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New Mexico's outside lawyers could collect up to $1.27 billion in Meta case, reports Reuters

General

Oct 23, 2026

New Mexico’s outside lawyers could receive up to $1.27 billion if the state’s $25 billion judgment against Meta survives appeal.

The state hired DiCello Levitt on a contingency-fee basis, meaning the firm receives a percentage of any recovery rather than hourly fees. Courts are not required to award the maximum amount.

Such billion-dollar legal fees are extremely rare and could face scrutiny. Meta plans to appeal, and experts say the judgment may be reduced, meaning any final payout to the lawyers could take years and be substantially lower.

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Meta to delay new commercial terms criticised by publishers, advertisers, reports Reuters

General

Oct 23, 2026

Meta has delayed its updated Commercial and Self-Serve Ad Terms from 30 October to 20 November following complaints from publishers and advertisers.

Critics argued the terms could give Meta overly broad rights to use their content for AI services, claims the company disputes. Meta says the delay will allow more explanation of its web-crawling practices.

The EU competition regulator welcomed the move and is discussing the terms with Meta, amid wider tensions between publishers and AI companies over content use and copyright.

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Meta sued in Australian class action over alleged social media harm to children, reports Reuters

General

Oct 22, 2026

Responsible Media

Meta faces an Australian class action alleging Facebook and Instagram exposed children to harmful content and used algorithms to keep them addicted.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of eight people allegedly harmed while under 18, seeks compensation and could become Australia’s first major case blaming social media platforms for user harm.

Meta says it will defend the case vigorously. The lawsuit comes amid tougher Australian scrutiny of social media, including an under-16 ban and proposed controls over algorithmic feeds.

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Meta has strong chance of getting $25 billion New Mexico penalty slashed on appeal, experts say, reports Reuters

General

Oct 22, 2026

Legal experts say Meta has strong grounds to seek a reduction of New Mexico’s $25 billion penalty over misleading statements about user data and platform practices.

A key appeal argument is that penalties were calculated using potential audiences rather than proving individual users actually saw or relied on the statements.

Meta plans to challenge both the jury verdict and penalty, potentially invoking constitutional protections against excessive fines. Experts say the scale of the award and possible double-counting could make it vulnerable on appeal.

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Politico and Telegraph owner pitched deal to buy European arm of TikTok, reports FT

General

Oct 22, 2026

Axel Springer chief Mathias Döpfner proposed acquiring a stake in TikTok’s European operations, pitching a spin-off modelled on TikTok’s US restructuring.

Döpfner raised the idea with US ambassador Charles Kushner and argued TikTok should be sold to democratic shareholders or banned, citing concerns about extremist content and Chinese ownership.

The proposal was discussed with EU officials but gained little support, while ByteDance rejected the idea. Axel Springer said it would have welcomed participating in a European solution.

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OpenAI trims valuation target to $1.25tn after pitching higher price, reports FT

General

Oct 22, 2026

Investment Rounds

OpenAI has lowered the target valuation for its latest funding round from $1.4tn to about $1.25tn after weaker-than-expected investor demand.

The company is seeking up to $30bn as bridge financing ahead of a potential 2027 IPO, but may raise less depending on interest. Some investors are waiting to see how rival Anthropic prices its own listing.

The pullback reflects softer tech markets, concerns over AI infrastructure spending and investor fatigue after successive large funding rounds.

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Elon Musk invests about $1 billion in Skydance, reports CNBC

M&A

Oct 22, 2026

Investment Rounds

Elon Musk has reportedly invested about $1 billion in Skydance as the newly combined Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery group seeks additional equity funding.

The investment comes as Skydance integrates two major studios, Paramount+ and HBO Max, while targeting $6 billion in cost savings over three years.

The company also carries nearly $80 billion in debt. Musk’s investment adds to longstanding financial ties with the Ellison family, including Larry Ellison’s previous backing of Musk’s Twitter acquisition and Tesla.

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Advertisers Pull Meta Ads That Had Unwanted AI Glow-ups, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 22, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Meta’s updated commercial terms shift responsibility for AI-generated ad changes onto advertisers from 30 October, even when Meta’s tools automatically modify campaigns.

Agencies say Meta’s AI has already added sitelinks, translations, AI-generated images and carousels without clear advertiser approval, forcing some teams to pull live ads or disable automation entirely.

Meta says advertisers can turn off individual Advantage+ features, but buyers warn the default-on approach creates operational and legal risks, particularly ahead of the holiday shopping season.

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Omnicom lands Coca-Cola’s North American media business, reports Digiday

General

Oct 22, 2026

Omnicom has won Coca-Cola’s US and Canada media account, estimated at around $785 million annually, after recently losing PepsiCo to Publicis.

The win gives Omnicom a major replacement for much of the PepsiCo business, supported by its scale following the IPG acquisition and promises of senior talent, savings and technology innovation.

WPP will retain Coca-Cola’s media remit outside North America, Japan and South Korea, while Dentsu continues handling the latter two markets.

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Walmart Connect pitches brands directly as it pushes lift studies ahead of holiday ad deals, reports Digiday

General

Oct 22, 2026

Walmart Connect is approaching brands directly with on-site brand lift studies, bypassing agencies as it looks to win more retail media spend.

The studies aim to show whether Walmart advertising drives incremental sales rather than simply claiming purchases that would have happened anyway, a key concern as marketers scrutinise ROI.

Agencies see the move as a potential advantage over Amazon and a step towards positioning Walmart as a full-funnel partner. However, the studies can be costly, slow and remain controlled by Walmart, limiting independent verification.

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Media buyers chart path for brands and sponsors through high NBA demand, reports Digiday

General

Oct 22, 2026

Sports Marketing

Advertiser demand for NBA inventory is surging, driven by the league’s younger, digitally engaged audience and growing sponsorship opportunities.

Streaming ad spend is rising sharply, while linear and streaming inventory across Amazon, Peacock and Disney is already extremely tight. Brands unable to secure premium placements are turning to paid social, creators and athlete partnerships.

Rather than maintaining constant presence across the long season, many marketers are concentrating activity around high-attention moments such as Christmas Day, the NBA Cup and playoffs, using creator-led content to connect with NBA culture.

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Meta Ordered to Pay $25 Billion to New Mexico in Data-Privacy Case, reports WSJ

General

Oct 21, 2026

A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found it misled users about data privacy, content moderation and the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The jury identified around 44 million violations over more than a decade. New Mexico had sought $35 billion to $40 billion, while Meta argued for a far lower penalty.

Meta says the ruling is unconstitutional and plans to appeal. The state may also seek changes to Meta’s platforms in later proceedings.

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OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads to 26 more countries in bid to boost revenue, reports Reuters

General

Oct 21, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT advertising to 26 additional countries, bringing the total to 89 as it seeks to grow revenue ahead of a potential IPO.

More than 100,000 advertisers have run campaigns since US testing began, while the ads business reached a $1 billion annualised revenue run rate in August.

Ads will appear only on Free and Go plans, with Plus, Pro and Enterprise remaining ad-free. OpenAI is also expanding self-service access and testing AI-powered advertising tools and sponsored agents.

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ChatGPT Ads to enable creative enhancements on October 30, reports Search Engine Land

General

Oct 21, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI will automatically enable creative enhancements for new and existing self-serve ChatGPT ad campaigns from 30 October, unless advertisers opt out.

The feature can adapt headlines, descriptions, images, destination URLs and translations using conversation context, user interests, existing ads and landing-page content.

Creative variations may be generated in advance or in real time and can run without advertiser approval. Advertisers can change the setting anytime, with campaign-level preferences overriding account defaults.

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Walmart Embraces AI Agents That Shop on Behalf of Customers, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 21, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Walmart is opening its ecommerce platform to AI shopping agents, introducing Agent Profiles and controls that let customers approve purchases or set spending limits.

Its new Agent Gateway will give AI assistants a dedicated way to shop without exposing customers’ payment details or full purchase histories, while non-compliant agents can be blocked.

The shift could reshape retail advertising, as brands increasingly need to optimise for conversational discovery rather than keywords. Walmart says accurate product data, pricing, availability and delivery information will become more important for winning AI-driven recommendations.

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TikTok is shifting advertising to YouTube after Meta says no thanks, reports Insider

General

Oct 21, 2026

Meta’s ban on ByteDance advertising has pushed TikTok to redirect spending towards platforms including YouTube, Pinterest and mobile-app ad networks.

Sensor Tower estimates TikTok’s share of spend on YouTube and Pinterest increased sharply after the ban, while most investment shifted to app advertising networks such as Google’s AdMob.

The move highlights intensifying platform competition and reinforces the value of diversified media strategies. Meta may lose some revenue, while TikTok faces reduced access to Meta’s vast audience but still has several alternatives for user acquisition.

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Indie agencies want The Trade Desk and Amazon DSP to acknowledge their buying power with negotiating leverage, reports Digiday

General

Oct 21, 2026

Smaller independent agencies say accessing major DSPs such as The Trade Desk and Amazon often requires resellers, adding significant fees and limiting control.

Some agencies report that promised paths to direct access remain unclear or keep shifting, leaving them paying both DSP and reseller charges despite meeting spending expectations.

As competition among DSPs increases, buyers are gaining alternatives, while indie agencies are pushing for more transparent, equitable access and questioning whether reseller models unfairly disadvantage smaller firms.

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TikTok staff raised child safety alarms. Court records show executives failed to act, reports NPR

General

Oct 20, 2026

Responsible Media

TikTok employees repeatedly raised internal concerns about child safety, including sexual exploitation, harmful content and weaknesses in age restrictions, according to court depositions.

Staff alleged senior leaders knew minors were appearing in monetised sexual livestreams and that under-18 users could bypass protections, while internal research also identified serious suicide and self-harm risks.

TikTok disputes the allegations, saying they misrepresent its history and commitment to youth safety.

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Meta Policy Chief Joel Kaplan to Leave Company, reports WSJ

General

Oct 20, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Meta’s chief global affairs officer Joel Kaplan is leaving after 15 years, remaining for several months to support the transition.

Kaplan became Meta’s top policy executive in January 2025 and had long served as a key link to Republican lawmakers and conservative circles.

His departure comes as Meta president Dina Powell McCormick takes a more prominent public role and the company increases political engagement ahead of the US midterm elections, including donations to Democrats alongside previous support for Republican initiatives.

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Australia to Sue Facebook, TikTok for Alleged Breaches of Ban, reports Bloomberg

General

Oct 20, 2026

Advertising To Children

Australia’s government is preparing legal action against Facebook, TikTok and other major platforms over alleged breaches of its under-16 social media ban.

The law requires platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from holding social media accounts.

Australia’s eSafety regulator is investigating Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube for possible non-compliance, as the government seeks to reduce young users’ exposure to harmful online content.

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Netflix Announces New Ad Updates for Measurement and Capabilities, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 20, 2026

Netflix has upgraded its in-house Ad Suite with enhanced measurement, targeting and programmatic buying capabilities.

New tools include an improved Conversion API, Netflix Pixel and first-party Conversion Lift measurement, giving advertisers access to more than 20 lower-funnel events and better attribution, audience refinement and A/B testing.

Netflix is also expanding programmatic audience support to The Trade Desk alongside Yahoo and Amazon DSPs, while adding in-DSP measurement. The changes come as Netflix aims to double ad revenue again and expand its ad-supported plan into 15 new countries next year.

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Apple finally explains its Safari block, and identity companies are in its sights, reports Digiday

General

Oct 20, 2026

Apple has clarified that Safari is blocking identity technologies that convert users’ email addresses into persistent IDs for cross-site advertising, targeting companies including LiveRamp, ID5 and The Trade Desk’s UID2.

Apple argues these systems replaced cookies with harder-to-escape tracking and says it will continue blocking covert cross-site identification across its devices.

The move could pressure publishers and adtech firms that rely on identity matching, while also raising industry concerns about Apple’s growing control over advertising infrastructure as its own ads business expands.

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People are using AI to make their smart TVs dumb again, reports TechCrunch

General

Oct 19, 2026

AI tools are making it easier for consumers to modify smart TVs, removing ads, tracking, bloatware and slow interfaces through projects such as dumbtv and cleanyourtv.

Developers are using AI coding agents to disable unwanted software and replace launchers without necessarily requiring advanced technical skills or permanent device modifications.

If adoption grows, these hacks could challenge smart TV advertising models reliant on tracking and personalised ads. However, the tools remain experimental, with users reporting errors, broken features and even bricked devices.

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OpenAI seeks to accelerate fundraising ahead of Anthropic IPO, sources say, reports Reuters

General

Oct 19, 2026

OpenAI is accelerating a roughly $30 billion fundraising round ahead of Anthropic’s expected IPO, potentially valuing the ChatGPT maker above $1.4 trillion.

Existing investors including SoftBank and MGX are in talks to participate. OpenAI says annualised revenue has reached $50 billion and could hit $70 billion by year-end.

The push reflects intensifying competition for investor capital as AI valuations face greater scrutiny, market volatility rises and infrastructure costs remain substantial.

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FTC Requires Publicis to Offer Equal Access to LiveRamp Data, reports Bloomberg

M&A

Oct 19, 2026

The US Federal Trade Commission will allow Publicis Groupe’s $2.2 billion acquisition of LiveRamp to proceed, subject to competition safeguards.

Publicis must ensure LiveRamp provides equal, non-discriminatory access to its data connectivity services for all clients, including rival agencies.

The five-year consent decree also requires data firewalls to prevent misuse of competitor information and an independent auditor to monitor compliance.

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Netflix Replaces Content Chief as It Struggles to Engage Viewers, reports WSJ

General

Oct 16, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria is leaving after a decade, with former Fox and Disney executive Peter Rice set to replace her.

Bajaria oversaw Netflix’s roughly $20 billion content budget and helped drive hits including Squid Game and Wednesday, as well as its expansion into live events and sports.

Her departure follows Netflix’s decision to cut around 1,000 jobs amid slowing engagement, weaker growth and pressure to revive investor confidence.

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Meta and Apple team up on AI model tailored for Mac computers, reports FT

General

Oct 15, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Apple and Meta have partnered on Muse Spark Open, an open-weight AI model optimised to run locally on Apple’s Mac Studio computers.

The model supports coding and autonomous AI agents, and can be downloaded and customised by developers under limited commercial terms. Apple highlights the privacy benefits of running AI locally rather than in the cloud.

The collaboration marks a rare thaw between the rivals and reflects Apple’s broader strategy of partnering with external AI leaders after its own efforts lagged behind.

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ChatGPT Targets Ads To You Based On Your Prompts, Phone Number, and Email, reports 404 Media

General

Oct 15, 2026

OpenAI’s ChatGPT advertising system allows advertisers to target users using uploaded email addresses, phone numbers, Android advertising IDs and conversation-related context.

Advertisers can create custom audiences of at least 25,000 matched users, while ads may also be triggered by current or past ChatGPT activity. Users can disable ad personalisation, although ads may still reflect their current conversation.

Privacy researchers argue the system raises concerns because users may not realise their personal data or prompts influence ad targeting. OpenAI says uploaded audience files are deleted after processing and advertisers cannot identify matched individuals.

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Fox Expands Agentic Push With Eyes Set On TV Upfront Future, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 15, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Fox is expanding what it calls the TV advertising industry’s first end-to-end agentic platform, pushing further into AI-powered media transactions.

The next phase will bring in more agency partners and extend agentic capabilities across linear television and, eventually, digital advertising transactions.

Fox also plans to make agentic technology a larger part of future upfront discussions, arguing the tools can strengthen relationships with advertisers and partners.

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FTC subpoenas OpenAI, Anthropic over consumer harms, reports Axios

General

Oct 15, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

The US Federal Trade Commission has issued civil subpoenas to Anthropic and OpenAI as part of an investigation into potential consumer protection violations involving AI safety.

The FTC is seeking documents on security incidents, safeguards, marketing and privacy practices, and plans to compel senior AI executives to testify.

The probe follows several incidents involving unreleased models behaving aggressively or deceptively in testing. It reflects a tougher US regulatory stance as AI companies face mounting scrutiny, lawsuits and new requirements to report serious safety incidents.

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China's ByteDance sets up AI safety team, launches global hiring drive, reports Reuters

General

Oct 15, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

ByteDance’s AI research unit Seed has created an Alignment & Preparedness team and launched a global recruitment drive focused on AI safety.

The team will research model alignment, vulnerability testing, behavioural monitoring, AI-agent testing and emerging risks, with roles based in Beijing, Shanghai and San Jose.

The move marks a rare public commitment by a major Chinese AI developer to frontier-model safety, as scrutiny increases globally over increasingly autonomous AI systems and US-China discussions on AI guardrails continue.

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Setback for TikTok as EU court adviser backs gatekeeper label, reports Reuters

General

Oct 15, 2026

An adviser to the EU’s top court has recommended rejecting TikTok’s challenge to its designation as a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act.

The opinion supports an earlier ruling that TikTok remains an important gateway even if users also use rival social networks. Judges typically follow such recommendations.

If upheld, TikTok will remain subject to strict DMA obligations designed to boost competition and consumer choice, with breaches potentially carrying fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover.

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YouTube Is Looking to Expand Into Audiobooks, reports WSJ

General

Oct 14, 2026

YouTube is reportedly exploring an audiobook offering that could launch next year, potentially bundled with its ad-free Premium subscription.

The move would bring YouTube into competition with established audiobook platforms including Spotify and Amazon’s Audible, while giving publishers access to its vast audience.

Publishers are reportedly interested in the opportunity, partly because it could create legitimate revenue from audiobooks amid widespread unauthorised audio versions already available on YouTube.

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Eight US states sue OpenAI, claiming ChatGPT harms young users, reports Reuters

General

Oct 14, 2026

Responsible Media

Eight US states have sued OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT has harmed users, including teenagers, by reinforcing delusions and assisting dangerous or violent behaviour.

The lawsuits accuse OpenAI of misleading consumers about ChatGPT’s safety and creating a public nuisance, while seeking damages and civil penalties.

The states also want changes to how ChatGPT operates, including restrictions on developing self-improving AI models unless their alignment with human values can be ensured.

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EU Commission is in dialogue with Google, spokesperson says, reports Reuters

General

Oct 14, 2026

The European Commission is in talks with Google over changes required after nearly €1 billion in EU fines relating to search and Google Play practices.

Google was ordered to treat rival services fairly and allow app developers to direct users away from its app store within 60 days.

The company has begun adjusting search results and developer fees. The Commission will now assess those measures and seek feedback from market participants and third parties before deciding whether Google has complied.

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UK media regulator says concerns persist over X's handling of illegal content, reports Reuters

General

Oct 14, 2026

Responsible Media

Ofcom says X has improved response times for reviewing reported content but still has concerns about how effectively it removes illegal hate and terrorism-related material.

The regulator’s investigation is now focusing on X’s handling of illegal content, complaints and reporting systems, while monitoring age-verification measures.

Following Ofcom intervention, Grok users in Britain are now blocked from generating, viewing or sharing pornographic images, and companion chatbots cannot engage in sexually explicit conversations.

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Netflix Lays Off 6% of Employees, Eliminating About 1,000 Jobs in Biggest Cutbacks to Date, reports Variety

General

Oct 14, 2026

Netflix is cutting around 1,000 jobs, roughly 6% of its workforce, in its largest round of layoffs to date.

Most reductions will affect product, technology, legal and HR teams. Netflix says the changes reflect efforts to prioritise resources while continuing to invest in growth and innovation.

The company remains profitable and expects 2026 revenue of about $51 billion, but investors have raised concerns about slowing engagement per user. The layoffs follow smaller cuts earlier this year and a previous major reduction in 2022.

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Fox’s $22 Billion Roku Acquisition Secures Shareholder Approval, reports The Wrap

M&A

Oct 14, 2026

Fox and Roku shareholders have approved Fox’s $22 billion acquisition of Roku, with overwhelming support from Fox’s voting shareholders.

The deal would combine Fox’s sports and news content with Roku’s streaming distribution and technology, strengthening Fox’s position in free ad-supported streaming alongside Tubi.

The merger still faces regulatory review, with the US Department of Justice requesting additional information. If approved, it is expected to close in the first half of 2027, leaving Roku shareholders with around 27% of Fox.

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WPP Promotes Adam Gerhart to Global Chief Client Officer, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 14, 2026

Leadership Transitions

WPP has promoted Adam Gerhart to global chief client officer, overseeing major client relationships across the group and joining its executive committee.

Tamina Plum will replace him as chief client officer at WPP Media. Gerhart’s remit will focus on helping clients navigate growth challenges, organisational change and shifting media dynamics.

He will also aim to expand existing relationships into new markets and services, building on cross-network wins such as DoorDash and Wendy’s. WPP says the move supports its broader Elevate28 transformation strategy.

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Meta challenges UK online safety watchdog over how fees and fines are calculated, reports Reuters

General

Oct 13, 2026

Responsible Media

Meta is challenging Ofcom’s method for calculating fees and potential fines under the UK Online Safety Act, arguing it disproportionately relies on worldwide rather than UK revenue.

Meta says Ofcom exceeded its powers and should base penalties on regulated services within the relevant country. It is also contesting how fines are calculated when multiple services under one company breach rules.

Ofcom says its approach is proportionate and will defend its methodology. The case adds to Meta’s wider legal challenges against the regulator over information demands and online safety enforcement.

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Netflix secures rights to air 2030 World Cup in Spain, Andorra, reports Reuters

General

Oct 13, 2026

Sports Marketing

Netflix has secured Spanish and Andorran broadcast rights for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, marking its first major men’s international football tournament in Spain.

The deal includes one free match per matchday and a free-to-air channel showing all Spain games, both semi-finals and the final. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The move strengthens Netflix’s expansion into live sports, alongside existing rights across women’s football, NFL, MLB, WWE, boxing and MMA.

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Publicis is selling directly to AI-anxious CEOs as it steps away from traditional pitches, reports Digiday

General

Oct 13, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Publicis CEO Arthur Sadoun says the agency group is increasingly pitching directly to CEOs, as AI becomes a board-level priority and accelerates client spending decisions.

Publicis credits AI-led transformation work and its Sapient technology arm with helping win major accounts, including several without traditional pitches, contributing to record new business and stronger growth.

Sadoun argues clients are moving faster to avoid losing market share as consumer behaviour shifts. However, analysts caution that Publicis’ performance may still be driven more by core media and competitive dynamics than AI-specific spending.

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Norway fines Microsoft's Xandr $9.6 million over Grindr data sharing, reports Reuters

General

Oct 12, 2026

Norway’s data protection authority has fined Microsoft-owned adtech company Xandr 92 million crowns ($9.6 million) for unlawfully sharing sensitive Grindr user data with advertisers.

The regulator found Xandr passed information revealing users’ sexual orientation through automated ad auctions between 2018 and 2020, without properly verifying consent.

The ruling, Norway’s largest privacy fine, targets an adtech intermediary rather than the app itself and establishes that companies handling personal data cannot simply shift responsibility to partners.

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Meta Says New Muse Model Reaches AI Frontier After 14-Month Push, reports Bloomberg

General

Oct 12, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Meta has released Muse Wonder, its most capable AI model since restructuring its AI organisation and investing heavily in talent and infrastructure.

Meta claims the model offers frontier-level capabilities comparable with OpenAI and Anthropic, particularly for coding, financial, legal and agentic tasks, though independent testing is still needed.

Muse Wonder is available through Meta’s Model API and Muse Code, and will soon power the subscription version of Meta’s Muse personal AI assistant.

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Google Opens AI Mode to Prescription Drug Ads, reports Digiday

General

Oct 12, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Google is testing ads for branded prescription drugs in AI Mode and AI Overviews in the US, expanding advertising into a tightly regulated category.

Eligible pharmaceutical advertisers can run standard text and Shopping ads, provided they meet Google’s healthcare certification requirements and include required disclosures where supported.

Google is limiting AI involvement in pharma creative, with no AI-generated or rewritten copy during the test. Negative keyword lists will still apply, although advertisers may need broader exclusions as AI search queries become more conversational.

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Brands Say They’re Pouring Tariff Refunds Into Marketing, reports WSJ

General

Oct 9, 2026

Several US retailers and consumer brands are using tariff refunds to support marketing, promotions and brand investment ahead of the holiday season.

Warby Parker, e.l.f. Beauty, Levi Strauss, Macy’s and others have outlined plans to reinvest part of their refunds in campaigns, customer acquisition and product launches.

However, analysts caution that some announcements may primarily reassure investors rather than represent genuinely incremental marketing spend, with companies potentially using refunds to fund activity that was already planned.

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Meta Bans TikTok From Advertising on Its Apps in Escalating Feud, reports Bloomberg

General

Oct 9, 2026

Meta has banned ByteDance advertising across several markets, including the US, Canada and Japan, escalating its rivalry with TikTok.

The restriction covers ByteDance campaigns and third-party ads linking to TikTok or other ByteDance properties. Meta says it is normal to refuse promotional services to competitors seeking to draw users away.

Tensions have intensified over child safety and platform competition, with Meta pressuring TikTok to adopt similar protections following its $18 billion US settlement, while TikTok has also restricted links and rejected Meta advertising.

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Netflix, Streaming Rivals Dominate $6 Billion Asia Sports Arena, reports Bloomberg

General

Oct 9, 2026

Sports Marketing

Streaming platforms now account for around half of sports rights spending across Asia, up from 36% in 2021, as services including Netflix, Tencent and JioHotstar expand live sports coverage.

Regional sports rights fees are expected to reach about $5.7 billion this year, though growth may slow to 1%-2% annually through 2030.

India has driven much of the market’s expansion, led by cricket and the IPL, while streaming platforms increasingly divide major sports rights across markets, making subscriptions more fragmented for fans.

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Netflix plans to cut 5% of its workforce, reports Reuters

General

Oct 9, 2026

Netflix is reportedly planning to cut around 5% of its workforce, with an announcement potentially coming next week.

The company had about 16,000 full-time employees at the end of last year, making the cuts potentially significant.

Netflix is facing intensifying competition from rival streamers and YouTube while expanding into advertising, live programming and gaming to diversify revenue. Its last major layoffs took place in 2022 amid slowing growth and subscriber losses.

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OpenAI Wants ChatGPT Ads to Become a Permanent Line Item in Agency Media Plans, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 9, 2026

Leadership Transitions

OpenAI is hiring an Agency Partner to make ChatGPT advertising a regular part of agency media plans and grow advertiser revenue.

The New York-based role will focus on strategic relationships with major holding companies and independent agencies, with compensation including salary, equity and commission.

Responsibilities include joint business planning, agency education and building senior relationships across investment, strategy, planning, innovation, data and commerce.

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OpenAI annualised revenues $20bn less than previously signalled, reports FT

General

Oct 8, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI’s annualised revenue was about $50bn at the end of September, roughly $20bn below figures previously reported to investors and the media.

The discrepancy stemmed partly from different accounting methods used to compare OpenAI with Anthropic, including treatment of cloud-partner sales. OpenAI still grew rapidly from around $30bn annualised revenue in July.

The lower figure may intensify concerns over AI demand, particularly as OpenAI seeks a $1.4tn valuation while committing hundreds of billions to infrastructure and projecting nearly $280bn in cash burn by 2030.

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Spotify renews multiyear deal with podcaster Joe Rogan, reports Reuters

General

Oct 8, 2026

Audio Advertising

Spotify has renewed its licensing agreement with Joe Rogan for The Joe Rogan Experience in a new multiyear deal.

Financial terms were not disclosed, though the agreement is reportedly similar to his previous deal, which carried an estimated $250 million earnout.

The podcast will continue releasing weekly across Spotify and other platforms including Apple, Amazon and YouTube. It remains one of the most popular podcasts in the US, with more than 18 million Spotify followers and 21 million on YouTube.

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Skydance Names Jay Askinasi Head of Ad Sales, Taps David Decker to Lead Content Sales and Ray Hopkins as Distribution Chief, reports Variety

General

Oct 8, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Skydance has named Jay Askinasi to lead advertising sales, David Decker to head content sales and Ray Hopkins to oversee distribution following the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

Askinasi and Hopkins will join the executive leadership team, reporting to JB Perrette, while several former WBD advertising and distribution executives will depart.

The appointments form part of Skydance’s broader leadership build-out after the merger closed on 6 October, creating a company with nearly $70 billion in annual revenue and around $80 billion in debt.

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Apple Names New M&A Chief in Latest Shake-Up Under CEO John Ternus, reports Bloomberg

General

Oct 8, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Apple is appointing Steve Smith as its new mergers and acquisitions chief, replacing longtime dealmaker Adrian Perica under CEO John Ternus.

Smith will report to CFO Kevan Parekh, returning M&A to the finance division. Perica will continue overseeing iCloud, Fitness+ and News under services chief Eddy Cue.

Apple is also promoting Carson Oliver to lead the App Store, as broader services leadership changes continue. Perica and Apple Music chief Oliver Schusser are viewed as potential successors to Cue.

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Apple fixed The Trade Desk’s Safari ad problem, but broader ad tech restrictions could be next, reports AdAge

General

Oct 8, 2026

Apple fixed a Safari issue that blocked The Trade Desk from serving ads, but new WebKit capabilities could let Apple restrict tracking technologies more quickly and broadly.

Industry executives warn the changes could affect identity providers, DSPs, SSPs and customer data platforms, further limiting targeting and measurement on Apple devices.

Marketers are advised to monitor iOS performance separately, question technology partners about their response, increase reliance on first-party data and consider testing Apple’s own advertising products as third-party ad tech faces growing restrictions.

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Independent agency M&A is intensifying, reports AdAge

M&A

Oct 8, 2026

Agency Management

Independent agency M&A is accelerating as marketers increasingly seek alternatives to holding companies and demand broader, integrated capabilities.

Deals are creating “super-independents” that combine specialist agility with greater scale, often adding media, data, creator or geographic capabilities. Private equity is also fuelling consolidation.

Industry executives expect more combinations, particularly in creator marketing and social commerce, as agencies try to fill the gap between small boutiques and global holding groups. The challenge is achieving scale without losing the flexibility that makes independents attractive.

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Amazon makes fresh job cuts, mainly in retail division, reports Reuters

General

Oct 8, 2026

Amazon has cut fewer than 1,000 white-collar jobs, mainly in its Stores division, which oversees its core e-commerce business.

Affected teams include customer service and selling partner services, with employees in the US, UK and India among those impacted.

The cuts follow a larger 30,000-job reduction begun last year. Amazon says the restructuring will better support priorities, while founder Jeff Bezos said continued reductions reflect overhiring during the pandemic.

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AI Is Pushing Advertising Back Into the Physical World, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 8, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Out-of-home advertising is enjoying renewed growth as digital channels face declining trust, AI-generated content and reduced web traffic.

Digital out-of-home combines physical visibility with programmatic targeting, while retailers, transport providers and other businesses increasingly turn physical spaces into advertising inventory.

The shift reflects a broader move back towards tangible media, but also raises concerns about over-commercialising public spaces. Unlike digital ads, consumers cannot easily avoid physical advertising, making frequency and public tolerance increasingly important.

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As agencies push agentic media future, execs work to ward off client rogue fears, reports Digiday

General

Oct 8, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Media agencies including Dentsu, Tinuiti, Stagwell and WPP are accelerating agentic media buying, but client concerns over rogue AI are keeping human oversight central.

Agencies are using approval thresholds, governance controls and senior specialists to supervise automated decisions, especially where spending and activation are involved.

Meanwhile, commerce media networks are increasingly pitching “moments” as a targeting advantage, focusing on consumers’ immediate context and intent rather than broad demographic assumptions or traditional event calendars.

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Upfronts 2026: Amazon, Disney, Mail Metro Media, Netflix kick off season of pomp and circumstance, reports The Media Leader

General

Oct 7, 2026

UK media owners are using upfronts to pitch stronger measurement, targeting, content and advertising innovation as competition for advertiser budgets intensifies.

Amazon is adding Prime Video to Barb’s CFlight and launching location-based tools, while Disney highlighted rapid UK ad growth, fandom and integrated planning. Mail Metro Media is repositioning around social video and branded content.

Netflix used its first UK upfront to promote its ad tier, new markets and ad formats, although growing scrutiny over engagement and viewing performance remains a challenge.

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Disney+ to stream upcoming Super Bowl, reports CNBC

General

Oct 7, 2026

Sports Marketing

Disney+ will stream the 2027 Super Bowl to all US subscribers, alongside two Monday Night Football games before the championship.

The game will also air on ESPN and ABC, with ESPN producing the Super Bowl for the first time. Advertising inventory is already sold out.

The move expands Disney’s live sports strategy, following the launch of ESPN’s standalone streaming service and upcoming Formula E coverage, as rivals including YouTube and Netflix also increase investment in live sports rights.

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Florida asks court to force Meta to change Facebook, Instagram for teens, reports Reuters

General

Oct 7, 2026

Advertising To Children

Florida is asking a court to impose stricter protections for young Instagram and Facebook users while its lawsuit against Meta continues.

The state wants Meta to remove users under 14, limit teens to two hours daily, disable autoplay and infinite scroll, restrict messaging after limits are reached and stop showing teens ads.

Florida rejected Meta’s wider $18 billion multistate settlement, calling it insufficient. Meta says the injunction is meritless and argues Florida should focus on other platforms such as TikTok and YouTube.

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TikTok gave teens, children placebo safety feature in experiment, New York alleges, reports Reuters

General

Oct 7, 2026

Responsible Media

New York alleges TikTok secretly gave thousands of users, including children and teenagers, non-functional versions of safety features while telling them the tools were active.

The lawsuit claims TikTok repeatedly tested placebo versions of its Algo Refresh feature to measure effects on engagement and advertising revenue, despite internal warnings that this could mislead users.

New York also alleges TikTok temporarily disabled other safety protections in experiments, exposing some young users to harmful content. TikTok denies the claims and says it regularly tests features to improve its platform.

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Meta rolls out new AI tools to detect ads that secretly lead to child sexual abuse material, reports TechCrunch

General

Oct 7, 2026

Responsible Media

Meta removed or restricted 33.2 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content across Facebook and Instagram in the first half of 2026, with more than 97% detected proactively.

The company is introducing AI tools to identify deceptive ads that direct users to illegal abuse material, scan for missed content and detect repeat offenders.

Meta is also using a red-teaming AI agent to test its own safety systems for weaknesses, as regulatory and legal pressure over child protection continues.

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Walmart Lays Out Its Plan to Take Over TV Advertising, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 7, 2026

Walmart is expanding its advertising ambitions beyond retail media, using its Vizio and Vibe acquisitions to build a broader streaming advertising ecosystem.

The strategy shifts Walmart Connect from primarily performance advertising for suppliers towards selling streaming ads and improving how they are bought and measured.

Walmart is also targeting non-endemic advertisers that do not sell through its stores, with Vizio and Vibe already bringing relationships with thousands of brands outside Walmart’s traditional advertiser base.

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Prime Day catalyzes Amazon video and DSP spend growth, reports Digiday

General

Oct 7, 2026

Amazon ad spending is rising ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, with agencies reporting year-on-year increases of roughly 15%-40%.

Growth is shifting towards Amazon DSP, connected TV, Prime Video, online video and live sports as marketers seek stronger upper-funnel measurement and broader brand-building opportunities.

Amazon’s retail data, proximity to purchase and improving measurement make spending easier to justify, though economic pressure and shallower discounts may constrain future growth. Brands are increasingly treating Amazon as a full-funnel media platform rather than just a retail advertising channel.

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Omnicom Media and Rembrand partner to evolve in-content ad placements, reports Digiday

General

Oct 7, 2026

Omnicom Media has partnered with Rembrand to scale AI-powered in-content advertising across premium streaming inventory.

The capability combines audience data with Rembrand’s VISTA platform to identify scenes where brands can be inserted post-production, complementing traditional ad buys and expanding virtual product placement.

Omnicom says early research found that combining in-content placements with video ads significantly improved recall, purchase intent and premium brand perceptions. The offering is being integrated directly into Omnicom’s planning workflow.

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Marketers should be tracking ad awareness, says Thinkbox study, reports The Media Leader

General

Oct 6, 2026

Research commissioned by Thinkbox suggests ad awareness is a strong early indicator of advertising effectiveness, accounting for an average 17% of brand consideration.

The study found ad awareness influences consideration directly and indirectly through perceptions such as quality, reputation and value for money.

Thinkbox argues ad awareness changes faster than brand consideration, making it more useful for campaign optimisation. Its impact varies significantly by category, reaching 69% of consideration in quick-service restaurant delivery, 62% in lottery and 61% in ride-hailing.

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UK watchdog opens first Online Safety Act probe into Meta, reports Reuters

General

Oct 6, 2026

Responsible Media

Ofcom has opened its first formal investigation into Meta under the UK Online Safety Act, examining whether Instagram properly assessed risks before launching its disappearing-content Instants feature.

The regulator will assess whether Meta sufficiently considered illegal-content and child-safety risks. Meta says it conducted a risk analysis, briefed Ofcom and built protections into the feature.

If Ofcom finds non-compliance, Meta could face fines of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying global revenue.

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At S4 Capital’s Monks, agents can run autonomously, unsupervised for days, reports Digiday

General

Oct 6, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

S4 Capital’s Monks is increasingly using AI agents to work autonomously for up to several days, initially on software development and now expanding into social and performance marketing.

Human staff still define requirements, guardrails and quality standards, while agents divide tasks, test outputs and review each other’s work. Client adoption is expected to grow more cautiously, with strong demands for transparency and control.

The shift is changing workflows, staffing and budgets, with Monks increasingly treating AI token costs as part of its overall talent investment.

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OpenAI in Talks With UAE Funds, BlackRock for $30 Billion Round, reports Bloomberg

General

Oct 5, 2026

Investment Rounds

OpenAI is in talks with several UAE investment funds, including Abu Dhabi-based MGX, to support a planned $30 billion financing round.

The funds could form a syndicate to anchor the investment.

UAE investors have discussed contributing up to $10 billion collectively, according to people familiar with the talks.

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Amazon Executive to Join Pinterest as Chief Financial Officer, reports Bloomberg

General

Oct 5, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Pinterest has appointed Amazon veteran James Dibbo as chief financial officer, starting on 26 October.

Dibbo previously oversaw finance across Amazon Ads, Prime Video, MGM Studios, Music, Audible and Twitch, bringing experience in advertising and entertainment businesses.

He succeeds Julia Brau Donnelly and joins as Pinterest continues positioning itself around visual search, shopping and advertising, with a focus on making the platform more actionable for users and valuable to advertisers.

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Disney Wants Up to $12 Million for Super Bowl Commercials, Even With Big Game Ads Sold Out, reports Variety

General

Oct 5, 2026

Sports Marketing

Disney is seeking advertisers willing to pay $10 million-$12 million for 30-second Super Bowl spots that may become available if existing sponsors cancel commitments.

Although inventory officially sold out in July, Disney hopes to resell any returned slots at higher prices, potentially alongside additional spending across its wider ad portfolio.

The strategy follows earlier tensions with major advertisers over aggressive pricing. Disney initially sought $10 million per spot before selling much inventory closer to $8 million-$9 million, leaving some buyers dissatisfied with the process.

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TikTok leans into agentic commerce to take rational load out of making purchase decisions, reports The Media Leader

General

Oct 5, 2026

TikTok has launched AI-powered commerce features, including a conversational shopping assistant and in-app checkout, initially in the US.

The assistant answers product-specific questions using information from product pages but cannot recommend alternatives or complete purchases. TikTok says the aim is to make discovery and checkout more seamless while keeping users in control.

TikTok is also expanding advertiser automation through Smart+, lead-generation agents, broader AI-platform integrations and improved ROAS measurement that includes business costs such as commissions, coupons and referral fees.

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Skydance announces leadership for combined company, reports Axios

M&A

Oct 5, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Paramount has unveiled the leadership team for Skydance, the combined company formed from Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.

David Ellison will focus on long-term strategy, while co-CEO Ynon Kreiz will oversee day-to-day management and integration. Most senior WBD executives, including David Zaslav, are leaving.

Casey Bloys will co-lead streaming, George Cheeks remains in television, and Paramount’s film chiefs will oversee both studios. Mark Thompson stays at CNN, Bari Weiss remains at CBS, and the merger is expected to close Tuesday.

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Meta, TikTok, X challenge UK watchdog over online safety data demands, reports Reuters

General

Oct 5, 2026

Responsible Media

Meta, TikTok and X are challenging Ofcom over extensive data requests made under the UK’s Online Safety Act.

The companies argue the regulator’s demands for detailed moderation and harmful-content metrics are excessive, unclear and impose unprecedented compliance burdens.

Ofcom says the information is necessary to assess whether the new online safety regime is working effectively. The dispute is among the first major legal challenges to the Act, which allows fines of up to 10% of global turnover.

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OpenAI Is Piloting Brand Suitability Controls With DoubleVerify and IAS, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 5, 2026

OpenAI is testing brand suitability controls with DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science to give advertisers independent verification of ChatGPT’s advertising safeguards.

The firms will assess how OpenAI applies its brand safety standards within a controlled testing environment, without accessing private user conversations.

OpenAI says the initiative aims to increase advertiser transparency while protecting user privacy, as ChatGPT reaches 1.2 billion weekly users.

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TikTok Expands Its Off-Platform Ad Network to US Advertisers, reports AdWeek

General

Oct 5, 2026

TikTok is expanding its off-platform TikTok Ad Network to advertisers targeting US users, following limited testing in the market.

The network, previously known as Pangle, spans nearly 400,000 apps globally and includes both TikTok-owned and third-party applications.

The launch was announced at Advertising Week New York alongside new AI-powered shopping and automation tools, broadening TikTok’s advertising reach beyond its core platform.

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Apple blocks The Trade Desk, reports AdAge

General

Oct 2, 2026

Apple’s iOS 27 update has blocked several advertising identity providers, including The Trade Desk’s UID2, Permutive, ID5 and LiveRamp, from syncing identifiers in Safari.

For The Trade Desk, the change also disrupted ad delivery to Apple devices, although this may have been an unintended consequence and is being investigated.

The restrictions could make Safari advertising harder to target and measure, potentially reducing advertiser spend and publisher revenue. They also increase pressure on the industry to develop server-side alternatives to browser-based identity systems.

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Mash-Up of Paramount and Warner Bros. Will Be Called Skydance, reports NYT

M&A

Oct 2, 2026

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery will operate under the new corporate name Skydance when their merger closes on 6 October.

David Ellison said the Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. studio names will remain, while Skydance provides the combined company with a separate identity.

The new business will launch with about $80 billion in debt and plans for $6 billion in cost cuts. It must also meet merger commitments including releasing 30 films annually and investing an additional $1.5 billion in production.

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New Mexico wants Meta to pay up to $40 billion in penalties after data privacy trial, reports Reuters

General

Oct 2, 2026

New Mexico is seeking $35 billion to $40 billion in penalties from Meta after a jury found it misled consumers over Facebook data privacy and other policies.

Jurors found 26 of 29 statements misleading, amounting to more than 43 million violations of state consumer protection law.

Meta argues the proposed penalty is unconstitutional and should be capped at $3.45 billion. The judge, who can impose up to $5,000 per violation, is expected to rule later this month.

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Disney Planning TV Restructuring as Streamlining Continues, reports WSJ

General

Oct 1, 2026

Disney is planning a major restructuring of its television operations, expected to consolidate divisions and result in hundreds of layoffs.

The reorganisation aims to reduce silos and reshape the business around streaming customers rather than legacy linear TV brands. Further cuts are also expected across ABC News and other functions.

The move continues CEO Josh D’Amaro’s broader effort to streamline Disney, centralise operations and increase automation, following earlier layoffs across marketing, Pixar, ESPN, HR and technology.

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Paramount Dealmaker Says Warner Merger Is About Growth, Not Cuts, reports Bloomberg

M&A

Oct 1, 2026

RedBird Capital Partners founder Gerry Cardinale says Paramount Skydance’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will deliver stronger-than-expected results.

Cardinale, one of the architects of the deal, expects the combined company to achieve meaningful growth.

He said investors may be surprised by the business’s performance trajectory once the merger is completed.

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David Ellison Asks CNN CEO to Stay After Paramount-Warner Deal Closes, reports WSJ

M&A

Oct 1, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Paramount CEO David Ellison has asked CNN chief Mark Thompson to remain after the company completes its $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Thompson is seeking assurances of broad editorial independence, while Paramount is still deciding how CNN and CBS News will operate alongside each other.

The merger is expected to close on 6 October. Paramount has also agreed to establish an independent five-journalist board overseeing editorial standards at CNN and CBS News, while broader leadership changes continue across the combined company.

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Casey Bloys Hints that HBO Max Will Be Bundled With Paramount+, reports Bloomberg

M&A

Oct 1, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Warner Bros. Discovery executive Casey Bloys declined to discuss his expected role as Paramount Skydance moves closer to acquiring the company.

Bloys did, however, suggest Paramount+ and HBO Max could potentially coexist through a bundled offering rather than being fully combined.

He pointed to the existing HBO Max-Disney bundle as a successful example, saying a similar arrangement between the two streaming services could make sense.

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Comcast's NBCUniversal cuts streaming technology jobs, reports Reuters

General

Oct 1, 2026

NBCUniversal is cutting jobs across its global streaming technology organisation as parent Comcast restructures operations.

Most affected roles are at European media arm Sky, although some US-based NBCUniversal employees will also be impacted. Final numbers depend on employee consultations.

NBCUniversal says the changes aim to ensure the organisation has the right structure and resources for future growth, as media companies increasingly focus on improving streaming profitability after years of heavy investment in technology and content.

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Social media harms democracy by spreading rumors, survey shows, reports Reuters

General

Oct 1, 2026

Responsible Media

A Pew Research Center survey found growing concern worldwide that social media manipulates users, increases division and harms democracy.

While many respondents still believe social platforms inform people and amplify political voices, negative perceptions have risen since 2022. In the US, 64% said social media harms democracy.

Scepticism is generally higher in wealthier countries, while 82% of Australian adults support restricting social media access for children under 16. The survey covered more than 45,000 people across 37 countries.

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OpenAI’s measurement gaps are keeping ChatGPT ads budgets at test level, reports Digiday

General

Oct 1, 2026

Seven months after launching ChatGPT ads, OpenAI still faces major measurement challenges, including delayed or missing conversions, inconsistent click reporting and unpredictable inventory.

Many advertisers also hesitate to enable tracking or upload customer data because of legal and privacy concerns, limiting OpenAI’s ability to improve attribution and optimise campaigns.

Agencies increasingly want independent measurement before increasing spend. Until reporting, conversion tracking and bidding become more reliable, many advertisers are keeping ChatGPT budgets small despite interest in scaling.

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Amazon wants to own the long game in ad measurement, reports Digiday

General

Oct 1, 2026

Amazon says around 20% of advertising-driven sales value appears after standard attribution windows close, prompting it to push longer-term measurement.

Its long-term sales metric estimates 12-month value using signals such as branded searches, cart additions and new-to-brand behaviour, while newer tools aim to connect Amazon ads with off-platform and in-store sales.

Agencies remain cautious, citing limited data access and concerns over forecast accuracy. Amazon is expanding measurement and benchmarking to prove broader impact and encourage greater investment in its advertising platform.

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Paramount Settlement of Antitrust Case Approved by Judge, reports WSJ

M&A

Sep 30, 2026

A federal judge approved Paramount’s settlement with 12 state attorneys general, clearing a major obstacle to its $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Paramount agreed to invest at least $1.5 billion in US production, release 30 films annually for five years and create workforce-training funding. Failure to meet commitments could trigger financial penalties or asset divestments.

The company will also establish a five-journalist editorial-independence board for CNN and CBS News. The merger is expected to close on 6 October.

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Google asks EU court to suspend order to open up to AI chatbots, search engine rivals, reports Reuters

General

Sep 30, 2026

Google has asked an EU court to suspend an order requiring it to share search data with OpenAI and rival search engines.

The company argues the measure could cause serious harm to European users’ privacy and security, and has sought interim relief while challenging the wider order.

The European Commission says the rules are intended to increase competition and user choice while preserving data protection, integrity and security safeguards.

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Google announces Gemini 4 flagship AI model after months of delays, reports Reuters

General

Sep 30, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Google has unveiled Argon, its new flagship Gemini 4 model, designed to compete with OpenAI’s Astra and Anthropic’s Opus on advanced coding and cybersecurity tasks.

Google says Argon outperforms rivals on several benchmarks, though it trails on some coding tests. The company has shared it with selected cybersecurity partners but has not announced a public release date.

The launch follows months of delays, leadership changes at DeepMind and Google’s cancellation of Gemini 3.5 Pro, as it works to regain momentum in the AI race.

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Instagram rolls out an AI video assistant for creators, reports TechCrunch

General

Sep 30, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Instagram is adding an AI assistant to its Edits app, designed to give creators personalised performance feedback rather than generate creative decisions.

The tool analyses account metrics, comments, trends and audience interests to identify patterns and suggest actionable insights. Usage will be limited, with more available through Meta One subscriptions.

Meta’s approach is more analytics-focused than YouTube’s planned conversational editing tool, which is aimed more directly at helping creators edit videos using natural language.

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Ted Sarandos Admits Netflix Is Not Growing as Fast as I Want Us To, reports The Hollywood Reporter

General

Sep 30, 2026

Netflix viewership grew just 2% in the first half of 2026, prompting co-CEO Ted Sarandos to acknowledge engagement is rising more slowly than desired.

Live programming represents about 5% of Netflix’s content spend but only 1% of viewing, although it drives sign-ups, reduces churn and attracts advertisers.

Netflix remains focused on professionally produced content, including selected creator deals, but has no plans for a free ad-supported tier. Sarandos also said the impact of the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger remains uncertain.

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Only 6% of marketers say AI is paying off in a big way, reports Insider

General

Sep 30, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Despite widespread adoption, only 6% of marketing organisations report significant performance gains from AI, according to Bain research.

Higher-performing companies are seeing stronger results by centralising AI strategy, redesigning workflows, restructuring teams and focusing on customer-facing use cases such as personalisation and first-party data.

The findings suggest buying AI tools alone is insufficient. Marketing roles are also changing, with fewer narrow specialists and more cross-functional “orchestrators”, while companies increasingly reorganise teams around AI capabilities.

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Ellison Picks HBO Content Chief to Run Paramount-Warner Streaming Business, reports WSJ

M&A

Sep 29, 2026

Leadership Transitions

Paramount CEO David Ellison has selected HBO content chief Casey Bloys to lead streaming operations after its planned $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The decision prioritises continuity at HBO, while Paramount streaming chief Cindy Holland has left the company after about a year in the role.

Bloys has led HBO programming since 2016 and overseen major hits including Succession and The White Lotus. Further leadership changes are expected once the merger receives final court approval.

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OpenAI launches Dots, its Muse competitor, reports The Verge

General

Sep 29, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI has launched Dots, always-on AI assistants powered by GPT-6 Astra that can work across more than 4,000 connected apps and a cloud computer.

Dots can perform background tasks, provide updates, learn user preferences and collaborate through ChatGPT, Teams and Slack. Users can set rules controlling when agents act independently or request permission.

The feature launches for ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium users, with OpenAI planning multiple agents and specialist workplace Dots as it competes with Meta’s Muse.

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Mobile ad giants AppLovin and Unity locked in legal dispute over data collection, reports Digiday

General

Sep 29, 2026

AppLovin is suing rival Unity, alleging its Ad Quality SDK improperly collected data from AppLovin-served ads and used it to compete in mobile advertising auctions.

AppLovin wants the court to restrict Unity’s collection and use of this data while related arbitration proceeds. Unity denies wrongdoing and argues the lawsuit is intended to hinder competition.

The dispute centres on data ownership, trade secrets and whether ad quality tools can legally gather and use information generated through rival advertising platforms.

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Top AI executives sign commitment to self-police after meeting at White House, reports CNN

General

Sep 29, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

President Trump announced a voluntary AI safety pact with major technology companies, emphasising industry self-policing rather than additional regulation.

The agreement requires internal cybersecurity controls, independent assessments and board oversight. Signatories include Google, Anthropic, Meta, Nvidia, OpenAI, X and others.

The pact follows several incidents involving advanced AI models acting without authorisation, increasing pressure for stronger safeguards. Trump nevertheless remains opposed to slowing US AI development, citing competition with China.

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Google challenges EU orders to open up to AI, search-engine rivals, reports Reuters

General

Sep 29, 2026

Google is challenging two EU orders requiring it to open services to AI rivals and share search data with competing search engines under the Digital Markets Act.

Google argues the measures could expose sensitive search histories and weaken Android security, causing irreversible harm to user privacy.

The European Commission says its decisions include safeguards for security and personal data, while DuckDuckGo supports the EU’s approach and argues Google’s appeal mainly delays implementation.

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