Here's what's on tap in today's newsletter:
OpenAI pauses profits for polish
Gemini swears it'll play nice
Meta’s ad AI needs a nap
But first... a friendly reminder.
Don't let your AI tool gaslight you into thinking it’s the real genius here.
AI is your copilot, not your overlord. It’s a thought partner and a tool that can crush through busy work and extend your thinking.
But what makes it powerful isn’t the tool, it’s the brain using it.
I think this little cartoon we made with Nano Banana sums it up nicely:
So, if you've got some experience under your belt, congrats. That plus outstanding AI training (👈 shameless plug) is the secret sauce.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program:
🧠 AI Model Wars
The Bullets:
Sam Altman hit the big red “code red" button and now priority one is making ChatGPT gooder-er.
OpenAI’s diverting resources from shiny distractions like in-chat ads and Pulse to focus on improving the core product.
Internal memo: “We’re focusing on quality over monetization.” Translation: "We're getting roasted on X because Gemini is better."
My take:
ChatGPT is still my ride or die mainly because of the interplay between Projects, GPTs, and Canvas. It's incredibly efficient when you use all three together. It's all in my Growth OS for ChatGPT training here.
But this fierce competition is good for us. When billion-dollar AI labs start sweating over product quality instead of chasing ad dollars, we win. Every “code red” they hit means better tools, fewer bugs, and less time begging your AI to remove the emojis from your client proposal. 🙃
🌐 I’ll take ‘AI in Business’ for $800, Alex.
Answer: This virtual influencer has 2.5 million Instagram followers and has partnered with brands like Prada and Calvin Klein, despite not being a real person.
Answer... ermm... question at the bottom of this email. 👇
AI SEO
Head Google search exec says:
AI search isn’t eating your traffic, it’s making more of it.
Ads aren’t dying, they’re just getting a makeover (think: answers with upsells)
This shift is like the shift from desktop to mobile: weird at first, profitable later.
AI is a “discovery engine,” not a content thief.
These are not the droids you're looking for.
My response: 🤨
🐻 OH, AND THIS...
Meta’s Ad AI Thinks Grandma Got Game
Meta’s new AI ad tool was supposed to revolutionize marketing but instead it served up… a grandma wearing sweatpants
True Classic (a clothing brand aimed squarely at thirty something men) was shocked to find that Meta’s AI quietly replaced their best-performing ad (see fit dude on a stool above) with a grinning elderly woman lounging in an armchair, modeling the goods.
The “granny ad” ran for three glorious days before anyone noticed.
RELATED STORY: True Classic has a job opening for a Meta media buyer.
Well I hope your holiday season is off to a festive start!
Me? I'm planning on watching my sleeper pick for best holiday movie: Feast of the Seven Fishes. It's a cute story about love and family tradition set on Christmas Eve.
Reply back to this email and tell me your favorite holiday movie. I would love to hear from you!
Also, if you haven't heard, we have currently launched our best offer ever for theCLICK Pro.
It's called The Holiday Business Growth Bundle (mouthful!) and you can watch the short explainer video about it here.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Russ
Jeopardy Answer: Who is Lil Miquela?
Turns out you don’t need a pulse to land luxury brand deals. Created by the L.A. startup Brud (yes, Brud, a name that feels like a startup name generator sneezed), Miquela offers marketers the dream combo: always on-brand, never late, and zero risk of a Twitter scandal.
Wonder how much she earned the bros at Brud for this Avatar spot:
