The news: Revolut is exploring paths that can help it expand in the US banking industry. The company recently held talks with investment bankers about hiring them to advise on a potential bank acquisition, per Bloomberg. What it means for banks: Nationally chartered banks could see more interest from fintechs or international firms that want to follow Revolut’s path. And more licensed banks means more competitors—armed with not only the agility and digital innovation of a fintech, but also the physical footprint of the banks they’re acquiring. To combat the threat, banks will need to double down on their biggest strengths, including longstanding reputations, customer-centricity, and the personalized products and services that customers want most, like those we highlight in our “US Mobile Banking Emerging Features Benchmark 2025” report.
The news: IDC has nearly doubled its worldwide smartphone forecast for 2025. Once projected at 0.6%, growth is now expected to hit 1%, fueled by iOS momentum, replacement demand, and a premium-device push, per 9to5Mac. Our take: Smartphones are entering a new cycle of innovation and moving upmarket. AI-first features and foldables will reset consumer expectations, open premium price tiers, and change which brands consumers choose and build loyalty toward. Advertisers and marketers should plan for richer, device-native experiences. Build campaigns that tap into AI-driven personalization, visual search, and generative content creation.
Japan-based agency holding company Dentsu is considering selling its international business, ending its goal to compete against rivals Publicis and WPP. Selling its international business could allow Dentsu to reposition itself as a specialized player in its core market rather than stretching itself thin internationally where it can’t match competitors. The change could make the company more sustainable in the long run, but even if it focuses solely on Japan, rapid adoption of emerging technologies in the ad sector will still necessitate innovation.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of August. Each month, Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Emmy Liederman (aka The Committee) put together a very unofficial list of the top eight retailers they're watching based on which are making the most interesting moves: Who's launching new initiatives? Which partnerships are moving the needle? Which standout marketing campaigns are being created? In this month's episode, Committee members Arielle Feger and Emmy Liederman will defend their list against Principal Analyst, Sky Canaves and Senior Analyst, Blake Droesch, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.
Only 8% of Google searches with AI summaries led to a traditional link click, nearly half the rate of pages without summaries (15%), according to March 2025 data from Pew Research Center.
The news: Fanatics launched Fanatics Advertising, a division that will oversee the company’s ad and brand partnership strategy across its commerce, collectibles, gaming, and events businesses. Our take: Fanatics is taking its swing at the fast-growing commerce media space. Commerce media represented 18.0% of US digital ad spending last year, and we expect its share to keep climbing—hitting nearly $1 of every $5 spent on digital ads (19.7%) this year and close to $1 in $4 (24.8%) by 2029, the end of our forecast period. Sitting at the crossroads of sports fandom—merchandise, collectibles, betting, and live events—Fanatics has a brand position few, if any, rivals can match. If it executes well, Fanatics Advertising could be a home run by turning its unmatched access to fans into an equally powerful ad play.
The news: Google launched Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (nicknamed nano banana), a generative AI image editor that replaces toolbars with text prompts. Already topping LMArena’s image-editing leaderboard, it signals a shift toward prompt-driven creative tools. Our take: Nano banana, like Veo 3, reinforces Google’s move to establish Gemini as the default AI tool set for marketers, designers, and advertisers. This opens up adoption opportunities beyond text and coding-based genAI applications. For advertisers and marketers, this means two things: Production cycles can compress, and reliance on legacy design platforms could erode if AI tools can compete on price.
The news: ChatGPT’s referral traffic to websites plummeted 52% in a single month after a fundamental shift in how the AI model operates. OpenAI manually reweighted its system to prioritize sources that provide direct, helpful answers, per Search Engine Land. Our take: Declining web traffic means declining revenues. For marketers and publishers, the mandate is to adapt to GEO or risk invisibility in a world where AI answers, not clicks, dominate. Reshaping web content to be more answer oriented could help surface it in ChatGPT, but that’s easier said than done for publishers with legacy content. Companies that move early to understand and influence AI citation patterns will secure a competitive edge as this new content distribution landscape takes shape.
Apple is partnering with digital platform TuneIn to strengthen its radio reach and better compete with Spotify, per the Wall Street Journal. The move will see Apple distribute its radio stations across connected cars and home speakers globally and marks the first time Apple’s current radio stations will be accessible outside of the Apple Music app. Apple’s radio push could breathe life into its struggling streaming units, attracting listeners who haven’t considered Apple Music and potentially drawing in advertisers who are looking for access to Apple’s library.
Cracker Barrel has reversed a logo redesign just days after removing its “Old Timer” figure, Uncle Herschel, following backlash from customers, commentators, and investors. Criticism spiked when former President Donald Trump called the redesign a costly mistake but also “a billion dollars’ worth of free publicity.” Hours later, the company confirmed Herschel would remain the face of the chain. The reversal coincided with a 7% stock drop, underscoring how customer sentiment quickly impacts financials. Analysts note that tradition and heritage are powerful brand signals—removing them can sever ties with loyal customers while raising doubts about purpose and direction.
Amazon closed its second annual Upfronts with “significant growth” across independent agencies and holding companies, per Adweek. An Amazon spokesperson cited excitement surrounding live sports offerings on Prime Video as a key driver of growth. Amazon is positioned for sustained ad growth if it continues relying on its sports properties to draw advertiser interest in Prime Video. With Prime Video only making up a fraction of Amazon’s overall ad revenues, the service is far from hitting its ceiling—and future investment in tentpole sporting events will put Prime Video on par with its bigger competitors.
The news: The average VantageScore credit score dropped one point since last month, meaning the average customer’s creditworthiness is declining. And there are other signs of credit stress that should be alarming to banks. Our take: With the average credit score dropping and delinquencies rising across all tiers—including among historically reliable superprime borrowers—financial institutions (FIs) are facing a higher-risk environment. This requires a proactive approach to risk management. FIs should tighten their underwriting standards—particularly for mortgages and auto loans, which are showing the largest increases in late payments. In addition, FIs must proactively engage with customers to help prevent delinquencies from turning into defaults. By using data to identify at-risk borrowers and reinforce customer loyalty, FIs can reach out with support and resources like loan modifications or personalized financial guidance.
The news: Simplicity, speed, and personalized human support are the top priorities for small-business owners seeking a loan, according to an Academy Bank study. Nearly three-quarters of small-business owners still prefer in-person service despite the benefits of a speedy online process. Our take: We’ve argued that people still want to work with people, especially for something as high stakes as a business loan. Gen Z and millennials are pushing the industry toward a digital-first model, but the mass market isn't there yet. This means banks can't simply abandon their physical branches or personal bankers—especially if they want to keep earning the loyalty of small-business clients. The most successful approach will involve giving these customers the option of completing everything they need in-person while simultaneously providing remote services for digital-first entrepreneurs.
The news: Magnite today introduced pause ads across several streaming providers, including DirecTV, Fubo, and Dish Media, to capitalize on the momentum of pause ads as a key opportunity to engage and convert connected TV (CTV) viewers. Our take: Pause ads have demonstrated their worth in the quickly growing CTV landscape—but those who see the most success with the format will be the ones who innovate before pause ads become standard practice.
Successful retail partnerships create value beyond what either brand could achieve alone. “One plus one makes three is the ideal situation, where both parties bring something to the table that the customer values and as a result, both businesses and brands benefit,” said Brian Berger, founder and CEO of Mack Weldon, on a recent episode of “Behind the Numbers.”
The news: A majority of US adults are ready for AI to take their bosses’ jobs. 73% said they’re behind AI having a role in hiring, firing, and budgets, per a new ResumeNow survey. 69% are fine with AI monitoring for productivity purposes. Our take: 41% of C-suite professionals are concerned about the ethical use of AI, per Bearing Point. AI can quickly become a yes man, confirming decisions that might not be in a company’s best interest. Balance and oversight are key when adopting AI solutions. Using AI for hiring and budgeting will help streamline those processes, but AI decisions need to be monitored to keep bias and hallucinations in check.
The news: Netflix will open its first Netflix House location at King of Prussia Mall outside Philadelphia on November 12, with a second location at Galleria Dallas beginning business on December 12, per Variety. A third location is set to open next year in Las Vegas. Our take: The large entertainment-and-retail hubs will serve as experiential billboards for Netflix’s IP. By melding marketing with monetization, Netflix House should help the streamer keep its hits relevant and boost awareness of emerging titles, while also converting fandom into foot traffic and sales. If visitors find the spaces engaging, they should draw attention to Netflix IP at a time when streamers face intense competition for viewers, while also generating revenues from fans eager to step inside the worlds they watch on screen. That could create a virtuous loop as deeper engagement often drives greater loyalty to both the titles and to Netflix itself.
TikTok’s 2024 revenues in the UK, Europe, and Latin America surged 38% to $6.3 billion, more than doubling 2022 levels, per filings cited by Forbes. The growth underscores TikTok’s strength outside the US, where a divest-or-ban standoff continues. Yet regulatory scrutiny in Europe looms large, with over $1 billion reserved for fines, ongoing probes across multiple countries, and potential penalties under the EU’s Digital Services Act. TikTok’s UK penetration tops 32%, with ad revenues projected to triple by 2027. Still, layoffs in trust and safety roles and a pivot to AI moderation could test regulators and user trust.
The news: Keurig Dr Pepper will acquire JDE Peet’s for €15.7 billion ($18.4 billion) to revive its struggling coffee arm before splitting into two public companies. The deal will create a coffee powerhouse by merging KDP with JDE Peet’s global brands that include Peet’s, L’OR, Jacobs, and Douwe Egberts.