The Comunicano Sunday Edition for April 13th 2025
Not a Bloody Sunday
It’s been a quiet Sunday morning. The coffee is steaming in my favorite mug, and the world, as always, keeps turning — only now it does so just a little faster. This week, over a billion people reached into their pockets and tapped into something that didn’t exist a few years ago. ChatGPT, the talking typewriter of our age, doubled its users — not over years, but weeks. They say it’s the o1s and o3s, whatever those are. Maybe it’s because it feels a little less like a tool, and a little more like a friend. Meanwhile, OpenAI's working on something they call A-SWE — a digital developer who never calls in sick, never misses a deadline, and somehow still hates debugging as much as the rest of us.
Across the Pacific, Alibaba's Quark — yes, Quark — became the AI that 150 million people didn’t know they were waiting for. Simpler. Faster. Smarter. And maybe, just maybe, better.
And, in the world of work, the folks at Workhuman are using AI to say “thank you” in ways that don’t sound like a bot wrote it. Because even when the circuits help, it's still the people who make it matter. And at Adobe, agents don’t carry badges — they carry brushstrokes and edits. Helping creatives make more of their moments. It's not about doing less — it’s about doing more of what you love.
Google’s got AI talking to AI now. Agents whispering across networks, like coworkers huddled around a whiteboard. WordPress builds your website while you’re still finishing your coffee. Amazon’s asking “Why?” and answering with “Why not?” And in Spain? They're chasing wind without the wind. Finding energy where no one thought to look.
It’s a world in motion — robots rolling down sidewalks, Dorsey and Musk rewriting the rules, and your phone? It might not need a case anymore.
We’re not just building tools. We’re building relationships with them. And in the end, maybe that’s what progress really feels like — less cold steel, more warm familiarity.
Because the future doesn’t shout. It simply… arrives, here in THE COMUNICANO!!!
Andy Abramson
OpenAI Watch
ChatGPT Surpasses 1 Billion Users, Doubling in Weeks (Forbes)—At TED 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman disclosed that ChatGPT's user base has doubled to over 1 billion in just a few weeks. This rapid growth is attributed to new AI models like o1 and o3, and strategic integrations, notably with Apple devices. ChatGPT's adoption among Gen Z and millennials now surpasses Google's AI offerings, signaling a significant shift in the AI landscape. Altman's revelation underscores the accelerating pace of AI adoption and its expanding influence across demographics. Read more here: Forbes
OpenAI's Next Agent Wants to Be Your Full-Stack Engineer (LiveMint)—OpenAI is developing a new AI agent dubbed A-SWE — short for Agentic Software Engineer — designed to not only build software like a human developer but also self-test, debug, and document code. CFO Sarah Friar claims A-SWE will do everything devs avoid, including quality assurance and bug bashing. It’s the third agent after Operator and Deep Research, and promises to “force-multiply” engineering teams. But with AI still prone to hallucinations, many are skeptical. Bold claims are nothing new from OpenAI, and history suggests the reality may land somewhere below the hype. Read more here: LiveMint
AI Watch
Alibaba’s Quark Overtakes ByteDance in China’s AI Race (SCMP)—Alibaba’s AI assistant app Quark has surged to the top of China’s AI app rankings, surpassing ByteDance’s Doubao and DeepSeek. Once a cloud storage and search tool, Quark’s transformation into an intuitive “AI super assistant” has drawn nearly 150 million monthly active users globally. Backed by Alibaba’s ecosystem, Quark is now China’s most popular AI app, ranking sixth worldwide. Its rapid ascent reflects growing local demand for user-friendly, powerful AI tools — and raises the stakes in the ongoing competition with ByteDance and Baidu. Read more here: South China Morning Post
Workhuman Bets on AI to Make Gratitude at Work Feel Real (Financial Times)—Workhuman, the Irish tech firm behind a $1.2 billion “social recognition” platform, is integrating AI into the business of workplace appreciation. The newly launched “Human Intelligence” assistant helps employees fine-tune praise messages with emotional precision — without removing the human touch. While companies like BP and Cisco use the tool to match recognition with rewards, Workhuman insists authenticity remains key. The AI helps managers mine data to identify rising stars and spot mentors, but critics warn of robotic sentiment creeping into emotional exchanges. In the end, it's still about how real the people behind the platform choose to be. Read more here: Financial Times
Adobe’s Vision for Agentic AI in Creativity and Productivity (Adobe Blog)-Adobe is ushering in a new era with Agentic AI, blending intelligence and automation across its suite of tools. From Photoshop suggesting edits in a floating Actions panel to Premiere Pro crafting rough video cuts and extending clips with Generative Extend, Adobe is baking smart assistance directly into the creative workflow. Acrobat will soon feature document-savvy agents, while Express empowers design through conversational prompts. This isn’t just AI for automation — it’s AI for augmentation, making creative work faster, easier, and more intuitive. Read more here: Adobe Blog
Google’s A2A Protocol Ushers in Cross-Agent Collaboration (Google Developers Blog)—Google is betting big on agent interoperability with its A2A protocol — Agent2Agent. The goal? Create a seamless language for AI agents to communicate across platforms, tools, and organizations. This open-source initiative is a foundational step toward AI ecosystems where agents from different companies and models work together, not in silos. Think automated workflows that scale across enterprise environments with agents collaborating like seasoned teams — orchestrated, efficient, and interoperable by design. Read more here: Google Developers Blog
WordPress.com’s AI Website Builder Simplifies Web Design (WordPress Blog)—WordPress.com is taking a bold step into no-code territory with its new AI-powered website builder. Users feed in basic inputs — business type, style, color scheme — and within minutes, the tool generates a complete, editable website. With content, layout, and visuals handled, creators can tweak via prompts or go manual. While ecommerce isn’t supported yet, this is a powerful play for streamlining web presence setup. Fast, sleek, and conversational — it’s WordPress building your site, your way. Read more here: WordPress Blog
Amazon Watch
Amazon’s “Why” Culture Drives Record Growth and Bold Innovation (Amazon)
In his 2024 letter to shareholders, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy outlined an 11% revenue jump to $638B and an 86% increase in operating income. The real story, though, is Amazon’s relentless “Why” culture. From AI-powered AWS upgrades to record Kindle sales and speedier Prime delivery, the company’s gains reflect a deep-rooted drive to question the status quo. Jassy credits this mindset for unlocking innovation across everything from retail to AI chips to original content on Prime Video — all while making customer experience the ultimate north star. Read more here: Amazon
Robot Watch
Humanoid Robot Learns to Mimic Human Emotions and Behavior (Fox News)—A groundbreaking humanoid robot has been developed with the ability to replicate human emotions and behaviors in real time. Utilizing advanced artificial intelligence, the robot observes and mimics human operators to learn natural gestures and deliberate actions with striking accuracy. This innovation marks a significant step toward more emotionally intelligent machines, potentially transforming interactions in various sectors, including hospitality and healthcare. The robot's design and functionality draw parallels to characters like WALL-E, emphasizing its personable nature. Read more here
DoorDash Rolls Out Sidewalk Robot Deliveries in LA and Chicago (The Verge)—DoorDash is hitting the pavement—literally—with its newest delivery play: sidewalk robots. Partnering with Coco, the compact, cooler-on-wheels robots are now delivering meals and goods in Los Angeles and Chicago, marking a major step in DoorDash’s "multi-modal" delivery strategy. Nearly 600 merchants are onboard, tapping into automation to cut costs and speed up service. With over 100,000 robot deliveries already completed, this is more than a pilot—it’s a full-on deployment. But challenges remain, from obstacle detection to human intervention when things go sideways. It’s urban logistics, reimagined. Read more here: The Verge
Top 30 Warehouse Robotics and Automation Companies (Robotics & Automation News)—Warehouse automation has transformed logistics, with companies like Amazon Robotics, Symbotic, Geek Plus, Covariant, and Kion Group leading the charge. These organizations are deploying technologies such as autonomous mobile robots, automated storage and retrieval systems, and AI-powered robotic arms to streamline operations. The integration of these advanced systems is revolutionizing supply chain efficiency and accuracy. Read more here
Energy Watch
Spain Uncovers Unexpected Energy Breakthrough (JasonDeegan.com)—Spain is pioneering a fresh wave of renewable energy innovation. Researchers at the Distance University of Madrid are developing a new method to generate power from artificial air currents, offering a novel complement to wind and solar. Meanwhile, Spain is investing heavily in green hydrogen, with a target of 11 GW electrolyzer capacity by 2030. The country is also exploring underground reservoirs of naturally occurring “white” hydrogen, which could be a low-cost, zero-emission fuel source. Together, these efforts position Spain as a serious player in the clean energy revolution. Read more here: JasonDeegan.com
Innovation Watch
Inside Nokia Bell Labs’ New Jersey Future (Fast Company)—Nokia Bell Labs is leaving its storied Murray Hill campus behind and relocating to a cutting-edge research center in New Brunswick, New Jersey by 2028. The move aligns Bell Labs with the HELIX innovation district, designed to bring together top minds in science, tech, and medicine. The new facility will focus on transformative technologies like 6G, quantum computing, photonics, AI, and industrial automation. With a legacy of breakthroughs behind it, Bell Labs is positioning itself at the forefront of tomorrow’s most ambitious innovations—right in the heart of the Northeast’s newest innovation corridor. Read more here: FastCompany
SportsTech Watch
AI Models Forecast Miami Dolphins’ 2025 Draft Moves (Sports Illustrated)—AI is weighing in on NFL draft strategy, and for the Miami Dolphins, it’s playing it safe. According to projections by NFL Draft IQ, the team is expected to stay put at the 13th pick—neither trading up nor down. While quarterback isn't a primary target, the model suggests reinforcing the depth behind Tua Tagovailoa. Potential picks include offensive tackles Will Campbell and Armand Membou, and defensive backs Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori. It’s data-driven drafting, and the Dolphins look set to play it smart and steady in 2025. Read more here: Sports Illustrated
TechPolicy Watch
Social Security Moves Public Communications to X.com (Wired)—The Social Security Administration is shifting all public announcements—including press releases and official letters—to X.com, the platform formerly known as Twitter and now owned by Elon Musk. This abrupt transition has sparked major accessibility concerns, particularly for older Americans unfamiliar with social media. Critics warn the move could restrict access to vital information and increase the risk of misinformation or fraud. The shift is part of broader changes under the Department of Government Efficiency, influenced by Musk, which also includes massive staff cuts and a rushed IT overhaul. Read more here: Wired
Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk Want to Scrap IP Law Entirely (TechCrunch)—Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk ignited debate after calling to “delete all IP law” on X. Their comments arrive amid lawsuits against AI firms for copyright misuse. Dorsey argues that current IP systems exploit creators, suggesting better compensation models exist. Musk, echoing past disdain for patents, supports open innovation. Critics fired back, accusing them of undermining artists’ rights. While some see this as bold reform, others warn it risks turning creative industries into tech-owned territory. As tech influence grows in policy, these statements are more than internet chatter — they’re a shot across the bow. Read more here: TechCrunch
San Diego County to Explore AI Policy Overhaul (GovTech)—San Diego County is proactively stepping into the AI era with a plan to assess and shape policies guiding how artificial intelligence is deployed in government. County supervisors are calling for clear governance structures that ensure transparency, ethical use, and protection of personal data. A key goal is to develop an incident-response plan for AI-related failures and create guidelines aligned with labor agreements. Workforce education around AI is also in the spotlight, as the county gears up to balance innovation with accountability across public services. Read more here: GovTech
Smartphone Watch
Your Phone Might Not Need a Case Anymore — But Are You Feeling Lucky? (BBC)—With tougher materials like Gorilla Glass and Ceramic Shield, modern smartphones can survive serious drops — sometimes. Journalist Thomas Germain spent a month going caseless and found his iPhone mostly held up. Experts agree: newer phones are stronger, but not indestructible. Skipping a case is now a quiet status flex, even among startup CEOs. But despite better drop-test results, cracked phones still happen. The verdict? You can go without a case, but only if you’re ready to accept some real risk — and maybe a scratch or two along the way. Read more here: BBC
EV Watch
Tesla’s Cybertruck Struggles to Deliver on the Hype (New Atlas)—Tesla’s futuristic Cybertruck is facing a bumpy road. With U.S. sales down 32.5% in early 2025 and $200 million in unsold inventory, Tesla has slashed production. The highly anticipated vehicle sold just under 40,000 units in its first full year—far short of Elon Musk’s bold 250,000-unit annual forecast. Adding to the woes: multiple recalls, resale value crashes, and even Tesla’s refusal to accept trade-ins. Despite being America’s best-selling electric truck last year, Cybertruck’s momentum has stalled—raising real questions about the viability of Tesla’s design gamble. Read more here: New Atlas
Hyundai IONIQ 5 Drops 500 Pounds with Retro-Inspired Body (Electrek)—Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 just got a high-performance makeover, shedding over 500 pounds thanks to a new carbon-fiber body inspired by the iconic Lancia Delta. Developed by ByKOLLES Racing, the “Vandervell H-GT” keeps the IONIQ 5 N’s 641 hp drivetrain but boosts speed and agility through extreme weight loss. The carbon bodywork gives it supercar performance while maintaining Hyundai’s daily driver reliability. Priced at €128,000, it’s part nostalgia, part innovation, and all power. It may not wear Martini colors yet, but it’s clearly dressed to impress. Read more here: Electrek
