Amazon expands its agentic ad footprint; its new MCP server turns AI-driven advertising from experimentation into infrastructure, prioritizing controlled automation over raw API access.

Pinterest shifts to yield; its leadership change reinforces focus on performance, commerce, and higher ARPU.

Even as consumer attitudes toward AI in advertising remain mixed, agencies are rapidly expanding their use of AI across the marketing lifecycle. But significant resistance remains, especially when AI is used in ad creative. As agencies scale AI adoption, consumer sentiment underscores the need for restraint and intentionality—using AI for work behind-the-scenes, but resisting entire AI creative.

Substack is testing its first structured sponsorship program, allowing selected writers to insert paid brand placements directly into newsletters—an opt-in beta that keeps creators in full control and avoids programmatic ads. The move follows significant audience growth, with US uniques doubling in a year, but minimal marketer adoption: only 5% of brand marketers use Substack today. Sponsorships offer a way to monetize large free audiences while preserving the platform’s editorial identity. For advertisers, the beta introduces a premium, high-intent environment suited to thought leadership and niche expertise—an early indication that creator newsletters may become more formal components of influencer and upper-funnel strategy.

Google is quietly exploring how Gemini could support advertising in 2026, per Adweek, even as the company publicly denies any such plans. Agencies say Google has framed potential Gemini ads as high-intent, conversational opportunities for ecommerce brands—signals emerging alongside rapid user growth. Gemini’s global MAUs have climbed roughly 30% since August, and its US footprint is projected to reach 85.7 million users by 2029. If prompt-level signals become targetable, conversational AI could function as a new, more precise form of intent advertising.

For social platforms, AI hype is colliding with user fatigue and rising regulations. In the US, they face stalled engagement and tougher rules as people demand more control and more human experiences.

Duolingo launched Duolingo Ads at Advertising Week New York 2025. The language-learning app is part of a flurry of new entrants in the digital advertising market in recent months, requiring brands to broaden their approach even amid macroeconomic uncertainty to make the most of new opportunities.

A leaked Adweek-reviewed file details how The Trade Desk partners with 49 retailers worldwide to sell ad placements built on shopper data. The document reveals steep markups and inconsistent rules: Albertsons charges up to 45% of media costs, Best Buy limits custom audiences, Costco sets $100K minimums, and Walmart imposes fees capped at $3.50 CPMs plus measurement charges. Other retailers add restrictions around ad categories or approvals. The leak highlights both the value and complexity of retail media as brands chase audience targeting tied directly to transactions. Transparency remains a challenge, with costs and conditions varying widely by partner.

CTV ad spending has seen double-digit growth in recent years, but tariffs and economic uncertainty could lead to a flat 2025.

The 2024 US presidential election ushered in a new normal in brand safety, with prominent social media companies such as X and Meta shifting the burden of content moderation from internal teams and contractors to users.

As publishers battle declining revenues, deals with AI firms like OpenAI and Perplexity provide new income streams—and a seat at the table in shaping the industry’s future.

The traditional TV bundle will further decay as more live sports embrace streaming.

Advertisers won’t have to quit third-party cookies cold turkey, but long-standing market dynamics around access to quality data aren’t going anywhere.

Catch up on how FAST services are shaking up TV advertising.

Are walled gardens a thing of the past? Shrinking market share and distrust of major platforms is leading to a shift toward open-ended ad solutions.

Among subscription video streaming services, Amazon Prime Video has the highest share of ad-supported viewers, while Netflix has the lowest.

Google's SGE threatens to cut publisher traffic by up to 60%: The evolution could push the industry toward innovative revenue strategies and partnerships.

Netflix’s advertising strategy is evolving as streaming services raise subscription prices to sway users to ad-supported tiers.

The 2023 upfront market will likely be the last one transacted primarily on Nielsen’s legacy currency. A shift from traditional TV to digital video advertising is the main factor driving this change.

As with nearly everything, the coronavirus has affected US political activity: Campaign staff are working remotely, presidential debates were held without audiences and the Democratic Party weighed the possibility of a virtual convention. And like commercial brands, it seems that political campaigns could be putting some of their advertising efforts on hold.