On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how GenAI is changing the customer shopping journey the most, the impact of AI agents, and how to maintain brand messaging in a more conversational universe. Tune in to the episode with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, our Analyst Jacob Bourne, Vice President Suzy Davidkhanian, and Global Digital Commerce Senior Director, Strategy & Execution, Todd Hassenfelt. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Meta plans dedicated chatbot app: The move aims to compete with AI leaders ChatGPT and Gemini, but its success remains uncertain.
Its new approach minimizes data collection but shifts enforcement to parents and developers—raising questions about whether it will truly protect young users.
Automation has turbocharged content creation, but AI costs are rising fast. Rather than cut expenses, Duolingo is banking on long-term user engagement to pay off.
Once a leader in internet calls, Skype crumbled without innovation or platform support—proving that in tech, even giants fade if they don’t evolve.
Google’s latest move disrupted product review sites: That change challenged retailers reliant on those sites’ affiliate traffic.
Walmart looks to make it easier for advertisers to buy its display ads: Walmart Connect’s new API should help it attract more ad dollars from smaller brands and marketplace sellers.
Reels may get its own app: Instagram is reportedly exploring a standalone platform as it vies to draw attention away from TikTok.
The BNPL player’s revenues doubled in Q4 thanks to users’ more frequent purchases
US consumer spending was resilient in 2024, but confidence is fading: Tariffs, layoffs, and inflation fears threaten to slow momentum as economic uncertainty looms.
Despite an industrywide push to grow via nonmerchant partnerships, BNPL players still rely on individual deals to reach large merchants
As their clients await the impacts of tariffs, banks set aside money for losses.
Amazon is weaving shoppable video ads into its Rufus AI chatbot, creating a frictionless way for brands to capture shoppers' attention and drive conversions within search results
The tie-up also makes Marqeta a more attractive card partner for fintechs
Warby Parker joins forces with Target: The D2C eyewear brand will open five shop-in-shops as it doubles down on physical retail.
AppLovin faces fraud allegations from short sellers: Accusations of deceptive ad practices and data misuse put the firm under pressure; leadership denies the claims.
Foot traffic to Aldi stores grew 12.3% YoY in Q4 2024, over twice the growth of low-cost competitor Trader Joe’s, according to data from Placer.ai.
The improved Alexa finally debuts with better conversation skills and smart home features. Can Amazon convince users to pay when smartphones offer similar features for free?