Retail media networks rely on driving conversions—and Walmart is no exception. Its search results are saturated with ads, with 97% of queries serving at least one sponsored product, per Pentaleap data. But Walmart is also growing its upper-funnel capabilities, using its stores to do it despite physical retail’s traditional role as a bottom-of-the-funnel channel.
Nike and Under Armour are leaning on the star power of LeBron James and Steph Curry to restore flagging sales in China and stay culturally relevant. Their ongoing struggles in the region show that brands can no longer expect to coast on their reputations to win over global customers—especially now, as US trade policies sour relations with even its closest allies.
Temu’s US business is slowly recovering, despite tariff pressures and the end of de minimis. The ending of de minimis for all sellers—not just those based in China—coupled with higher tariff costs for virtually all retailers has enabled Temu to maintain its value proposition and appeal to bargain-hunting shoppers. That also applies to Shein, which is seeing shopping frequency, app downloads, site visits, and search interest above 2024 levels. The company’s recoveries show how important price is to US consumers—and how receptive they are to the stream of flash sales, discounts, and gamified rewards that Shein and Temu offer.
Peacock is striking partnerships to grow its audience: The streamer is now available via Walmart+, adding millions of potential viewers ahead of a crucial year.
Brands are testing the waters with AI-generated influencers as AI becomes a staple of advertising and everyday life. Telecommunications brand Vodafone is the latest to jump on the trend. Despite consumer hesitancy, AI is increasingly shaping the ad ecosystem, necessitating that advertisers take a balanced approach to leverage AI for its creative and operational potential without alienating consumers.
New data shows Trump’s tariff-driven trade policies are disrupting global shipments and straining US manufacturers just as the holiday season approaches. Global postal traffic to the US plunged 81% after closure of the “de minimis” loophole, while China’s exports to the US fell 33% year over year. Despite promises of revitalizing US manufacturing, factory activity has contracted for six consecutive months and employment has slipped. With holiday sales growth now forecast at just 1.2% instead of 3.9%, retailers face weaker demand, higher costs, and limited product selection, signaling prolonged pressure on consumers and the broader economy.
Ad tech company PubMatic filed a lawsuit Monday against Google for alleged anticompetitive and monopolistic actions in the digital advertising ecosystem. The lawsuit claimed Google took illegal actions that impacted PubMatic and harmed its ability to grow revenues. PubMatic’s lawsuit underscores that structural shifts in ad tech could eventually reshape how advertisers access and value Google’s search inventory and digital ad offerings.
President Trump amended an executive order to include generic drugs among the products eligible for lower tariffs. Generic pharmaceuticals could get lower-than-established reciprocal tariff rates if trading partners make deals. While the memo is short on specifics, it’s another step back from pharma tariffs by the administration. Pharma companies, and especially generic drugmakers with slim profit margins, can breathe another sigh of relief. But that doesn’t mean they should step back from US manufacturing pledges where possible.
Social media (27%) and streaming video (25%) have the highest percentage of time spent on gaming-related content, per May 2025 data from Bain & Company.
A federal judge rejected Anthropic’s agreement to pay at least $1.5 billion to settle a landmark lawsuit brought by a group of authors. Judge William Alsup expressed concerns that the ruling would be forced “down the throat of authors,” per Bloomberg Law. The case could set a legal precedent for future copyright battles between creators and AI firms. If approved, the settlement could set a legal precedent for future copyright battles between creators and AI firms. It could also push regulators to be more stringent in requirements for content licensing deals and cause AI companies to move more carefully when scraping data, considering the costs of legal proceedings.
Netflix has secured exclusive streaming rights in Japan for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, its first live sports play in the country. The deal covers all 47 games live and on-demand, expanding on Netflix’s MLB collaborations. Japan’s WBC viewership dwarfs US levels—the 2023 finale drew Super Bowl–level shares and over 30 million viewers for most Japan games. Netflix, already strong in regional SVOD revenue, faces tough youth competition from U-NEXT, d-anime, and Abema Premium. By betting on baseball, Netflix is testing whether national sports passion can drive subscriber growth, retention, and cultural relevance in one of its toughest markets.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how Americans view GenAI-made media, if the “AI concern gap” between AI experts and the general public will widen, and why some of GenAI’s negativity might not apply to ads. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson and Senior Analyst, Max Willens. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Sam’s Club is targeting a major ecommerce expansion, aiming to grow digital sales from 18% to at least 40% of total revenues by leveraging Walmart’s supply chain and new digital tools. Recent updates include a redesigned website and app with flexible fulfillment options, larger media-rich product pages, and expanded club-fulfilled delivery. The retailer is testing larger fulfillment spaces and adding online experiences like pizza delivery to drive engagement. With 40% of members using Scan & Go, Sam’s Club is streamlining in-store trips while building a stronger digital ecosystem, boosting ad opportunities and positioning itself against Costco and other rivals.
IBM is positioning itself as a partner and integrator for enterprises at a time when various companies find themselves stuck in AI pilot limbo due to a lack of governance, per Marketech APAC. Its new global campaign, “Let’s create smarter business,” focuses on unifying its hybrid cloud, quantum computing, and business integration expertise to push enterprise AI from experiments to scale. CMOs should seize IBM’s ability to deliver safety and scale but protect agility. Build safeguards into contracts and keep internal or secondary partners ready to test new models as they emerge. That balance ensures AI adoption stays both credible and competitive.
OpenAI revised its projected cash burn through 2029 to $115 billion—about 230% higher than earlier estimates. This alteration demonstrates how capital-intensive model training and deployment have become and how far those costs are beyond what traditional startup economics can sustain. These financial forecasts illustrate a ballooning cash burn matched by surging investments and rising revenue expectations. OpenAI might need to explore tactics like affiliate links or in-chat advertising for monetization and added incentives and premium features to convert free users into paying ones.
AI is taking over tasks once handled by junior staff. Agencies and brands are embracing the efficiency and cost savings of AI—but at the risk of cutting the very pipeline that feeds future leadership, per MarTech. Marketers are realizing they can’t afford to treat AI as a zero-sum replacement for junior talent. The smart play is balance: Use AI for short-term efficiency while still investing in entry-level hires who can grow into long-term strategists and leaders. Pair automation with training, expand AI education, and let young staff lead adoption. That balance drives efficiency now while protecting tomorrow’s talent pipeline.
When consumers control digital discourse, brands face heightened pressure to get their messaging right, creating a market for AI-generated testing and vetting that detects potential backlash.
Warner Bros. Discovery has sued AI image generator Midjourney, alleging “mass theft” of copyrighted TV and film IP. The complaint highlights prompts producing near-identical images of characters like Bugs Bunny, Batman, Superman, and Scooby-Doo. Disney and NBCUniversal filed similar claims, arguing Midjourney diverts consumers from licensed products while profiting from subscriptions. Studios seek damages up to $150,000 per infringed work. The case raises critical questions over whether training AI on copyrighted content qualifies as “fair use.” With marketers already using AI image tools at scale, the lawsuit underscores mounting legal, financial, and reputational risks tied to unlicensed generative content.
The news: US consumers overall will slash their holiday spending about 5% this year, while Gen Zers expect to cut it 23%, per Inkl. Our take: We’ve seen this trend among Gen Zers in other areas of spending—such as prioritizing vacations over saving—meaning their habits are consistent. In preparation for the upcoming holiday season, financial institutions (FIs) can tap into this to demonstrate a deeper level of understanding of their Gen Z clientele. Last year we suggested marketing holiday budgeting tools. While that still holds, FIs should also customize the language of these tools to match customers’ actual goals. For example, instead of language about saving for the future, offer savings toward a goal that Gen Zers input themselves, such as a concert or vacation.
Lululemon athetica warned the end of the de minimis exemption will be more damaging to its bottom line than tariffs alone. De minimis’ abrupt end is pressuring retailers’ supply chains and their operating models. In addition to tariff-proofing their manufacturing strategies, companies that relied on duty-free shipments to the US must now also invest in local fulfillment and face the full weight of tariff costs. While companies are looking to offset some of those expenses by reducing operating costs, most of the burden will ultimately be passed onto consumers—which could curb demand heading into the all-important holiday season.