Perplexity dropped the $200 monthly fee for its AI-native Comet browser, making it free worldwide but with rate limits. The change follows Google Chrome hitting a record 73.7% share of desktop browsing in September, per StatCounter. Comet can summarize webpages, pull key details, and wade through links on a user’s behalf. Chrome remains the must-buy channel, but ChatGPT’s mobile stickiness and Comet’s positioning prove that audiences may increasingly flow through alternative gateways. The brands that experiment early across these varied environments will be better prepared when consumer behavior tilts away from legacy browsers.

OpenAI rolls out free search to capture shoppers during a peak ecommerce season, offering price comparisons and product links just when consumers need them most

Nearly a third of the US population will be free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) viewers by 2027, accounting for a total of 114.5 million viewers, according to our September 2023 forecast. That large audience base, coupled with the rise of new players and the abundance of ad inventory, is making FASTs increasingly appealing to media planners—especially those on a budget.

56% of US adults think ad breaks on free-ad supported streaming TV (FAST) services should be under 30 seconds, according to an August 2023 ViewNexa survey.

Free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) services like The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Pluto TV will bring in tens of millions of viewers this year, though time spent with the platforms isn’t comparable to that of Netflix or YouTube, according to our forecast. Still, marketers should keep an eye on these streaming services, especially those with parent companies like Paramount or Fox that may be able to spin free viewers into paid members.

The leading reason consumers in the UK and US return online purchases is due to fit, size, or color, according to Coveo. Damage, defects, and poor quality are other top reasons. Some 18% of UK and US consumers make returns because they order multiple sizes with the intent of keeping only those that fit.

US TV viewers will happily watch ads, in some cases

US gamers are gaming on a budget