The news: Rewards app Fetch and measurement platform Kochava teamed up to offer loyalty rewards to streaming users, per Marketing Brew. Loyalty+ users can earn points from streaming movies or series, watching specific episodes, or downloading streaming apps. Video on demand (SVOD) services can offer incentives based on their chosen KPIs. Our take: Little treats from big streamers can add up and boost loyalty, provided the incentives are worthwhile and requirements aren’t burdensome. Watching TV for several hours for a fraction of a Starbucks drink, for example, won’t likely improve platform stickiness.
The news: The gaming industry is doubling down on handheld consoles. Nintendo’s Switch 2 shattered single-day sales records with an estimated 3 million units sold at launch, outpacing the Sony PS4’s historic numbers. Meanwhile, Microsoft announced its first handhelds—the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X—partnering with Asus to blend Xbox and PC gaming in a portable format. They’re expected to launch during the holidays. Our take: As cloud and console experiences merge into portable form, game design and ad models are set to evolve fast—opening up fresh real estate for marketers, game studios, and tech platforms alike.
The news: In a bold power play, Google dropped Android 16 just one day after Apple unveiled iOS 26 at WWDC, a divergence from its usual September release. The timing steals some of Apple’s spotlight, escalating the tech rivalry while injecting new energy into the smartphone wars. Key takeaway: Google’s fast-tracked and AI-infused Android 16 update signal a shift in mobile strategy aimed at overtaking the iPhone. Developers and advertisers should prioritize Pixel-first app experiences, optimize for desktop-like multitasking on mobile, and reimagine engagement for an OS that’s more utility driven. A Pixel-first rollout for Android 16 indicates Google is pushing its own hardware platform, making Pixels more attractive to consumers who want the latest features first.
he news: At WWDC 2025, Apple announced its upcoming macOS 26 Tahoe, marking the final operating system supporting Intel-based Macs and the end of a computing era. Apple’s transition will accelerate replacement cycles for millions of business users and marketing technology stacks. ur take: The shift will require a massive reset for Apple-reliant companies. They will need comprehensive technology audits across devices and software to weed out unsupported tools. Organizations delaying transitions, particularly for models that have already lost support, risk security vulnerabilities and performance limitations, affecting campaign execution and creative production timelines.
A large majority of US consumers are somewhat (26%), very (32%), or extremely (34%) concerned about AI spreading misinformation, according to an August 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center.
Even though most retail dollars are spent in physical stores, experts say retail media dollars have been slow to meet those consumers
The news: A CBS investigation discovered hundreds of deepfake ads on Meta platforms promoting “nudify” apps that create sexually explicit content based on images of real people. The analysis of Meta’s ad library found at minimum hundreds of deepfake ads across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Facebook Messenger, and Meta Audience Network. Our take: The rise of deepfakes on major platforms like Meta emphasizes AI’s potential to erode consumer trust and raise brand safety risks—forcing advertisers to navigate a growing gap between innovation and lagging safeguards.
The news: Walmart rolled out Sparky, its generative AI (genAI) assistant, to all Walmart app users this week—a preliminary step that puts it closer to achieving its agentic ambitions. Our take: By broadening Sparky’s capabilities, Walmart is trying to position itself not only as a shopping destination, but also as a place where consumers can go when they need everyday life advice or information—such as how to fix a leaky faucet or help with event planning. Whether the retailer succeeds will depend on how well Sparky works, and whether it can convince shoppers to overcome their current skepticism of AI tools.
The US-China trade war drives Shein to diversify its sourcing: Shein and Reliance Retail plan to start international sales of India-made Shein-branded clothes within six to 12 months.
The news: Cannes Lions 2025 kicks off June 16, with media companies and platforms turning the festival into a proving ground for brand innovation. Spotify is merging live acts like Cardi B with audiobook tastings and celebrity panels, while Canva hosts CMO roundtables alongside design influencers. Google, Uber, and Influential are anchoring talks on TV, sports, and creator-driven engagement—with yacht-side podcasts and fundraising activations adding a new layer of purpose. Our take: This year’s Cannes isn’t about opulence—it’s about ownership. Brands that bring substance, not just spectacle, will emerge with more than headlines—they’ll leave with lasting partnerships and fresh strategic playbooks.
The news: Mark Read will exit as CEO of WPP at the end of 2025, concluding a three-decade run shaped by AI investment and structural overhauls. While Read launched tools like WPP Open and pushed to streamline operations, the company still posted a 1% organic revenue decline in 2024 and hit a four-year stock price low. Our take: Read’s departure marks a critical inflection point for WPP and the broader agency model. With 56.1% of agency leaders naming inefficiency as their top issue, the next CEO will need to go beyond tech implementation and deliver meaningful workflow clarity and cost discipline—fast.
Back-to-school sales will decelerate this year: Mounting macroeconomic pressures are prompting retailers to kick off promotions earlier and encouraging consumers to buy now rather than later.
The news: Starbucks is lowering prices in China for some drinks as the country’s relentless price wars force the struggling coffee chain to shift gears. Our take: Starbucks’ pricing actions are necessary to keep it competitive in a challenging market. But it is increasingly struggling to keep up with the likes of Luckin Coffee and Cotti, which are not only considerably cheaper but also better able to meet Chinese consumers’ rapidly shifting tastes. With conditions in the world’s second-largest economy unlikely to improve this year, Starbucks will have to find a way to become nimbler—and more affordable—to keep within striking distance of its rivals.
The news: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) plans to split into two separate public companies by 2026, one focused on streaming and studios and the other on global cable networks, the company announced. Its streaming company will include HBO Max and WBD’s movie properties, while the global networks company will include TNT Sports, Discovery, and CNN. Our take: WBD’s move emphasizes that sticking with a one-size-fits-all model is no longer viable given traditional TV declines and the rise of streaming. Managing decline while pursuing growth requires two fundamentally different playbooks.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how Americans’ feelings towards AI have changed this year, the gaps in concern between AI experts and the general public, and the best ways to get started with AI. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Analyst Grace Harmon, and Senior Vice President of Media Content and Strategy Henry Powderly. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
The news: Meta is in talks to invest upwards of $10 billion in Scale AI, a data labeling startup. The deal would be Meta’s biggest ever external AI investment and could help it position its Llama large language model (LLM) as an industry standard, per Bloomberg. Scale AI has already partnered with Meta to develop Defense Llama, an LLM designed for military use that’s built on Llama 3, and also works with Meta competitors like Microsoft and OpenAI. Our take: Meta’s massive investment could draw antitrust scrutiny in an era of acqui-hires. The outcome of active probes in Big Tech partnerships could influence regulatory action, especially if this investment contains any exclusivity that limits model training resources for other companies.
The news: IT leaders are increasingly concerned about unauthorized employee use of AI and its risk to company security and compliance. 90% are concerned about “shadow AI,” or employees adopting AI tools without IT team approval, per Komprise’s IT Survey: AI, Data & Enterprise Risk. 13% of companies said genAI has harmed their finances, customers, or reputation—proof that AI’s risks aren’t just hypothetical. Our take: Companies should pair data management and protection of sensitive data with worker training. Giving employees access to tools they’ll actually use and keeping them in the loop on AI plans could help prevent the use of unauthorized tools and data leaks, foster trust, and deter sabotage of genAI initiatives.
The news: Generative AI (genAI) has become standard across US enterprises—95% of companies report using it to some extent, up from 83% a year ago, per Bain & Co—but wider enterprise adoption is hitting roadblocks. A lack of robust governance and the need for continuous security validation are getting in the way. Our take: To escape limbo, enterprises must shift from experimentation to disciplined execution. That means building AI governance into the foundation—not as an afterthought. Security, transparency, and trust must be embedded into every AI deployment. Businesses shouldn’t just see AI as a plug-and-play solution without vetting it and aligning it with desired outcomes. For marketers, campaigns built on shaky AI foundations risk brand reputation, compliance failures, and consumer mistrust.
The news: Apple’s highly anticipated AI enhancements, particularly for Siri, remain unfinished. During WWDC 2025, SVP Craig Federighi confirmed delays, stating Apple needs “more time to reach a high-quality bar.” No major voice assistant upgrades were announced. Apple’s most relevant AI move wasn’t a product—it was a warning: Ahead of its event, Apple published a research paper arguing that top models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Anthropic’s Claude 3.7, and Google’s Gemini don’t truly “reason.” Instead, they create an “illusion of thinking.” Our take: Apple is hedging its AI bets by being cautious with core offerings like Siri while quietly enabling developers with on-device LLMs and privacy-first tools. Instead of overpromising, Apple is pointing out potential problems with the latest AI models while exercising restraint.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how advertisers have gone from navigating uncertainty to navigating whiplash, and how they can prioritize and get the most out of ad measurement with a limited budget. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analysts Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf and Max Willens, and the Director of Product Management at Cint Stephanie Gall. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.