Email’s reliability is no longer enough to offset rising consumer expectations. AI accelerates production and enhances relevance, while engagement, trust, and tougher inbox rules push marketers to rethink how they will use the channel in 2026.

Luma AI has secured a $900 million funding round led by Humain, pushing its valuation above $4 billion and marking one of the largest investments to date in AI-generated video. As agencies, studios, and brands increasingly adopt AI for editing, narration, testing, and full video generation, Luma’s raise signals a shift: AI video is becoming the creative backbone for modern advertising, powering faster iteration, scalable personalization, and multi-format production across every screen.

AI is rapidly reshaping several aspects of marketing, ranging from campaign strategy to content creation. This report outlines how marketers are using and measuring AI tools, and the challenges they face with the technology.

Marketers embrace AI with a 7/10 optimism rating: AI's role expands in content creation and strategic marketing growth.

OpenAI’s GPT-4 can help retailers map the customer journey by analyzing data from across social, owned, and third-party platforms and identifying trends in real time. It can also help retailers predict future behaviors, giving insight into where they should focus their ad dollars.

Generative AI is the topic of the moment, and the dollars are following: Spending on AI-centric systems worldwide will jump to $154 billion this year from $121 billion last year, according to the International Data Corporation. If you’re not already using the tech, it’s time to get startedHere’s how retailers are using the AI.