Voice assistant adoption continues to grow, but the pace has slowed. Gen Z and seniors are key growth drivers, while smartphones and smart speakers remain central to the ecosystem as innovation and fresh competition shake up the sector.

OpenAI's rumored search engine became a reality with its launch of SearchGPT this month. While it joins other AI search platforms like Perplexity and Arc Search, the scale of ChatGPT raises the question: Could this be the Google killer? It has a long way to go. Google has more than 90% of search engine users, according to June 2023 data from Similarweb.

Our new report series identifies use cases of GenAI that can be applied in key areas of digital businesses.

GenAI is potentially a game changer for personalization in retail. This report takes a closer look at some of the key use cases.

Search is undergoing a seismic shift. Google is still the go-to for most inquiries, but generative AI is changing how people search, and leading people to explore alternative search engines. Meanwhile, paid search dollars are moving to retail media networks as shoppers begin their searches on Amazon and other retailer sites. And Gen Z’s search habits look different from older generations, with the cohort flocking to social media sites like TikTok and using visual search and chatbots.

Though ChatGPT has been publicly available for less than two years, we expect it will have 67.7 million monthly US users by the end of this year. That puts ChatGPT ahead of Reddit (60.8 million) and X (53.8 million) in monthly users. But because the tech is open-ended, the chatbot is only as useful as the people prompting it are. Here are seven creative uses for ChatGPT that have caught our eye.

The tool can enhance ChatGPT’s accuracy in coding output, but OpenAI’s path to increase brand trust also needs progress in data privacy and consumer-facing hallucinations

The introduction of Google’s AI Overviews has thrust generative search into the mainstream. But Google’s not the only player incorporating generative AI into search functions.

56% of adults 18 to 24 in select countries have used ChatGPT, but that number decreases as people get older, according to April 2024 data from YouGov and Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford.

Retailers are racing to implement genAI-powered virtual assistants capable of creating human-like responses and handling complex queries. But there are challenges to overcome.

Social media is crucial for B2B marketing success. In 2024, B2B marketers are embracing influencer marketing and video, integrating AI, and focusing on the importance of authenticity. B2B marketers can gain insights for enhancing brand awareness, optimizing campaigns, and building meaningful connections with target audiences.

Younger generations have embraced TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube as search engines. Although TikTok’s future in the US is uncertain, the social search opportunity remains robust.

AI is revolutionizing B2B SEO, but the fundamentals still apply. By strategically using AI and focusing on SEO content, B2B marketers can leverage AI tools to stay ahead of algorithm changes and AI-powered models.

Google’s I/O showcases bold AI integration across products: The announcements show its marketplace strength but it’ll need an effective monetization strategy to beat the competition.

Social media marketers are using genAI to analyze data, brainstorm ideas, and meet content demands. But these tools come with their own sets of limitations and concerns, often requiring human guidance and intervention.

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.

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.

Meta raises AI stakes: Meta AI has a competitive advantage over ChatGPT in potential distribution and could eventually provide new surfaces to serve ads.

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.”

Generative AI search engine Perplexity will launch ads in the next few quarters. But while advertisers probably don’t need to form Perplexity ad strategies just yet, they should keep an eye on how the search engine is approaching monetization for clues into what Google (and other emerging search competitors) could do in the future.