From the desk of Gideon Shalwick
Issue #9 | Mar 17, 2026
Hey Reader
This week’s issue goes right to the heart of a question a lot of creators are wrestling with right now.
What happens when short-form gets easier, AI gets better, and the line between useful content and empty noise gets harder to spot?
In this conversation, Roberto Blake brings a take that is both refreshing and confronting - and it opens up a much bigger conversation about quality, standards, and where all of this is heading next.
This week’s podcast
Short-Form Video, AI, and the Future of Content with Roberto Blake - EP13
Short-form video is changing fast. AI is moving even faster. And somewhere in the middle of all that noise is a question most creators still have not answered for themselves.
In this episode, Roberto Blake breaks down where he thinks short-form really is in its lifecycle, why most people are looking at AI the wrong way, and what creators need to focus on if they want to stay relevant as the landscape keeps shifting.
- Why Roberto believes we are in the most stable version of Shorts so far
- The surprising reason his early skepticism about short-form changed
- What really separates “AI slop” from content that actually matters
- The overlooked opportunity most creators still are not seeing
- Why trying to appeal to everyone may be the fastest way to become forgettable
Click below to watch or listen - this one will make you think.
In case you missed it
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Did you know?
One of Roberto’s strongest points in this episode is that short-form itself is not the problem. The real issue is the substance inside it.
In his words, short-form can be junk food, or it can be fruits and veggies. That means the opportunity for creators is not to avoid short-form - it is to use it better.
A practical way to apply this is to stop thinking only in terms of speed, volume, and stimulation. Instead, ask: does this short video leave the viewer better off? Could it teach something useful, slow someone down, inspire them, or point them toward something deeper? If the answer is yes, you are already playing a different game.
Roberto also points out that short-form now gives you more room than many creators realize. With Shorts allowing videos up to three minutes, you do not have to hyper-edit everything into chaos. You can slow the pacing down, deliver actual value, and still make content that fits the format.
So this week’s practical tip is simple: create short-form that is genuinely nourishing. Keep the hook strong, but raise the standard of the substance. Use the format to deliver clarity, insight, or encouragement - not just stimulation. That is how you stand out while everyone else competes to be louder.
Quote of the week
“Don’t worry about making slop if your consumer is not a pig.” - Roberto Blake
Ok… that’s a wrap
Hit reply and let me know what you thought, or what you’d like to see covered in future issues.
Until next time,
Gideon Shalwick
Founder, Vubli
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