#139 Big AI Updates 2026

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Keeping up with AI updates has basically become a full-time job.

New models, new tools, new workflows — every week something changes, and most of us don’t have the time to read every release note, test every feature, or scroll through endless feeds.

So I did that for you.

In this episode, I break down five major AI updates from the last quarter that designers should actually know about right now.
Not as headlines, but as real insights: what changed, why it matters, and how this shows up in design and product work.

We’ll talk about:

• how Claude is evolving into a real AI co-worker with agent-style workflows and Claude Code

• why OpenAI Health is an important signal for high-stakes AI product design

• what’s happening at Google with Gemini, generative UI, multimodal AI, and vibe coding

• how ChatGPT Apps turn AI into a workflow layer across tools like Figma and Slack

• and what CES tells us about the future of AI beyond screens, from devices to ambient experiences

This episode is a curated deep dive for designers who want to stay informed without drowning in updates — with concrete examples, UX implications, and clear takeaways.

At the beginning of the episode, I also share details about my free AI Challenge, starting next week, where you’ll build your first AI project brief step by step and get hands-on experience with AI.

If you work in design, UX, or product and want to understand where AI is actually heading — this episode is for you.

AI for Designers: 5-week Bootcamp 💻 Open Jan 26' 2026

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Resources mentioned:

• Official ChatGPT Health announcement (OpenAI) — detailed overview of the new health-focused feature, privacy protections, and how it works:
  🔗 https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-health/

• Official OpenAI for Healthcare page — the enterprise suite designed to help healthcare organizations use AI in clinical settings:
  🔗 https://openai.com/index/openai-for-healthcare/

• Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) — Google’s official page about advanced image generation with Gemini’s Nano Banana Pro model:
  🔗 https://deepmind.google/models/gemini-image/pro/

• CES 2026 Google TV Gemini & Nano Banana coverage — news coverage of Gemini features including Nano Banana and interactive AI on Google TV:
  🔗 https://www.gadgets360.com/ai/news/ces-2026-gemini-for-google-tv-nano-banana-veo-ai-conversational-settings-optimisation-features-10385311

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