Let’s be real, for a sec. AI is here to supercharge your workflow, not replace you. As a founder, marketer, or growth leader, the question is how you can integrate AI effectively.

Here's a 5-step framework:

Follow these steps and you'll be able to harness AI's power, while staying ahead of the competition.

Best known as a Hollywood actress, Lamarr (1914–2000) co-invented a frequency-hopping spread spectrum communication system during WWII to prevent enemy jamming of radio-guided torpedoes. Decades later, this technology became the foundational basis for modern Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, technologies used by billions daily.

"Improving things comes naturally to me."

OpenAI’s early ads pilot inside ChatGPT is off to a fast start, crossing $100M in annual recurring revenue in under two months and it’s already hinting at a bigger shift in how digital advertising works.

The rollout, which began in January for U.S. free users and subscribers, is attracting advertisers looking to tap into something marketers rarely get at scale: high-intent, in-the-moment engagement. Ads appear at the end of responses, are clearly labeled, and intentionally avoid sensitive categories like politics and health to protect user trust.

What this means for marketers and AI:

Bottom line: AI conversations are shaping up to be a high-value performance channel, not just another ad placement.

Who knew innovation could smell this good? AI-powered scent technology is now creating and blending fragrances like never before. ININUM, a personal fragrance tech company, offers a device with interchangeable pods that can mix over 100 unique scents, all controlled in real-time via a mobile app.

Researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo have also developed OGDiffusion, an AI model that generates essential oil blends based on user-defined descriptors. Tested with human sensory trials, it shows promise for rapid, scalable fragrance creation, potentially revolutionizing the way new scents are developed.

Exciting times ahead! The upcoming stretch is packed with opportunities to engage, collaborate, and see firsthand what’s driving change across the industry.

With NYFTW just around the corner, expect plenty of previews and surprises on the way. It’s always a great opportunity to see what’s ahead and hear what others are building. You can still secure your early bird tickets here.

Next week, I’ll be heading to Fintech Meetup in Las Vegas, I’ll be co-hosting an invitation-only dinner for fintech leaders. If you’d like to join us, sign up here!

On the next episode of Ascend, I’ll be sitting down with Div Garg, CEO of AGI, Inc., the AI lab bringing on-device superintelligence to everyday life. We’ll unpack how storytelling can build demand and turn AI hype into real-world trust.

Episode drops next week, stay tuned! Get notified here.

Episode drops next week, stay tuned! Get notified here.

Thanks for joining us! Keep an eye out for more breakthroughs, inspiring stories, and must-know trends shaping the world of tech and innovation!