News/Marketing
Hollywood agent uses AI to prove Amazon star’s power in streaming negotiations
Hollywood talent representatives are increasingly using AI tools like Grok and ChatGPT to analyze their clients' impact and leverage data-driven insights in contract negotiations. This shift addresses a longstanding opacity problem in the streaming era, where platforms have closely guarded viewership metrics, making it difficult for agents to quantify their clients' value for sequel deals and future projects. What you should know: Representatives for Priyanka Chopra Jonas used AI analysis to demonstrate her outsized impact on Amazon's "Heads of State," despite being the third lead. AI data showed Chopra Jonas generated more than double the buzz of co-stars Idris Elba...
read Aug 20, 2025AI Winter upon us? Baidu revenue falls 4% as AI investments fail to offset ad decline
Chinese search giant Baidu reported a 4% drop in second-quarter revenue to 32.71 billion yuan ($4.56 billion), missing analyst expectations as its core advertising business declined 15% amid China's economic slowdown. Despite heavy investments in artificial intelligence, including a major search interface overhaul, AI returns have yet to offset the advertising revenue decline that typically represents 60% of the company's total income. Key financial results: Baidu's Q2 performance reflected broader challenges facing China's tech sector during economic uncertainty. Total revenue of 32.71 billion yuan fell short of the 32.76 billion yuan analyst forecast, marking a 4% year-over-year decline. Online advertising...
read Aug 15, 2025OpenAI weighs getting Roku-ized with advertising as ChatGPT costs rise
OpenAI's ChatGPT head Nick Turley has acknowledged that the company might introduce advertising to its products in the future, though he emphasized any ads would need to be "thoughtful and tasteful." While Turley suggested ChatGPT itself might remain ad-free due to its core mission of providing unbiased answers, he didn't rule out advertising entirely, particularly for other OpenAI products targeting markets where users aren't willing to pay for premium features. What they're saying: Turley took a diplomatic approach when pressed about ChatGPT's advertising future during an interview with The Verge. "Maybe there is a certain market where people aren't willing...
read Aug 8, 2025X plans to embed ads inside Grok’s AI answers, ending AI neutrality
Elon Musk's X platform has announced plans to embed advertisements directly inside Grok's AI-generated answers, marking what experts call the "death of AI Neutrality"—the principle that AI systems shouldn't covertly privilege commercial interests within core utility functions. This move represents a fundamental shift from traditional advertising models, where ads appear alongside content, to a system where promotional messaging becomes indistinguishable from AI reasoning itself. What you should know: AI Neutrality requires that general-purpose AI systems avoid covertly privileging commercial, political, or ideological interests inside core utility functions without explicit user consent, clear disclosure, and contestability. The principle includes separation of...
read Aug 8, 2025Apple Intelligence users must wait until iOS 26 for GPT-5 integration
Apple Intelligence's ChatGPT integration will upgrade to GPT-5 with the release of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26, according to Apple's confirmation to 9to5Mac. This means users will have to wait until Apple's next major software cycle to access OpenAI's newest AI model through Apple's ecosystem, even though GPT-5 became available to all ChatGPT users on Thursday. What you should know: Apple Intelligence currently relies on OpenAI's GPT-4o model for its ChatGPT integration features. The integration helps power certain Siri queries and works alongside Apple's Visual Intelligence feature, which functions similarly to Google Lens by identifying objects and...
read Aug 7, 2025Imagiyo AI image generator offers lifetime access for $49, down 90%
Imagiyo AI Image Generator is offering lifetime subscriptions for $49, down from its regular price of $495, representing a 90% discount. The platform uses advanced AI models including FLUX Schnell and Modelslab Stable Diffusion to create high-quality images from text prompts, targeting users frustrated with slower, less reliable AI image generation tools. What you should know: Imagiyo positions itself as a faster, more intuitive alternative to basic AI image generators that can be "laggy, inconsistent, and limited in scope and output." The platform supports multiple image generation sizes and allows commercial use of generated images without watermarks or ads. Users...
read Aug 7, 202580% of consumers use zero-click searches for 40% of queries, says study
The rise of zero-click searches is fundamentally disrupting digital marketing as AI-powered search results increasingly provide answers without requiring users to visit websites. According to Bain & Company, a global consulting firm, 80% of consumers rely on zero-click answers for at least 40% of their searches, forcing marketers to completely rethink strategies that have long depended on driving website traffic and capturing leads through traditional conversion funnels. What you should know: Zero-click searches occur when users find the information they need directly on search engine results pages without clicking through to websites. AI overviews, snippets, and info boxes now provide...
read Aug 5, 2025Always be calling: TitanX uses AI to predict which cold call prospects will answer
TitanX has developed a Phone Intent Platform that uses artificial intelligence to help businesses identify which prospects are most likely to answer cold calls. The AI-powered system addresses a growing challenge in telemarketing, where consumers increasingly ignore unknown numbers due to spam call fatigue, while over 50% of B2B leads still originate from cold calling according to recent data. What you should know: The platform leverages AI to filter prospects based on behavioral signals and phone activity patterns, essentially creating a "triage system" for sales calls. TitanX's AI analyzes 12 proprietary signals, including telecom data, consumer behavior, and B2B attributes...
read Aug 4, 2025Google mocks Apple’s year-long Siri AI delay in new Pixel 10 ad
Google has launched a new Pixel 10 advertisement that directly mocks Apple's delayed Siri AI upgrade, highlighting how Apple Intelligence features promised nearly a year ago still haven't been delivered. The 30-second spot capitalizes on Apple's ongoing struggles with its AI-powered Siri improvements, which were originally promised alongside the iPhone 16 launch but have faced significant technical delays. What you should know: Google's ad targets Apple's unfulfilled AI promises with pointed messaging about waiting for features that never arrive. The narrator suggests users could "just change your phone" if they bought "a new phone because of a feature that's coming...
read Aug 1, 2025Samsung unfolds free 6-month Google AI Pro subscriptions with purchase of foldable phones
Samsung's latest foldable phones are breaking preorder records, and the company is sweetening the deal with a valuable bonus that many buyers might overlook. Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Z Flip 7 FE purchasers can claim six months of Google AI Pro absolutely free—a $120 value that unlocks advanced artificial intelligence tools, expanded cloud storage, and premium features designed to enhance productivity. This promotion arrives as Samsung celebrates record-breaking demand for its newest foldables. According to the company, preorders have surged nearly 60% compared to last year's models, with carrier partners reporting unprecedented interest in the lighter,...
read Jul 30, 2025Retail replication: Nestlé builds 4,000 AI digital twins for 30% faster marketing content
NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Accenture Song are collaborating with Nestlé to deploy AI-powered digital twins for large-scale marketing content creation, using virtual 3D replicas of products to generate personalized campaigns without constant reshooting. This partnership positions Nestlé at the forefront of retail's digital transformation, where AI marketing revenue is projected to reach $47 billion this year and brands using digital twins report 30% faster content production cycles. What you should know: Nestlé has built a library of 4,000 3D digital products and plans to convert 10,000 products into digital twins within two years. More than 250 Nestlé global digital specialists are...
read Jul 30, 2025Club Med’s WhatsApp AI cuts response times by 3.5 hours
Club Med's Global Chief Data and AI Officer, Siddhartha Chatterjee, has detailed the company's comprehensive conversational AI strategy in a new Forrester interview, revealing how the travel operator achieved 30% full automation of customer interactions within three months of launching its WhatsApp-based AI assistant. The initiative demonstrates how enterprises can successfully scale AI-powered customer service across multiple markets while maintaining high satisfaction rates and operational efficiency. What you should know: Club Med's conversational AI journey began with a bold WhatsApp integration in Brazil, where nearly 80% of customers use the platform for business inquiries. The company achieved 30% full automation...
read Jul 29, 2025User reviews spring (roll) to life as Yelp launches AI-generated restaurant videos using submitted pics
Yelp has launched AI-generated videos that automatically compile user-posted photos and videos into short promotional content about restaurants and businesses. The feature, now available nationwide on Yelp's iOS app, uses multiple AI tools to create scripted voiceovers and captions that tell compelling stories based on user reviews, representing a significant shift toward automated content creation in local business discovery. How it works: Yelp combines several AI technologies to create finished videos from user-generated content. OpenAI's large language models write text descriptions and narrator scripts, organize story topics, and handle proofreading tasks. ElevenLabs generates the AI narrator's voice, while Amazon Transcribe...
read Jul 28, 2025Vogue features first AI model in Guess ad, sparking industry, plus-size model backlash
Vogue magazine has featured its first AI-generated model in a Guess advertisement, sparking controversy about beauty standards and the future of the modeling industry. The flawless blonde AI model, created by Seraphinne Vallora, appears in the August print edition promoting Guess's summer collection, raising concerns about the impact on real models and consumers already struggling with unrealistic beauty ideals. What you should know: The AI model was created by Seraphinne Vallora after Guess co-founder Paul Marciano approached the company on Instagram. The creation process took up to a month and involved developing 10 draft models before selecting the final blonde...
read Jul 24, 2025Forget the dressing room, Google adds AI-generated clothing images and virtual try-on to shopping search
Google is launching two new AI-powered shopping features this fall: an AI Mode that generates synthetic clothing and decor images to help users find real products, and a virtual try-on tool that shows how clothes look on users' uploaded photos. These features represent Google's push to inject more generative AI into its Search shopping experience, potentially offering a more personalized and visually-driven approach to online retail discovery. What you should know: The AI Mode shopping feature will create synthetic images based on user descriptions to guide product recommendations more effectively than text-based searches alone.• Users searching for "a green flowy...
read Jul 23, 2025Creative roles diminish in B2B marketing budgets as content creation automates
Forrester's latest survey reveals that B2B marketers are strategically cutting brand and communications budgets as generative AI enables more efficient content production and economic uncertainty drives conservative spending. The research shows a notable decline in planned investments for digital programs and creative services, with companies redirecting resources toward brand management as genAI automates traditional marketing workflows. What you should know: Economic pressures and AI adoption are fundamentally reshaping how B2B companies allocate marketing resources in 2025. Website and digital program investment expectations dropped from 64% to 60% of marketers, despite remaining a top priority for increased investment. Content and creative...
read Jul 16, 2025Survey: AI skills boost salaries 53% in India’s booming job market, though creative fears remain
A new report from Naukri.com, a career platform, reveals that 41% of advertising and marketing professionals in India fear AI may diminish creativity in their work, with similar concerns shared by 54% of Animation and VFX professionals and 43% in Film and Music industries. Despite these creative anxieties, the study of 60,000+ jobseekers shows that 86% of Indian professionals view AI as a friend rather than a threat, with AI-skilled workers earning 53% higher median salaries than their non-AI peers. The big picture: India's AI job market is experiencing explosive growth, with AI/ML job postings surging 38% year-over-year in Q1...
read Jul 15, 2025Mattel partners with OpenAI to bring AI-powered toys to children amid safety concerns
Mattel, the toymaker behind Barbie and Hot Wheels, has partnered with OpenAI to integrate AI capabilities into its children's products. The collaboration will also see Mattel implement OpenAI's tools, including ChatGPT Enterprise, across its business operations to enhance product development and drive innovation, with the first AI-powered toy expected to be announced later this year. What you should know: The partnership spans both physical products and digital experiences, though specific details remain undisclosed. Josh Silverman, Mattel's chief franchise officer, said the collaboration will "enable us to leverage new technologies to solidify our leadership in innovation and reimagine new forms of...
read Jul 14, 2025Why AI can’t crack Hollywood’s biggest marketing challenge: human-centeredness
IndieWire entertainment journalist Dana Harris-Bridson argues that artificial intelligence faces a fundamental barrier in Hollywood: it cannot create the human backstories that drive audience engagement and marketing campaigns. While AI can reduce production costs and increase output, the entertainment industry's reliance on behind-the-scenes narratives—from director interviews to production drama—represents a creative wall that current AI technology cannot overcome. The big picture: Hollywood's marketing machine depends heavily on human stories behind the content, with studios spending billions on campaigns that center around creators' personal journeys and production experiences. Marketing costs often match production budgets, sometimes reaching hundreds of millions of dollars,...
read Jul 14, 2025Wrap-id fire marketing witnessed as Popeyes uses AI to create McDonald’s diss track in 3 days
Popeyes launched an AI-generated diss track targeting McDonald's over the timing of their Snack Wrap return, which came just one day after Popeyes introduced its own Chicken Wraps. The satirical "Wrap Battle" video, created using Google's Veo 3 AI model, represents a new frontier in rapid-response marketing where brands can produce polished campaigns in days rather than weeks. What you should know: AI filmmaker PJ Accetturo partnered with Popeyes to create the campaign, using a combination of AI tools to produce both the music and video content. The track was produced using Suno, an AI music production platform, with human...
read Jul 11, 2025Clout isn’t headcount: AI-native companies cut GTM teams by 38% while maintaining growth
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how companies build and scale their go-to-market (GTM) teams—the sales, marketing, and customer success functions that drive revenue growth. New data reveals that AI-native companies are operating with dramatically leaner teams while maintaining competitive growth rates, suggesting a structural shift in how modern businesses approach revenue generation. Companies under $25 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) with high AI adoption are running with just 13 GTM full-time employees versus 21 for their traditional SaaS peers—a 38% reduction in headcount. This isn't about cutting costs during economic uncertainty; it's about operational leverage that creates sustainable competitive...
read Jul 7, 2025Perplexity AI launches $200 monthly Max plan for unlimited research
Perplexity AI, the search engine that combines traditional web search with artificial intelligence to provide conversational answers, has launched its most expensive subscription tier yet. The new Perplexity Max plan costs $200 per month—or $2,000 annually—positioning the company alongside other premium AI services in an increasingly competitive market. This pricing strategy reflects a broader trend among AI companies targeting power users willing to pay premium rates for enhanced capabilities. The move comes as businesses and professionals increasingly rely on AI tools for research, content creation, and strategic analysis, creating demand for more sophisticated features and unlimited access. What Perplexity Max...
read Jul 7, 2025IBM’s Match Chat brings AI-powered fan love to Wimbledon
IBM and the All England Lawn Tennis Club have launched Match Chat, an interactive AI chatbot powered by IBM's watsonx platform, to answer fans' real-time questions during Wimbledon singles matches. The innovation represents part of a year-round digital transformation strategy aimed at increasing fan engagement and growing tennis's global audience through "snackable content" and interactive experiences. What you should know: The new AI tools are designed to make tennis more accessible and engaging for fans during live matches. Match Chat uses IBM's Granite large language models to respond to both pre-set questions and natural language inputs from fans during singles...
read Jul 1, 2025Google launches AI Mode search with animated Doodle across platforms
Google has launched a new Doodle promoting AI Mode, its enhanced search experience that uses artificial intelligence to deliver comprehensive results. The promotion appears across Google's homepage, Chrome New Tab pages, and mobile apps, featuring animated graphics that transform Google's logo letters into the company's gradient 'G' icon to symbolize how AI Mode combines and summarizes information. What you should know: The Doodle campaign represents Google's most visible push yet for AI Mode adoption, appearing in multiple formats across its platforms. On the US homepage, both signed-in and logged-out users see a bouncy animation where the Google wordmark letters combine...
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