On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss what TikTok's flywheel looks like, its latest efforts to build out its own shopping platform, and what the social network has that Meta doesn't. Then, for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank our top four existing TikTok copycat apps. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Jasmine Enberg.
Google leads the race to integrate generative AI into smart speakers, with Amazon, Apple, and Samsung following suit. Big Tech sees new market opportunities but needs to tackle security
Meta prepares to launch AI personas on social media: Character-inspired chatbots could trigger an engagement and ad revenue boost while also inviting technical vulnerabilities and misuse.
1,000% increase in AI job posts prompts Upwork-OpenAI partnership: It’s a savvy move for the companies, but gig workers’ big AI dreams could get dashed by tech downsizing.
Amid a sector-wide slump, AT&T is slashing jobs and consolidating offices as part of an $8 billion restructuring plan, signaling ongoing issues in the telecom industry.
Meta brings generative AI to Instagram users: Popular instances of consumers using AI for amusement make the app the perfect testing ground.
The ad market slipped in June, but don’t panic: A 1.6% drop is a sign that the industry is stabilizing after a year of harsh declines.
With the rise of TikTok and all its copycats, there’s a lot to keep track of in terms of paid advertising. Creators frequent TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and Spotlight in some capacity, but the ad ops on each platform vary. Here’s a quick guide to what’s available on each platform.
Smartphones will continue to gain ground as digital sales shift away from computers and tablets. In 2027, mcommerce (sales made on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices) will near the tipping point of half of ecommerce sales.
Retailers’ bad site search experiences push shoppers away: Sixty-two percent of online shoppers leave an ecommerce site if they can’t quickly find what they’re looking for.
Meta accounts for 19.5% of US digital ad spend, despite US adults spending only 7.6% of their time with digital media on the platform, according to our forecasts.
China's dominance in legacy chips could disrupt global markets, pressuring Western nations to boost their own production at a time of economic uncertainty.
Walmart expands in-store retail media opportunities: The big-box retailer is giving advertisers more opportunities to reach physical shoppers with digital screens, audio ads, and sampling.
Starbucks missed Q3 revenue expectations as price increases weighed on sales: But a strong recovery in China helped the coffee chain make up for softer sales in North America.
New USB-C charging ports are the biggest change for upcoming iPhones. We could be facing an innovation slump for smartphones as manufacturers push to raise prices.
Amazon doubles down on D2C healthcare: Amazon Clinic now offers video telehealth visits in all 50 states, adding to its previous text-messaging services. But will consumers trust the Big Tech giant with their personal health data?
Signify Health adds in-home kidney health evaluations: We explore how its expanded services dovetail with CVS’ other healthcare businesses.
Hims & Hers’ new offering combines sexual health and heart health: Preventative care services via a single-pill therapy could increase Hims and Hers’ already impressive retention rates.
On today's episode, we discuss whether Netflix's password-sharing crackdown is actually working out, why the company got rid of its basic ad-free plan, and whether sticking to sports-adjacent programming is the right move. "In Other News," we talk about whether The Walt Disney Co. might be bailing on TV too soon. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Daniel Konstantinovic.
News publishers push back against Big Tech: New global laws mandate payment for content use.