On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the moving target that is consumers’ perception of using AI in advertising, how marketers feel about the technology, and the share of ad buying that is likely to be delegated to AI. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Analyst, Marisa Jones, and Senior Analyst, Gadjo Sevilla. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what folks are prioritizing when it comes to upskilling in AI, the stigma of using the technology at work, and which part of the “Using AI at Work” conversation needs more attention. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Senior Editor, Lisa Haiss, and Analyst, Grace Harmon. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
For years, the commerce media conversation has centered around one theme: Measurement. But that may be changing. “We are finally moving past just talking about measurement,” said Collin Colburn, vice president, commerce and retail media at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). “It’s a horse that’s been beaten over the head a little bit too many times.”
Retailers are rethinking old tech choices as the channel matures. Mirakl Ads’ Anne Hallock joins EMARKETER’s Sarah Marzano to discuss how AI and a commerce-first approach can reduce friction, capture new ad dollars, and drive growth.
The news: The latest actress generating buzz across Hollywood isn’t real. “Tilly Norwood,” an AI-generated persona created by Particle6, drew sharp critiques from Hollywood personalities and unions. Our take: Consumers still report a deep distrust of AI influencers. For now, partnering with corporeal influencers is the safer path for most brands.
PayPal’s Honey browser extension will start recommending products based on users’ conversations with chatbots, per a press release. Relying on the Honey browser extension rather than striking individual partnerships with each major AI platform is a far more expedient pathway to broaden Honey’s reach across AI-based shopping. And by keeping the selection and checkout processes squarely in the province of the user, Honey gets to reap the benefits of the rise in AI-enabled product discovery without the associated risks of agentic commerce.
OpenAI is working on a TikTok-style app built on its Sora 2 video model—an AI-only feed where every clip is generated, not filmed, per Wired. Meta, meanwhile, is rolling out Vibes, a new short-form video feed in its Meta AI app and Meta.ai, designed for remixing, personalization, and sharing across Instagram and Facebook. For brands, the upside is experimentation, while the risk is durability. Until user habits adjust to new content feeds, marketers should treat both as pilot channels—take advantage of launch buzz, but keep spend flexible in case novelty fades.
Airline group Lufthansa plans to cut 4,000 roles by 2030 to boost profitability as it leans into AI adoption. The Germany-based company said most layoffs will be limited to administrative roles as it evaluates what work won’t be necessary in the future. Identifying areas where AI is making work redundant and redeploying or retraining employees to higher-value tasks—rather than hacking away at worker numbers—can preserve institutional knowledge and build trust in the technology’s use across an organization.
More than half (53%) of US consumers turn to AI for conducting shopping research, per an August Adobe survey.
AI is no longer a nice-to-have in retail, it’s becoming essential. It helps make shopping smoother, sparks product discovery, and guides motivated customers to make purchases. But trust still matters most. The retail playbook needs to adapt, using AI to enhance the shopping journey rather than replace it.
Shoppers are using AI tools at a high rate but are split on brands’ use of AI-generated content and whether companies are delivering on customer experience promises. Half (52%) of consumers are excited by the idea of having an AI agent shop on their behalf, per VML. Nearly two-thirds (63%) say AI-powered personalization helps them discover new products, but 45% think brands are still failing to tailor recommendations effectively. Brands can keep shoppers engaged by demonstrating AI’s value in tangible ways—like smarter recommendations and smoother checkout—rather than relying on broad claims of AI integration.
Brands and agencies are embracing generative AI (genAI) to create highly localized and personalized campaigns at scale. At a recent Automattic event, marketing leaders highlighted how new technology makes previously cost-prohibitive efforts feasible. The advertising industry has shifted from fear to fluency—recognizing that AI fills gaps and scales output but that people decide what resonates. While agencies two years ago feared AI would displace creative jobs, today, they see human craft as the element that gives AI-generated work meaning. For marketers, the strategy is to invest in AI tools but prioritize upskilling teams to direct them.
While dynamic pricing has been around for decades, Delta Airlines has recently come under fire for announcing that it would increase its use of generative AI for flight pricing from 3% to 20% of domestic flights by year-end.
SoFi recently reported that its AI chatbot, Konecta, has helped make significant operational and customer service improvements since its 2023 launch, per Yahoo Finance. Banking customers have been experiencing chatbot fatigue when glitches and errors prevent them from getting meaningful solutions to their problems—or when they can’t reach a human. But the more empathetic, human models could undo some of the negative perception of these bots. By demonstrating tangible benefits, like faster service and fewer dropped chats, SoFi is directly addressing these customer pain points. This approach improves efficiency and builds a foundation of trust—particularly with self-service-leaning Gen Zers.
Samsung updated its Family Hub refrigerators to display ads on the Cover Screen in a pilot program, per Android Authority. Ads will appear when the large-format screen is idle, and the feature is currently limited to specific themes, including Weather, Color, and Daily Board. Art and Gallery themes are exempt. For brands, personalization of ads will be key. Samsung is counting on the family cook or hungry teen to see the placements. Using the tech giant’s data, advertisers can reach a hungry crowd just as they reach for their next snack.
Nvidia is putting $5 billion into Intel, buying common stock at $23.28 per share for a 4%–5% stake. The two companies plan to co-develop custom PC and data center chips that blend Nvidia’s GPUs with Intel’s x86 CPUs and manufacturing muscle, per ABC News. For Intel, it’s a last chance to remain relevant in advanced computing. For Nvidia, it’s a strategic hedge—ensuring supply resilience and expanding influence over x86 chip design. The partnership will reshape the semiconductor industry and strengthen US tech leadership.
Marketers agree creative drives results, but many still struggle to define and scale it. Taylor Stewart, global head of retail media engagement at TripleLift, joins EMARKETER’s Arielle Feger to discuss how brands are closing the creative gap by using AI, testing roadmaps, and full-funnel strategies to turn ideas into measurable performance.