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Happy Sunday to you! This week’s stories span AI arms races, strategic idleness, social networks that don’t exist (yet) and dinner dates with Donald Trump that cost more than many people earn in a lifetime. It’s the perfect read for anyone rethinking what good leadership, smart performance and real innovation look like. Let’s get into it.

Enjoy!

Google’s secret AI weapon? Letting top talent do… nothing

In the race to dominate AI, Google’s DeepMind seems to be playing defence as much as offence. According to reports, the company is paying some UK-based researchers to not work – for up to a year – under strict noncompete clauses. While it’s a generous sabbatical on paper, some insiders say this ‘garden leave’ feels more like house arrest, leaving them sidelined from a field that’s evolving by the hour. With noncompetes now largely banned in the US, this UK loophole gives Google a way to keep top talent off the market – and out of competitors’ hands. Strategic restraint or stifling control? Depends which side of the (garden) fence you’re on. Get the story here.

One to watch, one to join?

Forget generic “top startups” lists. Why You Should Join is a Substack that does things differently – digging deep into five early-stage companies each quarter with a mix of investor insight, traction data and thoughtful analysis. The latest edition highlights breakout names like Orb, MindsDB and Privy, with input from VCs at Sequoia, Benchmark, Greylock and more. The idea is it helps talented individuals find companies worth betting their careers on – not just based on vibes or valuation, but on product-market fit, team quality and growth signals. Whether you’re hiring, job hunting or just startup-curious, it’s a well-researched read that’s worth clicking.​

CloutGPT? OpenAI eyes its own social feed

OpenAI is reportedly building a social platform – think X, but with ChatGPT in the driver’s seat. Early prototypes suggest a feed-style interface with image generation at the core, and while it’s unclear whether it’ll be standalone or folded into the ChatGPT app, the ambition is clear: move from content creation tool to full-blown content discovery engine. Why does this matter? Real-time user data. It’s the one thing OpenAI lacks compared to rivals like Meta and Musk’s xAI – and the fuel that powers smarter AI. With Grok writing tweets and Meta’s AI now embedded in feeds, OpenAI seems to want its own playground. If it happens, expect some spicy debates on moderation, hallucinations and whether we really want our socials shaped by AI. The Verge has the story.​

AI prompt of the week: the positioning playbook

You’ve got a business idea. Now you need to describe it in a way that’s clear, compelling and doesn’t sound like every other “AI-powered platform for X”. This week’s prompt helps you define your positioning in plain English, by focusing on customer pain, differentiation and value. Drop it into your favourite LLM and get back a first draft of a messaging framework:

“Help me position my business clearly and persuasively. The product is: [brief description]. The target customer is: [who it’s for]. The core problem it solves is: [customer pain]. The key benefits are: [list 2–3]. The alternatives today are: [competitors or workarounds]. Create a simple positioning statement and a 30-second pitch in plain English that I can test with customers.”

Perfect for anyone trying to get their story straight – whether it’s for a landing page, pitch deck or sales conversation.

When a deal falls through, don’t just move on

Not every negotiation ends in a win – but even a failed deal can leave you better prepared for the next. This smart piece from Harvard Business Review shows how to reflect on a negotiation that didn’t go your way: what you misread, where expectations were misaligned and how to spot patterns in your approach. If this resonates, it’s also well worth reading Getting to Yes – the classic negotiation guide co-authored by Harvard’s William Ury, whose work has shaped everything from business deals to international peace talks. It’s a masterclass in principled negotiation and still one of the most useful books you can read on the subject.

What I’m reading

Staying on books, if you’re in the mood for something less how-to and more high stakes, Shoe Dog by Nike founder Phil Knight is brilliant. Far from the polished corporate myth, it’s a raw, funny and surprisingly moving memoir about the messy, uncertain early days of building a global brand from the boot of a car. Knight doesn’t shy away from the sleepless nights, near-bankruptcies or fractious boardroom battles that powered Nike from scrappy startup to cultural icon. A scaling story for the ages.

Dinner with Donald – BYO trade grievance

In the wake of President Trump's recent tariff announcements, business owners feeling the pinch might consider addressing their concerns directly – over dinner. For a mere $1mn per seat, you can join a candlelight dinner at Mar-a-Lago, or, if you prefer a more intimate setting, a one-on-one meeting is available for $5mn. The Guardian has the story.

From funnels to flywheels: rethinking what performance really means

It might seem surprising to turn to Snapchat for B2B marketing inspiration, but this smart piece from Snap’s Aidan Rouse makes a compelling case for a broader definition of “performance”. At its heart is a challenge to last-click thinking – the idea that only bottom-of-the-funnel metrics prove value. But as digital platforms evolve into full-blown ecosystems of community, content and commerce, it’s the top and middle of the funnel that are doing more heavy lifting than ever. For brands focused on sustainable growth, this means treating digital engagement less like a linear funnel and more like a sales flywheel – one that turns early interactions into long-term loyalty. Full-funnel strategies may take longer to prove their worth, but with lower CAC and higher LTV as the prize, they’re worth the patience.

How to be the boss they’ll never forget

Think back to the best boss you ever had – odds are, they didn’t just manage. They coached, championed and challenged you. This one-pager breaks down exactly what unforgettable leaders do differently. If you're in a leadership role, this is a timely reminder that what you do – and how you do it – sticks with people long after the job.

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Drop me a line

If you’ve made it this far, congrats – you’ve officially outperformed 27% of newsletter skimmers. Whether you’re plotting a social-media-powered AI empire, rethinking your funnel or just wondering how to become the boss people remember fondly, I’ll be back next week with more brain snacks. In the meantime, if you spot something newsletter-worthy, hit reply – I’m always up for a great stories.

Cheers!
Adam

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