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
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
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
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
+6
AI Search Intelligence is very much in vogue and Adobe’s SEMrush acquisition proves it
Adobe’s $1.9B move for SEMrush, Google’s release of Gemini 3 and the first ads appearing inside AI answers all point to the same thing: the industry is shifting from SERPs to AI-driven answer engines. Here’s why this week matters more than most.
Survey
+5
Google fires the next shot in the AI shopping war - changing how products are found, compared and bought
One thing is becoming clear: the fight for shopping isn’t happening on websites anymore - it’s happening inside AI assistants. Google’s latest update pushes the industry closer to a world where the buying journey is run by agents, not shoppers.
ChatGPT
+3
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Atlas as SoftBank backs $22.5B round - and why a 25% traffic drop isn’t worrying the CMO of a leading hotel group
OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Atlas browser. SoftBank’s multibillion-dollar AI bet. And a 25% traffic drop that hasn’t dented revenue.
GEO
+6
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
+2
US lets Google off lightly as Europe fines €3.45bn, OpenAI hires content strategist and AI search reshapes traffic
US regulators go soft on Google as Europe fines €3.45bn. OpenAI turns to a human strategist, underlining the value of expertise even in the AI age. Meanwhile, AI search is continuing to eat clicks and reshaping the web’s traffic model.
ChatGPT
+5
Elon Musk sues Apple and OpenAI for allegedly colluding to favour ChatGPT whilst Perplexity launches publisher revenue-share
Elon Musk takes Apple and OpenAI to court over alleged App Store bias, Perplexity offers publishers a new revenue lifeline, and media groups brace for “Google Zero” as AI Overviews reshape traffic. Here’s what matters, and why.
ChatGPT
+4
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 is shifting fast. With AI search, zero-click answers, and new performance metrics, the affiliates playbook is changing.
Video
+3
From “SEO is dead” to GPT-5 and Grok AI ads - the week that shook search
This week saw a headline that rattled SEOs, a major leap forward for AI capabilities, and a signal that advertising will soon be integrated into the very fabric of AI responses. Here’s what it means for your strategy - and the conversations you’ll need to have in the boardroom.
GEO
+5
Google expands AI Mode, Figma’s IPO soars, and Anthropic closes in on OpenAI
Google expands AI search to the UK. Figma lights up Wall Street. Anthropic's revenue surge puts OpenAI on notice. This week, we’re tracking AI Search expansion, platform disruption, and why the AI battleground is far from settled.
+5