Generative AI was the shiny new thing this year (despite having been around for quite a while). Curious consumers wrote poems with ChatGPT, created masterpieces with Midjourney, and browsed Google’s and Microsoft’s AI-chatbot search functionalities. As the hype clears, which generative AI applications will be most relevant for business? And how can marketers put those applications to use?

Following three consecutive quarters of ad revenue losses, YouTube faces an urgent need to restore growth. This could present marketers using YouTube with opportunities to target audiences on both connected TVs and smartphones.

The US ad market grew for the first time in 11 months this May, according to Standard Media’s US Ad Market Tracker. Now the question is if expansion can continue. June and the start of July brought a host of ad updates that could help continued growth, including ad tools enhancements from Google and Microsoft, retail media opportunities from Roku and Uber, and more. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new.

Search is pivoting toward AI chat. Google has its Search Generative Experience (SGE) and Bard. Microsoft has its new Bing and a partnership with OpenAI. These fundamental changes to search will change user behavior and monetization. Here’s how the new era of search will affect advertising for brands, retailers, and publishers.

On today's episode, we discuss some predictions for 2023 that are too specific to be 100% certain but could still come true, including: why Microsoft would want to buy Roku, whether TikTok will make a splash in search advertising, who will be the runaway retailer of the year, if Instagram's new Twitter competitor app will be a hit, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Debra Aho Williamson, Andrew Lipsman, and Paul Verna.

Amazon presses forward with new generative AI tools: The retailer is determined to show clients and investors it can keep up with OpenAI and Google despite a slow start.

TikTok and Amazon join the ranks of Google (and to a lesser degree Microsoft) as places where consumers start their searches. Meanwhile, audience-based targeting is becoming a more privacy-compliant way to reach consumers. And of course, generative AI will change search as we know it, though no one can be sure of how—yet.

On today's episode, we introduce you to the FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) services (e.g., Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Pluto TV), explain how they became so popular, and look ahead to see what their ceiling is. "In Other News," we talk about whether the advertising space is on the mend and how significant of an ad player Microsoft is. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Ross Benes and director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman.

Key stat: Google’s share of US nonretail search ad spend has declined since 2021, when the company saw $57.49 billion in US search ad revenues, according to our forecast. Among Google’s rivals outside of retail, both Microsoft and Apple are growing their search revenues faster.

Google put ads in its Search Generative Experience. YouTube has a new unskippable 30-second ad spot. HBO Max relaunched as Max. And The Kroger Co. is paving the way with in-store retail media. Here are what updates from these companies and more mean for advertisers.

On today's episode, we discuss which attention metrics are real, which are still in development, and where identity and addressability will be by the end of the year. "In Other News," we talk about how much Microsoft and Apple can encroach on Google's search turf and YouTube debuting unskippable 30-second ads. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Evelyn Mitchell and Kunal Nagpal, chief business officer of InMobi.

The travel booking site partnered with Stripe and Klarna to offer BNPL and smoother bank transfers.

Cryptocurrency volatility has tempered expectations for crypto payments. But it hasn’t erased them: Retail, remittance, and cross-border B2B payments remain in growth mode.

As the so-called AI arms race heats up, US site visit data from digital intelligence platform Similarweb reflects early changes in consumer behavior.

Search is positioned to be generative AI’s first major consumer-facing playground. This is unexplored territory, and advertisers are bracing for big changes.

Generative AI is poised to reshape the search advertising market. With a significant first-mover advantage, will Microsoft grow its share of search ad budgets? How can advertisers stay ahead of the curve?

Microsoft makes bold, highly speculative agreement with Helion Energy: The tech giant is likely taking a leap of faith that AI will yield a nuclear fusion breakthrough in five years.

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.

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.

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?