The Comunicano Sunday Edition for July 20th 2025

Sunny Sunday

You can’t scroll, tap, or talk today without tripping over AI, and folks, it’s no longer hype, it’s habit.

Let’s start with your kids. A stunning 72% of American teens have already chatted with AI companions. They’re swapping memes and secrets with bots like they’re digital best friends. And while a third of them still prefer humans (thankfully), another third feel creeped out by what those bots say. That’s the new emotional Turing Test of comfort vs. confusion.

Now, expand that emotional bond. Adults are falling in love with AI companions. Real feelings. Digital partners. And no, this isn’t just sci-fi fantasy. It’s a legitimate coping mechanism for the lonely, the anxious, and the unseen. But when our hearts start trusting code, who’s protecting them from emotional manipulation? Empathy shouldn’t be a product feature; it should be a warning label.

Meanwhile, in content land, the Dor Brothers just flipped Hollywood on its head by creating a viral, profitable video empire using AI alone. Forget cameras. Forget actors. They’ve got scripts, clicks, and million-dollar paydays. It’s the democratization of production... if you’ve got a prompt and a plan.

Over in the enterprise stack, companies are tossing aside cheap labor in Africa and Asia and hiring PhDs to label data. Annotators once paid less than coffee now make 30% more than their day jobs. Because today’s models don’t need brute force. They need nuance. Meta, Turing, and Toloka just placed billion-dollar bets that expertise, not volume, will win the AI arms race.

Then there’s OpenAI, building what may be the safest autonomous agent yet. Their red team didn’t just poke holes—they launched 110 full-blown attacks, found seven major bugs, and forced a security rethink that cut browser exploits by 95%. That’s not just progress—it’s precedent.

Zooming out—YouTube’s taken the TV crown, penguin-shaped delivery bots now ride Shenzhen subways, smart restrooms are solving dignity in cities, and Dubai’s building a tech empire without oil. We’re living in a multi-threaded future where AI, robotics, pharma, and platforms aren’t just innovating, they’re converging.

And yet, for all the promise, the pressure is real. AI didn’t just threaten jobs, it erased whole org charts. Teens are becoming millionaires on Roblox. Fire trucks now cost $2 million thanks to private equity. And the Golden State Valkyries? They’re not just playing, they’re winning, financially and culturally.

This isn’t evolution—it’s acceleration. And we’re all trying to steer the car while it's already halfway off the ramp.

Buckle up. The future’s here. And it’s not waiting. It’s here. In THE COMUNICANO!!!

AI Watch

Almost 75 Percent of American Teens Have Used AI Companions (ScienceAlert)—A national survey of 1,060 US teens (ages 13–17) reveals that 72 percent have tried AI companion bots (like Replika, Character.AI, Nomi) at least once, and 52 percent use them monthly. While about two-thirds say AI chats are less satisfying than human ones, a concerning one-third treat these bots as confidants for serious matters—and 34 percent report discomfort from something a bot said. Many teens appreciate the entertainment and emotional expression AI offers, but the study warns of potential mental-health risks and urges stronger protections for minors. Read more here

More People Are Considering AI Lovers and We Shouldn't Judge (The Conversation)—A growing number of people feel a genuine emotional connection with AI companions, including romantic feelings. Experts argue we should not dismiss these experiences outright—AI bots can provide care, understanding, and consistent engagement, offering a form of emotional support, especially for those facing loneliness, disability, or trauma. However, the blurred lines between AI and human relationships raise ethical and psychological concerns, including dependency, detachment from genuine social bonds, and the potential for emotional manipulation. The article urges thoughtful exploration and regulation to balance empathy, autonomy, and mental well-being in the age of digital companionship. Read more here

How a Video Studio Embraced AI and Stormed the Internet (The New York Times)
—The Dor Brothers have built a groundbreaking business by creating full-featured, professional videos entirely synthesized by AI. As highlighted by The New York Times on July 18, 2025, their studio has earned over 1 million dollars through distribution on platforms and consulting for others entering this AI video arena. Their creations have amassed over 100 million views online, demonstrating that in the near future, creators armed with just a keyboard and vision may no longer need cameras, sets, or actors. Read more here

AI Firms Ditch Low-Cost Annotators in Favor of Expensive Experts (Financial Times)—AI outfits like Scale AI, Turing and Toloka are phasing out ultra-cheap data annotators in Africa and Asia—once paid under $2/hour—to instead hire domain specialists such as biologists and finance pros. The shift aims to better support emerging "reasoning" models (e.g. OpenAI's o3, Google's Gemini 2.5) that require more nuanced, high-quality training data. Scale landed a $15bn boost from Meta, and Turing secured $111mn in funding, while Toloka received $72mn, largely to hire these expensive experts. These specialists earn 20–30% more than their current roles, offering sophisticated tasks—from coding and debugging to quality-checking AI output—that better mirror real human reasoning. Read more here

OpenAI Watch

How OpenAIs Red Team Built the ChatGPT Agent Into an AI Fortress (VentureBeat)—OpenAI launched "ChatGPT Agent" in mid-July 2025—an autonomous assistant that can log into your email, browse the web, and manage files. To protect it from misuse, 16 PhD security researchers were deployed over 40 hours of red-team testing. They submitted 110 attacks and uncovered seven universal exploits, including hidden instructions and biologically focused data leaks. After multiple rounds of testing, OpenAI implemented fixes: a dual-layer monitoring system with 100 percent traffic inspection, memory and terminal restrictions, watch mode, and rapid patching. The result: a 95 percent reduction in visual-browser attacks and enhanced bio-security safeguards all setting a new standard in AI safety. Read more here

Streaming Watch

How YouTube Won the Battle for TV Viewers (Wall Street Journal)—By mid-2025, YouTube overtook traditional TV and streaming services—averaging over 1 billion hours watched daily on US television screens, surpassing Disneys combined networks and streaming platforms. Once a hub for short amateur clips, YouTube now excels in longer, high-quality content—including shows like Good Mythical Morning and Hot Ones—viewed predominantly on TVs rather than mobiles. Its app now offers tailored TV features—recommendations, remote navigation, episode queues—designed for communal lean-back viewing. With 54.2 billion dollars in revenue, YouTube ranks second only to Disney and continues to secure premium content like NFL Sunday Ticket. It is not just a future TV alternative—it is the mainstream entertainment destination that traditional media must reckon with. Read more here

This AI Warps Live Video in Real Time (Wired)—A startup called Decart has unveiled Mirage, an AI model that warps live video in real time based on text prompts. Co-founder Dean Leitersdorf demonstrated framing himself as a cosmic Roman emperor, underwater explorer, or cyberpunk hero, with 100 ms latency at 20 fps (768x432). Mirage also edits existing clips, with themes like anime or Versailles. Built via low-level Nvidia optimization, the system handles live streams for TikTok-style content. Challenges remain—race shifts, hallucinations—but Decart aims for full HD or 4K and refined control. The startup seeks to scale independently, targeting a kilo-unicorn. Read more here

Pharma Watch

How IBM and Moderna's Partnership Could Lead to an Explosion in Drug Development (Fast Company)—IBM and Moderna have teamed up to use quantum computing—specifically variational quantum algorithms—to predict how mRNA folds, a critical step in designing new vaccines and therapies. This hybrid quantum-classical approach sets a new record for the scale of mRNA structural problems solved. The implications: faster, cheaper drug discovery processes. While error-prone quantum systems aren't yet fault-tolerant, this work shows where quantum could supply real-world advantages in biotech before 2030. It's a glimpse of a quantum-powered future in medicine. Read more here

Where Are All the AI Drugs (Wired)—Despite breakthroughs, AI-designed drugs have yet to hit the market. Wired dives into the reality behind the hype: drug development still takes a decade, costs billions, and sees over 90 percent failure. Companies like Recursion, Insilico Medicine, and Xaira Therapeutics are leveraging AI to streamline discovery—Recursion has pushed eight AI-crafted drugs into clinical trials and narrowed candidates from thousands to hundreds. Their robotic labs run automated design-make-test-learn loops, though human oversight remains. Early trial results show promise—some cancer patients responding better than expected. Still, the final mile in drug approval remains unpredictable and complex. Read more here

Robotics Watch

World-First: Penguin-Style Delivery Robots Ride Shenzhen Subway to Refill 7-Elevens (Interesting Engineering)—Shenzhen launched 41 autonomous "penguin" robots that ride subways and elevators to restock 7-Eleven stations. These meter-tall, LED-faced droids queue for trains, traverse platform gaps, and handle stops—all without human help. Operated by VX Logistics under Shenzhen's broader robotization plan, they serve over 100 outlets during off-peak hours, replacing trolley-wielding staff. The rollout leverages panoramic lidar and custom chassis to navigate tight urban railways. It's a stunning example of embodied AI in public infrastructure and hints at a future where urban logistics seamlessly tie into public transit. Read more here

Travel Watch

The 'Smart' Restrooms That Can Solve America's Public Bathroom Crisis (The Wall Street Journal)—Americans struggle to find and maintain public bathrooms—now ranked 30th globally. WSJ highlights Throne Labs' "bathroom-as-a-service" solution: off-grid, sensor-rich toilet pods with app or text access, cleanliness ratings, smoke detection, and time limits. Deployed in Ann Arbor and LA, they've proven cheaper and faster than brick-and-mortar facilities (~$90K per unit annually) while offering dignity and hygiene. The service is embraced by communities, including the unhoused, who vigilantly safeguard the spaces. If scaled, these smart toilets could finally begin to address America's longtime relief-gap. Read more here

Workplace Watch

AI Isn’t Coming for Your Job—It’s Coming for Your Whole Org Chart (Fast Company)—Fast Company reports that 76,440 jobs were eliminated in 2025 due to AI, with 41 percent of global employers planning workforce cuts over five years. It is not just entry-level roles disappearing—whole team structures and promotion pipelines are collapsing. Companies are halting graduate hiring while favoring mid-level experience, which stifles career progression. The traditional career ladder is breaking as AI takes over junior work, leaving fewer pathways for skill-building and advancement. The shift demands new organizational designs and strategies as AI reshapes how careers unfold. Read more here

Take 5: Making Communication Work at Work (Kellogg Insight)—Kellogg Insight shares five research-driven strategies to optimize workplace communication. For scalable teams, the advice ranges from organizing info-sharing before silos form to blending face-to-face with digital channels, fostering trust, and matching style to context. Leaders and employees alike can reduce misalignment and boost effectiveness by adapting message format to scenario. A simple, human-centric guide to sharpening workplace clarity. Read more here

From TikTok to Huawei, Chinese Tech Giants Flock to Arab Tech Hub Dubai (SCMP)—Dubais emergence as a global tech hub—underpinned by friendly policies like free zones, 100 percent foreign ownership, and growth-oriented incentives—has drawn major Chinese players including ByteDance, Huawei, and Alibaba. ByteDance now occupies several floors in Dubai Internet City, with CEO Chew Shou Zi's 2024 visit reinforcing the companys commitment. "Dubai makes me feel like I am in an era of economic growth, where tech companies still spend big to expand and hire," says one relocated employee. With oil now below 1 percent of GDP, this strategic tech drive reflects Dubais ambition to become a diversified, innovation-first economy. Read more here

Creators Watch

Roblox is Turning Teens into Millionaires — the Platform is Bigger Than All of Steam (Windows Central)—Since launch in 2006, Roblox has evolved from a childhood playground to a creator-driven business powerhouse. As of mid-2025, it hosts 380 million monthly users, dwarfing Steams 132 million. The platform pays creators via its DevEx system, transferring in-game currency (Robux) into real money. In 2024 alone, developers earned 923 million dollars, and by 2025 that figure is expected to surpass 1 billion. Over 100 individual games generated more than 1 million dollars each in 2023, with top creators averaging 36 million dollars annually. Standout successes include a 16-year-old whose Grow a Garden hit 21 million concurrent players, earning tens of millions per month, and a 19-year-old who sold their game for over 3 million dollars. While success is rare and demands persistence and technical skill, Roblox offers an unprecedented avenue for teens to build real-world businesses. Read more here

Vehicle Watch

Why Does a Fire Truck Cost 2 Million (The Hustle)—Americas fire truck costs have exploded—ladder trucks now hit about 2 million, with delivery delays stretching 2 to 4.5 years. A handful of manufacturers, REVG, Oshkosh, Rosenbauer—own roughly two-thirds of the market after private equity consolidation, prompting lawmakers and the International Association of Fire Fighters to press for antitrust investigations. Critics say private equity profit motives, coupled with supply chain and labor pressures, are driving costs, and public safety concerns. Even modest-sized cities, struggling with aging fleets, are forced to accept inflated prices and extended wait times. Read more here

Sports Watch

Valkyries Have Stunned the WNBA: Nothing Has Held Us Back (Front Office Sports)—The Golden State Valkyries are rewriting the expansion playbook. In their inaugural WNBA season, they have delivered on-court wins and revenue that exceed expectations. Anchored by Bay Area womens basketball roots—from Stanford and Cal to Sacramentos Monarchs—the team taps into a rich fanbase eager for top-tier womens sports. Premium seating is in high demand, with courtside tickets costing thousands. With league expansion set to add five new teams by 2030, the Valkyries offer a powerful blueprint for sustainable growth: blending community roots, elite performance, and strong financials. Read more here