Kia ora {{ First name | friend }},
Welcome to Upstream AI Newsletter. We’re here to help creators & brands do more with less by sharing insights on how to link AI tools together to create efficient workflows, make better decisions, and free up our time. We’re also having real conversations about the light and shadow of mass AI adoption.
This is a lightweight flow I’ve been working with to get social posts out the door fast across multiple brands. Capture ideas once, draft captions by voice, and schedule everywhere in minutes.
You’ll need
ChatGPT (or another AI model)
Buffer for scheduling
A quick idea inbox (e.g., a Signal note to self)
Set-up (5–10 mins)
Create a Custom GPT trained on your brand voice, tone, audience and do/don’ts. Pro tip: download a csv of all your previous IG captions and upload that.
Connect Buffer to your social accounts.
Decide how you’ll capture ideas (Signal voice notes or text).
How it works
Capture a content idea and assets (manual or AI-generated visuals).
Send a 30–60s voice note to your Custom GPT: “Write a caption for [platform(s)] with 2 CTA options and 3–5 relevant hashtags; keep it on-brand and under 2200 chars.”
Tweak quickly (hook, CTA, length) and paste into Buffer.
Schedule to IG, FB, X, LinkedIn, etc.
Pro tips
Save a reusable “caption brief” prompt and platform presets.
Create variants per platform (tone/length/hashtags).
Connect multiple accounts/brands to the same Buffer (requires paid plan)
Here’s a few interesting AI updates:
OpenAI is poaching Apple veterans from hardware, design, and manufacturing with $1M+ stock and less bureaucracy as it reportedly readies AI-first devices—a screenless smart speaker, AI glasses, a voice recorder, and a wearable pin. Read more.
OpenAI also launched ChatGPT Pulse, where “now AI can start the conversation”, giving users personalised proactive morning briefings through overnight research and delivers daily visual cards tailored to your chats and feedback. Can also connect to Gmail and Google Calendar… Sounds like the opening scene of a Black Mirror episode. Have a look.
Bitchat is a new messaging app from a Twitter co-founder, using Bluetooth mesh to send encrypted messages without Wi-Fi, SIM, phone number or identity—working up to around 300 metres for off-grid chats, protests, or emergencies. Its beta hit 10,000 users quickly and is now available on the App store. Check it out.
Google launched Mixboard, an AI concepting canvas to visualise ideas by mixing images and text. Basically AI Pinterest moodboards. Start from prompts or templates, add or generate images, and refine with natural-language edits. It’s in public beta in the U.S. Give it a go (USA VPN Required).
Trump and Elon are at it again, with US govt singing Grok 4 for embedding AI into government workflows. Read more.
AI Robotics is getting out of control, literally. Check out the gif below, or watch this video here to see what they’re up to in China… (this video is not sped up).
Insight: Dangers of AI Agents
At the UN’s AI for Good Summit, Signal president Meredith Whittaker warned that “agentic AI”—systems that act on your behalf—will demand deep access to your devices, apps and data, expanding the attack surface and bypassing the app-layer safeguards that tools like Signal rely on.
Agentic AI doesn’t emerge in a vacuum. As governments and platforms explore Digital ID schemes, the coupling of persistent identity with highly privileged agents could centralise power and create single points of failure. Compromise the agent, or its identity layer, and you don’t just read someone’s data; you are them, digitally.
One may argue for the use of Digital ID’s to combat this kind of fraud or identity theft. I personally feel government regulation of digital identity is a very dangerous path to follow. What will be the consequences for those who choose not to? We’ve seen the effects of this kind of social segregation in recent years. First you can’t work, then you can’t visit the cafe, then you can’t leave your neighbourhood, then…?
The internet and life is getting weirder and weirder. Is anyone else feeling this concern?
PS: If you aren’t already using Signal Messenger as your primary messaging app, I advise you do so ASAP, and encourage your friends. Meta is learning about you and shaping your algorithm based on every Whatsapp message you send. I personally use Signal for 90% of my life and work. It’s free, fast, intuitive, and private. :)
Thanks for tuning in this week. I welcome ideas and feedback if you have any. Feel free to send any interesting things you’re learning or researching too.
Also, if you found this interesting, share it with 1 mate who needs simpler workflows. Hit forward or send them this link.
Stay human,
Billy