It’s Monday
Here’s what’s worth your time today.
[2 min read]
Barret Zoph, a co-founder of AI startup Thinking Machines, was fired this week after undisclosed workplace relationship issues and longer-running concerns around performance, conduct, and trust, according to people familiar with the matter. In an internal note, CEO Mira Murati said Zoph had been given multiple chances and was aware his future at the company was uncertain, which she suggested may have driven him to speak with competitors. Less than an hour after Murati announced his departure publicly, OpenAI confirmed it had hired Zoph alongside two other Thinking Machines employees, marking a rapid and eyebrow-raising return to his former employer.
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[1 min read]
OpenAI says it is on track to unveil its first hardware device in the second half of 2026, marking a major step beyond software. Speaking at Axios House Davos, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer said the company expects to share more details later next year, though a commercial launch is not yet guaranteed. CEO Sam Altman has previously described the device as screenless and more “peaceful” than a smartphone, following OpenAI’s acquisition of a startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive. For now, the message is cautious but clear: OpenAI’s long teased move into hardware is no longer theoretical, and 2026 is shaping up to be the year it finally takes form.
[3 min read]
IBM’s latest four year outlook suggests AI spending is about to move beyond efficiency gains and into a new phase focused on innovation. In a global survey of C-suite leaders, nearly two thirds said their competitive edge by 2030 will come from using AI to create new products, services, and business models, not just to cut costs. The takeaway from IBM’s upcoming Enterprise in 2030 report is that AI will become embedded in everyday decision making and operations, favoring companies that own strong AI capabilities and move faster than peers. As Aaron Levie put it, startups can now operate at enterprise scale, which raises the stakes for incumbents as smaller players use AI to disrupt entire markets.
[1 min read]
OpenAI is starting to test targeted ads for some ChatGPT users, marking its clearest step yet toward an ad-supported business model. Ads will roll out in the U.S. to free and Go tier users and appear at the bottom of chat threads, tailored to the topic being discussed. OpenAI says ads will not influence answers, user data will not be sold, and under-18 users will not see ads, with options to dismiss or turn off personalization. Higher paid plans will remain ad-free, creating a clear split between free access and a cleaner paid experience as OpenAI looks to balance revenue with scale.
[1 min read]
International Monetary Fund slightly raised its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.3%, but warned that the same forces propping up the economy could quickly turn into risks. The IMF says heavy investment in AI and easing trade tensions are supporting markets for now, yet an AI-driven productivity boom that fails to materialize could trigger an abrupt market slump and spill over into the broader economy. It also cautioned that geopolitical tensions and renewed protectionism could resurface, squeezing margins and keeping price pressures elevated, leaving global growth resilient on the surface but fragile underneath.