Newsletter | January 2026

Welcome to 2026! 🥂✨

If 2025 was the year of AI experimentation, 2026 is clearly the year we pay the tab. OpenAI is rolling out its eight dollar Go tier and testing ads, while Threads is finally opening the floodgates to global advertisers to monetize its 400 million monthly active users. It is a bold start for anyone looking to reach audiences in fresh, conversational spaces. 💸

Utility is getting a major upgrade too, as we enter the era of Agentic AI. OpenAI’s new App Directory lets users execute real-world tasks like making purchases through the chat interface. Similarly, Google’s AI assistant now acts as a personal concierge by tapping into Gmail and Photos for tailored shopping and itinerary suggestions. Meanwhile, Adobe is proving that PDFs can be engaging by turning long documents into personalized podcasts. These shifts toward deep personalization are redefining user engagement from day one. 🎧

But it is not all smooth sailing, as regulators are already setting a stern tone for the months ahead. Between Snap’s major legal settlement and Italy’s new investigation into aggressive gaming sales tactics, the focus on user wellness and transparent monetization has never been sharper. We have curated the biggest moves of this month to help you navigate this high-stakes landscape. ⚖️

Was this issue shared with you by a colleague? Please subscribe to join our community and stay updated throughout 2026! If you are already a regular reader, do a friend a favor and share this newsletter with them so they can start the new year on the right track too.

DEEP DIVE

ChatGPT Goes Low-Cost: A Dual Strategy of Subscriptions and Ads

OpenAI is expanding its low cost ChatGPT Go tier globally for eight dollars monthly while prepping ad tests for the American market. This dual strategy aims to lower the financial barriers for millions who currently find the premium twenty dollar subscription too pricey for regular use.

The company plans to insert sponsored products at the bottom of conversational answers instead of cluttering the interface with flashy banners. By leveraging this diverse revenue stream, the firm hopes to subsidize the immense computing costs required to give every human a personal super assistant.

Strict privacy principles ensure that user conversations remain off limits to advertisers and never influence the objective quality of AI responses. While pivoting to a model that mirrors Google search, the risk lies in balancing commercial growth with the sacred trust of a private digital companion.

Read the article >

PODCAST

How a Solo Founder Built a $30K/Month App with 5.2M Installs

NEWS

What’s happening in the industry

The Rise of Agentic AI: OpenAI and Google Redefine User Interaction

AI is shifting from a passive tool to a proactive agent. OpenAI’s new ChatGPT App Directory allows users to leverage different apps to perform tasks like making purchases directly within the chat. In parallel, Google’s AI assistant now provides tailored shopping and itinerary suggestions by tapping into Gmail and Photos. For marketers, discovery is shifting toward autonomous agents that take action based on individual context.

Publishers bank record revenue from direct-to-consumer (DTC) stores

Mobile game publishers are successfully driving players to their own web stores to bypass platform fees. With DTC revenue hitting record highs, the strategy has evolved into fully integrated loyalty ecosystems. This shift allows for better margin control and deeper ownership of first-party player data, marking a significant transition in how mobile games are monetized.

Snap settles social media addiction lawsuit ahead of landmark trial

Snapchat’s parent company, Snap, reached an amicable settlement with a plaintiff alleging platform design caused mental health issues and addiction. While Meta, TikTok, and YouTube remain defendants in the upcoming trial, Snap’s deal avoids a high-profile court appearance. The case challenges legal protections regarding algorithmic liability and user harm.

Meta launches global ads on Threads to monetize growing user base

Meta is rolling out advertising on Threads globally following successful tests in the U.S. and Japan. With over 400 million monthly active users, the platform aims to become a major revenue driver. This gradual expansion introduces new ad formats and verification tools, intensifying competition with Elon Musk’s X.

Adobe Acrobat Studio launches AI tools for presentations and podcasts

Adobe has introduced Acrobat Studio, integrating Adobe Express to transform documents into generative presentations and personal podcasts using AI. Users can now edit PDFs via chat-based prompts and collaborate in enhanced PDF Spaces. These innovations aim to boost productivity by simplifying complex content creation and information synthesis.

Put your UA on auto pilot

Looking to improve your user acquisition strategy? Make creative uploads and management across channels easier to open up new growth possibilities. Bubbleye.AI streamlines and automates your operations, from budgeting and bidding to creative distribution and predictive LTV. Experience the simplicity and power of Bubbleye.AI in action.

Explore more with our 1-minute product tour.

Meta abandons metaverse vision with major layoffs at Reality Labs

Meta has reportedly cut 1,500 jobs from its Reality Labs unit and shuttered several VR game studios. Despite investing $73 billion, the company is pivoting toward AI following poor headset sales and persistent financial losses. This reversal marks the end of an ambitious era focused on virtual social worlds.

Italy investigates Microsoft over aggressive sales tactics in mobile games

Italian regulators are investigating Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard for allegedly misleading sales practices in “Call of Duty Mobile” and “Diablo Immortal.” The watchdog expressed concerns that in-app incentives and virtual currencies could trigger gambling addictions, particularly among minors. The probe also examines inadequate parental controls and restrictive user contractual rights.