, and only podcasts tagged properly as playlists are eligible — no clips or Shorts allowed. With over a billion monthly podcast viewers, YouTube is now firmly asserting itself as the platform to beat in the podcasting world. Read more here
Tony Hinchcliffe’s 'Kill Tony' Surges Despite Political Backlash (New York Times)—Tony Hinchcliffe’s live comedy podcast “Kill Tony” has rocketed to number two on YouTube’s new podcast chart, right behind Joe Rogan. The rise comes despite Hinchcliffe drawing criticism over controversial comments made at a Trump rally in 2024. YouTube’s podcast chart launch is part of a broader push to help users discover what’s trending, and “Kill Tony’s” surge highlights how YouTube is reshaping podcast visibility and reach. While legacy platforms like Spotify still command loyalty, YouTube’s raw reach and video-first format are attracting both creators and fans at scale. Read more here
AI Watch
US Secures AI Infrastructure Deals with UAE and Saudi Arabia (SemiAnalysis)—The United States has struck critical AI infrastructure deals with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, positioning itself to stay ahead in the global AI race. These agreements focus on building expansive data centers and securing a reliable supply of GPUs, a strategic move to address America’s growing data center capacity issues. By partnering with energy-rich Gulf states, the U.S. not only shores up its AI capabilities but also builds stronger geopolitical alliances. The deals, however, raise security concerns over tech sharing and potential misuse, demanding careful oversight. Read more here
Nvidia Expands Beyond Big Tech with Global AI Partnerships (Financial Times)—Nvidia is actively diversifying its AI chip business beyond Big Tech by forming strategic partnerships with nation states and emerging “neocloud” providers. Recent multibillion-dollar deals with Saudi Arabia’s Humain and the UAE’s G42 reflect a broader push into sovereign AI infrastructure, aiming to reduce Nvidia’s dependency on hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. The company is investing in next-gen cloud partners such as CoreWeave and Nebius, while also aligning with enterprise IT giants like Cisco and Dell. As rivals build their own AI chips, Nvidia’s strategy to establish its own cloud ecosystem becomes essential. Read more here
Elton John Slams UK Government Over AI Copyright Exemptions (BBC News)—In a candid interview, Sir Elton John criticized the UK government's decision to reject House of Lords proposals that would have required AI companies to disclose the copyrighted materials used in training their models. He labeled the move as "criminal" and accused ministers of enabling large tech firms to exploit artists without compensation. The House of Lords had voted to amend the Data (Use and Access) Bill to include transparency requirements, but the House of Commons dismissed these changes. Sir Elton warned that such policies could deprive young artists of their income and legacy, expressing readiness to pursue legal action if necessary. Playwright James Graham echoed these concerns, highlighting the government's complacency in protecting creative rights. The government maintains that no changes to copyright laws will be considered without ensuring they benefit creators. Read more here
What Is Artificial General Intelligence? (New York Times)—Artificial General Intelligence, or AGI, refers to the kind of AI that can match or exceed human intelligence across a wide array of tasks. Unlike today's specialized AI systems, AGI would be capable of reasoning, understanding context, learning from fewer examples, and transferring knowledge across domains. The New York Times explores how current large language models like GPT-4 show glimpses of AGI but stop short of full general intelligence. Experts remain divided on how close we are to realizing AGI, and debate its societal implications—from transformational breakthroughs in science and healthcare to existential risks around control and misuse. Read more here
Robot Watch
AI Humanoid Robots Revolutionize Car Dealerships (Fox News)—Chinese automaker Chery is transforming the car-buying experience with its AI humanoid robot, Mornine. Unveiled at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, Mornine serves as an "Intelligent Sales Consultant," capable of greeting customers, explaining vehicle features, leading showroom tours, and even serving refreshments. Equipped with advanced robotics and Chery's AI technology, Mornine can recognize gestures, respond to voice commands, and communicate in multiple languages. The robot is already operational in a Kuala Lumpur dealership, with plans to deploy 220 units globally this year. Chery envisions Mornine's role expanding beyond dealerships to malls, exhibitions, and eldercare facilities, signaling a shift towards AI-driven customer engagement. Read more here
Startup Watch
DeepSeek’s Rise Inspires Chinese Startups to Embrace Their Roots (Rest of World)—For years, Chinese tech startups masked their identity to ease entry into overseas markets and avoid geopolitical friction. That strategy is shifting, thanks to DeepSeek — the AI upstart that’s quickly earned global acclaim. Startups are now embracing their Chinese roots more openly, backed by the country's deep engineering bench and competitive costs. Founders like Jessy Wu are turning that heritage into a strength, creating English-language content, courting international media, and drawing interest from global investors. While some still incorporate abroad, the signal is clear: confidence in Chinese innovation is going global. Read more here
Carta Q1 2025: Seed Bottlenecks, Valuation Pressure, and Investor Caution (Carta)—Carta’s Q1 2025 State of Private Markets report paints a picture of a venture world in slowdown mode. Startups raised $21 billion this quarter, on par with Q1 2024, but the number of funding rounds fell to just 1,122—the lowest since 2018. Nearly half of all seed deals were bridge rounds, not stepping stones to Series A. And Series A activity? Down 79 percent since Q1 2022. The mood among investors remains cautious, with 19 percent of all new rounds registering as down rounds. In this market, only the best—or most connected—move forward. Read more here
Granola Watch
Granola 2.0 Transforms Team Meetings into Actionable Intelligence (Granola.ai)—Granola has launched version 2.0 of its AI-powered notepad, evolving from a solo note-taking tool into a team-centric collaboration platform. The update brings shared folders, allowing teams to organize meetings under categories like Sales or Product Reviews and easily share them via URL—even with people outside the company. Users can now chat with entire folders to pull insights and get AI-generated responses with citations. Integrations with Slack and advanced models from OpenAI and Anthropic make Granola a centralized hub for meeting knowledge. It’s meeting memory, now fully networked. Read more here
Granola Raises $43M to Build the Future of AI Note-Taking (TechCrunch)—Granola has raised $43 million in Series B funding at a $250 million valuation, led by Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross’ fund NFDG. The funding supports its push into collaborative features unveiled in Granola 2.0. Designed to convert unstructured meeting chaos into clean, actionable intelligence, the platform now supports shared folders, templated workflows, and deeper integrations across tools like Slack. As AI-driven productivity apps crowd the market, Granola is carving out space by making meetings more useful—for everyone in the org. Read more here
Apple Watch
Apple’s AI Deal with Alibaba Sparks U.S. Security Concerns (9to5Mac)—Apple’s newly confirmed partnership with Alibaba to integrate the Qwen AI model into iPhones sold in China is drawing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. With OpenAI’s tools restricted in China, Apple turned to Alibaba’s open-source model to power Siri and other on-device AI tools. But this move has triggered national security concerns in Washington, with officials warning it could strengthen China’s AI sector and compromise user data. There’s now talk of placing Alibaba on a U.S. trade blacklist, as regulators weigh the risks of American firms fueling Chinese tech advancement. Read more here
Security Watch
Signal Clone Used by Trump Officials Compromised in 20 Minutes (MicahFlee.com)—Micah Lee reports that TM SGNL, a modified version of the Signal app used by former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, was breached in under 20 minutes. The hacker exploited a publicly accessible Java heap dump file, revealing plaintext messages, usernames, and passwords. TM SGNL, developed by Israeli firm TeleMessage, archives messages for compliance, undermining Signal's end-to-end encryption. The breach exposed communications from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Coinbase employees, raising concerns about the app's security and its use by government officials. Following the hack, TeleMessage suspended its services, highlighting the risks of using unofficial messaging apps for sensitive communications. Read more here
Spot On! Great blogg!!!