Forbes vs The Independent

People Inc. Builds Custom APIs for AI Agents

People Inc. is developing custom APIs to provide AI agents with streamlined access to its journalism, moving away from inefficient web crawling. The APIs deliver article text in Markdown along with metadata like author and publication timestamps, reducing token processing costs and improving content control. This initiative comes amid a 6% workforce reduction as the publisher adapts to AI-driven content discovery. Other publishers are exploring similar strategies: Forbes is testing Markdown and an MCP layer for its Vetted product reviews, Time has converted to Markdown and sells ads to AI agents, and The Economist is making B2B material agent-friendly. Traffic from AI agents surged 7,851% year-over-year, according to HUMAN's 2026 report, highlighting the urgency for publishers to adapt.

• People Inc. is building custom APIs to provide AI agents with article text in Markdown format.
• The custom APIs include metadata such as author, publication/update timestamps, and other trust signals.
• People Inc. laid off approximately 6% of its workforce last week.

Forbes Joins Google News AI Pilot for Insights

Forbes has joined Google's paid News AI pilot, granting Google expanded rights to its content to test AI-driven features like article overviews and audio briefings on Google News. Forbes' Chief Innovation Officer Nina Gould discussed the partnership at Digiday's Media Strategies London event, noting the deal provides citation data and insights into content performance. The pilot is part of Forbes' strategy to shift focus from page views to audience loyalty, as referral traffic has dropped 45% year over year. Google's program now includes over 400 publishers, including Reach and the Guardian. Publishers are seeking better measurement tools for AI-driven discovery, and Forbes uses Profound for tracking, though granular insights remain limited. The partnership also includes business reviews and feedback sessions, positioning it as a learning opportunity for Forbes to inform its own product development.

• Forbes joined Google's paid News AI pilot.
• The pilot includes AI article overviews and audio briefings on Google News.
• Forbes' referral traffic declined 45% year over year.

Cal AI's Viral Success Driven by Influencer Army

Zach Yadegari, the 19-year-old founder of Cal AI, detailed his influencer-driven growth strategy at TechCrunch Disrupt. Cal AI, a calorie tracking app, generated over $30 million in revenue in two years and was acquired by MyFitnessPal in March for an undisclosed amount. Yadegari credited a small army of influencers, often 'broke college kids,' with driving user acquisition. He emphasized finding influencers with 'tight communities' and negotiating performance-based payouts. The founder also discussed his new AI agent startup, Persona, which has raised $10 million and aims to create a seamless AI assistant across platforms and a hardware ecosystem.

• Cal AI generated over $30 million in revenue in two years.
• Cal AI was acquired by MyFitnessPal in March for an undisclosed amount.
• Founder Zach Yadegari is 19 years old and a Forbes 30 Under 30 alumnus.

Trump told Americans to ‘pretend I’m on the ballot.’ They did — and voted against him

The Independent's homepage has been updated to reflect the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections, with a new lead story on Trump's defeat and multiple new articles covering the Democratic sweep, including analysis of Trump's loss, reactions from MAGA influencers, and speculation on the 2028 Democratic nominee.

MAGA influencers start crashing out online over Dem midterm sweep

The Independent's news page has been updated with the latest US midterm election results, including Democrats winning control of the Senate and House, and Trump's reaction to the losses.

Intent IQ Boosts The Independent's Revenue Nearly 30%

Intent IQ, a leader in identity resolution, announced results from its partnership with The Independent, a leading international digital news publisher. Using Intent IQ's Bid Enhancement solution, The Independent increased revenue by nearly 30%, CPMs by [unspecified] across ID-less inventory. This collaboration demonstrates the effectiveness of cookieless identity solutions in improving publisher monetization. The partnership highlights the growing importance of alternative identity solutions in a privacy-first advertising landscape. The results were announced on October 29, 2026.

• Intent IQ's Bid Enhancement solution helped The Independent increase revenue by nearly 30%.
• The partnership focuses on ID-less inventory, demonstrating the effectiveness of cookieless identity solutions.
• The announcement was made on October 29, 2026.