The AI Update Issue
Weekend Reading (February 13, 2026): There have been a lot of thoughts and news this past week related to AI; this is a quick summary where we things stand.
This is the AI issue. If it doesn’t interest you, skip this week and have a nice weekend. If you are interested in the status of AI in the world of marketing, keep reading.
We will be back to our 360 view of marketing next week. :)
📱 Take a Step Back from AI this Weekend
Don’t tell Wall Street, but we need a break from AI. Not only have we lost our humanity (hint: you don’t have to give in), but AI is impacting more and more areas of our life which is how Anthropic raised a $30 billion round this past week. That is a capital ‘B’, Billion. And Selineh Pitross recently said to the Strategic Growth Lab that 2026 sill be about “AI but with Authenticity.” I will leave you with this: a column from someone at the cutting edge of AI strategies, they write that something big is happening.
📊 Embrace Technology or Else
This seems like an odd thing to write in 2026, but it’s true. A recent report from Cornerstone Advisors argues that the “future of the U.S. financial system will be shaped by banks and credit unions that learn to operate less like traditional financial institutions and more like technology companies.” Sitting on a gold mine of data, financial institutions must embrace modern and fast technology if they expect to remain relevant in the day-to-day lives of their customers.
📢 Ads are Coming to your AI Prompts
It has long been known that AI services like ChatGPT will need to make money with advertising. It appears we are closer than ever to that day according to Engadget. And Anthropic is going to be a close follow. But it is not being met as a welcome development for some AI leaders as it has been reported that an OpenAI researcher has quit over ads coming to ChatGPT.
Want to join the Strategic Growth Lab? It’s easy, and free!
Or, love it and want to share it? That’s easy too. And you’ll be my best friend!