Amazon’s search capabilities are set for an AI-powered upgrade: The retailer will incorporate a chatbot to offer customers personalized suggestions based on their queries and shopping history.
TikTok wants to test an ad-free subscription model: It’s a major shift from its traditional ad-driven revenues to capitalize on evolving user preferences.
Can Activision repair mobile-game advertising’s reputation? The gaming giant is launching a measurement tool to increase advertiser faith.
Nearly 98% of smartphone users (255.8 million people) will use apps this year. Although all major app categories will continue to gain users—and 11 will surpass 100 million users apiece—the average user will download and regularly open fewer apps as they settle on favorites in each category.
AI at the heart of Google’s Pixel 8 plan: Pixel 8 leaks show advanced camera and natural language features. Google balances device ambitions with Search.
Apple’s gaming aspirations hinge on the iPhone 15, but the flagship smartphone struggles with overheating issues.
Epic Games lays off 870 as gaming’s brutal year continues: The Fortnite creator joins many other studios going through layoffs but shows potential for the metaverse.
Meta’s gutsy celebrity-powered AI maneuver: It’s integrating Llama 2 AI with Quest 3, Ray-Ban glasses, and popular apps. Celebrity AI personas and metaverse ambitions signal bold competitive moves.
OpenAI eyes developing an ‘iPhone of artificial intelligence’: After a fresh investment, it’s looking to partner with LoveFrom to develop an AI-driven consumer device.
Best Buy has a new plan to capture shoppers’ attention: The struggling consumer electronics retailer launched Best Buy Drops, an app-only feature that offers limited-time deals and product releases.
Mobile is driving ecommerce sales growth, with 43.2% of the $1.137 trillion in US ecommerce sales we project for this year. As mcommerce sales rise, retailers are innovating to get a piece of the $491.14 billion pie. Mobile commerce will be especially vital this holiday season. Some 79% of US online shoppers shopped via mobile during the Cyber Five last year, according to Bizrate Insights data cited in a Forrester report.
US mobile in-app ad spend will be about four times higher than in-app purchase spend this year, at $159.24 billion compared with $42.37 billion, according to our forecast.
Snapchat turns to social commerce for ASEAN growth: TikTok's broad reach and engagement overshadows personal content sharing platforms.
Microsoft leaks put a timeline on its in-game ad ambitions: The company hopes to earn $1.4 billion in gaming advertising revenues by 2030.
WhatsApp continues its push to become an end-to-end shopping platform: The messaging app is rolling out new features to make it easier to purchase items and services via chat.
Klaviyo's IPO shines a spotlight on email marketing's vast reach: AI and personalization emerge as key strategies for brand engagement.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss how advertisers should adjust their plans based on social video time's slowing growth, whether people will spend more social media time on connected TVs, and the ratio between ad spend and time spent on social networks. "In Other News," we talk about whether TikTok can become a more traditional social network and getting paid to watch ads on a new socially conscious social media app. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Debra Aho Williamson.
Apple’s iPhone 15 under fire despite upgrades: The smartphone slump means even Apple loyalists are picky. The tech giant will have to work hard to keep users.
WhatsApp rolls out Channels globally: Enhanced features, collaborations with celebrities, and added privacy are in focus.
TikTok and Meta still struggle with content moderation: Threads has blocked search terms related to COVID-19, while TikTok cast too wide a net reining in Qanon.