Consumers show cautious interest, but only if tools are clinically validated, transparent, and privacy secure.
Gaming’s 42% jump and ChatGPT’s ad push signal a 2026 reset.
59% of US teens ages 13-17 say they have used ChatGPT, meaning a majority of the next generation of consumers is already turning to AI chatbots, according to a December report from Pew Research Center.
On February 20, eBay’s updated user agreement goes into effect, banning third-party AI agents that autonomously buy for consumers, targeting the emerging “buy-for-me” tools designed to handle discovery, decisioning, and checkout.
As conversational AI becomes a new entry point for discovery, advertisers are rethinking how relevance and usefulness show up in these environments. Roundel’s pilot with OpenAI offers an early look at what user-first advertising could mean inside AI-driven conversations.
Most AI users feel more productive, but faster cycles raise intensity, multitasking, and hidden strain.
An AI assistant builds carts from lists or photos, shifting brand power from shelf space to algorithmic visibility.
The Dutch brewer's planned job cuts and AI-driven efficiency push highlight structural demand shifts in mature beer markets.
Tech players ramp up capex, betting massive data centers will turbocharge ads and automation despite investor jitters.
Half its founding team is gone, raising doubts about Grok’s pace as rivals lock in enterprise AI deals.
Early ChatGPT ads favor learning over ROI; high CPMs and limited measurement skew participation toward brands buying influence and insight.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three big questions surrounding Meta right now: Is 2026 Meta’s ‘Big Tobacco’ moment? How big of a problem is Meta's AI spending spree? What's the vision for its AI agent? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst Minda Smiley and Principal Analyst Max Willens. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Now is the time for board-level discussions about AI-enabled applications that could specifically influence bank operations and how to take advantage.
Fan remixes are turning into an attention engine, and brands that design for reinterpretation stand to win.
Regulators say limiting rival chatbots on WhatsApp could breach competition rules and reshape AI distribution power.
Tech giants and brands leaned hard into AI-led creative, but consumer responses were mixed.
From ai.com to Claude and coders, AI ads led engagement, overtaking beer, autos, and other legacy categories.
It’s a Reddit-like hub for AI agents to debate and upvote, but early data leaks and fake accounts expose big security gaps.
Shoppers are open to AI help but will abandon carts after bad suggestions, showing personalization outweighs novelty.