Amazon's rapid expansion into artificial intelligence, advertising, and supply chain services is prompting analysts to reconsider what kind of company it has become, even as its core retail operations continue to fuel growth across all divisions. "Is Amazon even a retailer anymore?" said our analyst Suzy Davidkhanian on a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers." "It started as a bookstore. It turned into a marketplace. Then it became AWS, and then they started selling their fulfillment services, and then advertising, and now they're making AI chips."

TikTok Shop is settling into a new phase as uncertainty about its future fades. Social commerce is maturing fast, but rising competition, shifting consumer habits, and tighter expectations are raising the stakes for brands.

Western Europe’s ecommerce market is entering a more mature era of growth powered by marketplaces, mcommerce, and digital grocery.

The retailer now offers delivery in 30 minutes or less in select US markets.

Healthcare membership buyers tend to skew younger, but a new GoodRx offering could tap a broader market of consumers losing coverage while still needing routine care.

Paramount-WBD merger tests regulators: DOJ appears receptive, yet state officials and 5,000 creatives warn of fewer jobs and pricier content.

AI Digital debuts AI Creative Studio: New genAI tools promise scalable, TV-grade creative—but consumer skepticism clouds payoff.

Commerce media is pushing brands to break down internal silos and rethink how they organize teams, allocate budgets, and measure success across an increasingly fragmented ecosystem.

Amazon squeezes affiliates: Commission cuts up to 50% and thinner data access rattle publishers already hit by AI search declines.

Commerce media spending is projected to surpass $80 billion in the US this year, according to EMARKETER’s forecast, but not every network is winning buyers’ trust equally. “Trust is earned campaign by campaign, and even the earned have to keep earning it," said Rob Rubin, head of EMARKETER Advisory, at EMARKETER’s Ad Buyer Strategies Summit. He shared findings from a new survey of 231 senior ad buyers collectively responsible for more than $8 billion in commerce media spend.

Major brands are racing to optimize their presence in large language models (LLMs), but they're confronting an uncomfortable reality: Traditional measurement frameworks don't work, and executives demanding ROI metrics may be asking the wrong questions.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss three big questions surrounding Amazon right now: Can Amazon’s test of AI-generated search overviews reshape discovery? Can Amazon become the backbone of the retail supply chain? And will customers want a shopping-specific AI to help them (like Rufus or Sparky), or a generalist model (like ChatGPT or Gemini)? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian and Analyst Marisa Jones. Listen everywhere or watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Flexible installments and expanded rewards can help small businesses navigate rising costs

CTV consolidates around three giants: Google, Amazon, and Netflix will near 50% of global ad dollars by 2030.

Gaming CTV ads cool off: KPI data shows that engagement still tops peers, but rates fall sharply as interactive formats scale.