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Mike breaks down the new strategies to grow on YouTube in 2025. If you’re a small channel, this is your year!

This edition is brought to you by Thumbnail Test​

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AI Wars Heat Up: China’s DeepSeek Disrupts the Stock Market

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, has developed a powerful AI model—without using the high-end chips that big tech companies rely on.

Why It Matters

Traditionally, the biggest AI models (like OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Google’s Gemini) require expensive NVIDIA chips that are hard to get.

DeepSeek, however, bypassed that problem, proving that you don’t need elite hardware to build advanced AI.

This undercuts the dominance of AI giants like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, who have spent billions on GPU-intensive models.

Deepseek shows that there are alternative, cost-effective AI solutions, and this caused investors to reassess the long-term value of these tech giants, leading to a market dip.

What It Means for You

This will fuel competition—more companies, more AI startups, and a wave of new AI-powered tools.

• Cheaper, faster, and more diverse AI tools.
• A shift away from monopoly-controlled AI, leading to more innovation.
• More opportunities for creators and businesses to experiment with a variety of AI tools.

DeepSeek’s breakthrough foreshadows the democratization of AI. The big players are no longer the gatekeepers, and this is great news for small businesses to want a piece of the pie.

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The White House Invites Creators and Podcasters to Press Conferences

In a groundbreaking move, the White House has expanded its press briefing room to include seats for podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators.

This initiative, led by Karoline Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in history at age 27, aims to adapt to the evolving media landscape and ensure that the President’s message reaches a broader audience.

Why It Matters

The 2024 U.S. election cycle showed that smaller content creators and podcasters had a bigger impact on public discourse than expected, rivaling that of the mainstream media.

Politicians, including President Trump, prioritized appearances on YouTube, podcasts, and social media over legacy news interviews, realizing that these platforms connect more directly with voters—especially younger demographics.

Now, the White House is making that shift official by granting press credentials to non-traditional media voices.

This move acknowledges that today’s most influential conversations happen online, not just on TV.

What It Means for Creators

• New opportunities for press access – creators can now apply for credentials, gaining direct access to White House briefings.
• Greater influence in shaping narratives – As mainstream media shares the stage with new media, creators have the power to influence political conversations.
• More credibility for independent journalism – This move solidifies creators as legitimate members of the press.

Content creators are no longer just on the sidelines—they’re shaping the national conversation.

If you’re a creator covering news, politics, or social issues, this is your moment to step up.

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New AI Copyright Laws: What Creators Must Know

As AI tools become an integral part of content creation, copyright laws are struggling to keep up.

The U.S. Copyright Office released a report on how they view AI-generated content.

The key insight is that human authorship is required for copyright protection. If AI-generated content lacks significant human input, it cannot be copyrighted.

However, when a creator actively guides AI with detailed prompts, edits outputs, or arranges elements creatively, those aspects may qualify for copyright. And disputes are handled on a case by case basis.

Implications for Creators

AI is an incredible tool, but to protect your business, you need to ensure that your creative process involves meaningful human input. Here’s how:

• Enhance AI-Generated Work – Don’t just accept AI’s first draft. Edit, tweak, and add your personal touch to ensure originality.
• Document Your Process – Keep records of your involvement in the creation process. If a dispute arises, you’ll have proof of authorship.

AI is here to stay, but copyright laws are still catching up.

The smartest creators will continue to stay informed and use AI as a tool instead of a replacement for their creativity.

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• ​CES 2025 debuted the Creator Space, a commitment to integrating creators into the tech landscape
• OpenAI releases its new o3 model for free
• ​Youtube is set to play a much bigger role in President Trump’s second term
• Creator Insiders discuss the Youtube algorithm in 2025
• ​Tesla AI demos it’s updated full self driving capabilities
• A look at Samsung’s Project Moohan headset, which runs on Google Gemini

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