Community | University 

Jan 15, 2026

Hello, GrowthHackers! 

Welcome to your Weekly unfair advantage.

Once a week, we cut through the noise to bring you sharp insights, fast news, and fresh sparks to light up your brain and fuel your hustle. From scrappy hacks to big tech moves, AI shifts to culture flips this is your intel to stay ahead, move fast, and break boring.

Think of it as your growth-fueled espresso shot.
Short. Smart. Addictive.

Let’s dive in.👇

Quick Hits

1. Apple launches ‘Creator Studio’ bundle of apps
   (Creators about to max out storage in record time.)

2. YouTube now has a way for parents to block kids from watching Shorts (Parents fighting the algorithm one setting at a time.)

3. Microsoft launches Copilot Checkout and Brand Agents
   (Checkout but make it conversational)

4. OpenAI to acquire the team behind executive coaching AI tool Convogo
   (OpenAI really wants to run your meetings and your mindset)

5. Google removes AI Overviews for certain medical queries
   (Probably the most responsible AI update we’ve seen in a while)

6. Marketing is entering its quantum era
   (Marketing now exists in multiple funnels at the same time)

The Growth joke of the day

AI running checkout, coaching execs, and negotiating deals…
At this point it just needs a LinkedIn profile.

3-Minute News Bulletin with Roxie

This week's 🙌 News Bulletin explores:
Tech Giants Shift Strategies

In this edition of the News Bulletin, we track the power shifts shaping marketing, AI, and platforms as 2026 kicks into gear.

From the rise of quantum marketing and adaptive growth systems to Google weaving Gemini deeper into everyday research, the message is clear: static funnels and linear thinking are officially outdated. We unpack how marketers can move faster without losing depth, context, or trust.

We also look at big tech under pressure. Microsoft’s AI infrastructure promises, Tesla’s subscription-first bet on autonomy, and the renewed focus on community-first platforms signal a new era where scale meets accountability.

On the distribution front, AI-powered search is rewriting visibility rules, LinkedIn is quietly becoming a citation engine, and Instagram is handing users the keys to their own algorithms.

Let’s dive in!

Latest Growth Hacking News

Strategies

• Google Downplays GEO – But Let’s Talk About Garbage AI SERPs

  Analysis of Google’s AI-based search result pages (SERPs), with industry voices criticizing the quality and relevance of AI-driven search outcomes, and Google urging publishers to focus on human-oriented content, not “chunking” for AI.

• Instagram Rolls Out Algorithm Control Option to All English-Speaking Users

  Instagram gives global English-speaking users “Your Algorithm” manual control for Reels, letting users pick and manage topics of interest to influence content algorithms a shift towards user-influenced feeds and increased transparency.

• Anthropic adds Allianz to growing list of enterprise wins

  AI research lab Anthropic continues to land sizable enterprise deals. Its latest entails bringing its large language models to a legacy German insurance giant.

• PPC Pulse: Reddit Max Campaigns, Google Creator & Microsoft Targeting Updates

  Reddit introduces a new automated campaign type, Google expands its Creator Partnerships beta, and Microsoft announces new data-driven targeting capabilities.

• How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage
  Five years from now, the world might start running short on copper, the critical mineral used in everything from data centers to electric vehicles. Absent any changes, the world could face a severe shortfall as early as 2040, with demand exceeding supply by as much as 25%.

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What's New in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• ElevenLabs CEO says the voice AI startup crossed $330M ARR last year

  ElevenLabs, the AI voice-generation startup, surpassed $330M in ARR, achieving rapid growth; adopted by Fortune 500s and startups for customer support; expanded into music generation and celebrity voice deals; valuation doubled after major funding rounds.

• Waymo is rebranding its Zeekr robotaxi

  Waymo’s Zeekr RT robotaxi, now renamed “Ojai,” continues development for US markets with a friendlier branding approach and advanced AI-powered autonomous vehicle tech, including extensive sensor arrays for safe, efficient self-driving taxis key for mobility innovation.

• OpenAI is reportedly asking contractors to upload real work from past jobs

  This appears to be part of a broader strategy across AI companies that are hiring contractors to generate high-quality training data in the hopes that this will eventually allow their models to automate more white-collar work.

• Bill Gates-backed Type One Energy raises $87M ahead of $250M Series B

  Type One Energy, a fusion startup, garnered $87M, furthering the push for sustainable energy to meet power needs of data centers and digital businesses. While not directly about marketing, the impact on powering data-driven industries (including AI growth) is significant for digital strategies and business infrastructure scaling.

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