On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the weight-loss drugs revolution: how they work, their efficacy, how they became so popular, and how they’re reshaping multiple industries. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson and Senior Analysts Rajiv Leventhal and Beth Snyder Bulik. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
The news: xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company, issued a public apology after Grok posted extremist, antisemitic, and politically incendiary content. The chatbot described itself as “MechaHitler” and repeated far-right rhetoric—shortly after Musk pushed to make the chatbot “less politically correct.” Our take: Despite Grok’s competitive performance, its volatility may keep it off the table for marketers running AI pilot programs—like NinjaPromo, which is piloting AI tools that combine its proprietary models with external LLMs for predictive analytics, generative content, and programmatic ads aimed at boosting ROI and automating workflows. Before trusting any platform, CMOs must ensure their tool’s transparency and determine how each model reasons—and what values or biases are embedded.
The tactic: Levi Strauss is reducing its SKU count—even as it expands the range of items it sells—to minimize tariff costs and maximize full-price sales. Our take: SKU rationalization is becoming a necessity for Levi Strauss and other brands and retailers looking to manage the impact of tariffs.
The news: Google snatched AI coding startup Windsurf’s IP out from under OpenAI in an acqui-hire that includes Windsurf’s CEO, co-founder, and some R&D employees. Our take: Google’s nonexclusive licensing approach could help it avoid regulatory pushback, though employees not involved in the deal may be left out to dry. Deals like this show that control over developer tools is becoming a major strategic advantage for tech companies and could indicate that the Big Tech fight for AI talent and executives is only just beginning.
Interactive buttons or calls-to-action (CTAs) are the most effective interactive elements to use in emails according to 35% of marketing professionals worldwide, per January 2025 data from Litmus.
Though TikTok Shop faces the dual challenges of economic instability and a tenuous presence on US app stores, marketers are still taking advantage of its positioning as both a social platform and ecommerce engine.
The news: T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service, which launches July 23, will be accessible to customers of competing networks, unlocking carrier-agnostic reach in areas previously off the grid, per CNET. Because the service supports Verizon and AT&T users via eSIM and compatible devices, T-Mobile’s advertisers gain access to millions of new users—without being locked into one carrier’s ecosystem. Our take: As services like T-Satellite make it possible to connect with customers anywhere—marketers who adapt early will shape the next frontier of mobile engagement. They can expand geofenced campaigns to include off-grid locations and explore partnerships around safety, navigation, and outdoor experiences.
The news: Bilt will launch the Bilt Card 2.0 in partnership with fintech Cardless in February 2026, per a press release, after Wells Fargo ended its deeply unprofitable co-brand partnership early. Our take: Bilt Card 2.0 appears to close some of the gaps that made its partnership with Wells Fargo so rocky. With yearly fees and new deals with major US landlords, Bilt is positioning itself to make the Bilt card more successful—and more profitable.
The news: JPMorgan will charge fintechs fees to access its customers’ bank account information, per a report from Bloomberg. Our take: This fee regime would be a pivotal win for JPMorgan that would undoubtedly be emulated by other banks anxious to tap a new revenue stream.
The news: The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia recorded the first year-over-year decline in delinquency rates since the fourth quarter of 2021, per a report. Our take: As consumers’ financial situation recovers, banks need to plot out their next move.
Retailers and CPG brands may face challenges as President Donald Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill” takes effect, ushering in sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The news: Kraft Heinz is planning to break itself up, The Wall Street Journal reported, a move that would allow it to focus on faster-growing segments without the burden of underperforming brands like Oscar Mayer and Maxwell House. Our take: Kraft Heinz’s unwinding is a warning sign to the growing number of food companies that see large-scale acquisitions as their ticket to success. While such deals can unlock efficiencies, they also risk creating bloated organizations that fail to keep up with the needs of consumers.
The news: Save A Lot introduced a new Hispanic-focused store format—its second—in partnership with Leevers Supermarket as it explores ways to build deeper connections with Hispanic consumers. The takeaway: The rationale for opening these stores is clear: Hispanic consumers wield increasing buying power and account for an outsize share of growth in categories like CPG, beauty, and food and beverage. By targeting these shoppers with formats and products best suited to their needs, grocers can win lasting loyalty.
The news: Pharma companies can earn a speedier path to approvals for new drugs if they agree to lower US prices to global levels. The takeaway: Pharma companies are on board with faster drug approvals and higher global prices, but they still make the bulk of their profits on US sales. By adopting good faith balanced stances—advocating for fairer pricing, but highlighting innovation—pharma can notch wins with the administration and consumers.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the growing AI literacy gap, how to tell if your organization is ready for AI, and what not to do when it comes to AI adoption. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Gadjo Sevilla, and Professor and AI Advisor to the Deans at Rice Business School and Founder and CEO of AI company DemistifAI Kathleen Perley. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Measuring creator performance is the top barrier to influencer marketing success (32%) for brand marketers worldwide, per an August 2024 CreatorIQ report.
The news: Samsung leaned heavily on AI functionality at its Unpacked event Wednesday with the Galaxy S25 series, Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 smartphones and Galaxy Watch 8, all featuring enhanced AI capabilities as a core value proposition, per Android Central. Samsung highlighted proprietary Galaxy AI for tasks like on-device photo and video editing, but the bigger news was Samsung’s adoption of Google Gemini across its ecosystem. Our take: For advertisers, the shift toward screen-aware, voice-activated experiences requires them to rethink how brands and campaigns align in an AI-first mobile world. Reframing brand experiences around mobile, voice, and contextual AI features opens opportunities for user engagement.
The news: Jasper’s suite of AI-powered marketing agents are purpose-built to automate core marketing functions. These agents, which start at $49 per user per month, work inside Jasper Canvas, a new intelligent workspace designed to streamline planning, collaboration, content creation, and execution. Our take: Marketers must assess their current pain points. If content quality is inconsistent, execution is slow, or tools don’t talk to each other, an agentic platform like Jasper could drive sharper outcomes. As with most new tools, running pilot programs and benchmarks for speed and brand consistency against your current stack will help determine value and ROI.
The news: PayPal rolled out a dynamic, AI-powered scam alert system to protect consumers against fraud for “Friends and Family” transactions. Our take: Rolling out user-facing AI-powered fraud protection alerts increases PayPal’s visibility as a safe financial provider for more than just online checkout at well-known retailers.
The news: Early Warnings Services’ Zelle submitted a letter in response to the Treasury Department’s request for information on paperless payment services. Our take: Winning this contract would dramatically boost Zelle’s payment volume, but it faces steep competition from incumbents and other structural roadblocks.