Weekly AI Highlights: January 17 - 23, 2026
What Small Business Owners Need to Know Right Now
Reader,
If you are in a part of the world that is about to be smacked by this winter storm, I hope you are reading this from somewhere warm and cozy. Here in Cleveland, it always feels arctic this time of year so I’m not sure I’ll even notice.
This week AI has had some exciting developments: ChatGPT added an $8 monthly option, Google added “personal intelligence” and Adobe turns your PDFs into podcast-style audio you can listen to.
1. OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT Go, Confirms Ads and Age-Based Content Controls
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Go, a new $8 per month plan designed to expand access to ChatGPT. Alongside the new tier, OpenAI also confirmed that advertising is officially on the roadmap. BUMMER. Ads will not rely on personal chat content, according to OpenAI.
Source Links: https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-go https://openai.com/index/our-approach-to-advertising-and-expanding-access https://openai.com/index/our-approach-to-age-prediction/
MY TAKE
None of this is surprising, but it does change how we should think about “free” AI tools. As entrepreneurs, it’s probably a good time to think about how we might start placing ads in LLMS. Facebook ads will start to probably look downright prehistoric soon.
2. Google Launches Personal Intelligence, Turning Gemini Into a Proactive AI Assistant
Google has introduced Personal Intelligence for personal Google accounts, not business or Workspace accounts. This update shifts Gemini from a reactive chat tool into a more proactive assistant that can use your personal context across Google apps to help with planning, reminders, and decision-making. The focus is on everyday life tasks rather than team or company workflows.
Personal Intelligence allows Gemini to anticipate needs based on your activity and preferences, helping surface relevant information before you ask, as long as you grant the appropriate permissions.
Source Link: https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/gemini-app/personal-intelligence
MY TAKE
This is Google making its move from “answer engine” to “assistant that knows you.” The real value here will depend on trust and usefulness. If Gemini surfaces the right things at the right time, this could quietly change how people manage work and life inside Google’s ecosystem.
ACTION STEP (DO THIS WEEK)
If you use a personal Google account regularly:
- Review which apps Gemini can access and remove anything you are not comfortable sharing.
- Use Gemini to plan a personal task, like a week schedule or reminder list, and see how proactive it actually becomes.
- Pay attention to whether the suggestions feel helpful or intrusive.
This will help you decide how much personal context you are willing to trade for convenience.
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3. Adobe Acrobat Studio Adds AI Tools for Smarter Documents
Adobe has launched Acrobat Studio, a new set of AI-powered tools designed to change how you work with documents. The updates focus on turning static PDFs into interactive, reusable content. With built-in AI, Acrobat Studio can generate summaries, create presentation-style outputs, convert documents into audio, and help you quickly repurpose PDFs for different formats and audiences.
These tools are designed to reduce manual cleanup and rewriting, especially for long reports, proposals, and internal documents that usually require extra work before they can be shared or reused.
Source Link: https://news.adobe.com/news/2026/01/adobe-acrobat-studio-transforms
MY TAKE
I’m not an Adobe user but including this for my subscribers who are. Sounds like a great upgrade!
PROMPT OF THE WEEK
The Consequence Chain
A simple way for you to think through a decision by mapping what happens next, how people are likely to respond, and where that chain of effects leads over time.
Try this prompt:
“I am considering taking [specific action].
First, clearly describe the immediate, first-order outcome of this action.
Then ask:
What happens as a direct result of that outcome? (second-order effects)
What happens because of those second-order effects? (third-order effects)
Map this chain at least three levels deep, without skipping steps.
At each level, identify:
The incentives created for each stakeholder
The behaviors people are likely to exhibit in reality, not the behaviors I intend or expect
Any feedback loops, reinforcement effects, or unintended consequences
Finally, ask:
If this continues logically and consistently, where does it end?
What system or equilibrium does this action ultimately produce over time?
Do not optimize for optimism. Optimize for realism and internal consistency.”
Source: superhuman.ai
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The Bottom Line
Obviously, big shifts are happening. AI is becoming more accessible and embedded in everything. OpenAI is going after mass adoption with cheaper plans and ads. Google's making Gemini actually useful by having it work in the background across your tools, not just answering questions. Adobe's betting on audio because sometimes reading just isn't practical.
Comments
If any of these updates sparked questions about how AI might affect your business, content, or daily workflows, hit reply and tell me what you’re thinking about. I read every message, and your questions directly influence what I share and teach next.
Stay warm,
Founder, Front Row AI Club
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