On today's podcast episode, we discuss what to make of Google delaying the deprecation of third-party cookies (again), what was behind its most recent ad revenue growth, if it can defend its search business from a wave of AI, and what stands out about YouTube's recent performance. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf.

Nearly half (49%) of US retailers report using store intelligence technologies (like AI/machine learning, IoT sensors, shelf-edge cameras) have improved price planning, according to a March 2024 report from Coresight Research sponsored by Simbe.

Snapchat has found its groove again: The company’s Q1 earnings beat expectations, with strong revenue and subscription growth.

The company is going all in on AI and diving further into crypto with a rollout of stablecoin payments

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what happens now that the TikTok ban bill has been signed into law, whether AI is ready to significantly change search, the likelihood that Threads ads will be a hit, what social commerce's ceiling will be, the WNBA and the sports gender pay gap, and more. Tune into the discussion with analysts Jasmine Enberg, Minda Smiley, and Max Willens.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss how concerned we should be about AI-driven mass unemployment, how ad industry jobs will change, and the ways in which AI will affect a persons workday. "In Other News," we talk about what to make of Apple's AI strategy and the AI measurement problem. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Jacob Bourne and Gadjo Sevilla.

Regional banks are holding out for lower interest rates to spur loan demand and alleviate deposit costs.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what happens when GenAI hits the turbo button on economic growth, the next major shift AI is going to create, and the biggest concerns regarding an AI-powered injection of this magnitude. "In Other News," we talk about why Amazon is pouring more money into AI company Anthropic and what happens when ChatGPT steps into the physical world. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Jacob Bourne and Gadjo Sevilla.

It takes time to learn a new technology and sometimes, along the way, stumbles happen. As the role of AI in marketing grows, brands must be transparent about how, where, and when they are using the technology. Nearly half (49%) of CMOs in North America plan to focus more on using AI in strategy, creative, and content development for media use over the next 12 months, according to an August 2023 Dentsu survey conducted by B2B International. Here are three missteps brands have made with AI and content creation and what brands can learn from them.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss why social media platforms are less equipped to stop toxic content, the main ways AI will heighten brand safety concerns, and steps marketers can take to mitigate risk. "In Other News," we talk about whether brands repurposing vertical video ads for TVs can work and what Hulu adding its content to Disney+ means for the streaming universe. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Paul Verna.

P&C insurers haven’t seen a market as hard as this one for a generation. Those willing to rework their business model from a reactive to a more proactive approach stand a better chance of returning to profitability.

Generative AI is yet to have a profound impact on media plans and marketing workflow. “The promise of genAI is to ultimately achieve a digital dream state of advertising…where the right message reaches the right consumer on the right platform at the right time,” our analyst Max Willens said on an episode of the “Behind the Numbers” podcast. “But right now, the costs associated with those technological capabilities are not there, nor has the ROI been worked out … We’re a ways away.”

AI agents are coming—“It’s not years. It’s months,” said Adam Buhler, senior vice president of creative technology at Digitas.

Earlier this month, Apple unveiled a new AI model, called the ReaLM system, which can recognize and pull out phone numbers or recipes from on-page images, or respond to a request to call “the bottom one” when users are presented with a list of local pharmacies.

Generative AI is still maturing, but marketers aren’t waiting to fold it into their workflows, including content creation to audience segmentation. Marketers’ top use case is personalization, but they say copywriting has the most potential. Here are five charts demonstrating how marketers are using generative AI right now.

Brands expect agencies to understand AI while providing unique value. That means agencies need to walk the line between highlighting their AI innovations and emphasizing their human creative work. Since different agencies provide different value, some, like VML, are showing up to pitch meetings armed with an AI toolbox. Others, like Mischief USA, are letting AI fade into the background as they show off unique outputs.

On today's podcast episode (part 2), we discuss what the end of cookies means for publishers, what new media business models look like, and who's done the best job of pivoting to digital. "In Other News," we talk about when brands should disclose that they have used AI and whether Spotify's new video learning courses can move the needle. Tune in to the discussion with our director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman and analyst Daniel Konstantinovic.

Q1 has been a mixed bag for marketers. Ad spend grew in January and February, hitting double digits for the first time since March 2022. But many tech and retail companies were hit with layoffs as companies tightened ad spend. IBM, TikTok, and Google all slashed their marketing and advertising teams. On earnings calls, Nike’s finance chief said the company is planning for a “subdued macro outlook” and Paramount mentioned “softness in the global advertising market.”

Generative AI will “supercharge our creativity,” said VML chief innovation officer Brian Yamada. He believes the tech will improve marketers’ ability to tell stories, but it will also raise new privacy concerns.