A newsletter by Ken Yeung

The AI
Economy

A sharp, curated look at the stories that reveal how AI is rewriting business, work, technology, and culture.

Ken Yeung

Subscribe free → Browse issues ↓

What you get

Built for people who work with AI, not just read about it.

Reported, not aggregated

Enterprise AI coverage from a journalist who covered the space before “generative AI” was a mainstream phrase. Sourced, contextual, with a point of view.

Platform strategy focus

Beyond the product announcements. Analysis of how AI is restructuring enterprise workflows, editorial operations, and the economics of content at scale.

Written for practitioners

Not for the hype-chasers. For the people who have to act on it.

Archive

Every issue.

All issues published to date. New issues arrive every week.

Open on Substack ↗
  1. Issue

    Microsoft’s First CTO Says AI Is ‘Three to Five Miracles’ Away From Human-Level Intelligence

    Nathan Myhrvold had a front-row seat to the rise of modern computing that few can match. As Microsoft’s first CTO, he helped shape its technology strategy during its formative years from 1986 to 2000, working closely with Bill Gates and leading groundbreaking research efforts. Decades after this departure, he reflected on his career and shared […]
  2. Issue

    Searchquake: How Gen AI and Agents Are Reshaping SEO

    IN THIS ISSUE: Dive into the changing world of search to better understand how artificial intelligence is disrupting where websites get their traffic from. Google’s dominance isn’t at risk…yet. But apps like Perplexity and OpenAI’s ChatGPT are a threat at its doorstep. BrightEdge CEO Jim Yu joins “The AI Economy” to share his observations and […]
  3. Issue

    CES 2025: Now With More AI

    IN THIS ISSUE: Welcome to the final newsletter of 2024. Thank you for subscribing to and reading “The AI Economy.” Next month marks one year since I launched this publication, and I appreciate the reception it has received. In the coming year, expect more stories about AI’s impact on business, work, technology, and society. Regarding […]
  4. Issue

    Salesforce Unveils Agentforce 2.0, Bringing AI Agents to Slack and Introducing Advanced Atlas Reasoning

    As AI agents take center stage in 2024, Salesforce is fully leaning into the trend. In October, the cloud computing company launched Agentforce, a platform that lets anyone quickly build advanced AI bots and connect them to enterprise data. Two months later, it’s introducing its next-generation AI agent offering, which aims to redefine “AI agents across […]
  5. Issue

    Google’s NotebookLM Adds a Premium Tier, Adaptable UI, and Interactive Audio Overviews

    Google is taking its popular NotebookLM app to the next level. No longer just an experiment, the company is unveiling a series of updates on Friday that position the notebook tool as a fully mature product. The first is a premium tier called NotebookLM Plus, designed with enterprise users in mind, followed by a revamped […]
  6. Issue

    Lessons From My First AWS re:Invent

    IN THIS ISSUE: My conference adventures continue as I journey to Amazon’s re:Invent conference to hear about AWS’ approach to AI. Plus, explore the company’s AI partnership with the NFL and how they use the technology to help support players’ philanthropy. And don’t miss the roundup of AI news you may have missed from the […]
  7. Issue

    AI’s Ticking Clock: Just 13% of Companies Say They’re Ready for AI; Most Fear an 18-Month Deadline to Act

    The AI Scramble At the speed at which artificial intelligence is moving today, companies believe time is running out to take advantage of its capabilities. There’s one problem: They need more time to prepare for AI. In its second annual AI Readiness Index, Cisco finds a gap between the urgency organizations feel and how ready […]
  8. Issue

    Ai2: The AI House That Paul Allen Built

    When it comes to artificial intelligence, giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Google, and Amazon often dominate the spotlight, leaving little room for other key players. Yet, one company has been quietly researching AI for over a decade, is based outside Silicon Valley, and is helping lead the charge for the technology’s openness. Called Ai2, this […]
  9. Issue

    AI Agents Are Coming for Your Computers

    AI agents are no longer just passive tools—they’re becoming active decision-makers on our desktops. From automating workflows to managing tasks, these digital companions are stepping into roles once reserved for human operators. These bots are growing in sophistication and could soon take greater control of our computers, reshaping how we interact with technology. It’ll raise […]
  10. Issue

    How Companies Are Unlocking AI’s Value Beyond the Hype

    IN THIS ISSUE: Learn how companies are cutting through AI hype to build effective, winning strategies with the technology. Plus, OpenAI’s AI-powered search is now available to the public, marking a pivotal moment: Is this the end of traditional search as we know it? Will Google’s crown be at risk? Finally, don’t forget about this […]

Peer review

What the AIs say.*

We asked the leading AI tools to weigh in on The AI Economy. Their ratings speak for themselves. (Results may vary depending on training data and general disposition toward newsletters.)

Claude — Anthropic

★★★★★

5.0

out of 5

“[Its] strength lies in its ability to cover both technical developments and business implications of AI, making it valuable for a wide audience ranging from tech enthusiasts to business executives.”

ChatGPT — OpenAI

★★★★★

5.0

out of 5

“Expertly combines in-depth interviews and industry analysis, making it a must-read for AI enthusiasts and professionals.”

Gemini — Google

★★★★★

5.0

out of 5

“Provides valuable insights and analysis, making it a great resource for anyone interested in AI.”

Copilot — Microsoft

★★★★★

5.0

out of 5

“A sharp, reporter‑caliber intelligence brief for the AI era—fast, authoritative, and genuinely ahead of the curve.”

* Disclaimer: My newsletter has not been actually endorsed by OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic. I solicited reviews from their respective gen AI services. Sounded cool though, huh?

Questions

Common questions.

  1. What is The AI Economy?

    A newsletter covering consumer and enterprise AI, platform strategy, and the companies reshaping how work gets done. Reported, not aggregated — written by a technology journalist who has covered the space since before generative AI was a mainstream phrase.

  2. How often does it publish?

    Enough to keep you ahead, never enough to clutter your inbox. You'll also get first-look coverage and original interviews whenever the story is worth your time—which, lately, is often. Nothing filler-grade goes out under this masthead. A weekly roundup is delivered Fridays on LinkedIn.

  3. Is it free?

    Yes. Every issue is free. Subscribe on Substack and it arrives in your inbox. No paywall, no premium tier. If that changes, subscribers will be notified well in advance.

  4. How is this different from other AI newsletters?

    The AI Economy explores the people building AI and the reasons behind what they build. I'm interested in how enterprise teams are actually deploying AI, where the editorial and operational models are breaking down, and what platform-level shifts mean for practitioners making decisions this quarter. It is written for people doing the work, not watching it from the outside. My goal is to not focus just on what's being announced, but why it exists and why we should care. The stories are what you'd expect to read on Inc. and First Round Review or see on "60 Minutes."

  5. Can we pitch you stories?

    Yes, I do accept embargoed news and exclusives. Please reach out with your announcements, launches, and story ideas—email me or use this form. I also accept tips securely via Signal at @kenyeung.888.

  6. Where can I read past issues?

    The full archive is listed above on this page. All issues are also available on Substack. The plan is to host the canonical archive here on thelettertwo.com as the publication grows — independent of any platform.

  7. Can I republish or cite content from the newsletter?

    Yes, with attribution. Short excerpts with a link back to the original issue are fine. For longer republication or syndication, reach out via LinkedIn.

The AI Economy

AI Moves Fast. I Separate Signal From Spin.

A sharp, curated look at the stories that reveal how AI is rewriting business, work, technology, and culture.

Join 3,000+ readers gaining practical wisdom.

No spam. Unsubscribe any time.

Read on Substack ↗ Browse all issues ↓