The Cost of Intelligence: How CIOs Can Manage AI Demand at Scale
McKinsey insight on managing AI costs and demand at scale.
16 free resources on this topic. Everything here is free and hand-picked. You can also search within this topic.
McKinsey insight on managing AI costs and demand at scale.
Ben Thompson's free 2017 essay giving a precise definition of aggregators, a way to classify them, and how to think about regulating them.
Why I recommend it: This essay is free; daily Stratechery updates need a paid plan.
SSRN working paper by Eldar Maksymov applying the Jevons Paradox to AI-driven labor changes. Argues that, like spreadsheets with accounting, AI may expand demand for judgment-intensive knowledge work and that leaders should build a value fortress of trust and accountability rather than cut headcount.
The San Francisco venture firm's site and essays on what it funds and why — a free window into how investors actually think about startups.
From the site: Founders Fund is a San Francisco based venture capital firm investing in companies building revolutionary technologies.
Why I recommend it: Read their essays before pitching anyone. It tells you what investors are listening for.
Free research reports on how people now search through AI answer engines instead of traditional search, with data by industry.
From the site: Explore Profound research on AI search, answer engines, and how people discover brands and information.
Why I recommend it: Relevant if you market anything online — how AI answer engines pick sources is changing how people find businesses.
Every post by Google's CEO in one feed — product announcements, AI strategy and company positioning, straight from the source.
Why I recommend it: Primary source material — worth reading before commentary about Google, not after.
A talk explaining how large systems depend on cooperation from many institutions, applied to technology power.
Why I recommend it: Useful mental model for where pressure on AI companies actually works.
A free breakdown of what AI-company product interviews actually test: judgment about which problems are worth solving, not memorised frameworks or polished STAR stories.
Why I recommend it: Read this if you keep getting "not strategic enough" feedback in senior interviews.
Marketing blog with practical guidance for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and service providers.
Why I recommend it: Bite-sized marketing ideas you can adapt if you are promoting a business or personal brand without a big budget.
HubSpot distills 10 powerful insights about AI and marketing from conversations with industry leaders on Marketing Against the Grain.
From the site: We've distilled 10 most powerful insights about AI and marketing from conversations with industry leaders on Marketing Against the Grain.
Why I recommend it: A free HubSpot report summarizing the most useful AI-and-marketing takeaways from the Marketing Against the Grain series — good for anyone blending marketing skills with AI fluency.
Jim Louderback's SXSW presentation tracing the creator economy from 1994 to the AI era — sovereign creators, synthetic influencers, digital twins, verification, and what creators should do to survive.
Why I recommend it: The most useful pages are the "what creators should do" slides — treat them as a checklist for protecting your name, likeness, and income as AI content floods every platform.
Created by Jim Louderback
Curated job-search guidance and templates from a UX/DX practitioner, aimed at focused, low-spam applying.
Why I recommend it: Use it as a system, not a reading list: pick one outreach template and send it ten times before judging it.
Practical explainers on how applicant tracking systems screen resumes and how to organize a search.
Why I recommend it: Useful antidote to ATS myths. Optimize for a human reader who is skimming, not for a keyword robot.
Business strategy blended with mindset coaching for purpose-driven small businesses. Hosted by Marie Forleo.
In plain terms: This YouTube channel features videos on business strategy and mindset coaching for small business owners. You can watch free episodes to get practical guidance on running and growing your venture.
Why I recommend it: Half strategy, half mindset — helpful when you're stalling on the first step.
Long-form strategy deep dives on companies, markets, and the people shaping them.
Why I recommend it: One long piece at a time — good weekend reading if you are building something.
Government-backed strategies for a stronger resume — keyword targeting, quantifying results, and matching the job posting language.
In plain terms: This guide outlines practical strategies to help your resume stand out to employers. You can learn how to highlight your accomplishments, identify transferable skills, and use AI tools to tailor your resume for specific job postings.
From the site: Four strategies for an effective resume that sells your strengths and your brand.