Duo is going to the Super Bowl. McNugget Buddies are back. Grimace never left. The most exciting brand mascots respond to and play off of existing energy, transforming display and out-of-home ads into social media conversations. Here’s how some of the biggest brand mascots are building buzz.
From Goop and the New York Times to TikTok creators, everyone is putting out a gift guide this year, trying to get a piece of this year’s holiday sales pie, which we forecast to reach $1.31 trillion in the US.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss whether Uber's business is actually sustainable, how many Americans use ride-hailing apps, and what the ad opportunity is. "In Other News," we talk about whether there will be more—or fewer—self-checkout options by the end of next year and whether the world is ready to accept humanoid robots used by Amazon. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Yory Wurmser.
Meta and IBM lead the 50-member AI Alliance, challenging tech giants’ exclusive models with broad applications and potential competitive risks.
The sector is cutting thousands of jobs worldwide and looking to AI and automation to fill service gaps.
Generative AI use surges among marketers: ROI and high satisfaction levels counteract ethical concerns and the challenge of balancing technology with human creativity and oversight.
Researchers identify major security risk with open-source AI models: A massive data breach involving open-source generative AI platforms compromised hundreds of businesses, including Meta.
It’s December, which means marketers should already have plans in place for 2024. The next year will be punctuated by increasing retail media and connected TV (CTV) ad spend, creator economy evolution, and even more AI. Here are five charts to prepare you for what’s ahead.
“Performance Max [campaigns] are more algorithmic in nature,” Menachem Ani, founder of online ad management company JXT Group, said during a recent Paid Search Association webinar. “Don’t force it to behave like a [traditional] campaign. My recommendation is to put in the work and make the most out of it.”
A new survey reveals EVs face 79% more issues than gas cars, with plug-in hybrids coming in at 146% more. This adds another challenge to a consumer shift to green vehicles.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss what happened with Sam Altman and OpenAI, how the AI revolution just went through a shift, and what's next for the maker of ChatGPT. "In Other News," we talk about what to expect from GPT-5 and how AI could disrupt short-form video creation. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Jacob Bourne and Gadjo Sevilla.
Generative AI players facing complex development challenges and internal dynamics are delaying key product launches to refocus on quality and market readiness.
OpenAI is already eyeing GPT-6 and GPT-7: Despite a Beijing ban and internal turmoil, the startup is staying focused on long-term innovation and protecting its brand globally.
TikTok parent ByteDance takes on OpenAI: A new bot development platform is coming this month, competing with OpenAI and others in the generative AI space amid challenges and regulatory headwinds.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss whether X (formerly Twitter) can recover from its latest debacle, if folks will start buying cars on Amazon, whether ad-free social networks are inevitable, companies potentially ruining "buy one, get one free" deals, United Airlines weighing using passenger data to target ads on planes, how people feel about tipping in the US, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti and analysts Ross Benes and Bill Fisher.
On-device AI is about to power a smartphone revolution: Smartphone sales are projected to rebound in 2024 and 2025, driven by generative AI innovations.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman strikes a new tactful tone: His firing and reinstatement have pushed him toward more cautious messaging as he tries to navigate pitfalls over generative AI’s divisiveness.
Valve’s Steam Link app on Meta’s Quest VR platform enhances VR gaming for 20 million users. Meanwhile, Valve sidelines Apple in the gaming ecosystem.
Google urges UK antitrust action against Microsoft, alleging unfair cloud market practices stifle competition. The cloud AI race intensifies.
On today's special podcast episode, we continue our monthly show where we discuss the biggest trends of the moment and the newest research, sprinkle in some analysis, and bundle it up into a quiz. Every month, three of our analysts representing their respective coverage area teams compete against each other. (We also encourage you to play along at home.) We keep a running score and will crown a winning team at the end of the year. Today, we cover the future of AI devices, shopping Amazon from your social feed, what happens now that the Hollywood strikes are over, and how Amazon is expanding. Tune in to the discussion with this month's contestants: our vice president of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti and analysts Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf and Carina Perkins.