The publisher worked with tech startup company Axiom (Axiom founder and CEO Jeff Yam is a Forbes board member) to build its own prediction platform - Forbes Predict - which will launch in beta in February. Unlike real-money prediction markets like Kalshi or Polymarket, Forbes' platform lets readers make forecasts and track results in exchange for tokens. It's designed for engagement, not wagers.
Over the last few years, publishers have watched their major distribution partners, first social and now search, become volatile and unreliable. Constant shifts have weakened the relationship between publishers and the platforms that once delivered their audiences. The AI era is pushing this to a breaking point. As generative interfaces replace traditional search, it has become clear that publishers cannot depend on discovery happening elsewhere. The only durable asset left is the audience's recognition of and loyalty to each publisher's brand.