News and Insights
No…This – January 2026
January 21, 2026
Welcome to the latest edition of No…This, our news digest unpacking the need-to-know shifts in communications and marketing.
Welcome to the latest edition of No…This, our news digest unpacking the need-to-know shifts in communications and marketing.
The theme of 2026 is becoming clear: if it’s not real, it’s not working. From the halls of CES to the LinkedIn feed, the “polish” of the last decade is being replaced by utility and lived experience. This week, we’re looking at how AI is stepping out of the screen and into the physical workforce, why your Instagram hashtag strategy needs a radical 5-tag diet, and why the health sector is actually the new pioneer of programmatic advertising.
Ready to dive in?
CES 2026: Moving from AI Hype to Physical Utility
What’s New
For marketers, CES 2026 signaled a critical shift: AI has moved from a screen-based novelty to a “physical” business reality. With over 4,000 exhibitors, the focus was on how embodied AI—from humanoid warehouse workers to autonomous household assistants—is solving real-world problems. For brand builders, the takeaway is clear: the “purpose phase” of innovation has arrived. Success in 2026 will depend on moving past the buzzwords and demonstrating how your tech fits into the literal hands and homes of your customers.
In The News
- TechCrunch, CES 2026 was all about ‘physical AI’ and robots, robots, robots
- ZDNet, What’s the deal with physical AI? Why the next frontier of tech is already all around you
- Reuters, Physical AI dominates CES but humanity will still have to wait a while for humanoid servants
LinkedIn Is Leaning Into Real Voices for 2026
What’s New
As we move into 2026, LinkedIn is prioritizing “lived experience” over high-gloss polish. New guidance from LinkedIn’s product team shows that personal industry perspectives and practical career lessons are driving the highest engagement. The platform is simultaneously cracking down on “AI-smoothed” content and engagement pods, signaling a major shift toward timely, conversational, and genuinely human interactions.
In The News
LinkedIn, Top LinkedIn Feed Questions of 2025
Programmatic Reset: Health Innovation and the Rise of AI Agents
What’s New
The Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit highlighted that health care is no longer playing catch-up—it’s the new blueprint for highly regulated, identity-safe targeting. As “Agentic AI” begins to take over the operational heavy lifting of campaign management, the balance of power among DSPs is shifting. While Amazon and Google maintain their “walled garden” grip, challengers like Yahoo are emerging as flexible, AI-native infrastructure for agencies seeking more control and transparency.
In The News
- WIRED, The Age of the All-Access AI Agent Is Here
- The Drum, From automation to autonomy: why AI agents will redefine advertising
HubSpot and Reddit Expose Why Buyers Ignore Your Site—and What To Do Next
What’s New
As AI-generated answers begin to replace traditional search clicks, Reddit has emerged as a primary source for B2B discovery. A new joint report from HubSpot and Reddit highlights how expert communities influence buying decisions long before a lead ever hits a brand’s website. The focus has shifted from “posting tactics” to “community presence,” teaching marketers how to navigate subreddits and use paid tools without breaking the platform’s high bar for authenticity.
In The News
- Social Media Today, Hubspot Publishes New Guide to Reddit Marketing for B2B Brands
- PPC Land, HubSpot and Reddit reveal why B2B buyers bypass your website
Hashtag Walls Come Crumbling Down
What’s New
The era of stuffing 30 hashtags into a single Instagram post is officially over. Instagram is limiting hashtags to just five per post, signaling a complete shift toward keyword-based AI indexing. The platform is moving away from manual tags in favor of on-platform SEO, where algorithms scan captions, subtitles, and spoken words to categorize content. This forces a shift away from “spammy” tactics toward descriptive, high-value captions that treat Instagram like a search engine.
In The News
- Social Media Today, Instagram Implements New Limits on Hashtag Use
- The Tech Buzz, Instagram Caps Hashtags at Five to Combat Spam
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