Is AI-powered search profitable and sustainable? Scaling up commercial generative AI comes with high energy and environmental costs, adding to social concerns. Half-measures on the issue could damage market reception.

From winning “an insane amount of PR coverage” to being nimble enough to strike at the peak of buzz, Aron North, Mint Mobile’s CMO, shares how the ad that had everyone talking came about and what other marketers can learn from his experience.

On today's episode, we discuss how concerning Google's drop in search ad revenues is, the likelihood of Google getting broken up by the US Department of Justice, and the main reason YouTube is struggling. "In Other News," we talk about which cookie alternatives are emerging as favorites and the significance of Microsoft adding ChatGPT's AI technology to its search engine, Bing. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Evelyn Mitchell.

The Information Age 2.0 is upon us: Google’s latest product updates illustrate the movement to embed AI into our information sources. The changes will strain computation and energy resources.

As of last month, 54% of US adults were not familiar with ChatGPT at all, according to YouGov. Familiarity increased with education level, with 67% of those with a postgraduate degree having some knowledge about the conversational AI product.

On today's episode, we discuss the significance of Google's ChatGPT rival Bard, whether Instacart's shoppable TV QR codes can be a hit, if Fanatics can crack the US livestream shopping code, whether Twitter allegedly shedding users is a short-term issue, where (and how) we listen to music, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our director of reports editing Rahul Chadha and analysts Blake Droesch and Evelyn Mitchell.

Industries ignore AI warning label: Voices of dissent over speedy generative AI deployment are getting louder but may be drowned out by promises of lucrative returns. Risks are mounting.

Search seems like a good bet for disruption—sooner rather than later.

Year of the chatbot: Google’s Apprentice Bard is among many chatbots we’ll see released by the tech industry this year. Investors are excited, but performance and monetization are market hurdles.

Just as the tech blows up in banking, UK startup Evident has created a non-biased index that scores banks on AI development and implementation.

Dazzled, dazed, and confused by ChatGPT: Its creators were unsure about releasing a technology they’re now warning about as adoption skyrockets. Legislators respond to alarm bells with mixed messages.

How chatbots can increase patient engagement: A research study by AllianceChicago shows how personalized messages boosted well-child visits and immunizations among minority patients.

AI as muse or job killer? ChatGPT isn’t yet commercialized but is demonstrating its potential to rock the economy. The tech will affect white-collar jobs but won’t eliminate them—yet.

Google’s ChatGPT conundrum: Generative AI is becoming a headache for the tech giant that wants to take the ethical high road while also staying competitive in a fast-moving market.

Thousands of Googlers get pink slips: As scavenging continues to rise among other industries, terminated workers shouldn’t be jobless for long. Meanwhile, Google is laser-focused on a revenue-driven AI strategy.

US venture capital funding of generative AI was up 27% year over year in 2022, hitting $1.4 billion, according to PitchBook. That money, however, was spread among fewer deals—78 last year compared with 85 in 2021. Nonetheless, it represents a massive increase from 2020, when funding totaled $200 million.

Commercial generative AI poses risk for companies: Kenyan workers paid under $2 per hour to help build ChatGPT are among many human contributors behind generative AI who aren’t given sufficient compensation.

AI is “for sure the hottest topic in the SEO space,” said Lily Ray, senior director of SEO and head of organic research at Amsive Digital. “But people are still being a little bit careful because we don't know exactly how Google is going to treat this type of content.” Here’s what marketers need to know.

Chatbots are AGI stepping stones: DeepMind might release a ChatGPT competitor called Sparrow sometime in 2023. Chatbots are part of a much bolder vision to alter society with artificial general intelligence.

AI is already here—creating marketing copy, generating images, even writing an ad for Ryan Reynolds’ company. Here are five charts to help you mull over the advantages of AI. A word of caution: We expect progress to be slow if resources and budgets continue to be tight.