Community | University 

Jan 14, 2026

Hello, GrowthHackers

Welcome to your daily unfair advantage.

Every morning, 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. OpenAI expands healthcare strategy with Torch acquisition
   (OpenAI quietly building a medical résumé)

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What's New in Growth Hacking/Growth Marketing?

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.

• X Provides Tips on How to Maximize Your Ad Campaigns

  X (formerly Twitter) shares new guides on optimizing ad and app campaigns, with insights on hashtags, mentions, creative targeting, and evolving with their advanced AI ad matching and targeting systems.

• Converge Bio raises $25M, backed by Bessemer and execs from Meta, OpenAI, Wiz

  Converge Bio leverages generative AI for pharmaceutical R&D drug discovery; has scaled quickly, gaining over a dozen customers and significant funding from top VCs and tech execs. Their system integrates multiple AI models for antibody design and optimization.

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People

• Ring founder details the camera company’s ‘intelligent assistant’
  What does it take to bring a burned-out founder back to the company he sold to Amazon? For Jamie Siminoff of the video doorbell maker Ring, it was the potential of AI and the Palisades fires that destroyed his garage, the birthplace of Ring itself.

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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.

• Brazil orders Meta to suspend policy banning third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp

  Brazil’s antitrust agency has ordered WhatsApp (owned by Meta) to pause its policy banning third-party AI chatbot providers from its platform pending further investigation, suspecting anti-competitive behavior favoring Meta AI.

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