The image generator’s open-source availability raises concerns about potential misuse for deepfakes and misinformation, especially in the absence of robust AI safety regulations in the US.

Affordable AI is a game-changer for marketers, but DeepSeek’s data privacy practices may scare off companies wary of Chinese server storage and security gaps.

While AI adoption could save employees significant time, most still see it as a draft generator—helpful, but far from a finished product.

GenAI is taking the search market by storm, but market dynamics will stay largely the same this year.

In-store, consumers want experiences that engage their senses, while online, they’re interested in generative AI (genAI) tools that can help them research products. Plus, young men in the South lead in fast-food consumption, retail leaders lean on loyalty to boost growth, and holiday spending remained in check (for the most part).

OpenAI can use other cloud providers, but Microsoft retains API exclusivity through 2030—suggesting it may be offloading some costs while keeping strategic advantages.

While Google faces mounting pressure from Bing’s ChatGPT integration and other generative AI (genAI) search platforms, degradation of its own search results, including those shown in its AI Overviews, could be exacerbating migration away from Google.

Amazon faces technical and factual challenges as it transforms Alexa into an advanced AI agent, delaying progress and risking its market relevance.

OpenAI and Axios partner up: The AI firm will fund four local newsrooms in exchange for access to the publisher’s material.

OpenAI’s new “traits” feature lets users personalize tone, blending professionalism with individuality. But it risks uncanny impressions for some consumers.

As OpenAI pushes for artificial general intelligence, its reliance on complex deals and high computing costs may force it to prioritize financial viability over human-centered AI.

Voice assistants fumble the AI revolution: Despite genAI advancements, Big Tech’s assistants face stalled growth and disinterest from older users—Gen Z and parents of Gen Alpha might be their saving grace.

Meta’s AI push risks alienating users if social feeds flood with bots. Balancing innovation with human creator support will be key to retaining its audience.

The year of AI: Artificial intelligence invaded all aspects of life in 2024, from work to play and generation to generation. New genAI players appeared to take on megaliths like Google and Meta. It would be a copout to say that 2025 will bring more of the same, but we expect startups to begin taking more market share from Big Tech and challenging the status quo.

Google, Apple, and Samsung integrated genAI into their flagship devices, but delays and tepid consumer interest signal challenges ahead.

Facing regulatory scrutiny, market share erosion, and diversification risks, OpenAI must innovate in multimodal AI while proving profitability to sustain its industry leadership.

Abandoning its EV ambitions, Apple focuses on AI-driven services and devices, aiming to lead on-device innovation while navigating fierce competition and regulatory battles

Cyberattacks and overloads disrupt industries: From telecom strikes to service failures, 2024’s outages underline the fragility of tech systems and the urgent need for diversification and resilience strategies.

By questioning OpenAI’s shift, Meta warns of tax loopholes and nonprofit misuse, signaling growing tensions over funding ethics and competition in AI’s commercialization.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss when and where we will start to see ads alongside ChatGPT, how other AI startups are rolling them out, and what kinds of GenAI ads will be most impactful. Tune in to the discussion with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, and Analysts Jacob Bourne and Daniel Konstantinovic.