AI Market Trends Jan 2026: Key Insights and Actionable Strategies

If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or simply want to stay ahead, this post will help you capture the essentials.

1. Meta Acquires Manus : The $2 Billion Logic

• Deal Size: Around $2 billion, valued at roughly 12x annual recurring revenue.
• Key Insight: Manus is an AI-native application solving problems unique to the AI era—not legacy issues.
• Takeaway: In Southeast Asia, speed and execution matter. Even small-scale AI apps can create million-dollar opportunities.

Question to ponder: Does your industry face “AI-era problems”? If yes, can you solve them with intelligent agents?

2. The AI Smartphone Controversy: Why Was It Banned?

• What happened: Doubao launched an AI-powered smartphone, only to be blocked by giants like Alibaba and Tencent.
• Why: AI phones could bypass ads, automate shopping and gaming—threatening core revenue streams.
• Trend: Hardware + AI integration is the future, but expect fierce battles over business interests.

3. AI Strategy for 2026: Individuals & Businesses

• For businesses: Start with automation, then move toward AI Agents.
• For individuals: Learn no-code development and AI automation to amplify your capabilities by 2x–5x.
• Recommended tools:
  • Manus1.6: All-in-one for documents, PPTs, and images.
  • Google AI Studio: Quick app deployment for beginners.
  • Gemini Pro / Flash: Ideal for text and multimodal tasks.
  • Google Opal: Workflow automation (similar to n8n).
  • Aura Build / Lovable: Fast landing page and app builders.

4. AI in Creative Industries: The New Gold Rush

• Latest models like Kie and Gemini AI Pro enable more natural animation and video generation.
• Budget-friendly platforms:
  • Kie: Pay-per-credit, great for testing.
  • WaveSpeedAI: Multi-model flexibility.
• Pro tip: Explore prompt libraries like YouMind and Jimmy for advanced creative workflows.

5. AI 365: Your Year-Round AI Learning Companion

• What it is: Not a course, but a Chinese-language AI media + community.
• Core value:
  • Filters noise, highlights truly useful tools and trends.
  • Provides actionable solutions—not empty headlines.
  • Helps you become an AI-native user, not just a passive follower.

Final Thoughts: Your 2026 AI Checklist

• Don’t just be a user—be an AI-native user.
• Opportunities lie in solving new problems of the AI era, not old ones.
• Action steps:
  • Subscribe to our AI Market Update series.
  • Consider hands-on courses if you want to integrate AI into your business.