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 50,000+ 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

As an introvert, I used to struggle with interaction.

Luckily AI is becoming the Great Equaliser:

1. Speech-to-speech: Real-time conversation without the pressure
→ Example: ChatGPT's voice mode enables natural, flowing dialogue
→ Benefit: Perfect for on-the-go brainstorming, notetaking or setting tasks
→ Access: https://chatgpt.com/

2. Visual learning: Complex information made simple
→ Example: NotebookLM creates mind maps, flashcards, and video overviews
→ Benefit: Transforms dense material into formats that match how you think
→ Access: https://notebooklm.google/

3. Content creation: Building your personal brand becomes accessible
→ Example: GrowHub crafts LinkedIn posts that sound like you, not AI
→ Benefit: Share your thoughts online without hours of writing
→ Access: https://growhub.ai/

4. Speech-to-text: Your thoughts flow without typing friction
→ Example: Wispr Flow captures your ideas through natural dictation
→ Benefit: Write faster by speaking, perfect for those who think out loud
→ Access: https://lnkd.in/eCTTPPEz

5. Guided learning: Ask unlimited "why's" without judgment
→ Example: Gemini 2.5 Flash's guided learning mode breaks down any topic
→ Benefit: Patient, step-by-step explanations at your own pace
→ Access: https://gemini.google.com/

My take?

The possibilities of what we can achieve with AI are endless.

Especially when paired with human creativity, curiosity, and ambition.

A whole new game has been created where everyone gets to play.

So here's my question to you:

How has AI helped you overcome a personal challenge?

Share your story below.

P.S. Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights & insights.

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

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

Image credit: Tobi Lutke on X

Google just woke up.

And OpenAI is feeling the heat.

A leaked internal memo from Sam Altman just surfaced.

The OpenAI CEO admits Google's AI progress could "create some temporary economic headwinds."

Here's what's happening:

→ OpenAI's revenue growth could slow to single digits by 2026
→ They're projecting a $74 billion operating loss by 2028
→ Gemini 3 Pro now leads GPT-5.1 in reasoning and coding tasks

Altman's own words: "Google has been doing excellent work recently in every aspect."

This is a massive shift.

For 3 years, OpenAI had peacetime dominance.

Now it’s a wartime scenario.

OpenAI is scrambling with social-infused features like Sora 2 App and group chats in ChatGPT in an effort to push top-line revenue and seek virality.

Meanwhile, Google's been quietly building:

→ Gemini 3 for reasoning
→ Nano Banana Pro for images
→ Veo 3.1 for video
→ TPUs powering everything

The real insight here:

• Google wasn't the first search engine
• Many came and went before it
• What matters is being the last mover

Owning the "stack" from chip to chatbot creates the only real enduring moat.

My takeaway:

Frontier LLMs are rapidly commoditising.

OpenAI pioneered the technology, but it can't defend margins when competitors match its capability.

I recently switched my new default model from GPT-5.1 to Gemini 3 “Fast” mode for general Q&A tasks because of its speed.

The sleeping giant has woken up.

And the AI race just got a whole lot more interesting.

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

Runway just dropped Gen-4.5.

It's now the world's # 1 AI video model.

The numbers:

→ 1,247 ELO score on Artificial Analysis leaderboard
→ Beats Google’s Veo 3, Kling 2.5, and OpenAI’s Sora 2 Pro
→ Top-rated model globally

Core capabilities:

→ Unprecedented physical accuracy (realistic weight, momentum, and force)
→ Complex multi-element scenes rendered with precision
→ Maintains visual consistency across diverse aesthetics
→ Intricate camera choreography from single prompts
→ Handles both photorealistic and stylised animation

What's different:

• Built entirely on NVIDIA GPUs (Hopper and Blackwell series)
• Same speed and pricing as Gen-4
• All existing control modes coming to Gen-4.5 (Image to Video, Keyframes, Video to Video)

Current limitations:

1. Causal reasoning issues: A door might open before someone touches the handle. Effects can precede causes.
2. Object permanence problems: A cup can vanish after being blocked from view, then reappear in the next frame.
3. Success bias: Actions succeed too often, e.g., a poorly aimed basketball shot still goes in.

Already being used by:

→ Target (Retail & Ecommerce)
→ BBC (Broadcast)
→ Ubisoft (Gaming)

Runway says it will be available to everyone in the coming days.

My takeaway:

Two years ago, Runway released Gen-1, the first publicly available video generation model.

Now they're setting a new benchmark.

We’re one step closer to systems that truly understand how the real world actually works.

I can feel the video generation race really accelerating and we're all going to benefit from this competition.

Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights.

Want to learn how to leverage AI in your work?

Subscribe to my newsletter:
https://lnkd.in/ePSZP6KF

China just shipped $113M of humanoid robots.

UBTECH’s Walker S2 has begun mass production:

The Numbers:

→ 800M yuan (~$113M) in orders secured
→ 500 robots delivering by year-end
→ 5,000 annual capacity by 2026
→ 10,000 units by 2027

Who's Buying:

• BYD
• Geely Auto
• FAW-Volkswagen
• Foxconn
• Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor
• SF Express

What Makes Walker S2 Production-Ready:

→ 176cm tall, 70kg, 52 degrees of freedom
→ Walks at 2m/s with humanoid gait
→ 162° waist rotation for tight spaces
→ Deep squat capability with 15kg payload
→ Gen-4 dexterous hands with 6 tactile sensors
→ "Human-eye" binocular vision system

I was impressed by the 3-minute autonomous battery swap:

Traditional robots:
Work 5 hours → Stop → Charge → Wait

Walker S2:
Work 5 hours → Swap battery (3 mins) → Keep working

The dual-battery system monitors power in real-time and autonomously chooses to swap or charge based on task priorities.

Result: 24/7 continuous operation with zero human intervention.

Market Response: 

→ UBTECH's stock climbed 150% this year to 133 HKD
→ Revenue up 27.5% to 621M yuan
→ Humanoids now represent 30% of total sales (up from 10% last year)

My takeaway:

We've crossed the chasm from R&D to real deployment.

The race has shifted from who can build the flashiest demo to who can deliver real scale, maintain uptime, and prove ROI.

UBTECH seems to be answering all three.

Follow me Alex Banks for daily AI highlights and insights.

P.S. 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

This 1965 clip of Isaac Asimov blows my mind.

He predicted exactly what we're building today:

The convergence of humans and machines into something new.

The two-way transformation is now undeniable:

1. Robots becoming more human-like

• Humanoid robots are starting to move like us
• Neural networks are mimicking our brains
• Soft robotics using organic-inspired materials

2. Humans incorporating more technology

• Neuralink developing brain-computer interfaces
• Advanced prosthetics controlled by thought
• Artificial organs replacing failing human ones

Most people only know Asimov for his famous Three Laws of Robotics:

1. A robot may not harm a human or allow harm
2. A robot must obey human orders (unless violating Law 1)
3. A robot must protect itself (unless violating Laws 1 or 2)

Asimov saw what others couldn't.

While everyone debated if machines could think, he asked what happens when they merge with us.

A hybrid species might surpass both humans and machines.

My takeaway:

In a world obsessed with AI replacing humans, Asimov offered a different vision 60 years ago.

Not replacement, but convergence.

The line between humans and machines will continue to blur.

Is this the future we need?

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

Harris Fanaroff

Founder

Linked Revenue

Founders, senior executives, and sales leaders turn to us when they want to turn their network into revenue.

By maximizing your LinkedIn presence and activity, we cut through the noise, expand your reach, and build consistent deal flow.

That means content that builds trust, targeted outreach that starts real conversations, and strategic networking that drives results.

Our team is laser-focused on turning your existing relationships—and the ones you haven’t made yet—into high-quality sales meetings.

Learn more at https://linked-revenue.com/

Founder & CEO

Pontoon Solutions

Pontoon is a people-first organization. We architect innovative solutions that enable our clients to achieve optimal business outcomes and stay ahead of future challenges. 

Pontoon delivers transparent and data-driven MSP and RPO solutions that make our clients’ businesses fit for the future and support them to achieve their business goals. Backed by the power of the Adecco Group ecosystem we architect our clients' workforce of the future.

We architect innovative workforce solutions to achieve your business objectives. Through bigger thinking, bigger innovation, and bigger reach, we help you reimagine your way forward: www.pontoonsolutions.com.

Global Head of Client Relations

OKA (Otto Kroeger Associates)

OKA is a training and consulting company specializing in leadership and team development located in Fairfax, Virginia near Washington, DC. Since 1977, OKA has been changing the way you live and work through greater self-awareness and better self-management. Currently the nation's leader in EQ-i Certification, we use today's most effective assessment tools as foundations for our highly engaging, actionable presentations and training programs designed to develop greater individuals, leaders, teams, and organizations.

OKA partners across the government and commercial sectors and is a GSA schedule holder: GS-10F-0015R

Certification & Train the Trainer Workshops
• Emotional Intelligence EQi 2.0/ 360
• DRiV - Values, Motives, and Behaviors
• Pearman Personality Integrator
• Team Performance Inventory
• Hardiness Resilience Gauge
• Change Style Indicator
• Influence Style Indicator
• Decision Style Profile
• DLP/ELP 360
• Advanced Type and Emotional Intelligence
• MBTI Master Practitioner

Leader and Team Development Programs
• Developing Emotional Intelligence
• Understanding Your Values, Motives, and Behaviors
• Custom Leadership Development Programs
• High Performing Teams
• 360 Assessments
• Working Effectively Across Generations
• Developing Resilience
• Creating Safe to Speak Cultures and Teams
• Leveraging the Power of Personality Type
• Effective Decision Making
• Giving & Receiving Feedback
• Managing Conflict
• Having Difficult Conversations
• Leading Change
• Team Tools/ Team Dynamics

Leadership/Executive Coaching
OD/ Change Management Consulting
Leadership Accelerator for Women Coaching Program
Keynote Speaking

Vice President, Client Relationships

Director of Client Relationships

Athlete Roadmap

Athlete Roadmap is designed to support high-performing student-athletes navigate their way through transitions on the field, in the classroom, and in life.

Through a coaching approach, each program gives participants the integral skills to help them grow personally and professionally with the goal of providing the space, mental skills, and resources to help athletes navigate next steps.

Founder, Leadership & Mental Performance Coach

ACT Performance, LLC

I am an ICF-ACC Certified Coach that works with clients to help them unlock their potential. I provide a safe space for clients to learn about themselves and work on pursuing their dreams and goals. 

ACT (Accredited Coaching & Training) Performance LLC primarily works with two groups of clients: 
1. High School, College, and Pro athletes that are interested in working on the mental game.
2. High performing individuals inside organizations that are interested in early morning, late night, or weekend leadership coaching opportunities.

Associate Director, Business Development

Note this is not a job change, I just updated the company to reflect our standalone status. EAB was part of the Advisory Board Company, and then became a separate company.

Senior Manager, Account Management

Win Within Baseball 

Head Coach, Travel Baseball

The Advisory Board Company

• Develop relationships with key decision makers and main points of contact at member college/universities in the U.S., and Canada, and proactively manage these relationships to optimize the value of the Education Advisory Board research programs
• Work to secure annual renewal of membership contracts and corresponding service terms 
• Communicate and monitor member interests to the education research teams on a regular and ongoing basis
• Plan effective strategies for maintaining visibility of services and deliverables at member institutions
• Execute specific initiatives outlined in member service plans
• Facilitate new member orientations by phone or traveling to member institutions

Manager, Account Management

•	Strategized cultivation of territory and focused outreach campaigns to pursue best opportunities which resulted in scheduling over 150 on-site meetings and follow-ups
•	Recipient of the award given to the new hire that best demonstrates the ability to work through challenges by consistently hitting visit goal for two sales managers at one time
•	Selected to participate in ABC’s highly competitive Business Development Internship Program which included presentations in front of senior management
•	Facilitated a class for new-hires to learn the fundamentals of the Advisory Board Company
•	Effectively and successfully handled multiple responsibilities through optimizing time management coupled with upward management, all while working as a team to consistently achieve ambitious short-term and long-term goals

Senior Sales and Marketing Associate

Sales and Marketing Associate

Willco Companies

•  Conducted industrial and commercial property inspections with aligned managers
•  Enforced accountability and performed financial oversight on incoming rent
•  Calculated property value of perspective parcels using comparative data and research

Intern

Phillips Realty Capital

•  Validated and corrected financial and commercial real estate documents
•  Worked directly and gained exposure to a variety of financial loan structuring models
•  Performed due diligence on various commercial properties

Founder @ Linked Revenue | Sharing insights to help Executives and Sales Professionals generate more revenue from LinkedIn

We work with executives who’ve built impressive networks, and help them turn those relationships into revenue.

At Linked Revenue, we specialize in relationship-based selling. Everything we do is rooted in your voice, your network, and your goals.

We co-create content that feels natural to you, research where your connections can open doors, and send personalized outreach that leads to real conversations.

You don’t need to spend hours on LinkedIn. We keep you accountable to a process that works, while making sure your authentic voice shows up where it matters most.

We handle the content, posting, outreach, and engagement, so you stay focused on what you do best while still generating consistent deal flow.

We have helped our clients generate over $10M in revenue from LinkedIn. 

A little bit about me:

- I have a toddler son and baby daughter who are both the best and exhausting
- I was drafted by the Washington Nationals out of high school but got the yips in college 
- I am a certified leadership coach
- I have been to all 50 states
- I am lucky to have an amazing wife who is the rock for our family

Recent Wins:

✅ Helped the Founder &amp; CEO of a Future of Work SaaS company land enterprise deals and secure Series B funding by optimizing his LinkedIn presence and content strategy.

✅ Drove a 300% increase in inbound opportunities for a NYT best-selling author and keynote speaker, leading to more high-value speaking engagements and book sales.

✅ Scaled the LinkedIn presence of a Chief Revenue Officer at a high-growth AI company, directly contributing to a 7-figure pipeline through strategic content and network engagement.

✅ Partnered with 5 top sales professionals in employee benefits to establish them as thought leaders, leading to direct inbound leads from high target prospects.

✅ Worked with the CEO of a leading HR Tech startup to develop a LinkedIn strategy that resulted in multiple investor introductions and high-profile partnership opportunities.

If you're an Executive who is interested in generating more revenue from LinkedIn, I'd love to connect with you.

We help Executives generate more revenue from LinkedIn. 

We believe that Executives should share their distinct voice with the world so our process ensures it sounds like you (because you say it), but you don't have to spend time on the platform. 

Building your brand on LinkedIn is a huge asset for generating new B2B sales opportunities. 

We help you do that.

taplio

The Battle

Alex Banks

Harris Fanaroff

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreAlex Banks's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Alex Banks

Harris Fanaroff

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Alex Banks's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreAlex Banks's LinkedIn Performance