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Walmart-Vizio’s CTV measurement faces incrementality hurdle, reports Digiday

General

Apr 1, 2026

More than a year after buying Vizio, Walmart has begun explaining to advertisers how the deal could create a more connected TV advertising and commerce offering.

A unified Walmart login for Vizio devices is intended to support closed-loop measurement, tighter targeting and stronger links between ad exposure and purchases. Some brands are interested, but others say Walmart still has work to do on incrementality and attribution.

Even so, advertisers are testing the inventory, often for awareness rather than direct sales. The broader ambition is clear: Walmart wants to evolve from a retail media network into a wider advertising ecosystem that can better challenge Amazon.

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Publishers see double-digit growth from The Trade Desk’s OpenPath, but volatility remains, reports Digiday

General

Apr 1, 2026

Publishers say revenue from The Trade Desk’s OpenPath has mostly held up, with several reporting strong yields and periods of double-digit CPM growth over the past six months.

That performance has encouraged some to test OpenAds, helped by temporary duplicate bidding that can increase demand during onboarding. Publishers say OpenPath has also helped streamline supply paths, though revenue swings still occur and can be difficult to explain.

The wider picture is mixed. Some publishers welcome newer tools such as PubDesk and better communication, while others still complain about limited transparency, difficult contracts and a relationship that feels helpful only until problems arise.

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Roku launches a standalone app for Howdy, its $2.99 streaming service, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 31, 2026

Roku has launched a standalone mobile app for Howdy, its $2.99-a-month ad-free streaming service, on iOS and Android in the United States.

Howdy, introduced in 2025, offers nearly 10,000 hours of programming from partners including Disney, Sony, Lionsgate and Warner Bros. Discovery, alongside some Roku Originals. Roku says the new app will let subscribers watch its low-cost catalogue on the go.

The move continues Howdy’s expansion beyond Roku devices, following its recent launch on Prime Video. Roku is positioning the service as an affordable complement to more expensive premium streamers.

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YouTube adds AI creator matching and ad formats to its partnerships platform, reports Search Engine Land

General

Mar 31, 2026

Influencer Marketing

YouTube has upgraded its Creator Partnerships platform with Gemini-powered creator matching, improved measurement and new ways to turn creator content into paid advertising.

The update is designed to tackle two major challenges in influencer marketing: finding the right creators at scale and proving return on investment. Brands can now choose from more than three million YouTube Partner Program creators with greater precision and visibility.

A key addition lets advertisers run creator-made content as Shorts and in-stream ads. YouTube says these formats can deliver an average 30% lift in conversions, strengthening its case as a serious performance channel for creator campaigns.

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Activist Investor Irenic Is Said to Build Stake in Snap, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 31, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Activist investor Irenic Capital has built a stake in Snap and is pressing for changes to improve performance, arguing the company’s shares could rise substantially.

It has urged Snap to spin off or shut its smart glasses business, cut costs, reduce headcount, rethink pay and consider a larger share buyback. It also wants greater use of AI to strengthen advertising monetisation.

Irenic is additionally calling for governance reform, including voting rights for Class A shareholders. Snap said it engages with investors and remains focused on efficiency, profitability and long-term value.

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French Senate debates social media ban for children under 15, reports Reuters

General

Mar 31, 2026

Advertising To Children

French senators are voting on a proposed law to ban social media access for children under 15, in a move backed by President Emmanuel Macron and driven by growing concern about online harms.

Supporters say the aim is to force platforms to introduce reliable, privacy-preserving age verification and to reduce the impact of social media on children’s development. The government wants the law in place by September.

However, senators have already proposed softening the plan so that only platforms deemed harmful would be restricted, while others could remain accessible with parental approval.

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Spotify Debuts Carousel Ads and Branded Playlist Takeovers, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 31, 2026

Audio Advertising

Spotify is introducing interactive carousel ads and sponsored playlist takeovers as it tries to attract more advertising across the full marketing funnel.

The swipeable carousel format lets brands showcase up to six products within the app’s Now Playing view, reflecting Spotify’s shift towards a more visual experience through music videos and video podcasts. Sponsored playlists will give one advertiser exclusive branding and ad presence on selected major playlists.

Spotify is also adding A/B testing and automated bidding to its Ads Manager. The wider aim is to position the platform as more than an audio awareness channel and make it a stronger performance advertising option.

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Yahoo Moves Downmarket With DSP Performance Push, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 31, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Yahoo is developing new AI-powered tools for its DSP aimed at mid-market, performance-focused advertisers, in a move to make the platform easier to use and broaden its appeal.

The company has traditionally focused on larger enterprise clients, but these additions could help it attract a wider range of advertisers, including ecommerce and direct-to-consumer brands. Yahoo is hiring a dedicated team and appears to be targeting a launch later this year.

The expansion builds on recent growth in Yahoo’s DSP business, which has benefited from stronger privacy-safe targeting, AI experimentation and advertiser dissatisfaction with rivals such as The Trade Desk.

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The Trade Desk shakes up Identity Alliance payouts, with a new focus on incrementality, reports Digiday

General

Mar 31, 2026

The Trade Desk is changing how it pays identity partners in its Identity Alliance, moving away from a model based on data volume towards one based on incremental value.

Under the new approach, partners will be rewarded for providing unique identity signals that add something new, while duplicate or less differentiated data is likely to earn less. The changes are expected to begin in 2026.

Some partners see the move as a sensible push towards better quality and efficiency, while others view it as another example of the platform tightening control over economics and transparency within the programmatic supply chain.

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Netflix, Eager for More NFL, Is Looking at a Four-Game Package, reports WSJ

General

Mar 30, 2026

Sports Marketing

Netflix wants to expand its NFL package from two games to four, and is reportedly interested in adding the new Thanksgiving Eve fixture and an international game.

The move reflects Netflix’s wider strategy of using live sport to attract subscribers and strengthen its advertising business. It already carries Christmas Day NFL games and has recently added other sports and live events.

The NFL is taking a flexible approach and may split the available games across several partners. YouTube, Amazon and traditional broadcasters are also said to be interested, while the league explores broader opportunities to improve the value of its media deals.

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Meta, TikTok Flagged for Potential Australia Kids’ Ban Breaches, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 30, 2026

Advertising To Children

Australia’s online safety regulator is investigating Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube over possible failures to comply with the country’s ban on social media for under-16s.

In its first compliance report, eSafety said it had serious concerns about weak safeguards, including age checks that can be retried until they succeed and insufficient measures to stop children opening new accounts. The law took effect in December 2025.

The investigation could lead to significant fines. While fewer under-16s appear to have accounts than before, the regulator said many children are still accessing social media and the platforms could do more to stop it.

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Big Tech sports broadcast rights could imperil US local TV news, stations argue, reports Reuters

General

Mar 30, 2026

Sports Marketing

Major US broadcast groups have urged regulators to address the growing shift of live sports rights to technology platforms and subscription services, warning it could damage free television and local journalism.

Fox, Sinclair and the National Association of Broadcasters told the FCC that companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google and Netflix can treat sports rights as loss leaders, potentially pushing marquee events further behind paywalls.

The FCC is reviewing whether action is needed to preserve access to live sport on free broadcast TV. Broadcasters argue that without premium sports, the financial foundation supporting local news could weaken.

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CVS Health puts creative and media in review, reports AdAge

General

Mar 30, 2026

CVS Health has begun reviewing its creative and media accounts, with CRM also potentially under consideration, as it looks to consolidate the business with a single partner.

Publicis currently handles US creative and CRM, while UM, now part of Omnicom, manages most media and Digitas handles paid search. All of CVS Health’s business lines, including Aetna, CVS Caremark and retail, are part of the review.

The move comes as CVS continues reshaping its business. Advertising spend dipped slightly in 2025, while its retail division is showing signs of improvement after several years of store closures.

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Leaked Pitch Deck Reveals Amazon's Pitch to Get Advertisers on Rufus, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 30, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Amazon is preparing to expand advertising on Rufus, its AI shopping assistant, with a leaked pitch deck outlining how the offering will be priced and measured as it moves towards wider release.

The deck describes Rufus as a virtual product expert that can show sponsored recommendations within shopper conversations, extending Amazon’s retail media model into AI-driven product discovery.

A key change is that advertisers will now be charged on a cost-per-click basis as the product moves beyond open beta. The details are likely to be important in persuading brands to commit more spending once the format launches more broadly.

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AI influencer discovery tools are changing how agencies cast creators, reports Digiday

General

Mar 30, 2026

Influencer Marketing

AI is increasingly being used to select influencers, with agencies such as Dentsu and Later relying on automated tools to match creators to campaigns and predict likely performance.

These systems analyse factors such as subject matter, engagement and social trends, helping agencies make creator marketing more scalable and measurable. Dentsu says the approach has already improved recall and sales for some clients.

Agencies argue AI is not replacing human judgement entirely, but giving teams a stronger starting point. The biggest change is that manual, intuition-led selection is now being reserved mainly for top-tier talent, while automation handles creator campaigns at scale.

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Pinterest bets measurement and SMBs will boost performance revenue, reports Digiday

General

Mar 30, 2026

Pinterest is putting measurement at the centre of its push into performance advertising, hoping to prove its value more clearly to advertisers and win a larger share of spending from small and medium-sized businesses.

The company has reorganised its monetisation team and hired senior executives from Google to strengthen product, engineering, data science and measurement. It also plans to integrate more closely with advertisers’ existing measurement tools.

Pinterest wants to move beyond being seen mainly as a branding platform and show it can deliver repeatable performance at scale. That is seen as essential if it is to accelerate growth and attract more budget from smaller advertisers.

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Elon Musk’s last co-founder reportedly leaves xAI, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 28, 2026

Leadership Transitions

All of xAI’s original co-founders have now reportedly left the company, with the final two, Manuel Kroiss and Ross Nordeen, said to have departed.

Their exits follow wider upheaval at Elon Musk’s AI start-up, which he recently said was not built correctly first time and is now being rebuilt from the ground up.

The changes come after xAI was brought under the same corporate umbrella as SpaceX and X. The restructuring is taking place as SpaceX is reportedly preparing for a public listing.

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YouTube test replaces video titles with AI summaries, reports Search Engine Land

General

Mar 27, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

YouTube appears to be testing AI-generated summaries in place of video titles for some Android users, with thumbnails still shown but titles removed.

Instead of seeing the original title, users are presented with an expandable summary box, meaning they may need to tap to understand what a video is about. This has raised concerns about added friction and a poorer browsing experience.

For creators, the change could weaken control over metadata, brand voice and keyword signals. It also raises the risk of inaccurate summaries affecting how videos are understood and chosen.

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Apple hires ex-Google executive to head AI marketing amid push to improve Siri, reports Reuters

General

Mar 27, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Apple has hired Lilian Rincon, a former Google executive, as vice president of product marketing for artificial intelligence.

Rincon previously spent almost a decade at Google, where she oversaw shopping and assistant products. At Apple, she will report to marketing chief Greg Joswiak.

The appointment comes as Apple prepares to launch an improved version of Siri later this year, rebuilt using technology from Google’s Gemini AI model.

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Austria plans social media ban for children under 14, reports Reuters

General

Mar 27, 2026

Advertising To Children

Austria’s coalition government plans to introduce a ban on social media use for children under 14, saying it wants to protect young people from addictive algorithms and harmful content.

The parties have agreed the principle of the ban, but not yet how it will work or when it will start. Draft legislation is due by the end of June.

Rather than naming specific platforms, the government says the rules will be based on how addictive a service is and whether it includes harmful material such as sexualised violence.

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29% of Europeans go to SVOD first, but BVOD gains ground, reports The Media Leader

General

Mar 26, 2026

Linear television remains the first destination for most Europeans when they switch on the TV, with 48% going there first, compared with 29% for subscription streaming services.

Broadcaster VOD is gaining momentum, rising to 15% as a first destination, while non-broadcaster AVOD and linear TV both slipped slightly year on year. The findings suggest viewing habits are diversifying, but traditional TV still leads.

The study also found Europeans remain strongly attached to the living-room screen. Younger viewers often discover programmes on social media, but live events, local content and shared viewing still largely anchor linear TV and broadcaster platforms.

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Elon Musk’s lawsuit against X advertisers thrown out by US judge, reports FT

General

Mar 26, 2026

A federal judge has dismissed X’s lawsuit against advertisers and the World Federation of Advertisers, rejecting claims that they had organised an illegal boycott of the platform.

The court ruled that X had failed to show antitrust injury, saying the alleged conduct did not amount to a valid competition-law claim. The case was dismissed with prejudice.

The lawsuit had deepened tensions between Musk and advertisers, many of whom cut spending after concerns about hate speech and moderation on the platform. Some brands argued they were simply exercising their right to decide where to place advertising.

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Google Gemini Adds Tool to Make It Easier to Switch From ChatGPT, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 26, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Google has introduced new Gemini tools that let users import chat history and personal context from rival AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Claude.

Users can upload zipped conversation files and use a guided prompt to collect details from other AI apps, including preferences, interests, relationships and plans. That information can then be pasted into Gemini to help it understand the user more quickly.

The move is part of intensifying competition between AI providers, as companies look for easier ways to attract users from rival platforms and build longer-term loyalty.

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Dutch court rules against Grok over AI-generated undressing images in rare legal rebuke, reports Reuters

General

Mar 26, 2026

A Dutch court has ordered xAI and its Grok chatbot to stop generating or distributing non-consensual sexualised “undressing” images of adults or children in the Netherlands.

The preliminary ruling is one of the first major legal decisions on xAI’s responsibility for misuse of its image tools and could set an important precedent in Europe. The court said fines of €100,000 a day could apply if the order is breached.

Judges rejected xAI’s argument that existing safeguards were enough. The case adds to growing European scrutiny of Grok and similar AI tools under online safety rules.

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OpenAI's US ad pilot exceeds $100 million in annualized revenue in six weeks, reports Reuters

General

Mar 26, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI says its ChatGPT advertising pilot in the United States has already reached more than $100 million in annualised revenue within six weeks.

The company says early demand has been strong, with over 600 advertisers involved and most users eligible to see ads, though only a minority are shown them daily. OpenAI says trust metrics have not been harmed and that ads do not affect chatbot answers.

The pilot is set to expand internationally, while self-serve tools for advertisers are due to launch in April, signalling a broader push to build advertising into a major revenue stream.

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Netflix raises subscription prices across all plans in US, reports Reuters

General

Mar 26, 2026

Netflix has raised prices across all its US plans as it expands into areas such as live sport and video podcasts.

Its ad-supported tier now costs $8.99 a month, the standard plan has risen to $19.99, and the premium plan to $26.99. The cost of adding extra members has also increased.

The changes are expected to lift average revenue per subscriber in the US and Canada. Netflix, which has more than 325 million subscribers, last increased prices early last year.

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French education ministry reports TikTok to Paris prosecutor, reports Reuters

General

Mar 26, 2026

Responsible Media

France’s education ministry has reported TikTok to the Paris prosecutor over potential links between the platform and young people’s mental health, citing excessive screen time.

The move follows growing scrutiny in France, where authorities are already investigating whether TikTok’s algorithms may expose users to harmful content linked to suicide.

TikTok, owned by ByteDance, has rejected the allegations. The case reflects broader concerns about social media’s impact on youth wellbeing and the role of recommendation systems in shaping behaviour.

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Advertisers Say OpenAI Is Extending Its Ad Pilot Beyond April, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 26, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI has extended its ChatGPT ad pilot beyond April and plans to expand it internationally, starting with Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The company is still experimenting with ad formats, targeting and measurement, but is now asking some advertisers for insertion order commitments, suggesting a shift towards a more structured advertising business. Sponsored messages currently appear after ChatGPT responses.

OpenAI says ads will not influence answers and users will remain in control. The move reflects a broader push towards scalable revenue streams as the company puts less emphasis on some other experimental products.

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Google Started Rewriting News Headlines. Publishers Say It's Setting a Dangerous Precedent, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 26, 2026

News Publishing

Publishers are reacting angrily to Google’s test of AI-rewritten article headlines in Search, seeing it as a fresh encroachment on editorial control.

Many media executives say the main problem is the lack of consent, communication and transparency. They argue headlines are part of the journalism itself, not a cosmetic element, and that inaccurate rewrites could damage trust while leaving publishers to bear the blame.

Some executives are cautiously open to the idea if it genuinely drives more traffic. But they say any wider rollout would require clear data, disclosure and meaningful cooperation with publishers.

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At NewFronts, Meta Courts Madison Avenue Amid Legal and Layoff Woes, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 26, 2026

Meta used NewFronts to promote its usual strengths: cultural relevance, AI-powered advertising and creator-driven media, despite a difficult backdrop.

The company’s pitch came just after two major legal setbacks over child safety and addictive design, as well as fresh layoffs across several divisions while it redirects resources towards AI.

At the event, Meta highlighted expanded Reels Trending Ads, updates to creator partnership tools and new generative AI features for advertisers, including avatar-led video and automated product videos. Its core message remains that scale, creator access and AI still make its platforms attractive to marketers.

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WPP Hires Publicis Vet for New Global Commercial Role Amid Simplification Push, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 26, 2026

Leadership Transitions

WPP has appointed Guillaume Epstein as global head of commercial, a newly created role aimed at simplifying how the group works with clients.

He will focus on improving pricing, contracts and client negotiations across WPP’s global network as part of a broader effort to make the company easier to work with commercially.

Epstein joins from Valtech and previously spent more than a decade at Publicis Groupe in senior finance and commercial roles across several regions. His appointment suggests WPP is putting greater emphasis on commercial consistency and operational simplicity.

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Google top India counsel quits in latest departure amid regulatory hurdles, sources say, reports Reuters

General

Mar 26, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Google’s top lawyer in India, Bijoya Roy, has resigned after 16 months, marking another senior departure in an important market for the company.

India is central to Google because Android dominates the country’s smartphone market, but the company is also facing antitrust scrutiny, legal questions over AI training and tougher content takedown rules.

Roy reportedly left for personal reasons to start her own venture. Her departure follows the earlier exit of Google’s India public policy head, a role that still has not been filled.

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Snapchat hit with EU probe into alleged failure to prevent child grooming, illegal goods sales, reports Reuters

General

Mar 26, 2026

Responsible Media

The EU has opened an investigation into Snapchat under the Digital Services Act, saying the platform may not be doing enough to protect children and tackle illegal activity.

Regulators suspect Snapchat lacks adequate safeguards against grooming, criminal contact and the spread of information linked to illegal goods, including drugs, alcohol and vapes. Concerns were also raised about age checks, default account settings and user reporting tools.

If breaches are confirmed, Snap could face significant fines. The European Commission is also taking over a Dutch investigation into the sale of vapes to children on the platform.

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Amazon Is Planning a First-of-Its-Kind Audio Ad Deal in the U.K., reports AdWeek

General

Mar 26, 2026

Audio Advertising

Amazon and DAX, Global’s digital audio arm, are preparing a UK advertising partnership that would let brands apply Amazon’s first-party retail data to Global’s radio and streaming inventory.

The deal would be presented as a first for the UK audio market and represents Amazon’s most significant international extension of a strategy it has already used with major US audio companies.

The wider aim is to make Amazon’s demand-side platform more central to media buying by combining valuable retail signals with growing audio and connected TV inventory. For advertisers, the appeal is better targeting, attribution and a clearer link between ad exposure and purchases.

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Reddit’s new shopping ads are a play for beauty brands’ business, reports Digiday

General

Mar 26, 2026

Reddit is expanding its shopping tools with new ad formats designed to connect product discovery more directly to purchase, as brands increasingly treat the platform as a source of trusted buying guidance.

The push reflects rising commercial activity, especially in beauty, where users ask detailed product questions and use Reddit as a final sense-check before buying. Brands such as Dove and MAC are already adapting campaigns to build on those conversations.

Reddit’s value is also growing because its discussions increasingly feed AI-generated search answers. The challenge will be monetising that behaviour without undermining the authenticity that makes the platform useful in the first place.

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Government accused of moving the goalposts following latest LHF ad ban consultation, reports The Media Leader

General

Mar 25, 2026

The UK government is consulting on applying an updated Nutrient Profiling Model to advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink, replacing a system more than 20 years old.

An updated model could widen the range of products affected by the rules, even though restrictions only recently came into force. Advertising trade bodies say this creates uncertainty, adds costs and risks discouraging food reformulation and advertising investment.

The debate also comes amid questions over whether the existing ban is effective. Critics argue it contains too many loopholes and will do little to reduce childhood obesity.

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Meta turns to AI to make shopping easier on Instagram and Facebook, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 25, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Meta is testing new AI-powered shopping features on Facebook and Instagram to give users more product information, review summaries and brand details when they engage with ads or visit linked sites.

The company is also introducing a faster in-app checkout flow, built with partners including Stripe and PayPal, so users can buy products without leaving Meta’s apps. Advertisers will choose which checkout provider they use.

Alongside this, Meta is expanding affiliate options for creators and improving access to product catalogues, as it tries to strengthen social commerce and compete more aggressively with platforms such as TikTok.

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Elon Musk pauses changes to X’s creator revenue-sharing program after backlash, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 25, 2026

Influencer Marketing

X has paused a planned change to creator monetisation that would have given greater weight to engagement from a creator’s home region when calculating payouts.

The proposal was meant to discourage people from chasing attention in larger markets such as the US or Japan, but it quickly drew criticism from users who post in multiple languages or on globally relevant topics.

Elon Musk halted the change within hours, saying it would not proceed until further consideration. The episode reflects X’s ongoing attempts to curb manipulation and misinformation without alienating creators.

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UK government to trial social media ban for hundreds of teens, reports CNBC

General

Mar 25, 2026

Advertising To Children

The UK government is testing restrictions on social media use for 300 teenagers after rejecting a nationwide ban for under-16s.

The six-week pilot will trial different approaches, including removing selected apps, limiting use to one hour a day, imposing a 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, or leaving access unrestricted. It forms part of a wider consultation on young people’s digital wellbeing.

The move comes as pressure grows for stronger child protection online, with regulators urging tighter safeguards and other countries, including Australia and Spain, pursuing tougher limits on teenage social media use.

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Musk’s xAI Doubling Down on AI Videos After OpenAI Nixes Sora, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 25, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk says xAI will strengthen its AI video generator, Grok Imagine, after OpenAI decided to discontinue Sora.

Musk presented the move as a chance to press ahead in a more open competitive field, though OpenAI’s retreat also highlights the high computing costs and uncertain returns associated with AI video products.

xAI’s push may be complicated by recent staff departures, including senior figures linked to its video efforts. The company has also faced criticism after Grok was involved in the spread of non-consensual explicit images.

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Musk lawyers try to bar Delaware judge over LinkedIn like cheering legal defeat, reports FT

General

Mar 25, 2026

Elon Musk and Tesla have asked a Delaware judge to recuse herself from cases involving him after her LinkedIn account appeared to like a post celebrating his recent legal defeat in California.

Musk’s lawyers argued this created a perception of bias. Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick said she was unaware of the reaction, suggested it may have been accidental, and said she would consider the request.

The dispute adds to a long-running conflict between Musk and Delaware courts. McCormick has previously ruled against him in major Tesla and Twitter-related cases, and Musk has publicly accused her of bias.

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Apple rolls out UK age checks for iPhone users, reports FT

General

Mar 25, 2026

Responsible Media

Apple is introducing new age checks for millions of iPhone users in the UK, requiring adults to verify they are over 18 to access certain services and apps.

The move follows pressure from the UK government to do more to protect children online and is believed to be Apple’s first rollout of these controls in Europe. Adults who do not verify their age may face restrictions on browsing and extra safety checks in messages and FaceTime.

Ofcom welcomed the change, though some users have raised privacy and security concerns about expanding age verification on devices.

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OpenAI Hires CEO of India’s JioStar to Head Up Asia-Pacific, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 25, 2026

Leadership Transitions

OpenAI has appointed JioStar chief executive Kiran Mani to a new role leading its Asia-Pacific operations, based in Singapore from June.

The hire reflects OpenAI’s push to expand in fast-growing markets across Asia as it competes with rivals such as Google and Anthropic. India is seen as especially important because of its scale and long-term potential.

Mani brings deep regional experience from JioStar, Google, Microsoft and IBM. OpenAI has already been increasing its presence in India, including hiring local staff and partnering with Tata on AI infrastructure.

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Disney CEO’s First Week Marred by Fortnite, OpenAI Woes, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 25, 2026

Disney’s new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro, has quickly faced setbacks in two major technology bets: Epic Games is cutting 1,000 jobs, while OpenAI has shut down Sora and ended its planned partnership with Disney.

Disney had invested $1.5 billion in Epic to build a Fortnite-based digital universe around its characters, and was also set to invest $1 billion in OpenAI as part of a broader video and fan-content initiative.

The developments complicate D’Amaro’s early vision of a more connected, tech-driven Disney, though the company may yet seek alternative AI partners.

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Trump Names Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison and Jensen Huang to Tech Panel, reports WSJ

General

Mar 25, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

President Trump has appointed leading technology executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison and Jensen Huang, to a White House council advising on AI policy and other scientific issues.

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology will be co-chaired by David Sacks and Michael Kratsios, with an initial group of 13 industry members and scope to expand further.

The council reflects Trump’s push to position the US as a leader in AI and crypto. It also marks a notable change from his first term, when many major business figures kept their distance from the administration.

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Meta Lays Off 700 Employees, While Rewarding Top Executives, reports NYT

General

Mar 25, 2026

Meta has laid off about 700 employees as it continues shifting resources towards artificial intelligence, including cuts in Reality Labs and some roles in recruiting, sales and Facebook.

The move came just after Meta introduced a new stock scheme for six senior executives, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars each if ambitious growth targets are met. The company said the plan is designed to retain top talent in the AI race.

The contrast between job cuts and executive rewards highlights how sharply Meta’s priorities have changed as it invests heavily in AI and seeks future growth beyond social media and the metaverse.

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Meta and YouTube found liable on all charges in landmark social media addiction trial, reports CBS

General

Mar 25, 2026

A jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for designing products that caused harmful and addictive behaviour in a young user, in a landmark ruling that could influence many similar cases.

The plaintiff said early use of Instagram and YouTube contributed to depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts. Jurors found both companies negligent and said they failed to warn users of potential harm, assigning 70% of responsibility to Meta and 30% to YouTube.

The jury awarded $6 million in damages, including punitive damages. Both companies said they would appeal.

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Google is tightening political content rules for Shopping ads starting April 16, reports Search Engine Land

General

Mar 24, 2026

Google will soon require merchants running Shopping ads with certain political content to complete election advertiser verification in nine countries.

From 16 April, affected advertisers in countries including the UK, US and Australia must verify their Google Ads accounts to continue running such campaigns. Google will also ban some political Shopping ads in India.

The change shows Google is extending election integrity rules into commerce formats, not just search and display. Merchants selling politically themed products or campaign materials should review the policy and complete verification to avoid ad disapprovals or disruption.

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Google is testing AI-generated animated video clips inside PMax, reports Search Engine Land

General

Mar 24, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Google Ads appears to be testing an AI feature in Performance Max that can turn a single image into short animated clips for use in campaigns.

Advertisers upload a source image, such as a logo or product shot, and the system generates enhanced versions and multiple animated options. Early tests suggest the clips can appear in Display previews and offer usable creative without video production.

If widely rolled out, the feature could be especially useful for advertisers running PMax with only static images, giving them a low-cost way to add motion-based creative and potentially improve campaign performance.

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OpenAI’s plans to make ChatGPT more like Amazon aren’t going so well, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 24, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI is scaling back its effort to turn ChatGPT into a direct shopping destination after early results from its Instant Checkout feature fell short.

The company said the tool did not provide enough flexibility, so it will focus less on in-chat checkout and more on helping users discover and compare products. Merchants will instead be encouraged to use their own checkout experiences.

ChatGPT is now being positioned more as a research and product discovery hub, offering richer information such as images, prices, features and reviews rather than acting as the main point of purchase.

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EU antitrust chief meets Google, Meta, OpenAI, Amazon CEOs amidst AI scrutiny, reports Reuters

General

Mar 24, 2026

EU competition chief Teresa Ribera is meeting the leaders of Alphabet, Meta, OpenAI and Amazon during a trip to the United States.

The talks come as Ribera increases scrutiny of how major technology companies may be extending existing market power into artificial intelligence. She has already opened investigations into Google and Meta and has said she is examining the full AI stack.

The European Commission is concerned that dominant platforms could favour their own AI services and squeeze out rivals, as companies continue investing heavily in AI infrastructure and products.

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PubMatic Is Betting AI Agents Will Finally Fix Programmatic's Complexity Problem, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 24, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

PubMatic and Untapped Growth are introducing AI agents to automate media planning, execution and optimisation, aiming to simplify the programmatic supply chain for independent agencies.

The system, built around PubMatic’s AgenticOS and Activate platforms, uses specialist bots to handle tasks such as audience discovery and campaign setup, reducing the need for buyers to manage multiple tools and vendors manually.

Supporters say it could cut costs, save time and give smaller agencies access to more advanced programmatic capabilities. The wider implication is a possible shift in how DSPs, SSPs and media buying workflows are defined.

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Yahoo Wants to Turn Your Inbox and Search History Into an Advertiser's Dream, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 24, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Yahoo used NewFronts to present itself as an AI-first media and advertising business, centred on Yahoo Scout, a new intelligence layer built on first-party signals from search, mail and content.

The company is embedding Scout across its products to give advertisers deeper insight into consumer intent. It also introduced Planner in Yahoo Mail, with Sponsored Events allowing brands to appear within useful calendar-style reminders.

Yahoo is betting that this mix of utility, first-party data and open-web scale can offer advertisers a strong alternative as cookies fade. It is also investing in sports and World Cup coverage to attract younger audiences.

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Snap Says 63,000 Snaps Per Second Proves Its Ads Are Worth Your Attention, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 24, 2026

Snap used NewFronts to argue that its huge daily engagement, including nearly 2 trillion Snaps created in 2025, makes it a stronger advertising platform than many brands may assume.

Its main new product is Total Snap Takeovers, which gives advertisers the first ad slot across each tab in a user session. Snap also introduced more performance-focused tools, including embedded offers and expanded Dynamic Product Ads.

The wider aim is to strengthen both brand and direct-response advertising. If Snap can prove it drives sales as well as attention, it could attract more advertisers currently favouring Meta and TikTok.

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US Army launches RFI for its $4 billion account, which is currently with Omnicom, reports AdAge

General

Mar 24, 2026

The US Army has begun early steps towards reviewing its advertising and marketing business, opening the door to changes on one of the industry’s biggest government accounts.

The current contract, worth up to $4 billion, is held by TBWA following Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG. A formal review is expected to begin in spring 2027, with the contract due to end in 2028.

The Army is seeking support across recruitment, retention and civilian hiring, and may consider either one agency or multiple partners. That could reshape the competitive field and reduce the incumbent’s share of the business.

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Meta Ordered to Pay $375 Million Over Child Safety Violations, reports NYT

General

Mar 24, 2026

A New Mexico jury has found that Meta misled users about the safety of Facebook and Instagram and enabled the sexual exploitation of young users.

The state sued in 2023, arguing that weak safety measures allowed predators to contact minors and that Meta misrepresented how safe its platforms were. The jury awarded $375 million in damages under state consumer protection law.

Meta said it would appeal. The verdict is a significant setback for the company and could influence wider legal efforts seeking stronger protections for children on social media.

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OpenAI Scraps Sora Video Platform Months After Launch, reports WSJ

General

Mar 24, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI plans to shut down its Sora video platform, including its consumer app, developer version and video features inside ChatGPT.

The decision is part of a broader strategic shift as the company redirects computing resources and talent towards productivity tools, coding and enterprise use ahead of a possible stock market listing.

Sora’s closure reflects OpenAI’s move away from a sprawling product strategy that had stretched resources and priorities. Staff from the Sora team will instead focus on longer-term bets such as robotics, while OpenAI concentrates on competing more effectively in business AI.

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Martin Sorrell Says S4 Capital’s Future Depends on AI Adoption at Scale, reports WSJ

General

Mar 24, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Martin Sorrell says S4 Capital’s recovery depends on widespread corporate adoption of AI, which he believes will help revive growth after a difficult period.

The company has been hit as major tech clients cut marketing budgets to fund AI infrastructure, prompting profit warnings, job cuts and a focus on improving liquidity. S4 now expects profitability to improve and sees early signs that spending is stabilising.

Sorrell says AI is already changing how work is produced, priced and planned, particularly in sectors such as automotive and financial services. For now, S4 is prioritising recovery over further acquisitions.

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Omnicom launches audit of The Trade Desk’s fees, reports AdAge

General

Mar 24, 2026

Omnicom has commissioned a third-party audit of The Trade Desk after Publicis alleged hidden fees and other billing issues at the adtech platform.

Omnicom told clients its own initial contractual review had not found any negative impact, but said the additional audit was a sensible step. The Trade Desk described the review as routine oversight and said Omnicom’s existing analysis had uncovered no problems.

The move adds to pressure on The Trade Desk as agencies scrutinise adtech transparency more closely, seek cheaper alternatives and rethink their role in an increasingly contested programmatic market.

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TikTok Pitches Advertisers at NewFronts a Year After Its Near-Ban and Sale, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 24, 2026

TikTok used its return to NewFronts to introduce new advertising products and reassure brands after a turbulent period that included a threatened US ban and a change in ownership.

New formats include Logo Takeover on the app launch screen, Prime Time for multiple ads within a short period, and TopReach, which combines major placements for maximum daily reach. TikTok also expanded its contextual Pulse offering.

The presentation was designed to show that, despite continuing scrutiny, TikTok remains culturally influential, commercially ambitious and ready to compete for advertising budgets.

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YouTube is building infrastructure for the full creator-brand partnership life cycle, reports Digiday

General

Mar 24, 2026

Investment Rounds

YouTube is launching a Gemini-powered Creator Partnerships suite to help brands find creators more easily and automate parts of creator marketing, including matching, outreach and campaign management.

The tools use prompts and first-party performance data to simplify discovery, which could help brands scale partnerships and give smaller or mid-sized creators more visibility if their results are strong.

However, marketers say automation will not replace the human side of creator relationships. There are also concerns that greater scale could drive down pricing, reduce content quality and leave creators underpaid if brands repurpose their work more widely without better compensation.

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TikTok courts CMOs with first-ever Collective, as it targets bigger budgets, reports Digiday

General

Mar 24, 2026

TikTok used its first CMO Collective in England to reassure senior marketers after its US ownership deal, strengthen relationships and encourage larger, longer-term advertising commitments.

The event showcased TikTok’s ease of content creation, product roadmap, TikTok Shop and brand safety efforts, while signalling that the company wants advertisers to see it as a core media channel rather than an experiment.

TikTok is also refining its commercial strategy through deeper agency partnerships, new-business incentives and subsidised measurement tests, as it tries to win bigger budgets, particularly from spend currently going to Meta’s short-form video products.

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EU signals imminent decision on Google DMA probe, reports Search Engine Land

General

Mar 23, 2026

The EU’s competition chief has indicated that a decision on whether Google breached the Digital Markets Act is coming soon, though she gave no firm date.

The case, opened in March 2024, focuses on Google’s search business and has become a key test of how strongly the EU will enforce its new digital competition rules. Pressure is rising from lobby groups demanding meaningful remedies and a deterrent fine.

A ruling against Google could force significant changes to search in Europe, with possible effects on rankings, advertising and competition. The outcome may also shape wider enforcement of the Digital Markets Act.

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Meta Hires Former Google, Stripe Executives Behind AI Startup Dreamer, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 23, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Meta has hired the founders and team behind AI start-up Dreamer, including former Meta executive Hugo Barra, to join its Superintelligence Labs under chief AI officer Alexandr Wang.

The move strengthens Meta’s push into AI agents, an area it sees as a major opportunity for building personalised, always-on assistants that work across apps, devices and wearables. Dreamer’s technology itself was not acquired.

The hires add to Meta’s wider investment in AI agents, following other recent deals and heavy spending on talent and infrastructure as the company tries to accelerate its position in advanced AI.

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OpenAI sweetens private equity pitch amid enterprise turf war with Anthropic, sources say, reports Reuters

General

Mar 23, 2026

Investment Rounds

OpenAI is offering private equity firms more generous terms than Anthropic as both companies seek joint ventures to raise capital and speed up adoption of enterprise AI.

OpenAI is reportedly offering preferred equity with a guaranteed minimum return of 17.5%, plus early access to new models, as it courts firms such as TPG and Advent. Anthropic’s comparable offer is said to be less generous.

Both companies want buyout firms to help distribute AI tools across portfolio companies ahead of possible stock market listings. Some investors remain cautious, questioning the economics and whether such partnerships offer enough additional value.

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Jury in social media addiction trial tells judge it's having difficulty coming to consensus, reports Reuters

General

Mar 23, 2026

Jurors in a social media addiction trial in Los Angeles have told the judge they are struggling to reach agreement regarding one of the defendants, either Google or Meta.

The judge said they should continue trying to reach a verdict, but warned that if they cannot agree the case will need to be retried with a new jury.

The trial concerns a young woman who says she became addicted to YouTube and Instagram at an early age. Its outcome could influence thousands of similar cases against the technology companies.

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Google Folds Gemini Deeper Into DV360 to Automate Media Planning and Buying, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 23, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Google is turning Display & Video 360 into a more AI-led media buying platform, with Gemini taking a bigger role in planning, campaign set-up and optimisation.

The company is also expanding AI tools for live sports inventory management and reporting, while investing more heavily in connected TV measurement. New products aim to link CTV impressions more directly to purchases in a privacy-safe way.

Google is also integrating retail media data from Kroger and making more YouTube ad products available through DV360, reinforcing YouTube’s central role in its advertising strategy.

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Walmart's Vizio Pitches New Way to Track If Streaming Ads Drive Sales, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 23, 2026

Walmart and Vizio are making their first joint pitch to advertisers, showing how Walmart’s ownership of the TV company could link streaming media more closely to retail outcomes.

A key change is a unified login across Vizio TVs, Walmart-owned Onn sets and Walmart accounts, designed to improve measurement of whether streaming adverts lead to purchases.

They are also introducing a new product placement format within Vizio’s operating system, using Walmart’s first-party data. The move is intended to combine premium content, audience targeting and commerce in a more measurable closed-loop advertising system.

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OpenAI Poaches Meta Ad Veteran to Build Its Ads Business, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 23, 2026

Leadership Transitions

OpenAI has hired former Meta executive David Dugan as vice president and head of global ads solutions, signalling a stronger push to build its advertising business.

Dugan will help shape ad products and industry relationships as OpenAI expands beyond subscriptions. He said advertising in ChatGPT would be guided by clear principles and designed to support, rather than disrupt, the user experience.

The appointment comes as OpenAI develops its adtech infrastructure, tests ads with major agency groups and seeks larger revenues from its fast-growing consumer product, where ad pilots are already under way.

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Broadcasters urge EU to tighten rules for Big Tech in smart TV standoff, reports Reuters

General

Mar 23, 2026

European broadcasters are urging the EU to subject smart TV operating systems and virtual assistants from companies such as Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung to the bloc’s strictest digital competition rules.

They argue that these platforms increasingly control how audiences access content, giving a small number of tech companies growing power over distribution, visibility and competition in media markets.

The broadcasters also warned that virtual assistants could become gatekeepers for media content without proper oversight. They want the European Commission to act even if some services do not meet the usual size thresholds under the Digital Markets Act.

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Apple Is Set to Put Ads in Apple Maps in Services Push, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 23, 2026

Apple is preparing to introduce advertising in its Maps app, potentially as soon as this month, as part of a wider effort to grow services revenue.

The system is expected to work like Google Maps, allowing businesses to bid for prominent placement against search terms, so sponsored locations appear at the top of results.

The move would support Apple’s expanding advertising business and help offset pressure on other services revenues, including regulatory challenges around the App Store and uncertainty over its search deal with Google.

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NewsMedia Alliance signs AI licensing deal to unlock recurring RAG revenue for small and mid-sized publishers, reports Digiday

General

Mar 23, 2026

News Publishing

The News/Media Alliance has signed a licensing deal with AI start-up Bria that allows its 2,200 publisher members to opt in to monetising enterprise demand for retrieval-augmented generation content.

Publishers will be paid according to how often their content is used in AI responses for enterprise clients, with revenue split equally between Bria and the publisher. The arrangement is non-exclusive and uses a standardised licensing template.

The deal aims to create a practical new revenue stream, especially for smaller publishers that lack the scale to strike direct AI agreements, while giving enterprises easier access to trusted editorial content.

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OpenAI to introduce ads to all ChatGPT free and Go users in US, reports Reuters

General

Mar 21, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI will soon begin showing adverts to all users of the free and Go versions of ChatGPT in the United States.

The company has integrated adtech firm Criteo into its advertising pilot, with reports that advertisers are being encouraged to commit significant spend and provide multiple creative variations to improve delivery and performance.

The move reflects OpenAI’s search for new revenue streams as ChatGPT usage grows rapidly and computing costs rise, while competition in generative AI continues to intensify.

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OpenAI to double workforce as business push intensifies, reports FT

General

Mar 21, 2026

OpenAI plans to nearly double its workforce to about 8,000 by year-end as it intensifies efforts to win business customers and counter growing pressure from Anthropic and Google.

Most new hires will support product, engineering, research and sales, alongside specialists helping companies deploy OpenAI tools more effectively. The push reflects a wider strategic reset around enterprise growth and productivity-focused products.

OpenAI is also streamlining its offering, including combining ChatGPT and Codex into one desktop app. The company hopes business customers will account for half its revenue by the end of the year.

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Google confirms AI headline rewrites test in Search results, reports Search Engine Land

General

Mar 20, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Google is testing AI-generated headline rewrites in Search results, including for news articles, in a small experiment designed to better match titles to user queries and improve engagement.

Publishers are concerned because the rewritten headlines can shorten or alter the original wording, potentially changing tone, intent and brand voice at a time when Search is already sending fewer clicks.

Although Google says the trial is limited and not approved for wider launch, the test highlights growing worries that publishers may lose control over how their work is presented and how audiences interpret it.

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Pinterest CEO calls on governments to ban social media for users under 16, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 20, 2026

Advertising To Children

Pinterest chief executive Bill Ready has urged governments to ban social media for under-16s, arguing that children have been exposed to harmful online environments with too little protection.

In a Time article, he said research links unrestricted social media use to rising depression, anxiety and weaker concentration, and compared the need for regulation to controls on tobacco and alcohol.

Ready praised Australia’s approach and said other governments should follow if tech companies fail to act. He added that Pinterest has still succeeded with Gen Z despite restricting social features for users under 16.

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ChatGPT’s ad pilot has the industry excited, but some insiders are frustrated with the slow rollout, reports CNBC

General

Mar 20, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI’s early ChatGPT ads test has attracted strong interest from major agencies and brands, but the rollout has been slower and more limited than many expected.

Some advertisers committed unusually high test budgets, yet worry they will not spend them fully before the pilot ends, reducing the insights they hoped to gain. OpenAI says the cautious approach is deliberate while it refines the experience.

Despite frustration, partners say OpenAI has responded well to feedback and ad delivery is beginning to accelerate. The longer-term opportunity remains significant, with AI-powered advertising seen as a potentially major new digital channel.

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Publicis Sapient CEO Sees Demand for Consultant AI Projects Picking Up, reports WSJ

General

Mar 20, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Sapient says client interest in artificial intelligence is growing, suggesting more businesses are moving from experimentation towards practical implementation.

Chief executive Nigel Vaz said spending had previously been delayed by leadership changes and broader caution around major transformation programmes. As those internal disruptions settle, clients are becoming more willing to pursue AI-led change.

The consulting arm of Publicis is now discussing active business transformation with clients and has launched AI platforms focused on software development, AI agents and workflow orchestration. Vaz believes AI should support Sapient’s growth rather than threaten its business model.

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Musk Misled Twitter Investors Before 2022 Buyout, Jury Says, reports Bloomberg

M&A

Mar 20, 2026

A jury has found Elon Musk defrauded Twitter investors by making misleading statements in 2022 that helped drive down the company’s share price during his takeover attempt.

Jurors concluded that Musk intentionally misled shareholders when he publicly raised concerns about fake accounts and suggested the deal was on hold, though they rejected two of the four fraud claims.

The amount he must pay has not yet been decided and could be substantial. Musk’s lawyers said they would appeal the verdict.

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Roblox to overhaul ad policies, introduce revenue sharing in 2027, reports Reuters

General

Mar 20, 2026

Gaming / Metaverse

Roblox will start taking a share of revenue from in-game brand deals from January 2027 as part of a wider overhaul of its advertising policies.

The company says the change is intended to bring more standardised pricing and measurement to branded experiences, replacing flat-fee deals that it argues have suppressed creator earnings and brand confidence.

From 4 May, Roblox will also allow age-appropriate advertising formats, with stricter rules on registration, moderation and labelling. Some ad categories and rewarded ads will remain banned for users under 13.

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X Dangles $200K for Advertisers to Return to the Platform, Leaked Deck Shows, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 20, 2026

X is offering some lapsed advertisers incentives worth up to $200,000 in added value to encourage them back to the platform, according to a leaked sales deck.

The pitch appears aimed at rebuilding advertising revenues that fell sharply after Elon Musk’s takeover, with X also stressing its brand safety controls and the role of Grok in reviewing content and profiles for suitability.

X further claims strong ad performance and high user attentiveness, though questions remain over what the incentives specifically involve and whether advertisers will be persuaded amid ongoing concerns about moderation, misinformation and deepfake scandals.

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As AI Fuels In-Housing Surge, Agency Execs Take The Entrepreneurial Path, reports AdWeek

General

Mar 19, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

AI is accelerating a shift towards in-house creative work, increasing pressure on agency jobs and prompting many agency professionals to consider leaving established firms.

New survey data for ADWEEK found that 32% of brands expect to handle nearly all creative work in-house within a year, while another 23% expect to bring at least half of it inside.

At the same time, 54% of agency leaders said they were somewhat or very likely to start their own firm within the next two years, suggesting talent movement is closely tied to brands’ changing creative models.

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States challenge broadcast behemoth mega-merger, reports Axios

M&A

Mar 19, 2026

Eight US states have sued to block Nexstar’s proposed $6.2 billion takeover of Tegna, arguing it would create an excessively powerful local broadcast group and reduce competition.

The states say the merger would weaken independent local news operations, reduce diversity in coverage and make it harder for new competitors to enter already concentrated markets. They argue the deal breaches the Clayton Antitrust Act.

The case is also a test of the FCC’s deregulatory approach, because the merger would require loosening current ownership limits. Supporters say the combined group would help preserve and expand local news.

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Tubi and TikTok are partnering to produce long form series, reports The Verge

General

Mar 19, 2026

Influencer Marketing

Tubi and TikTok are launching a Creatorverse Incubator to help popular TikTok creators develop original long-form series for the Fox-owned streaming platform.

Selected creators will work with Tubi on scripted and unscripted formats, including competition, dating and game shows. The first group of participants is due to be announced later this summer.

The initiative reflects a wider push to turn social media success into streaming content, but it also raises questions about whether audiences who enjoy short-form TikTok videos will follow creators into longer television-style formats.

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OpenAI Plans Launch of Desktop Superapp to Refocus, Simplify User Experience, reports WSJ

General

Mar 19, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI plans to combine ChatGPT, Codex and its browser into a single desktop “superapp” to simplify its products and sharpen its focus on engineering and business users.

The overhaul will be led temporarily by president Greg Brockman, while applications chief Fidji Simo will oversee sales. Executives hope the unified app will reduce internal fragmentation and help OpenAI compete more effectively with Anthropic.

The new product is expected to centre on agentic AI, enabling systems to carry out tasks autonomously on a user’s computer, including coding and data analysis.

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Delayed Nielsen Data Will Show Traditional TV Back on Top, for Now, reports WSJ

General

Mar 19, 2026

Nielsen’s latest data suggests streaming no longer exceeds broadcast and cable combined, with linear TV accounting for 47.4% of US viewing in February versus 41.9% for streaming.

The shift appears largely driven by a methodology change, after Nielsen incorporated independent research into its household and technology estimates. Many streaming services saw lower shares, while Peacock rose thanks to the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics.

The figures may complicate the narrative ahead of the upfronts, but they do not alter the longer-term trend: streaming is still expected to keep growing.

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Meta to Reduce Role of Outside Content Moderators in Favor of AI, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 19, 2026

Responsible Media

Meta plans to reduce its reliance on third-party content moderators and shift more enforcement work to advanced AI systems built on large language models.

The company says these newer tools are better at identifying scams, celebrity impersonation and sexual solicitation, and will now be deployed more widely across Facebook and Instagram. Human reviewers will still handle nuanced and higher-risk decisions.

The transition is expected to take several years. Meta says AI will not replace human judgement entirely, but the move signals a broader effort to strengthen internal systems while cutting back on outside moderation vendors.

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Facebook launches a new monetization program to attract popular creators from TikTok, YouTube, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 18, 2026

Influencer Marketing

Facebook has launched Creator Fast Track, a programme aimed at attracting creators from rival platforms by offering guaranteed pay and greater reach for eligible Reels.

Creators with large followings on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube can receive up to $3,000 a month for three months, while also gaining early access to Facebook’s monetisation tools without the usual entry requirements.

Facebook said it paid creators nearly $3 billion in 2025, up 35% year on year. It is also adding new metrics to help creators understand which views qualify for earnings and how to improve monetisation.

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New questions arise over TikTok sale, reports Axios

M&A

Mar 18, 2026

Senator Mark Warner is pressing the US Treasury for answers over a reported $10 billion fee linked to the TikTok sale, questioning how it was set, approved and legally handled.

The fee, reportedly paid on top of the $14 billion purchase price, would bring the real cost of the deal closer to $24 billion. That has raised concerns among investors and prompted comparisons with unusually high deal fees.

So far, Treasury, TikTok US and key parties involved have declined to comment. The arrangement appears unprecedented, with the US government accused of extracting billions in exchange for approving a private transaction.

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Walmart wins patents to give algorithms more sway over prices, reports FT

General

Mar 18, 2026

Walmart has secured patents covering automated markdowns and machine-learning tools for forecasting demand and recommending prices, deepening its use of technology in retail pricing.

The developments come amid political concern over dynamic pricing, with several US states considering restrictions on rapidly changing prices for groceries and consumer goods. Walmart insists the patents are not about surge pricing and says pricing decisions remain people-led.

The company argues the tools support efficiency and its everyday low-price strategy. However, critics warn that algorithmic pricing and electronic shelf labels could undermine consumer trust if used opaquely.

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LinkedIn is making a big play for streaming TV ad dollars, reports Insider

General

Mar 18, 2026

LinkedIn has partnered with The Trade Desk to let advertisers use LinkedIn audience data for connected TV campaigns, aiming to strengthen its position in the growing streaming ad market.

The deal allows brands to target business decision-makers on TV using LinkedIn’s professional data, then potentially retarget them later on LinkedIn itself. The partnership is currently being tested with a small group of advertisers.

For LinkedIn, the move expands its CTV ambitions and could attract more advertisers. For The Trade Desk, it provides a valuable endorsement at a time when the company is facing increased scrutiny and competitive pressure.

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News media trusted in theory but not in practice as agencies and advertisers remain wary of brand safety, reports The Media Leader

General

Mar 18, 2026

News Publishing

Advertisers and agencies broadly trust news media, but many still hesitate to use it fully because of brand safety concerns and worries about political sensitivity.

A survey for The News Alliance found most agencies feel confident recommending news environments, and many advertisers see them as valuable for long-term brand building. Even so, around half said news is underused in media plans.

The main barrier remains caution rather than lack of evidence. Despite research suggesting advertising alongside news does not harm campaigns, many buyers still exclude news content or refuse to relax brand safety settings.

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Publishers welcome government walk back on opt-out copyright exception for AI companies, reports The Media Leader

General

Mar 18, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

The UK Government has abandoned its preferred plan to let AI companies train on copyrighted works unless rightsholders opted out, following strong opposition from the creative industries.

Ministers said they no longer have a preferred option and want a more balanced approach that protects both the UK’s valuable creative sector and its fast-growing AI industry.

Publishers welcomed the reversal but want clarity on what comes next. The Government is now backing measures including a Creative Content Exchange, a consultation on digital replicas, AI labelling proposals and new investment to support home-grown AI capability.

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EU lawmakers support ban on AI apps generating explicit images, reports Reuters

General

Mar 18, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

EU lawmakers have backed a ban on AI apps that create sexually explicit images without consent, and want the measure added to the bloc’s AI Act.

The move follows similar support from EU countries and comes amid wider debate over whether parts of the AI Act should be softened to help Europe stay competitive in the global technology race.

Lawmakers also supported delaying certain rules for high-risk AI systems until 2 December next year, citing uncertainty because key technical standards may not be ready in time.

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Google to allow AI opt-out to ease UK competition concerns, reports Reuters

General

Mar 18, 2026

Google says it is developing new search controls that would allow websites to opt out of its generative AI features, in response to concerns from the UK competition regulator.

It has also proposed a less disruptive way for users to change their default search engine, arguing that repeated pop-ups would harm the user experience.

The move follows the CMA’s scrutiny of Google’s dominance in search and its proposals to improve choice and fairness. Google warned some suggested remedies could hurt users, publishers and innovation, but said it would keep working with the regulator.

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Meta vowed to stop illegal financial ads in Britain. It failed 1,000 times in a week, reports Reuters

General

Mar 18, 2026

Responsible Media

Britain’s financial regulator says Meta has repeatedly failed to stop illegal adverts for high-risk financial products, despite promising to block unauthorised promotions.

In one week of checks, the FCA found 1,052 such adverts on Meta’s platforms, with more than half linked to advertisers it had already flagged. A December review found similar repeat problems.

The findings highlight a regulatory gap, as UK authorities cannot yet penalise paid scam adverts under the Online Safety Act. Tests also suggested Meta applied tougher controls in Australia than in Britain, prompting fresh pressure for faster action.

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Disney's new CEO Josh D'Amaro steps up for a wild ride, reports Reuters

General

Mar 18, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Josh D’Amaro formally becomes Disney chief executive at Wednesday’s shareholder meeting, taking charge as the company faces major shifts in media, technology and consumer behaviour.

Best known for leading Disney’s highly profitable parks business, he now inherits wider challenges including AI disruption, a weakening television division, franchise fatigue and fierce competition for attention from platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.

Investors want clarity on his strategy, especially how he will work with content chief Dana Walden and build on Bob Iger’s recovery efforts. They are also watching for early signs of how quickly D’Amaro will put his own stamp on Disney.

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Advertisers aren’t happy about picking up Meta’s European tax tab, reports Digiday

General

Mar 18, 2026

Meta’s decision to pass digital services tax costs on to advertisers from 1 July has been met with concern, particularly among smaller brands and start-ups.

The new “location fees” will add 2% to 5% to ad costs in certain European markets, including the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Austria and Turkey, making budgeting and forecasting more difficult.

Advertisers worry the extra charges will squeeze already pressured budgets and could make some markets less attractive. While Google has done something similar since 2020, Meta’s move is still forcing marketers to reassess spending plans and campaign efficiency.

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OpenAI preps for IPO by end of year, tells employees ChatGPT must be productivity tool, reports CNBC

General

Mar 17, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI is sharpening its focus on enterprise customers as it prepares for a potential stock market listing, possibly by the end of the year.

At a recent staff meeting, applications chief Fidji Simo said the company was aggressively prioritising productivity use cases and aiming to turn ChatGPT’s vast user base into higher-value business users.

The shift comes amid stronger competition from Google and Anthropic. OpenAI is also tightening spending plans, building out its finance team and projecting major long-term growth from both consumer and enterprise revenues.

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Elon Musk and SEC in talks to settle lawsuit over Twitter deal, reports CNBC

M&A

Mar 17, 2026

Elon Musk is in talks with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to settle a lawsuit over his delayed disclosure of a stake in Twitter before buying the company.

The SEC says Musk failed to report passing the 5% ownership threshold on time, allowing him to buy shares at artificially low prices and disadvantaging other investors.

The case, filed in January 2025, is continuing in Washington, while a separate class-action suit from former Twitter investors is nearing a jury decision in San Francisco.

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