Creative pros are building AI-powered workflows, not just experimenting: 80% use genAI, and 40% run full-stack with it, showing adoption is strategic—not trendy—across text, audio, image, and video

GenAI search is gaining traction, but not all consumers are seeking out the conversational experiences that will eventually disrupt the search ad market.

Amazon Music’s AI push is promising but fumbles the execution: Explore brings deeper fan engagement, but a clunky interface may keep it from stealing share from Spotify or YouTube Music.

From ad analytics to secure data crunching, Google’s AI shows promise—though wide adoption hinges on performance, not just benchmarks

In this report, CMOs share how they’re transforming influencer strategies to deliver business impact—and what solution providers can do to help.

Meta aims to expand AI-powered ad creation: The early release initiative gives brands low-risk access to experimental creative technologies.

Retailers and brands are racing to deploy AI across the shopping journey, but trust, quality, and execution will define who wins.

Tech layoffs surge as AI eats middle management: Microsoft, LinkedIn, and others are slashing jobs to “flatten” org charts, raising concerns that generative AI's rise will echo the dot-com era's reckoning.

Netflix's ad tier reaches 94 million as it looks to genAI to continue its trajectory: The data suggests Netflix is positioned for sustained streaming market leadership.

Both firms are slashing hundreds of jobs, citing AI efficiencies and market shifts—signaling a future where only the AI-proficient survive.

VSCO’s new AI moodboard blends image editing and teamwork—positioning it as an unexpected contender in marketing workflows without triggering AI fatigue.

ChatGPT gets too friendly, OpenAI hits undo: The GPT-4o update turned ChatGPT into a sycophant, prompting OpenAI to reverse course and raising new concerns about rushed genAI development.

Chrome is the hottest browser no one can buy—yet: OpenAI, Yahoo, and Perplexity are lining up to bid if the DOJ forces a Google sell-off, eyeing a shortcut to AI search dominance.

As AI changes how buyers discover content, B2B brands have an opportunity to gain visibility. This report explores how SEO strategies can evolve to meet AI-powered search and why structured, trusted content wins.

Could OpenAI turn ChatGPT into a shopping hub? The company is reportedly partnering with Shopify in an effort similar to other genAI shopping efforts by Perplexity and Microsoft.

Perplexity eyes smartphone deals to challenge Google’s mobile search dominance: With Motorola on board and Samsung talks underway, Perplexity’s AI could replace Google Gemini on Android phones

Advertising’s AI obsession is upside down: While genAI dominates for content creation, agencies are sleeping on AI’s real strategic edge—like SEO, workflow automation, and data insights

This is the Q1 2025 installment of our quarterly “Ad Spending Benchmarks” series, which helps ad buyers and sellers calibrate their spending and revenue mix against the market.