Search Got Smarter, And a Lot More Nosy

👋 Hey there,

I hope your week’s been easier than Chrome’s privacy policy!

Let’s get into it 👇

👀 Quick Pulse

AI search is going full stalker mode, ChatGPT is getting weirdly self-aware, and I’m back to paper notes (yes, seriously). Also, you can trust (some) podcasts.

📈 The Big Trend: AI Search Wants to Know Everything About You

Turns out AI-powered search isn’t just about better answers, it’s about knowing you. The real you. The one who leaves digital fingerprints everywhere.

Google just rolled out “AI Mode” in search, and it’s the VIP version of your usual search bar. It breaks down your questions, digs into subtopics, pulls in personal context (if you let it), and serves up answers that go way beyond blue links. Restaurant recs based on your Gmail bookings? Check. Flight info pulled from your inbox? Double check. Impressive, but also… creepy.

Meanwhile, Perplexity went straight for the bold move: they’re launching their own browser, Comet, to track what you do outside their app. Their CEO said it plainly AI prompts alone don’t tell them enough about you. But your browsing history? Where you shop, what you click, which hotels you consider? That gives them the complete picture.

Perplexity thinks users will be fine with it because the ads will be more “relevant.” Sound familiar? That’s Google’s origin story.

Here’s the bigger picture: everyone in the AI search race wants the same thing: context. The more they know about you, the more “intelligent” their results become. And that context? It’s coming from your entire digital footprint, not just what you type in a search box.

What does this mean for online advertising and search marketing? It’s going to change. Again. And considering how hit-or-miss ad targeting already is (hello, random B2B software ads and irrelevant LinkedIn job pitches), I’m not sure hyper-segmentation will fix anything. If anything, it might just shrink audience pools even further, turning your perfectly crafted campaign into a whisper in a room full of algorithms.

But hey, at least that whisper will be “hyper-relevant.”

🧠 Tool Spotlight: A Paper Notebook (Yes, Really)

I know, this is a tech newsletter, and yes, I use note apps, digital calendars, and AI like everyone else. But I never fully let go of my trusty Moleskine.

Turns out I’m not alone. I’ve been reading about others rediscovering analog habits too (shoutout to Advisorator for that insight). I carry an A5 notebook everywhere—strategy notes, podcast insights, sketches, all mixed together. No color-coding, no preciousness. Just date the page and use quick corner codes (2-letter shortcuts for work, mentoring, personal) to find things later.

It’s messy, but it works. And lately, I’ve noticed how helpful it is when I don’t want a screen in my face. Paper is patient. It gives you time to think. It doesn’t get offended if you scribble something down in a pinch, mixing languages throughout your day.

Want to bridge analog and digital? Here’s a quick tip: scan full pages when you’re done (iOS Files or Google Drive work great), then run them through Google Docs or PowerToys for text conversion. You can even feed PDFs into NotebookLM for summaries or follow-up prompts.

Sometimes the best “tool” isn’t the newest one. It’s just the one that lets you think clearly, no tabs, no pings, no pressure.

🗞 Worth a Click

What does ChatGPT really know about you? → This how-to walks through five prompts to ask ChatGPT what it’s picked up about your personality, habits, and blind spots. The answers might be more insightful (or creepy) than expected. → Tom’s Guide | Christoph Schwaiger

Which news podcasts can you trust? → Ad Fontes Media has rated over 3,100 podcast episodes across 790 shows. This updated bias chart highlights 48 top picks—perfect if you’re upgrading your podcast diet with something reliable. → Ad Fontes Media | Beth Heldebrandt

💬 Last Word

❓️ Hit reply and tell me: what tool did you ditch because it caused more stress than it solved? I’m collecting answers for a future ‘Tools We Gave Up On’ issue.

If this made you nod, forward it to someone who’d enjoy it too. Or bring it up over coffee and pretend it was your idea. I won’t tell.

Talk soon,
Alessia
Digital Pulse Dispatch