Creator content is shaping how AI answers questions. But content that’s good at engaging audiences isn’t always what AI surfaces. That’s forcing brands to rethink their creator strategies and content formats so they can show up in AI tools.

Meta’s AI payoff: Q1 revenue hit $56.3 billion as AI tools drove ad gains that help justify a $145 billion spend plan.

Can advertising cover tech’s ballooning AI costs? That question defined big Q1 earnings day for Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Google.

This FAQ explores the evolving brand safety landscape, risks in creator partnerships and synthetic content, and the tools marketers need to protect their brands in 2026.

Ad spending will surge in 2026 as AI-driven gains and a packed events calendar offset mounting economic strain. Social will lead the way as Meta overtakes Google in net revenues and the wider ad industry closes in on the half-trillion-dollar milestone.

This FAQ breaks down how these shifts are converging in 2026 and what they mean for marketers planning local media strategies across search, CTV, and OOH.

Meta rolls out AI business assistant to all advertisers: Its automation push could give advertisers better results, but threatens the traditional agency model.

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss why we think Meta will surpass Google to become the world’s leading digital advertising business this year, whether Google can wrestle back control in the following years, and how close Amazon is to getting a shot at the title. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Forecasting Analysts Zach Goldner and Drew Spink. Listen anywhere, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

AI regulation is reshaping marketing workflows, from creative and targeting to automation. Risks are emerging alongside evolving rules, requiring marketers to build governance frameworks that help brands manage compliance, preserve trust, and stay competitive.

Meta cuts staff as AI automates ads: A 10% reduction tied to AI tools pushes marketers to prioritize outcomes over targeting.

Ten charts reveal where digital markets are headed as AI shapes ad trends, social and retail media take a bigger share of ad spend, and consumer adoption of AI-driven buying influences ecommerce growth.

Meta simplifies SMB ad tech: AI upgrades to Pixel and one-click Conversions API cut setup work and lower entry barriers.

Snapchat’s young audience and distinct ad products keep it relevant, even as usage slips and regulatory pressure builds. Marketers should use it with strategies built for messaging, creators, and commerce.

Online ads near $1.5 trillion as social outpaces all channels and Meta proves its scale.

Social platforms want a bigger role in search ad budgets, but user habits lag behind. As search expands beyond traditional engines, these platforms must turn occasional behavior into intent-driven activity to grab ad dollars.

Social media is emerging as a key growth channel for retail media networks (RMNs) as they expand beyond their owned properties.

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss: What if Meta keeps losing all these lawsuits? What if Meta bought Roku? What if Amazon’s new smartphone is a hit?

AI agents are set to reshape media buying, but it’s still early days. This year will be about building the infrastructure they’ll need for broad adoption. Early tests suggest they’ll lower costs, improve outcomes, and shake up the ad ecosystem.

AI is reshaping brand safety by amplifying risks around placement, accuracy, and authenticity while offering new tools to control them. As automation scales, marketers face a growing tradeoff between performance gains and trust.