Latest Marketing & Advertising News
Google’s May 2026 Core Update is changing AI search citations
Google’s latest core update is being reported as reshaping which pages get cited inside AI-generated answers, not just traditional rankings. Marketers are treating this as a major visibility shift because AI search exposure now matters alongside blue-link SEO.
ChatGPT advertising opens to any U.S. business
OpenAI has reportedly made ChatGPT advertising available through a self-serve Ads Manager for any U.S. business, with no minimum spend required. That broadens access to a new ad inventory channel and could quickly attract small and mid-sized advertisers testing conversational placements.
Meta is projected to surpass Google in global ad revenue
According to the latest eMarketer forecast cited in the reporting, Meta is expected to generate $243.46 billion in global ad revenue in 2026 versus Google’s $239.54 billion. If that holds, it would mark the first time Google loses the top digital ad spot after nearly two decades.
Google Marketing Live pushes agentic advertising
Google Marketing Live formalized an agentic advertising model in which AI handles targeting, bidding, creative variation, and placement decisions. The marketer’s role shifts toward providing better inputs, which could reshape paid media team structures and optimization workflows.
AI attribution gaps are obscuring buyer influence
Marketers are facing a growing attribution blind spot as AI-driven discovery influences buyers before any click is captured. That makes it harder to measure which channels actually drive demand, especially when research happens inside chatbots and AI answer layers.
AI Overviews and AI Mode reach massive usage at Google
Reporting around Google I/O says AI Mode has crossed 1 billion monthly active users and AI Overviews have reached 2.5 billion users. Those usage levels suggest AI-generated results are becoming a core distribution layer for content, branding, and commerce discovery.
Google Merchant Center expands attribute rules for automatically found products
Google Merchant Center now supports attribute rules for automatically found products, extending automation in product feed management. This matters for ecommerce advertisers because it can reduce manual maintenance while improving product data consistency.
Agency and AI platform partnership signals more automated brand optimization
Now Agency and Zeover announced a partnership to combine agency services with AI-driven optimization for brands. The collaboration reflects a broader industry move toward AI-assisted campaign management and performance tuning.
Marketing leaders are emphasizing people-first strategy amid AI disruption
A new global marketing book highlighted in MAD//Fest London argues that modern marketing must start with people rather than tools. The timing is notable because it contrasts with the current industry rush toward AI automation and signals continued debate over human-centered brand strategy.
Loyalty data gaps remain a major barrier to AI marketing effectiveness
Recent discussion around Zeta Global and a Forrester Consulting study points to persistent problems in using loyalty data effectively. The issue is important because weak customer data can limit personalization, measurement, and the performance gains promised by AI marketing systems.