Spending on social remains very strong, thanks largely to automation tools. And with social video continuing to pull in ad dollars, the platforms make a push for live video.

Spotify falls short of user forecasts: Engagement remains healthy, but uneven ad performance adds demand for stronger measurement.

Omnicom reports strong Q2 from integrated media: Agencies now need bundled, AI-ready services to win larger client accounts.

Meta simplifies ad creation: Meta’s AI mixes existing images and videos into top-performing ad variants, cutting setup time and manual testing.

Amazon turns Alexa ads into checkout lanes: Alexa+ Agentic Ads lets users buy inside AI conversations, collapsing the journey from promotion to purchase.

Consumers are neutral-to-comfortable with AI outputs, but visible AI in marketing isn’t boosting credibility.

Social commerce has hit a turning point as creators, younger shoppers, and built-in checkout push spending higher. Growth is accelerating, but it’s uneven—favoring platforms and strategies that turn attention into action.

Virtual product placement surges: Rembrand’s $23M funding fuels growth in AI-driven ad tools, regional targeting, and post-production flexibility.