For years, retail media potential seemed limitless as growth skyrocketed while retail media networks launched one after the other. Today, retail media is entering a fundamentally different growth phase. During an afternoon eventat Cannes produced by EMARKETER and Sensor Tower, our analyst Sarah Marzano described an industry transitioning from expansion at all costs to a greater focus on efficiency, differentiation, and measurable outcomes.
Amazon Fire TV courts creator fans: A new Creator Hub boosts discovery, keeps viewing in Amazon’s ecosystem, and expands CTV ad opportunities.
Audio ads turn host trust into real buying intent: Familiar voices outperform polished spots by converting loyalty into action.
TikTok puts AI in charge: Symphony Agent turns trend spotting, creator sourcing, and ad creation into a faster, AI-led workflow.
Reddit's ad upgrade: Community-powered formats blend peer proof with targeting, making Reddit a key conversion checkpoint.
Instagram for TV gets a makeover: Reels casting, Stories on TV, and longer videos could turn social viewing into a living-room habit.
Advertising platforms are becoming easier to use, yet performance gains remain elusive for many marketers. As AI evolves, attention is shifting from automation to the systems driving decision-making.
In today’s podcast episode, we discuss the main reasons Apple might be about to take over the AI race, the challenges Siri is going to face, and whether Siri AI just “Sherlocked” the free version of ChatGPT. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analyst Grace Harmon and Senior Analyst Gadjo Sevilla. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.
Santander credits AI with $40 million in Q1 value, turning fraud prevention, service, and operations tools into measurable returns.
Buying ChatGPT ads provides a window into emerging consumer behavior.
Omnicom, Netflix announce partnership at Cannes Lions: Acxiom data fuels sharper Netflix targeting, but creative—not data alone—will decide whether ads connect.
WBD’s agentic rebuild: WBD is replacing siloed ad systems with AI agents on AWS, creating a unified engine for TV and streaming sales.
WeChat turns into an AI concierge: An AI assistant could steer actions inside the super app, changing discovery and user agency.
WPP’s agentic vision: WPP sees AI agents taking over media decisions, turning DSPs and SSPs into backend infrastructure for automation.
AI assistants open new purchase routes: Industry KPI data shows brands must optimize for discovery and conversions as AI ecommerce referral traffic rises.
Agentic CDPs close the gap: AI turns unified customer data into actions, but value depends on clean data and measurable business outcomes.
In today’s podcast episode, we discuss what summer travel will look like for Americans this year, where people go online to book their vacations, and how AI is helping travelers plan and manage their trips. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Vice President of Research Jennifer Pearson and Principal Analyst Zak Stambor. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian, Analyst Paola Flores-Marquez, and Senior Analyst Gadjo Sevilla. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.
Yahoo’s agent hub: Yahoo links third-party AI agents in one DSP, reducing integration friction across existing tech stacks.
AI shopping assistants such as Amazon's Alexa for Shopping (formerly Rufus), Walmart's Sparky, ChatGPT, and Google Gemini are reshaping how consumers discover and evaluate products. Retailer-owned assistants are already lifting order values and conversion, while standalone AI platforms struggle to convert recommendations into purchases. This FAQ covers how AI shopping assistants work, what they mean for brand loyalty, and how brands earn a place in AI-generated recommendations.
Snap’s $3.5 billion Specs gamble reaches consumers: After years of investment, Snap’s AR glasses arrive amid investor scrutiny and in a crowded market.