This FAQ covers how consumers and marketers are adapting to generative AI, the risks that accompany its growth, and what strategies brands should prioritize in 2026.

AI is reshaping how people discover, evaluate, and buy products. As assistants and emerging agents take on more of the shopping journey, retailers must rethink how they surface products and compete for influence in the purchase journey.

YouTube is building an influencer engine through new discovery and paid tools that add Gemini search, bulk outreach, and channel takeovers.

UCP adds carts and loyalty perks, but it may not be enough to move the needle on AI platform checkouts.

Tech and AI players must prove accuracy, privacy, and real clinical value if they want users to trust them with their medical record data.

AI is reshaping how consumers in Canada search, shop, and spend time with media. As digital adoption deepens, brands, publishers, and retailers face the need to adapt to AI-driven discovery and commerce, or risk losing out in a rapidly changing market.

YouTube tops global media with $62 billion in revenues and over $40 billion in ads, putting it ahead of Disney and legacy TV combined.

Email marketing remains a valuable channel for retailers, and incoming AI tools could improve it even more. A new survey by Optimove Insights points to opportunities and challenges for retailers using one of digital marketing’s oldest channels.

Beehiiv is challenging Substack, as an ad network and flat fees lure creators; but scaling inventory and measurement will test its $50 million goal.

A WPP court filing reveals $9 billion in spend and rebate income, pushing brands to revisit principal media terms.

It’s unlikely to pull users from ChatGPT, but it could increase pressure on tech giants to safeguard user data and avoid overhyping their AI’s medical advice capabilities.

Gamers are highly engaged, span all demographics, and are increasingly receptive to ads. Yet gaming remains one of the most undermonetized channels in digital advertising.​

Health influencers drive real behavior, but trust rests with doctors and patients. As creators gain reach, healthcare marketers must harness influence while protecting credibility, safety, and compliance in a high-risk category.

WPP’s earnings slide shows AI and self-serve ad tools are shifting growth away from holdcos.

Sky-high operational costs are pushing ChatGPT and its rivals toward ads, while Koah is betting survival hinges on monetizing scale.

Reddit has surged in recent years, fueled in part by Google search referrals. But the platform’s unique attributes mean marketers must take a more bespoke, labor-intensive approach.

Big Tech shifts to India’s scale, talent, and AI-first workforce as Western growth slows and China risk rises.