Adtech vendors were among the early adopters of machine learning, using it to help optimize campaign performance over the past decade. Social media platforms use AI to help build creative units. But there are a number of use cases for AI and agents in the advertising ecosystem, including audience research and insights, which are flying …
Forty-two percent of marketers say their budgets increased because of AI, and a third say it is also driving a significant rise in headcount, according to a new survey from Semrush. The study, “AI Myths Marketers Believed and What the Data Actually Shows,” found that the impact of AI is less about cutting costs and …
Read more “The real impact of AI on budgets, stacks and teams”
After five years as one of marketing’s fastest-growing areas, retail media is transitioning from its early growth phase to maturity. IAB’s latest ad spend study projects the industry will grow by 12.1% in 2026. Retail companies launched dozens of media networks. Brands shifted billions of dollars into retail environments. Technology companies built systems that link …
Read more “Retail media’s durability is tested as easy growth fades”
AI has redefined web experiences. Agentic commerce protocols like Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) will make website visits increasingly optional. Optimizing for both humans and AI is now essential. Websites are now data sources for AI to ingest, interpret and cite. The question shifts from “Did users visit my …
Read more “Agentic AI discovery requires machine-readable brands”
Salesforce is making a bigger bet on turning Slack into the interface where work actually happens, not just where it’s discussed. Yesterday, the company unveiled a new round of product updates, positioning Slackbot as more than a built-in assistant. The goal is to turn it into what it calls the “ultimate teammate,” one that connects …
Read more “Salesforce turns Slack into the front end for enterprise AI”
Hightouch announced today direct data onboarding integrations with The Trade Desk and Yahoo DSP. The integrations will allow media networks to list and monetize audiences in self-service ad marketplaces without paying secondary marketplace fees. Hightouch said this will roughly halve total marketplace fees compared to traditional onboarding options. Those traditional onboarding solutions require media networks …
Read more “Hightouch streamlines the ad ecosystem with data partnerships”
Until recently, digital audio was treated as a nice-to-have line item, layered in after TV, social and search were funded, often left in the background. That mindset no longer reflects how people spend their time or how media platforms have evolved. According to eMarketer, nearly 240 million people in the U.S. will listen to digital …
Read more “Why digital audio is a must-have for your retail media plan”
Imagine handing a supercar to a driver with no map, no sense of direction and a GPS that only speaks in generalities. They can certainly move fast, but they’re just as likely to end up in a ditch as they are at the finish line. While much of the talk surrounding generative AI focuses on …
Read more “Building an AI competitive edge through strategy and governance”
The 2025 MarTech Replacement Survey, which offers a look at the application marketing teams replaced in 2025 and why, found a level of stability never before seen in its history. For the past five years, the survey found marketing automation platforms (MAPs) were the most-replaced tool in the martech. But in 2025, the survey found …
Read more “Is the era of ‘rip and replace’ over for martech stacks?”
If you Google “should agencies own ad accounts,” you’ll find plenty of advice saying agencies should never own client accounts. These arguments typically frame agencies as gatekeepers trying to lock clients in. In some cases, that may be true. But account ownership is not just about control. It is primarily a question of financial logistics, …