Microsoft’s new Bing has had a persistent hold over headlines. Combine this with a third consecutive quarter of ad loss for YouTube and the picture for Google may look less than rosy. But the company remains in good shape, with overall earnings beating expectations. It remains dominant in search, and YouTube use is still remarkably high. Here’s a closer look.

Digital ad spending will increase slightly faster this year than in 2022, but the bump will be minimal. Total media ad spending growth will roughly hold steady. But there are parts of the world where spending is surging.

Digital will help keep total media ad spending buoyant this year, just. A rebound is expected for 2024, with video advertising growing faster than any other format. Proportionally, though, video spend will remain relatively small in France and Germany.

Google and Meta’s combined share of the US digital ad market dropped below 50% in 2022, and in just a few years that figure will be down to 43.0%. The triopoly is losing share now, as well; Amazon’s ascent will not be fast enough to offset the weakness of the other two giants.

Pending legislation may require Meta and Google to pay domestic news publishers for linking to articles. Both companies say they will block news content if it passes.

D2C brands facing the declining effectiveness of search and social ads must use new strategies outside of the traditional D2C growth playbook.

Last month, Meta said it would use generative AI in ad creation by the end of the year. Not long after, Google announced generative AI ad plans of its own in the form of tools that will “remix” ads based on client goals. Neither company has released details of what these AI updates will look like, but the changes are big news for advertisers, agencies, and everyone in between.

D2C ecommerce will continue to grow at above-average rates. But that growth will be driven by established brands selling directly—not digitally native brands.

Ad spending is looking shaky for many of the legacy formats across digital and traditional. New channels have arrived, however, and there are bright spots. This year could be rough, but 2024 is looking better.

Gaming on smartphones saw declines for key metrics in 2022, putting a wrinkle in a growth trend that nearly dates back to the launch of app stores. Read on for figures that highlight what’s changing, and how these changes might impact user acquisition.

Mobile and video formats will be key to a recovering ad market in the years ahead.

On today's episode, we discuss how Spotify beat expectations, why a price hike is inbound, and the audio streaming company's relationship with artificial intelligence (AI). "In Other News," we talk about AI-powered ads for Google and whether Peacock can survive the streaming wars. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Daniel Konstantinovic.

Microsoft and Google report solid quarterly results amid slow economy: With AI transforming the future of search, is Microsoft gaining a perceived edge in innovation?

Google’s generative AI is a landmark moment for advertising: Legal issues have slowed generative AI’s use, but the ad duopoly’s support will start a flood.

“[AI] really does raise the bar in terms of what people are going to expect from you,” our analyst Jeremy Goldman said on our recent “ChatGPT and Generative AI” panel. As AI matures, it will become more specialized, automating mundane tasks, ushering in personalization, and changing the way consumers, retailers, and marketers use the internet. Here are eight predictions for that not-so-distant future.

Even as suspicions surrounding ChatGPT and generative AI swirl, marketers know the new tech will turn search—and its ad dollars—on its head. As search shifts toward chatbots, the way brands advertise with Google and Microsoft will change completely, creating problems for publishers and agencies.

On today's episode, we discuss whether Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing can take share from Google, if social platforms can compete with Amazon on product search, and what to make of the idea that Apple might release its own search engine. "In Other News," we talk about what watching Peacock in the metaverse looks like and how people feel about all of their subscriptions. Tune in to the discussion with our director of forecasting Peter Newman and analyst Max Willens.

What Google’s rumored AI search engine means for digital advertising: Internal documents show that ad placements are top-of-mind as Google plunges into AI.

Google, Musk, and OpenAI moves show corporate Darwinism in AI race: As tech gets closer to the holy grail of AGI, it’s getting harder for companies to apply the brakes.

Following GPT-4’s impressive introduction, everyone is racing to incorporate generative AI into their operations: Google launched Bard to some disappointment, Amazon entered the AI race, and Quora wants to create “the universal AI messaging client.” Here are the latest generative AI updates and what they mean for marketers.