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AI Search weekly round-up: OpenAI IPO rumours, deeper Google AI Mode integration and $60 CPM ChatGPT ads

Feb 1, 2026

•

4 min read

AI Search weekly round-up: OpenAI IPO rumours, deeper Google AI Mode integration and $60 CPM ChatGPT ads

This week in AI Search, the pace isn’t slowing. OpenAI is edging closer to IPO territory, Google is pushing users deeper into AI Mode, and ChatGPT ads are being priced at a $60 CPM - a level that raises serious questions about value, intent and where ad budgets go next.

AI Search

+4

Andy Francos
Andy Francos

THE LATEST


Jan 25, 2026

•

11 min read

Why OpenAI’s push into ads may undermine trust in AI assistants, according to Demis Hassabis

As OpenAI moves ChatGPT towards advertising, trust becomes the central issue - not capability. This edition looks at Demis Hassabis’ critique of the timing, the growing confusion around content “chunking,” and why citation analysis now matters more than ever in AI search.

GEO

+5

Jan 18, 2026

•

15 min read

Crystal Carter at Wix on the future of AI search, as ChatGPT ads and Google’s UCP reshape the landscape

It’s been a pivotal week for AI search. ChatGPT confirmed ads are coming, Google doubled down with Personal Intelligence and UCP, and Gemini’s reach expanded again. I’m also delighted to share my conversation with Crystal Carter at Wix, where she talks through how she approaches the huge and fast-evolving role of AI Search communications at the company.

GEO

+7

Jan 11, 2026

•

10 min read

ChatGPT moves into health, Gemini expands across Google’s ecosystem, and Obsero rolls out sentiment analysis

The first full week of 2026 showed how AI search is starting to settle into its next phase. OpenAI is pushing ChatGPT further into everyday use through health features, while Google continues to weave Gemini across its products.

AI Search

+5

Jan 4, 2026

•

9 min read

Will the AI Search industry be worth $171bn by 2030? Will ChatGPT apps ever take off and are they a threat to Apple's App Store?

As AI search accelerates into 2026, I've taken a look at the top stories shaping the industry. Will the AI search industry be worth $171bn by 2030? Will ChatGPT apps ever take off? Lets dive in.

GEO

+8

TRENDING


Leading content in 2025: How to align teams, scale with AI, and cut through the noise [VIDEO]

Leading content in 2025: How to align teams, scale with AI, and cut through the noise [VIDEO]

Franc Talking: A newsletter by Be Franc. Edition 14.

SEO

+3

The Ultimate App Growth Playbook: Inside the World of App Marketing, AI and Super Apps with a mobile app expert [VIDEO]

The Ultimate App Growth Playbook: Inside the World of App Marketing, AI and Super Apps with a mobile app expert [VIDEO]

Franc Talking: A regular newsletter by Be Franc. Edition 13.

App marketing

Technical SEO in 2025: Why site health is the foundation for AI success [VIDEO]

Technical SEO in 2025: Why site health is the foundation for AI success [VIDEO]

Franc Talking: A newsletter by Be Franc. Edition 15. Are we entering the golden era of Technical SEO?

Technical SEO

+3

Digital strategy, flawed attribution, and sceptical thinking in the AI age

Digital strategy, flawed attribution, and sceptical thinking in the AI age

How to rethink marketing effectiveness, challenge assumptions, and use AI to ask better questions - not automate bad answers.

ChatGPT

+3

Fintech, Focus, and the Fight to Win: Inside a leading Global Growth Playbook

Fintech, Focus, and the Fight to Win: Inside a leading Global Growth Playbook

Lessons in growth, focus, and discipline from the marketing lead who helped scale a global trading platform across the US, Europe, and Japan.

Video

+3

Shifts in search behaviour, Google’s Gemini push and OpenAI’s scraping strategy

Shifts in search behaviour, Google’s Gemini push and OpenAI’s scraping strategy

From shifting search behaviours to Google’s Gemini push into the home and OpenAI’s behind-the-scenes data sourcing, here are the key stories shaping AI and search this week.

Meta

+4

Affiliate marketing in 2025: AI, SEO shifts, and the strategies redefining success

Affiliate marketing in 2025: AI, SEO shifts, and the strategies redefining success

Affiliate marketing is shifting fast. With AI search, zero-click answers, and new performance metrics, the affiliates playbook is changing.

Video

+3

GEO vs SEO: how generative engines are changing the rules of search

GEO vs SEO: how generative engines are changing the rules of search

What GEO means for organic performance, how it differs from SEO, and what actions marketers should take now.

Perplexity

+3

WANT TO GROW REVENUE
THROUGH AI SEARCH?

Built for marketers who want an actionable A.I. Search strategy that delivers results.

Visit Obsero

PODCASTS


Mark Williams-Cook on AI search, GEO and what actually drives visibility

This conversation with Mark Williams-Cook explores how trust, entity strength and off-site signals increasingly matter in an AI Search world.

Video

The next search revolution: Duane Forrester on the evolution of search in the AI era

Search is changing faster than ever. As AI systems replace lists of links with direct answers, marketers face a seismic shift in how visibility is earned and measured. Drawing on decades at Microsoft and Bing, Duane Forrester explores how intent, context, and human understanding will define the next era of discovery - and what it really takes to stay visible when machines start thinking for themselves.

Video

AI Search is shifting fast; Ahrefs’ Louise Linehan shows why data, visibility and core SEO matter

AI search is upending the SEO industry, with many publishers worried about how they can grow their audience without customer acquisitions costs spiralling out of control. Louise Linehan of Ahrefs shares how brand visibility, content, and strategy must evolve as clicks decline and AI answers rise.

Video

Affiliate marketing in 2025: AI, SEO shifts, and the strategies redefining success

Affiliate marketing is shifting fast. With AI search, zero-click answers, and new performance metrics, the affiliates playbook is changing.

Video

The Real Power of Native Advertising: Insight, Control, and Smarter Spend

Inside Dianomi’s approach to context-first advertising, cookieless targeting, and smarter campaign control.

Video

CHATGPT


AI Search weekly round-up: OpenAI IPO rumours, deeper Google AI Mode integration and $60 CPM ChatGPT ads

This week in AI Search, the pace isn’t slowing. OpenAI is edging closer to IPO territory, Google is pushing users deeper into AI Mode, and ChatGPT ads are being priced at a $60 CPM - a level that raises serious questions about value, intent and where ad budgets go next.

ChatGPT

Why OpenAI’s push into ads may undermine trust in AI assistants, according to Demis Hassabis

As OpenAI moves ChatGPT towards advertising, trust becomes the central issue - not capability. This edition looks at Demis Hassabis’ critique of the timing, the growing confusion around content “chunking,” and why citation analysis now matters more than ever in AI search.

ChatGPT

Crystal Carter at Wix on the future of AI search, as ChatGPT ads and Google’s UCP reshape the landscape

It’s been a pivotal week for AI search. ChatGPT confirmed ads are coming, Google doubled down with Personal Intelligence and UCP, and Gemini’s reach expanded again. I’m also delighted to share my conversation with Crystal Carter at Wix, where she talks through how she approaches the huge and fast-evolving role of AI Search communications at the company.

ChatGPT

SEARCH


Why OpenAI’s push into ads may undermine trust in AI assistants, according to Demis Hassabis

As OpenAI moves ChatGPT towards advertising, trust becomes the central issue - not capability. This edition looks at Demis Hassabis’ critique of the timing, the growing confusion around content “chunking,” and why citation analysis now matters more than ever in AI search.

SEO

Crystal Carter at Wix on the future of AI search, as ChatGPT ads and Google’s UCP reshape the landscape

It’s been a pivotal week for AI search. ChatGPT confirmed ads are coming, Google doubled down with Personal Intelligence and UCP, and Gemini’s reach expanded again. I’m also delighted to share my conversation with Crystal Carter at Wix, where she talks through how she approaches the huge and fast-evolving role of AI Search communications at the company.

SEO

Will the AI Search industry be worth $171bn by 2030? Will ChatGPT apps ever take off and are they a threat to Apple's App Store?

As AI search accelerates into 2026, I've taken a look at the top stories shaping the industry. Will the AI search industry be worth $171bn by 2030? Will ChatGPT apps ever take off? Lets dive in.

SEO

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