Alex Banks

Building a better future with AI

Alex Banks is a founder, creator and investor. He reaches over 1 million people on social media each week with insights into the world of artificial intelligence (AI).

He is the founder and writer of The Signal, a weekly newsletter that cuts through the AI noise to over 55,000+ readers.

Alex is also an active early-stage investor and advisor to startups across the AI and technology landscape.

👉 All partnerships, enquiries and speaking engagements: contact@noisemedia.ai

Writer

This should be illegal.

We’re entering a world where nothing can be trusted online:

I recently came across this video using Kling Motion Control.

It takes your movements and puts them in anyone's body.

Here's how it works:

→ Record yourself doing any movement
→ Use AI to generate a character image
→ Kling 2.6 merges the two seamlessly
→ Your moves, their face

We've now hit the threshold where it's impossible to discern whether someone is human in the digital world.

My takeaways:

The implications are huge in Hollywood:

→ Using someone's likeness without them present
→ Character swapping cost trends to near-zero
→ Reshooting scenes without actors on set

I also see new markets emerging:

→ Individuals renting out their identity
→ Licensing your likeness for content creation
→ Actors selling "performance rights" to their digital twin

Finally, proof of authenticity will become essential infrastructure, not just a nice-to-have.

Sam Altman is already building a global identity verification system using iris scans to fight against fraud and bots.

I believe we'll see identity become the next great asset class.

Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights.

P.S. If you liked this post, you'll love the newsletter.

I help you learn AI each week.
↳ Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/ePSZP6KF

Video credit: ederxavier3d on Instagram

OpenAI lost 22% market share in 12 months.

Gemini is eating their lunch.

The first Global AI Tracker of 2026 just dropped.

Here's what caught my attention.

Market share as of Jan 2nd:

→ ChatGPT: 64.5%
→ Gemini: 21.5%
→ DeepSeek: 3.7%
→ Grok: 3.4%
→ Perplexity: 2.0%
→ Claude: 2.0%
→ Copilot: 1.1%

12-month transformation:

→ ChatGPT dropped from 86.7% to 64.5%
→ Gemini exploded from 5.7% to 21.5%
→ Grok didn't exist and is now approaching DeepSeek

12-week data change:

→ OpenAI: -22% (their worst period on record)
→ Gemini: +49% (relentless momentum)
→ Claude: -14% (stable but dipping)
→ Grok: +52% (fastest growing)

Driven by the winter break, daily visits dropped to August-September levels across all tools.

But the underlying trends are unmistakable.

My takeaway:

This is OpenAI's make or break year.

It will take an incredible model (GPT-6+) from them to restore faith.

Claude Opus 4.5 with extended thinking is now my go-to model for practically every task. I rarely use GPT-5.2 as Opus 4.5 is faster, better, and more consistent across my daily work.

If Anthropic keeps shipping at this pace, they could overtake OpenAI by the end of the year.

The AI race has never been more competitive.

Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights.

I cover the most important AI developments each week in my newsletter.

Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/ePSZP6KF

NEWS: Okta just exposed AI's biggest blind spot.

Most companies aren't ready.

I sat down with Shiven Ramji, President of Auth0 at Okta, to find out what's being missed.

The problem is bigger than you think:

→ 80% of breaches already involve compromised identity
→ 91% of organisations are deploying AI agents
→ Only 10% have a governance strategy for managing them

Traditional security was built for deterministic apps.

AI agents are anything but.

They access sensitive data at machine speed, far faster than any human ever could.

4 things developers need to get right from day one:

1. Authentication 
↳ Verify the agent is working on behalf of who it claims

2. Human in the loop
↳ Sensitive transactions need async authorisation

3. Fine-grained permissions
↳ Ephemeral access that expires when the task is done

4. Secure connections
↳ No more static API keys scattered everywhere

The future Shiv predicts:

Memory will become tied to identity.

Right now, your context is locked inside each platform.

Eventually, you'll want to take your AI memory with you across tools.

My takeaway:

AI security is identity security.

You can't have one without the other.

The AI agent market is projected to hit $250 billion by 2034.

The companies racing to deploy without solving identity will learn this the hard way.

Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights.

Google's best learning tool is free.

This is how I learn anything fast.

NotebookLM lets you:

→ Upload any sources (docs, websites, research papers)
→ Use Deep Research mode to auto-pull 40+ cited sources on any topic
→ Transform everything into multiple learning formats

The 10 outputs it generates:

1. Chat Q&A → Plain-English answers with citations
2. Audio Overviews → Podcast-style explainers for commutes
3. Video Explainers → AI-narrated with custom visuals
4. Mind Maps → Explore concepts from first principles
5. Reports → Study guides, briefing docs, blog posts
6. Flashcards → Spaced repetition for terminology
7. Quizzes → Test what you actually retained
8. Infographics → Visual summaries in one click
9. Slide Decks → Presentation-ready in minutes
10. Data Tables → Structured comparisons automatically

Real-world business applications:

• Sales teams: Turn product docs into client-ready slide decks
• Onboarding: Create video overviews new hires can watch on day one
• Documentation: Generate infographics that replace 10-page guides nobody reads
• Training: Build quizzes that test whether your team actually retained the material
• Executive briefings: Summarise 50-page reports into 2-minute briefing docs

The people who win in 2026 are those who can learn anything quickly and apply it immediately.

NotebookLM is how I do that.

I wrote a full breakdown with video walkthroughs in my newsletter this week.

Read it here: https://lnkd.in/exymi6vU

Google just dropped AI into Gmail.

3 billion inboxes are about to change forever.

Gmail is entering the "Gemini era" with features powered by Gemini 3.

Here's what's new:

1. AI Overviews

→ Summarises entire email threads into key points
→ Ask your inbox questions in natural language
→ "Who gave me a plumber quote last year?" to instant answer

2. Help Me Write

→ Polish emails or draft from scratch
→ Rolling out to everyone for free
→ Next month: pulls context from your other Google apps

3. Suggested Replies

→ One-click responses that match YOUR writing style
→ Uses conversation context for relevant suggestions
→ Free for all users

4. Proofread

→ Advanced grammar, tone, and style checks
→ Available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers

5. AI Inbox (coming soon)

→ Filters out clutter automatically
→ Identifies your VIPs based on email patterns
→ Surfaces high-stakes items like bills and reminders

Availability:

• Rolling out today in the U.S.
• English first, more languages coming soon
• Some features require Google AI Pro/Ultra subscription

My takeaway:

Email was revolutionised by Google once in 2004.

They’re now doing it again 22 years later.

Only this time they’re embedding AI where 3 billion people already live.

I hope Google prioritises better phishing detection as part of their AI strategy in Gmail.

I think this could be a really wonderful feature to help educate users on dangerous activity.

AI is no longer a separate tool but is now invisible infrastructure.

Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights.

I’ll be doing a full breakdown in my newsletter this week.

I cover the most important AI developments to keep you ahead.

Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/ePSZP6KF

I built an AI version of myself.

It's trained on 100+ editions of my newsletter.

ElevenLabs just made this possible with their Agents platform.

Here's how I built "The Signal Brain" in 5 minutes:

1. Create a blank agent
↳ Head to ElevenLabs
↳ Select “Agents Platform” 
↳ Create a new agent from scratch

2. Upload your knowledge base
↳ I compiled all my newsletter editions into one document
↳ The platform uses RAG to vectorise and store your content
↳ Supports files up to 21MB each

3. Configure the system prompt
↳ Define the agent's role and personality
↳ Set the first message and system prompt
↳ Choose your LLM (I used Gemini 2.5 Flash)

4. Clone your voice
↳ I've already created my voice in ElevenLabs Studio
↳ Now my agent literally speaks like me

5. Publish and share
↳ Get a shareable link instantly
↳ Embed it on your website
↳ Let anyone interact with your knowledge

My takeaway:

What once required a team of engineers can now be done in minutes.
Whether you're a creator, educator, or business owner, you can now build an AI trained on YOUR knowledge that speaks in YOUR voice.

The best part is it’s available 24/7 for anyone to ask questions through text or voice.

This is the democratisation of AI agents in action.

Create your agent here:
https://lnkd.in/ebUgMThi

P.S. I'll be sharing the link to try The Signal Brain in the comments below.

Dave Kline

Become the Leader You’d Follow | Founder @ MGMT | Coach | Advisor | Speaker | Trusted by 250K+ leaders.

Hey, I’m Dave Kline.

I teach leaders how to build All-Star teams and level up their careers.

After decades of leading in pretty intense environments, from Bridgewater Associates to Moody’s Analytics, I know what it takes to be the manager your team remembers (for the right reasons).

Why I can help you is simple:

I’ve been through it.

And to prove it, here’s my background (by the numbers) ⤵️

2: Decades leading high-impact teams in asset management (Bridgewater), consulting (PwC), & financial services (Moody’s Analytics).

4: Years as an entrepreneur. My portfolio includes Skillscouter (an online course & career site), and MGMT Accelerator (a cohort-based management training course).

14: Cohorts of early-career leaders that I’ve taught at multiple companies.

100: Managers I recruited, onboarded & mentored at Bridgewater Associates.

1,000: Performance evaluations with grace and respect for stars and terminations alike.

205,000+: My community across LinkedIn & Twitter interested in management tactics & leadership lessons

385,000,000: My team’s top revenue year at Moody’s.

Now that we’ve covered the why, here’s the how:

- The MGMT Accelerator – an intensive management training course for both new and senior leaders
- MGMT Fundamentals – a course that covers all the need-to-know management basics for rookie leaders
- The MGMT Playbook – a weekly newsletter that gives practical management insights

Through our MGMT courses, my wife Marsden and I have played the assist with over 1,100 leaders so far, who’ve now learned how to:

- Practically tackle the most common leadership challenges
- Build their Management OS’s CODE (Coach, Operate, Delegate, Engage)
- Refine their individual leadership Decision-Making System

With our 30+ years of combined experience, you won’t just get our knowledge.

You’ll get to ask us questions directly and get access to coaching that’s more tailored to your own experience.

We always say – if we could do it like a dinner party, we would.

If you’re interested in leadership advice (that doesn’t just sound nice but actually works), drop me a follow – I post daily.

And if you like what you see, our MGMT courses could be just what you need to level up.

DM me if you’re interested.

Co-Founder

We created the MGMT Accelerator to help managers rapidly develop into trusted leaders by combining the art & science of management. 

This 4-week program consistents of eight 90-minute modules where I share the tactics I learned leading high-performing teams for 25 years. During each session, we tailor those insights together to build your personalized management system together. 

You'll learn alongside ~50 peers and become part of an expert community of more than 300 alums.

9 Signs Your Team Might Be Toxic

(And it's costing you more than you think)

No team is perfect.

But there's a critical difference between:
Temporary Discomfort and Permanent Dysfunction.

The ❌'s reveal the hidden damage.
The ✅'s show you what excellence looks like.

The more signs you recognize,
The faster you need to move.

Good People Leave
❌ Your best talent quits, replaced by whoever applies
✅ A-players recruit and develop other A-players

Mediocre People Stay
❌ Average becomes the accepted norm
✅ Excellence is supplied, recognized, and multiplied

Conflict Never Gets Fully Resolved
❌ Tension builds privately until it erupts publicly
✅ Problems are surfaced, discussed, and solved

The War Inside Our Walls
❌ Departments compete instead of collaborating
✅ Everyone focuses on beating external competition

Decisions Get Made and Unmade
❌ Choices get revisited endlessly, killing momentum
✅ Decisions are made, with clear owners and follow-through

Questions Are Met With Silence
❌ Information is hoarded for leverage and protection
✅ Knowledge is shared openly to strengthen everyone

Feedback is Nonexistent
❌ People guess at their performance without clarity
✅ Consistent, direct feedback accelerates growth

Tomorrow Never Comes
❌ Promises are made but never kept
✅ Commitments today become results tomorrow

Success Is Accidental
❌ Wins are downplayed, high standards feel threatening
✅ Success is analyzed, replicated, and built into systems

The opposite of a toxic environment is a high-performing one. 

Building one requires:  
✅ the right people, 
✅ the right systems, 
✅ and the right leader. 

Our MGMT Accelerator will help you become one faster. 

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eFwuqzh3

See why 1,400+ leaders said it was worth 25x what they paid.

Remember:
If you're quietly tolerating a toxic team,
You're slowly becoming part of the problem.

You either shape your environment or it shapes you.
Choose to be the catalyst, not the casualty.

♻️ Please repost to help others.
✅ And follow Dave Kline for more.

9 Signs You Might Have a Toxic Team

One choice hurts more managers than any other:

The 'More People' Paradox.

Here's what it is and how to avoid it...

Most teams fall into this pattern:

❌ Problem →
❌ Add People →
❌ More Complexity →
❌ Bigger Problems →
❌ Add Even More People

In an effort to add capacity,
They drown themselves in complexity.

Here's the trap: 

Capacity grows linearly. 
Complexity grows exponentially. 

High-performing teams know this. 
They choose a different path: 

❌ Problem →
✅ Diagnose →
✅ Delete, Simplify, or Automate →
✅ Refocus & Execute →
✅ Scale

Why does this order change things? 
Pruning is required for healthy growth.

They fix the model to scale. 
They don't hope scale fixes the model. 

Ask these 3 questions before you hire:

1️⃣ What could we stop doing?
• Nice-to-have projects
• Low-impact meetings
• Redundant reports

2️⃣ What are we overcomplicating?
• Communication channels
• Project workflows
• Decision making

3️⃣ What are we avoiding?
• Technology improvements
• Difficult conversations
• Priority decisions

BONUS: What could AI handle?
• Document processing
• Standard responses
• Data aggregation
• Routine analysis

✅ Remember:
Our optimal path to greater success...
Doing half as much, twice as well.

If this post resonated with you...
🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more
♻️ Share to help others go big by thinking small

PS - We have another free AI-Enhanced Leader workshop coming up. 
"Build Your AI-Powered Leadership Coach in 30 Minutes"
Join 352 leaders already signed up: https://lnkd.in/guyyAMdN

Managing up doesn't require sucking up.

If you know how to do it right.

Managing up isn't about:
• Power
• Politics
• Persuasion

It's about building a relationship with your boss.
And making them successful while you do it.

And that starts by knowing who your manager is.

Here are 3 common manager archetypes
(and how to speak their language):

The Relentless Micromanager
• Needs to control every detail
• Constantly checks in for updates
• Language: High-velocity details before they ask

The Volatile Visionary
• Focuses on big ideas and long-term goals
• Everything is extreme: failure or excellence
• Language: Contrarian insights tied to their vision

The Disconnected Diva
• Out of touch with day-to-day operations
• Doesn't understand frontline challenges
• Language: Repeatable stories that connect dots

Once you know who you're talking to,
You can apply a range of practical tactics. 

The carousel below has one proven tactic
To overcome 10 common objections to managing up.

Swipe through and give one a try.

Make your boss's goals your goals, and three things happen:
• You get more support for your team
• You get more opportunities for growth
• You get more autonomy in your decisions

This isn't politics. 
This is partnership.

Want help applying this skill?

Join MGMT Fundamentals starting next Tuesday.

"Managing Up" is one of the 6 core skills we teach.

• One hour a day over two weeks.
• Critical Skills + Proven Systems. 
• Group coaching to unlock your challenge.

Enrollment closes in 3 days: https://lnkd.in/ewTRApB5

Join 33 leaders looking to level up.

♻️ Share this to help a new manager.

🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more leadership insights.

How to Manage Up (and get what you deserve)

Most new managers fail (nearly 60%). 

Not because they aren't capable. 

It's because they focus on the wrong things. 

Here's what I wish someone had told me:

1. Define a Clear Mission

Average teams execute tasks.
High-performing teams drive outcomes.

Your team needs to know:
• Why their work matters
• How it impacts the company
• What winning looks like

Test: Can each person explain the mission in one sentence?

2. Hire Slowly, Fire Fast

High performers want to work with high performers.

Never compromise on:
• Proven ability to deliver
• Self-direction and ownership
• Character over credentials

One A-player is worth three B-players.
One C-player destroys team standards.

3. Give Earned Autonomy

Top talent doesn't need micromanagement.

Define the outcome, not the process.

Let them:
• Set their schedule
• Choose their methods
• Make meaningful decisions

Your job: Remove obstacles, not create them.

4. Protect Their Time

Meetings are overhead, not output.

Only meet to:
• Align on priorities
• Solve blocking problems
• Make decisions

Default to async communication.
Protect their time to create value.

5. Kill Bureaucracy

High performers hate administrative waste.

Cut ruthlessly:
• Unnecessary approvals
• Redundant reporting
• Meeting theater

Ask: "Does this help us win or just look busy?"

6. Guard Their Focus

Concentration beats distraction.

Say no to:
• Random committees
• Shiny object syndrome
• Everything that's not the main thing

The best teams do half as much twice as well.

7. Track Outcomes, Not Activities

Set clear expectations.
Measure results, not hours.

Focus on:
• Results delivered
• Quality standards met
• Timeline commitments kept

Outputs matter more than inputs.

8. Remove Friction Daily

High performers solve problems relentlessly.

Will it be customer problems?
Or the ones you create?

Daily question: "What's slowing my team down?"

Then fix it immediately.

New managers succeed when talented people have:
• Clear direction
• High autonomy
• Zero friction

Want to start strong as a manager?

Get the training 85% of managers never receive.

MGMT Fundamentals starts January 27th.
10 hours over two weeks. The 80/20 skills and systems to lead effectively.

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ewTRApB5

85% of managers get reimbursed by their company. Just ask.
Bonus: Bring a colleague and you both save 20%.

Come learn how to become a leader you'd follow.

♻️ Share this to help a new manager.

🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more practical management insights.

 Quick Tips for New Managers

Success isn't determined by what you know.

It's determined by how fast you move.

And how quickly you adjust based on what you learn.

But before every action, there's a decision.
And before every decision, there's indecision. 

Those who win work from data: 
• Data from experience. 
• Data from customers. 
• Data from doing.

And they know: 

The faster you decide, the faster you learn.

Here are 7 simple tips to make better decisions:

Empty Your Mind
• Write down every swirling thought
• Focus only on your top 3 factors

Flip a Coin
• Not for the result, but for your reaction
• Your gut reveals the right answer

Find a Partner
• Direct partner shares the journey with you
• Trusted advisor shows the path ahead of you

Sell Then Build
• Get one real customer to pay first
• Let revenue validate your next step

Price Your Indecision
• Calculate what waiting costs you
• Compare it to the cost of choosing wrong

Only Commit to Today
• Skip the 10-year questions
• Answer one question today

Burn the Ships
• Make a call you can't reverse
• This meeting ends with a decision

Remember:

The faster you decide, the sooner you learn.

Indecision only creates one thing: anxiety.

Stop waiting for clarity.
Start creating it.

You can almost always go back.
But not without moving forward first.

Helpful?

✅ Follow Dave Kline for more.

♻️ Share to help others get unstuck.

7 Simple Ways to Make Better Decisions 

Everyone wants accountability.

No one wants to be held accountable.

This guide makes accountability the default mode.

Accountability is not something you do.
It's the outcome of doing things the right way.

Most leaders think accountability is about confrontation:
• Creating consequences for failure
• Calling people out in meetings
• Tracking every detail

That's not accountability.
That's micromanagement.

Real accountability happens when your people want to win. 
And your systems make it hard to fail.

Here are the 5 systems that make accountability automatic:

1. Crystal Clear Outcomes
Define success before you start. Vague goals create average results. Specific targets create clear accountability.

2. Visible Progress Tracking
Make progress public. When everyone can see the scoreboard, people naturally step up their game.

3. Regular Check-In Rhythms
Weekly reviews, not quarterly surprises. Frequent small course corrections beat big dramatic overhauls.

4. Ownership Assignment
One person owns each outcome. Shared ownership means no one is responsible.

5. Outcome Clarity
Know what happens when you hit the target and what happens when you miss. No surprises, no excuses.

The result?

Teams that hold themselves accountable.
Leaders who coach instead of complain.
Results that speak for themselves.

What's your biggest accountability challenge?

Getting people to own their results?
Having the hard conversations?
Making progress visible?

Steal my step-by-step playbook from the carousel below 👇

And make Mutual Accountability your team's default mode.

And if you found this playbook helpful: 

♻️ Share to help others build success through accountability
🔔 Follow Dave Kline & Marsden Kline for more leadership systems

PS - We've got our first free Lightning Lesson for 2026 on Thursday. 
"AI-Powered Planning: Get Buy-In, Stay Agile, and Win 2026"
Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gGGcRKMp

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