Ringier Medien Schweiz AG vs The Next Web

Wemf Data: Blick Becomes Top-Selling Newspaper

The new Wemf circulation data, discussed in the persoenlich.com podcast, reveals that the printed Blick newspaper gained approximately 17 percent in readership, making it the most-read daily newspaper in German-speaking Switzerland. Publishers Matthias Ackeret and Christian Beck attribute this success to a long-term trend and the leadership of editor-in-chief Rolf Cavalli. In contrast, nine magazines, including Coopzeitung and Migros-Magazin, experienced significant readership declines. The podcast also covers job cuts at Ringier in Lausanne, where 14 positions are being eliminated. The discussion highlights the challenges facing print media in Switzerland, with magazines struggling against digital competition and changing consumer habits.

• Blick's printed edition gained approximately 17% in readership.
• Blick is now the most-read daily newspaper in German-speaking Switzerland.
• Nine magazines, including Coopzeitung and Migros-Magazin, lost significant readership.

Sandro Brotz Departs SRF, Launches Video Podcast at Blick

Sandro Brotz, the prominent host of Swiss public broadcaster SRF's political talk show 'Arena', is departing after 14 years, with his last show in mid-January 2026 (the end of January 2026). Starting in February 2026, he will join Ringier's 'Blick' media group to host a new high-profile video podcast published several times per week, covering Switzerland's most important political, economic, and social issues with expert guests. The podcast will be distributed across Blick's channels and major social and video platforms, as part of Blick's video and cross-media strategy, following the earlier departure of Jonas Projer, who left Blick TV after it was discontinued. Brotz, who previously worked at Ringier's 'SonntagsBlick' from 2000 to 2008, will not speculate on his successor at SRF. He emphasizes the podcast will prioritize probing questions over political stances, and despite facing harassment during the COVID era, he will maintain work-life balance in the new role.

• Sandro Brotz will leave SRF after 14 years, with his last 'Arena' episode in mid-January 2026, and start at Blick (Ringier) in February 2026.
• He will host a new 'premium video podcast' at Blick, published several times per week, covering politics, economy, and society with guests.
• The podcast will be distributed on Blick's channels and major social and video platforms, supporting Blick's video and cross-media strategy.

Ringier Marketplaces: United Classifieds and Imobiliare join forces to accelerate product innovation and scale

Ringier Marketplaces announces a strategic partnership between United Classifieds and Imobiliare to accelerate product innovation and scale.

Airbnb tests AI search, says AI speeds product delivery

Airbnb told investors that AI is accelerating its product development and is beginning tests of an AI-powered search feature. CEO Brian Chesky said AI has reduced time from concept to launch by up to 60% and increased shipped features by nearly 80% compared with the same six months a year earlier. The company uses AI across search, sign-up, checkout, payments and host onboarding, and has expanded an AI customer-support bot (launched in North America in 2025) to over 50 languages. About 45% of issues that start with the AI agent are resolved without human intervention, lowering support cost per booking by 16% year‑over‑year. Airbnb reported Q2 revenue of $3.6 billion (up 17% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA of $1.3 billion (up 21%).

• Airbnb said AI has reduced its time from concept to launch by as much as 60%.
• Compared to the same six months last year, Airbnb increased the number of features and improvements shipped this year by nearly 80%.
• Airbnb is beginning tests of an AI-powered search with an opt-in toggle supporting natural-language queries and more visual results.

AI Labs Urge Government to 'Pace the Frontier'

An essay reflecting on the accelerating pace of technology argues that societal institutions lag behind rapid technical change. It highlights an open letter titled "Pacing the Frontier," published July 28, 2026, which lists 1,178 signatories from frontier AI labs and asks the U.S. government to support an international effort to build technical and governance tools to deliberately pace automated AI development. The author discusses the personal and organizational consequences of tools and platforms changing faster than people and institutions can evaluate them, and recommends deliberate selection of what to follow rather than attempting to keep up with everything.

• On July 28, 2026 more than a thousand employees of frontier AI labs signed a statement called "Pacing the Frontier."
• The pacingthefrontier.com site listed 1,178 signatories at the time the author checked and the form remained open.
• Signatories represent major AI organizations including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and Meta, including several CEOs and chief scientists.