Hey ScorpA\rents!

Ever feel like AI is moving faster than your coffee cools down? One moment it’s shopping for you, the next it’s testing Tesla’s biggest promise yet. And somehow, in all that noise, it’s also nudging us to ask: are we upgrading fast enough too?

Today’s stories all circle one idea — leverage. AI agents are reshaping how money moves, Tesla’s 2026 roadmap could redefine autonomy, and personal resets might be the highest-ROI play busy parents can make. Growth isn’t just about speed anymore; it’s about direction.

Before we dive in, a quick shoutout to two partners helping teams stay ahead of the curve. Gladly breaks down how investors really think about AI in customer experience, while Attio, an AI-native CRM, shows what happens when your systems finally think as fast as you do. If you’re building smarter workflows — not just bigger ones — these are worth a look.

Estimated Reading Time: 5-6 minutes

TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNER

Customer experience is undergoing a seismic shift, and Gladly is leading the charge with The Gladly Brief.

It’s a monthly breakdown of market insights, brand data, and investor-level analysis on how AI and CX are converging.

Learn why short-term cost plays are eroding lifetime value, and how Gladly’s approach is creating compounding returns for brands and investors alike.

Join the readership of founders, analysts, and operators tracking the next phase of CX innovation.

Subscribe here to stay informed and ahead of the curve.

Subscribe now

Google just dropped a big one. At NRF, Google announced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)—an open standard that lets AI agents handle shopping end-to-end, from discovery to checkout to post-purchase support.
In simple terms: fewer broken handoffs, more “just buy it for me” moments.

UCP lets AI agents work across the entire buying journey instead of stitching together multiple tools.
Google built it with heavyweights like Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart.
Think “USB-C for shopping agents”—plug in once, scale everywhere.

Google plans to roll UCP into AI Mode in Search and the Gemini apps.
That means shoppers can research and check out directly from U.S. retailers using Google Pay, with saved shipping info from Google Wallet—and PayPal support is coming next.
Less friction. Fewer tabs. More impulse control… or less, depending on your willpower.

Brands can now drop real-time discounts while shoppers are asking AI for recommendations.
Picture this: you describe your ideal rug, and boom—a relevant product plus a timely discount.
This is conversion happening inside the conversation, not after five clicks and a coffee break.

Merchants can now deploy branded AI Business Agents directly inside Google Search.
Early adopters include Lowe’s, Michael’s, Poshmark, and Reebok.
Your storefront just hired an AI salesperson who never sleeps—or asks for commissions.

AI-driven shopping isn’t theoretical anymore. Adobe reported AI-generated traffic to merchant sites jumped 693% during the holidays.
Big players like Amazon, OpenAI, and Meta are all racing toward the same future.
Where attention flows, money usually follows.

For working parents, this is time saved—AI shops while you’re handling life.
For side hustlers and digital asset builders, discoverability just shifted from SEO to AI conversations.
For investors, this is Google tightening its grip on commerce, not just search.

This isn’t the future of shopping.
It’s the beta version of it—already live.

Big picture first: Tesla’s valuation leans heavily on Robotaxi and Full Self-Driving (FSD).
The question isn’t if autonomy matters—it’s when it flips from promise to profit.
Let’s break down what’s working, what’s not, and what could change fast.

Tesla’s Robotaxi is cheaper than Waymo—about ~$1.5/mile vs $2.5–$3+ in peak hours.
That’s a clear advantage on paper.
But cheap rides don’t matter if you’re waiting 30–40 minutes.

Robotaxi currently operates in Austin and the SF Bay Area, with larger geofences than Waymo.
Expansion is planned for Miami, Vegas, Houston, and Dallas by 2026.
Still, scale is thin: ~132 active vehicles in California and ~40 in Austin.

Robotaxi hasn’t moved the revenue needle yet.
Fleet size is the bottleneck, not demand.
This is still a validation phase, not a cash machine.

Since launch, no serious accidents.
Sixteen incidents were reported to NHTSA, including two airbag deployments caused by other vehicles.
So far, safety optics are holding up.

Robotaxi’s biggest impact isn’t fares—it’s pushing FSD adoption.
FSD V14 unifies the stack for consumer cars and Robotaxis, with smarter, more conservative driving.
Subscription penetration has climbed to ~13–19% in the U.S., or ~1 million vehicles.

V14 introduces architectural upgrades and may distill Grok into FSD.
Miles-Per-Intervention should keep improving.
That’s what investors really watch, not demo videos.

Investors expect unsupervised FSD and Robotaxi without safety drivers by 2026.
China is the swing factor: current FSD penetration is <5% due to one-time pricing and restrictions.
Monthly subscriptions + full approval would be a game changer.

Tesla is testing Cybercab production, with Elon targeting April 2026 for mass production.
Early test vehicles still have steering wheels and mirrors—translation: not ready yet.
The ambition is bold: up to 2 million units annually, but execution risk is real.

Robotaxi hype alone won’t justify Tesla’s valuation.
FSD penetration, fleet scale, and Cybercab timelines will.
Autonomy pays only when it’s boring, fast, and everywhere.

Tesla isn’t late.
But the clock is definitely ticking.

Recovery by Russell Brand isn’t about labels or shame.
It’s about honesty, structure, and doing the work—especially when life feels out of control.
Think of it as a practical guide to rebuilding yourself, one decision at a time.

Ever feel like you’re running the same bad script every day?
Brand starts with a blunt question: Are you addicted—and to what?
It’s not just substances; it’s habits, thoughts, and escapes.

Recovery doesn’t start with motivation.
It starts with telling the truth to yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable.
No honesty, no progress—simple as that.

Destructive behaviors aren’t random; they’re learned loops.
Brand argues that self-awareness is the lever that breaks those loops.
Once you see the pattern, you stop being its prisoner.

Trying to “power through” solo is a common trap.
Sharing your journey with trustworthy people reduces blind spots and bad decisions.
Progress accelerates when accountability enters the room.

When logic, discipline, and willpower fail, Brand points to something bigger.
For him, faith and spirituality provide humility, surrender, and strength.
You don’t need perfection—just openness.

Following a few steps once won’t cut it.
Recovery is a daily practice, not a one-time breakthrough.
Miss the upkeep, and old habits quietly move back in.

Addiction isn’t always obvious, but it always steals time and focus.
For parents juggling work, side hustles, and family, clarity is currency.
Recovery isn’t about fixing the past—it’s about protecting your future.

Recovery isn’t dramatic.
It’s quiet, consistent, and life-changing.

TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNER

“When I first opened Attio, I instantly got the feeling this was the next generation of CRM.”
— Margaret Shen, Head of GTM at Modal

Attio is the AI-native CRM for modern teams. With automatic enrichment, call intelligence, AI agents, flexible workflows and more, Attio works for any business and only takes minutes to set up.

Join industry leaders like Granola, Taskrabbit, Flatfile and more.

👉 Start for free today

Have a question or want to learn more?
Hit reply and let me know what you’re most curious about! Your feedback helps me dive deeper into topics that matter to YOU in the next edition.

Let’s make AI work for us, not the other way around.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: We do not endorse, condone, or recommend any of the methods, channels, video creators, article writers, or their views and opinions mentioned. Results may vary, and you may make little or no money at all. This content is curated solely for your education and entertainment.