Perplexity’s new ad makes Google a target: The company’s biggest ad yet, led by “Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae, could continue the push toward a more divided AI market.

Its biggest acquisition ever arms Google Cloud with elite multi-cloud security, setting it up to rival Azure and cash in on rising AI security demand.

With 82% of trials starting on day one, apps that don’t convert fast—and lock in long-term plans—rarely break $1,000/month within two years.

Echo users can no longer block voice data sharing as Amazon quietly makes off-device processing mandatory to train Alexa+.

Rivals set their sights on Southwest Airlines customers: Frontier is temporarily offering perks that consumers associate with Southwest, including a free checked bag and no-fee flight changes.

As the mall's place in consumers' lives changes, brands are left to focus on bringing people in through experiences and attractions, or on forging their identities outside of those retail spaces. "A lot of people are going to malls, but they're not necessarily going there to shop," said our analyst Rachel Wolff on a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail." Instead, people are visiting malls for restaurants, to socialize, or for experiential attractions.

Shopify is on an AI acquisition spree: The company’s latest purchase, Vantage Discovery, will enable it to offer brands genAI-powered search capabilities and improved product discovery.

Reddit lets users block content from specific advertisers: While the change could improve user experience, it may also jeopardize Reddit’s main revenue source.

Major creators will hold event to vie for YouTube ad dollars: The Spotter Showcase will unveil crucial data and content slates to draw marketers away from traditional TV.

Form factor is Gemini’s secret weapon: With Gemini landing across every Google touchpoint, it’s poised to dominate as Apple fumbles Siri and Amazon slaps a fee on Alexa+.

LinkedIn sets itself apart with a purpose-driven AI play: While social platforms chase time-on-site, LinkedIn is betting on AI to do real work—from narrowing candidate pools to prepping users for interviews.

Beijing’s stimulus measures provided a boost to retail sales in February: But China’s economy isn’t out of the woods yet.

Pepsi buys Poppi to hone its appeal to health-conscious consumers: The acquisition comes amid a broader portfolio shift in favor of “better for you” options.

Historically, brands used upper-funnel channels like connected TV (CTV) for brand awareness, while relying on lower-funnel tactics such as retail media to drive conversions. But with shoppable CTV ads, brands can do both, leveraging retail media network (RMN) data to target consumers across CTV platforms, connecting the moment of discovery directly to the point of purchase.

AI’s role in Hollywood expands: The Russo brothers' new studio will explore AI-assisted filmmaking AI skepticism persists in the industry.

US restaurant sales rose just 1.5% YoY in February: That’s one of the troubling signs in February’s weaker-than-expected retail sales numbers.

72.6% of US luxury buyers surveyed in August 2024 planned to spend the same amount or more on personal luxury goods over the next year, according to an EMARKETER and Bizrate Insights survey.

Advertisers are discovering new value in niche women’s sports: NCAA volleyball, gymnastics, and lacrosse offer passionate audiences, low ad clutter, and high engagement, per EDO.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the next waves to hit the streaming world: which platform will emerge as the streaming hub, how will “content tiers” change viewer behavior and subscriptions, and can streaming maintain sizeable enough audiences for awards shows and Presidential debates? Tune in to the conversation with Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, our Senior Editor Daniel Konstantinovic, and Vice President Paul Verna. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

With enterprise users slipping, Zoom is pushing affordable AI agents that write, plan, and coach—aiming to turn fleeting meetings into long-term platform loyalty.