AI Search, Screen Time, & a 2026 Tease

December 17, 2025

In partnership with

This is the final SUM newsletter of the year, which feels like the right moment to share a little spoiler: SUM is getting a new home in 2026! A more intuitive space built for real conversation and easier discovery. Think fewer tabs, better threads, and a place you’ll want to obsessively check.

In this issue: AI search vs. SEO (yes, again), the modern consumer’s love-hate relationship with screen time, and roles worth bookmarking before January resets your ambition levels. 

IN THIS ISSUE

  • ✍️ The Ink Well

  • 🌎 Around the Web

  • ❓ SUM Poll

  • 📍 SUM Community Events

  • 📋 SUM Job Board

  • 😂 In the Meme Time

THE INK WELL

Meet Joanne O’Gorman

In this week’s Marketer Spotlight, fractional CMO Joanne O’Gorman talks about trusting non-linear careers, protecting energy like equity, and why caring deeply is still one of marketing’s strongest competitive edges.

SUM Job Board

If a fresh start is already on your mind, you don’t have to wait for January. The SUM Job Board has everything from hands-on marketing and content roles to senior brand, growth, product marketing, and GTM leadership positions across a wide range of startups and scale-ups.

ChatGPT Wins by a Landslide

Startup marketers overwhelmingly prefer ChatGPT as their copy collaborator, according to our recent poll, with 80% selecting it over other tools.

While Claude is widely considered the stronger writer, ChatGPT wins because of it's iterative collaboration, speed, and versatility.

Have a strong POV? Submit your pitch to get published in The Ink Well.

Shoppers are adding to cart for the holidays

Over the next year, Roku predicts that 100% of the streaming audience will see ads. For growth marketers in 2026, CTV will remain an important “safe space” as AI creates widespread disruption in the search and social channels. Plus, easier access to self-serve CTV ad buying tools and targeting options will lead to a surge in locally-targeted streaming campaigns.

Read our guide to find out why growth marketers should make sure CTV is part of their 2026 media mix.

AROUND THE WEB

  • The Oscars will ditch broadcast TV for YouTube starting in 2029. [CNN]

  • Google says optimizing for AI search is ‘the same’ as SEO for traditional search. [Search Engine Land]

  • Instagram is bringing Reels to the big screen via Amazon Fire TV in a move to compete with YouTube. That could mean longer watch sessions and more passive consumption. [TechCrunch]

  • Meta is considering charging business pages to post links. [Social Media Today]

  • Despite over half (53%) of consumers using AI in their daily lives, 50% are trying to minimize screen time, according to Dentsu Creative’s 2026 trends report. [Marketing Dive]

SUM POLL

Be honest: what’s your daily average screen time?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

SUM COMMUNITY EVENTS

Plot twist: your tiny event budget might be your biggest advantage. Tomorrow at 1 pm ET, Mike Richter (Co-Founder & CEO, Unplugged Collective) will break down how startup marketers can turn lean event strategies into experiences that drive real connections and long-term impact.

IN THE MEME TIME