Understanding generative AI's use cases, opportunities, and risks is the top AI investment priority for media CMOs worldwide, cited by 34% of respondents, according to a January report from Dentsu.

US retailers and wholesalers grew total media ad spending 13.9% in H1 2025, but growth slowed to 6.9% in H2 2025, according to a January report from MediaRadar.

Better measurement is the top unlock for digital audio ad investment: 45% of marketers worldwide say more robust measurement and attribution tools would drive greater spending, and 43% cite improved ROI transparency and benchmarking, according to a November 2025 survey from Amazon Ads and EMARKETER.

Efficient and enjoyable digital experiences are the top loyalty program priority across every generation, cited by 77% of millennials, 75% of Gen Z, 66% of Gen X, and even 45% of baby boomers, according to a January report from Deloitte.

Platform algorithm changes or volatility is the top barrier to business growth for creators worldwide, cited by 18% of respondents, just 1 point ahead of lack of consistent brand deals (17%), according to a July 2025 survey from CreatorIQ.

Gen Z is nearly twice as likely as millennials to view AI-generated ads negatively, 39% vs. 20%, according to January data from the Interactive Advertising Bureau and Sonata Insights.

Creative quality is the top reason North American marketers pass on a new agency, cited by 55% of respondents, nearly 7 points ahead of category experience (48%), according to a December survey from RSW/US.

80% of Gen Z video streaming users (ages 18-29) have signed up for a service to watch specific content, then canceled or paused after finishing, according to a January survey from CivicScience.

Paying for return shipping is the hardest part of returning an online order for 25% of US digital shoppers, nearly double the share who cite waiting for a refund (18%), according to a November 2025 survey from Locus and Dynata.

78% of SMBs worldwide say faster content creation is the leading benefit of using LLMs for digital marketing, according to an October 2025 survey from GoodFirms.

Social media added 108.0 billion hours of mobile app time globally in 2025, more than three times the gain of the next-closest category, genAI/AI assistants (30.3 billion hours), according to a January report from Sensor Tower.

68% of US adults consider returns policies when choosing where to shop, according to a December survey from FedEx and Morning Consult.

44% of retail executives worldwide expect gen AI to weaken brand loyalty by shifting consumer choice toward value and fit over brand recognition by 2026, according to a January report from Deloitte.

Platform-agnostic user-generated content (UGC) accounts for 35% of influencer marketing campaigns worldwide, surpassing TikTok (21%) and trailing only Instagram (40%), according to a January report from Collabstr.

42% of UK/US B2B tech CMOs say declining performance from traditional search channels is driving them to adapt for generative engine optimization (GEO) and zero-click search, tied with the 42% who say AI is changing how buyers discover and evaluate brands, according to a December report from 3Thinkrs.

43% of shoppers worldwide say difficulty assessing product quality is the main reason they avoid buying certain products on online marketplaces, making it the leading barrier to purchase, according to a January report from ChannelEngine and Sapio Research.

61% of US digital media professionals are excited about AI developments in digital media and look forward to advertising within AI-generated content, according to a December report from Integral Ad Science and YouGov.

66% of UK/US parents say their children ages 10-15 significantly influence clothing, shoes, and accessories purchases, making it the top category where Gen Alpha sways family spending, according to a November 2025 study from Teneo.

McDonald's leads all US food and grocery sites and apps with 57 million unique visitors, outpacing DoorDash (52.8 million) and nearly doubling the top traditional grocer Kroger (31.3 million), according to November 2025 data from Comscore.

74% of US adults support federal rules that would prevent the collection of personal data on children, making it the top-ranked proposed regulation for children's social media use, according to a December report from CivicScience.