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Ebiquity Transmit

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AppLovin Is Divesting Its Apps Business To Become A Pure Advertising Platform, reports AdExchanger

M&A

Feb 12, 2025

AppLovin’s stock surged 28% after announcing plans to sell its apps business for $900 million next quarter, solidifying its shift to becoming a pure advertising platform.

CEO Adam Foroughi stated that gaming acquisitions helped train Axon, its AI-powered ad tech, but the company is now expanding beyond gaming. A pilot for ecommerce advertisers has shown promise, positioning AppLovin as a potential alternative to Meta. The focus for 2025 is on automated self-serve ad buying to scale efficiently.

Q4 revenue grew 44% YoY to $1.37 billion, with $4.7 billion total revenue in 2024, despite recent layoffs to streamline operations.

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Expert Opinions

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Disney making changes to its DEI efforts, reports Axios

General

Feb 11, 2025

Diversity & Inclusion

Disney is adjusting its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to focus more on business impact. It is replacing its "Diversity & Inclusion" performance factor with "Talent Strategy" in executive evaluations and rebranding its employee groups. The company has also removed auto-play content advisories on older films, shifting them to the details section.

CEO Bob Iger aims to prioritise entertainment over political messaging, a strategy that has improved Disney’s reputation among conservatives.

The changes reflect broader corporate shifts in response to evolving political pressures, particularly under the Trump administration.

Primary Source Earnings Report

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LVMH media unit refrains from lawsuit against Musk-owned X, reports Reuters

General

Feb 11, 2025

LVMH-owned newspaper group Les Echos-Le Parisien has withdrawn from a planned lawsuit against Elon Musk’s X, despite initially supporting legal action with other French media over unpaid content usage. Le Monde and Le Figaro have proceeded with the case, which seeks compensation under EU copyright rules.

While LVMH has not commented on its decision, the move avoids conflict between Bernard Arnault and Musk, a key Trump ally. Les Echos-Le Parisien remains involved in a separate lawsuit against Microsoft’s LinkedIn.

LVMH continues to expand its media presence, recently acquiring Paris Match and supporting reduced bureaucracy in France.

Primary Source Earnings Report

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Vance Warns U.S. Allies to Keep AI Regulation Light, reports WSJ

General

Feb 11, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

At the Paris AI summit, U.S. Vice President JD Vance urged allies to adopt a light-touch regulatory approach to AI, warning that excessive regulation could hinder innovation. His stance contrasted with European leaders advocating for stricter AI governance and collaboration.

The EU announced a €20 billion AI investment programme, while France is leveraging nuclear power to develop AI infrastructure.

Vance criticised European regulations targeting U.S. tech firms and warned against Chinese AI influence. The summit ended without U.S. and UK support for a joint AI declaration, highlighting global divisions on AI policy and regulation.

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EU Sets Out $200 Billion AI Spending Plan in Bid to Catch Up With U.S. and China, reports WSJ

General

Feb 11, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

The European Union has pledged €200 billion to boost AI development and compete with the U.S. and China.

The InvestAI initiative includes a €20 billion fund for AI gigafactories, which will use advanced chips to train large-scale models. This follows a €150 billion private investment commitment from major firms. The EU aims to build gigafactories with 100,000 AI chips, quadrupling current facilities. Funding will come from existing EU programmes and member state contributions.

The move comes as the U.S. and China accelerate AI investments, with OpenAI and Beijing-backed initiatives making significant progress in the field.

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Fox Attracts Record-High 126 Million Viewers for the Super Bowl, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 11, 2025

The Philadelphia Eagles’ 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs set a record Super Bowl audience, drawing 126 million viewers across Fox, Tubi, and Telemundo. Despite the high viewership, the game lacked suspense, with the Eagles dominating early.

Jalen Hurts was named MVP, and rookie Cooper DeJean scored a touchdown on his birthday. The event featured Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show and celebrity appearances, including Taylor Swift.

Super Bowl ads reached record prices of $8 million for 30 seconds. Some viewers reported streaming issues on Tubi, though it had the shortest broadcast delay among streaming services.

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Thomson Reuters Wins First Major AI Copyright Case in the US, reports Wired

General

Feb 11, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Thomson Reuters has won the first major AI copyright case in the US against Ross Intelligence, which was found to have infringed Westlaw’s copyright.

Judge Stephanos Bibas ruled that fair use did not apply, as Ross aimed to create a competing legal research product. The ruling is a setback for AI companies relying on copyrighted material, with legal experts warning it could complicate future fair use defences.

Ross Intelligence shut down in 2021 due to litigation costs, while larger AI firms like OpenAI and Google continue facing similar lawsuits in multiple countries over AI training data usage.

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You May See Ads on Disney+ Live Programming, Even If You Have Ad-Free Tier, reports AdWeek

General

Feb 11, 2025

Disney+ has redefined its "ad-free" subscription, now allowing ads in live sports, 24/7 channels, and linear programming, even for premium subscribers. This shift aligns with competitors like Peacock and Paramount+, which show ads during live events.

The update, effective from March 24, 2025, applies across Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu. While live content has traditionally included ad breaks, the vagueness of Disney+’s updated terms raises concerns about potential future ad placements in on-demand content.

As streaming platforms expand into live programming, the concept of an entirely ad-free experience is becoming increasingly uncertain for subscribers.

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YouTube Viewing on TV Now Surpasses Mobile, Desktop in U.S., reports Variety

General

Feb 11, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan highlighted the platform’s growing role in entertainment as it marks its 20th anniversary. He emphasised the rise of creators as “Hollywood startups”, with many building professional studios.

TV has overtaken mobile as the top device for YouTube viewing in the US, capturing 11.1% of streaming watch time. YouTube is expanding AI tools, podcast support, and advertising formats while integrating second-screen experiences. It also launched an AI-powered auto-dubbing feature for creators and partnered with CAA to combat AI-generated deepfakes.

Mohan sees AI and creator-led content shaping YouTube’s future across TV, sports, and cultural moments.

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Groundbreaking BBC research shows issues with over half the answers from Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistants, reports BBC

General

Feb 11, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

A BBC study on AI assistants’ ability to report news found significant factual errors and misrepresentations. 51% of AI-generated responses had issues, with 19% introducing factual inaccuracies and 13% fabricating or altering quotes.

The research, testing ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Perplexity, revealed errors such as incorrect political leadership and misrepresentation of NHS advice on vaping.

BBC's Pete Archer stressed the need for accurate AI-generated information and called for stronger collaboration between AI firms and media. The BBC urges greater transparency in how AI processes news to ensure trustworthy reporting for audiences.

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Publicis Sports creates dedicated women’s sports unit, reports Digiday

General

Feb 11, 2025

Publicis Media has launched Women’s Sports Connect (WSC), a dedicated women’s sports investment unit within Publicis Sports, targeting a $1.28 billion market. WSC will focus on media, content, sponsorships, influencers, and events at both collegiate and professional levels. It has already partnered with Disney Advertising, Roku’s Women’s Sports Now, and NBCUniversal Local.

The initiative follows growing audience engagement in women’s sports, particularly basketball.

Publicis aims to simplify investment for brands, addressing market fragmentation rather than focusing on spending disparities. Brands that overlook women’s sports risk being left behind, says Disney Advertising’s Rita Ferro.

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Senator Pushes Zuckerberg on Perverse Abuse of Nudify Ads After 404 Media Report, reports 404 Media

General

Feb 11, 2025

Responsible Media

Senator Dick Durbin has written to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding answers on Meta’s role in directing traffic to AI-generated nonconsensual nude image apps like Crushmate. A 404 Media report found that 90% of Crushmate’s traffic comes from Meta ads, despite violating its policies.

Durbin asked Meta to explain its advertising safeguards, enforcement strategies, and public education efforts on deepfake harms.

Investigations revealed that while Meta removes explicit content from regular posts, similar images remain in paid ads. Durbin warned that such AI misuse is fueling harassment, extortion, and abuse, especially among students, with devastating consequences.

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OpenAI Has Spoken to Government Officials About DeepSeek Probe, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 10, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI is investigating whether China’s DeepSeek used its data without authorisation to develop its AI model. Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s global affairs chief, confirmed discussions with government officials but provided no details.

Microsoft first alerted OpenAI to DeepSeek-linked groups extracting large amounts of data. OpenAI suspects DeepSeek trained its models using OpenAI’s proprietary outputs, a method known as distillation. Critics argue OpenAI’s own data practices are similar, but Lehane defended its approach, comparing it to borrowing from a library, whereas unauthorised replication equates to stealing and rebranding a book for profit.

The inquiry remains ongoing.

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Microsoft Hit by French Antitrust Probe Over Rivals’ Bing Access, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 10, 2025

French antitrust regulators are investigating Microsoft over concerns it is degrading search results for smaller rivals using Bing’s technology. The probe focuses on whether Microsoft has abused its position in search-engine syndication by providing inferior results to competitors like DuckDuckGo and Qwant. If wrongdoing is found, Microsoft could face charges and a substantial fine.

The investigation is part of France’s broader crackdown on Big Tech, which has already targeted Google, Nvidia, and Apple.

Microsoft, which has largely avoided European antitrust scrutiny, is also under EU investigation over its bundling of Teams with Office 365.

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Meta Starts Eliminating Jobs in Shift to Find AI Talent, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 10, 2025

Meta has begun notifying employees of job cuts, aiming to lay off 5% of its workforce, or around 3,600 people, as part of a broader effort to optimise talent and compete in AI. Affected US employees were informed via email and offered severance packages, while international layoffs will follow. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the cuts will allow Meta to hire stronger talent.

This follows previous layoffs in 2022 and 2023.

Meta is heavily investing in AI across its platforms, with plans to spend hundreds of billions on infrastructure to stay ahead of competitors like OpenAI and DeepSeek.

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Elon Musk-Led Group Makes $97.4 Billion Bid for Control of OpenAI, reports WSJ

M&A

Feb 10, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk and a group of investors have offered $97.4 billion to acquire OpenAI’s nonprofit arm, escalating his legal and strategic battle with CEO Sam Altman. The bid, backed by xAI and major investors, could complicate OpenAI’s planned transition into a for-profit entity.

Altman swiftly rejected the offer, mocking Musk’s proposal. OpenAI is separately negotiating a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank, which could value the company at $300 billion.

Musk has accused OpenAI of betraying its nonprofit mission, while Altman insists the company is fairly compensating stakeholders in its transformation.

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Netflix readies pan-European rollout of its in-house ad tech amid pricing competition, reports Digiday

General

Feb 10, 2025

Netflix is expanding its programmatic advertising in Europe, integrating with Google and The Trade Desk. The move follows a successful rollout in the Americas as Netflix prioritises ad growth in 2025.

Advertisers in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the UK can now buy ad time, but age-based targeting and program-level ad placements remain limited to direct buys. Pricing pressures remain a challenge, with CPM rates still higher than Amazon’s offerings.

While Netflix’s ad revenue doubled in 2024, agencies expect further cost reductions and technical improvements to make its ad inventory more competitive in the CTV advertising market.

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Did Meta just launch a CDP with Signals Gateway, reports MarTech

General

Feb 10, 2025

Meta has introduced Signals Gateway, a first-party data solution that some industry experts, including the CDP Institute, consider a customer data platform (CDP). The launch comes amid CDP market consolidation, with acquisitions like Rokt buying mParticle.

Signals Gateway, developed over two years, helps businesses collect, process, and transmit data across platforms while maintaining privacy controls. It runs on AWS and Google Cloud, with Meta claiming it has no access to the data. However, concerns over trust and data privacy persist.

Analysts are comparing its functionality to Google Tag Manager (GTM) to assess its competitive positioning.

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ITV investors back M&A talks as rivals circle, reports FT

M&A

Feb 9, 2025

ITV is exploring a potential deal for its production arm, with investors supportive of management’s efforts to unlock value. Talks have been held with RedBird IMI, which acquired All3Media last year, raising the possibility of a £3 billion merger. Private equity firms CVC and Blackstone, as well as Banijay, are also interested. ITV’s largest shareholder, Liberty Global, supports management’s strategy.

While ITV Studios provides hit shows like Love Island, some investors believe separating the business could better reflect its value.

CEO Carolyn McCall may seek a defining legacy, but any deal must ensure ITV’s broadcasting future remains secure.

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Macron signals investments of 109 billion euros in French AI by private sector, reports Reuters

General

Feb 9, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

France will announce €109 billion in private sector investments in artificial intelligence during the Paris AI summit. This includes €20 billion from Canadian firm Brookfield, primarily for data centres, and up to €50 billion from the UAE, which will help fund a 1-gigawatt data centre.

The investments aim to boost AI infrastructure as Europe struggles to meet energy demands. The announcement follows the US plan to invest $500 billion in AI to maintain its lead over China.

President Emmanuel Macron sees these investments as crucial for France’s position in the global AI race.

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TikTok quietly disappears from smart TVs, reports Axios

General

Feb 8, 2025

Major streaming TV companies, including Samsung, LG, Vizio, Amazon, Google, and Apple, have removed TikTok from their smart TV platforms, complying with the U.S. ban that took effect on 19 January. While President Trump’s executive order delayed enforcement by 75 days, most corporations have followed the law. Google and Apple also removed the app from their mobile stores.

TikTok’s expansion into smart TVs aimed to grow its audience and ad revenue, but access is now limited to users who already have the app installed.

Cloud providers like Oracle and Akamai remain among the few firms resisting the ban.

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Elon Musk says he is not interested in buying TikTok, reports Reuters

M&A

Feb 8, 2025

Elon Musk has stated he has no interest in purchasing TikTok, despite speculation following US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he could. Musk clarified that he rarely acquires companies and is unfamiliar with TikTok’s format. The US has been pressuring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US assets due to national security concerns.

While Apple and Google have not reinstated the app, TikTok is offering Android users downloads via its website.

Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok, now expresses support for it, crediting the platform for helping him gain young voters in the 2024 election.

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SEC Confirms Game Service Roblox Part of Active Investigation, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 7, 2025

Roblox Corp. is under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), though the subject of the probe remains unclear. The SEC confirmed the ongoing enforcement proceeding in response to a Freedom of Information Act request but declined to provide further details. Roblox has previously faced scrutiny over child safety concerns and allegations of inflating user metrics. The company has implemented safety measures, including restricting social chat for under-13s.

Roblox shares fell 11% after reporting slower-than-expected user growth, with 85.3 million active users at year-end.

The company has not commented on the SEC investigation.

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Pinterest Earnings For CY2024 Show +19.3% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +5329.2% YoY

+ 19% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 7, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Reuters reports:

Pinterest's shares surged 20% after forecasting higher-than-expected first-quarter revenue, driven by AI-powered ad tools like Performance+ that improve targeting and automation. CEO Bill Ready highlighted that advertisers now need 50% fewer inputs to create campaigns.

The company reported record Q4 revenue of $1.15 billion, supported by strong ad spending in retail, tech, and financial services. Pinterest expects Q1 revenue between $837 million and $852 million, surpassing analysts’ estimates. Monthly active users reached 553 million.

Analysts remain optimistic, with 27 brokerages raising price targets. Pinterest trades at a lower earnings multiple than Meta and Snap, making it an attractive investment.

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Amazon Earnings For CY2024 Show +11.0% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +94.7% YoY

+ 11% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 7, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

WSJ reports:

Amazon is significantly increasing its capital expenditure for 2025, projecting around $105 billion, a 35% rise from last year and exceeding analyst expectations. This follows a broader trend among Big Tech firms, with Alphabet planning $75 billion, Meta up to $65 billion, and Microsoft nearly $94 billion in AI-related spending. The surge comes despite concerns over cost-cutting breakthroughs by China’s DeepSeek.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy dismissed fears of reduced AI investment, highlighting strong demand for AWS.

However, Amazon’s shares fell over 4% in after-hours trading as its revenue and earnings forecast fell short of Wall Street estimates.

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French prosecutors probe Musk's X over alleged algorithmic bias, reports Reuters

General

Feb 7, 2025

Responsible Media

French prosecutors have launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X over alleged algorithmic bias. The probe follows a complaint from lawmaker Eric Bothorel, who claims X's algorithms may have distorted automated data processing. The Paris cybercrime unit is conducting initial technical checks.

The investigation comes ahead of a major AI summit in Paris and amid global concerns over X’s influence, particularly as Musk has supported right-wing parties. X has not responded to requests for comment.

The case highlights increasing scrutiny of major tech platforms and their potential role in political interference and misinformation.

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German civil activists win victory in election case against Musk's X, reports Reuters

General

Feb 7, 2025

A German court has ruled that Elon Musk’s social media platform X must provide researchers with data to track misinformation before Germany’s national election on 23 February.

The lawsuit, filed by civil rights groups GFF and Democracy Reporting International, argued that X is legally required to grant access to post reach, shares, and likes. The court stated that further delays would undermine election research and ordered X to cover legal costs.

The ruling comes amid concerns over misinformation, particularly after Musk endorsed the far-right AfD party. X has not responded to the ruling or requests for comment.

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Roblox Earnings For CY 2024 Show +28.7% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Loss Down By -18.8% YoY

+ 29% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 6, 2025

Gaming / Metaverse

CNBC reports:

Roblox shares dropped 11.1% after missing Wall Street’s expectations for bookings and daily active users.

The company reported fourth-quarter bookings of $1.36 billion, below the $1.37 billion forecast, while daily active users grew 19% to 85.3 million, missing estimates of 88.2 million. Roblox expects 2025 bookings between $5.20 billion and $5.30 billion. CEO David Baszucki highlighted investments in AI-driven discovery and safety. The stock, which peaked in November 2021, is now down 53% from its all-time high.

The decline reflects broader industry struggles, with Electronic Arts also cutting its forecast due to slowing game sales.

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Meta Tests Streamlined Advantage+ Campaign Setup, reports AdAge

General

Feb 6, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Meta has updated its Advantage+ AI-powered ad suite, testing a streamlined campaign setup that integrates manual and AI-driven optimisation within the same ad set. Advertisers can toggle Advantage+ on or off and receive AI-generated recommendations while maintaining control over their campaigns.

The company also introduced Advantage+ leads campaigns, aimed at improving lead quality, with test campaigns seeing lower costs per lead. Additionally, Advantage+ shopping campaigns have been renamed Advantage+ sales campaigns, and the Opportunity Score tool is expanding.

Meta’s AI-powered ad offerings grew 70% year-over-year, with an 8% improvement in ad quality since launching its Andromeda retrieval engine.

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Roblox Earnings For CY 2024 Show +28.7% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Loss Down By -18.8% YoY

+ 29% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 6, 2025

Gaming / Metaverse

Reuters reports:

Roblox forecast 2025 bookings between $5.20 billion and $5.30 billion, slightly below analyst estimates, causing its shares to drop 17%. Despite concerns about slowing growth, the company still expects 20% annual growth, outpacing the broader gaming market, which grew 2.1% in 2024. Daily active users declined to 85.3 million in Q4, partly due to tough year-over-year comparisons and a suspension in Turkey over safety concerns.

Analysts remain divided, with some calling the stock reaction overblown.

Roblox continues to expand into new genres, ads, and e-commerce to drive long-term growth.

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Dentsu Taps WPP Vet Kaminkow As NA CEO, Succeeds Komasinski, reports MediaPost

General

Feb 6, 2025

Leadership Transitions

Dentsu has appointed Beth Ann Kaminkow as CEO of Dentsu North America, effective 16 June.

She replaces Michael Komasinski, who left in January to become CEO of Criteo.

Kaminkow was previously Global Chief Commerce Officer and CEO NY at VML, where she helped expand the agency’s Commerce Practice and Enterprise Solutions. She has also served as Global CEO of VMLY&R Commerce/Geometry, Global CMO of Westfield Corp, CEO of Kantar Consulting, and was the first female CEO at TracyLocke.

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YouTube Is Buying TikTok Ads to Lure Creators Before US Ban, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 6, 2025

Influencer Marketing

YouTube is running ads on TikTok to attract creators to its platform, capitalising on TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S. The ads encourage users to join YouTube and monetise their content.mYouTube joins Instagram and X in targeting TikTok creators ahead of a potential U.S. ban in April.

Meanwhile, Google stands to benefit from TikTok’s removal, as both YouTube and YouTube Shorts could gain traffic. Google has already blocked TikTok from its Play Store, and Beijing has responded with an antitrust investigation into Google.

MrBeast is reportedly exploring investment opportunities in TikTok’s U.S. operations, despite ByteDance denying any sale plans.

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Amazon’s advertising acceleration drive includes a partnership program to reduce operational costs, reports Digiday

General

Feb 6, 2025

Amazon is expanding its ad tech capabilities, integrating third-party partners into a beta program for its Dynamic Traffic Engine.

This tool helps Amazon’s demand-side platform (DSP) optimise inventory management by signalling supply needs in real-time, reducing wasted bid requests and lowering operational costs for supply-side platforms (SSPs). Partners include Index Exchange, TripleLift, and Yieldmo.

The initiative is part of Amazon’s Performance+ program, aimed at attracting non-endemic advertisers. Amazon’s DSP is gaining traction, with two-thirds of advertisers now using it, driven by the rise of retail media and advanced measurement tools, challenging Google and The Trade Desk.

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White House says it will cancel $8 million in Politico subscriptions after a false right-wing conspiracy theory spreads, reports CNN

General

Feb 5, 2025

News Publishing

The White House announced it will cancel $8 million worth of Politico subscriptions, following a right-wing conspiracy theory falsely claiming Politico and the Associated Press received USAID funding. In reality, the payments covered federal agencies’ subscriptions to Politico Pro.

The false claim, spread by conservative commentator Kyle Becker, gained traction among far-right media figures and was amplified by Elon Musk, who called it a “waste of taxpayer money.” Politico and AP denied receiving government subsidies, stating that agencies, like corporations, purchase premium subscriptions for news access.

This mirrors Trump’s 2019 push to end federal subscriptions to major newspapers.

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Criteo Earnings For CY 2024 Show -0.8% YoY Revenue Decline, Net Income Up By +109.9% YoY

-1% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 5, 2025

Digiday reports:

Criteo’s earnings call marked the transition from outgoing CEO Megan Clarken to Michael Komasinski, highlighting a shift from ad retargeting to retail media.

Clarken stated Criteo no longer relies on third-party cookies, with retargeting now 40% of its business, down from 2020. Retail media grew 25% year-on-year, while performance media saw mixed results.

Criteo faces competition from Amazon’s expanding ad business but has a key partnership with Microsoft Advertising. Speculation continues over a potential acquisition by Microsoft, as Criteo navigates the uncertain cookieless future and deepens ties with agency holding groups.

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A Third Of Advertisers Struggle With Retail Media ROI, reports MediaPost

General

Feb 5, 2025

Skai’s State of Retail Media 2025 report, developed with the Path to Purchase Institute, highlights key industry trends, including AI adoption, social commerce, and the demand for incrementality measurement.

While 92% of advertisers prioritise retail media, 32% struggle with proving ROI, and many face challenges integrating offsite media. Omnichannel integration remains a goal, but technological and measurement limitations persist. Social commerce and connected TV (CTV) are expected to reshape retail media, with platforms like Amazon and Walmart embedding shopping functions.

Retail media networks that fail to deliver actionable insights risk losing advertiser confidence, according to the report.

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German activists sue X demanding election influence data, reports Reuters

General

Feb 5, 2025

Two activist groups, Society for Civil Rights (GFF) and Democracy Reporting International (DRI), have sued Elon Musk’s X in a Berlin court, accusing it of violating the EU’s Digital Services Act by refusing to provide data on post reach, likes, and shares. The lawsuit comes ahead of Germany’s 23 February election, amid concerns over disinformation campaigns.

Other platforms have granted access, but X has restricted researchers' data access since Musk’s takeover.

The urgency is heightened by Musk’s recent endorsement of the far-right AfD party, raising concerns about X’s role in influencing democratic elections.

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Google Kills Diversity Hiring Targets, reports WSJ

General

Feb 5, 2025

Diversity & Inclusion

Google is ending its diversity hiring targets and reviewing DEI programmes, aligning with other tech giants scaling back DEI initiatives. The company will no longer set aspirational workforce representation goals, first introduced in 2020. It is also evaluating DEI-related grants, training, and annual diversity reports, citing legal and policy changes under President Trump.

Meta and Amazon have made similar moves, while Apple faces shareholder pressure to end DEI efforts.

Despite these changes, Google says it remains committed to fair hiring and employee resource groups, while continuing office expansions in diverse cities but without specific diversity goals.

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Google introduces new class of cheap AI models as cost concerns intensify, reports Reuters

General

Feb 5, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Google has updated its Gemini AI models, introducing Flash-Lite, a lower-cost alternative to compete with DeepSeek. It also released Gemini 2.0 Flash to the public and began testing a new Pro version. Flash-Lite is priced at $0.019 per million tokens, cheaper than OpenAI’s model but slightly higher than DeepSeek’s.

Investor concerns over rising AI development costs have impacted Alphabet’s stock, especially after announcing a 29% higher-than-expected capital expenditure increase.

Despite DeepSeek’s low-cost AI training, major players like Google, Microsoft, and Meta continue heavy investment in AI.

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Banks Sell $5.5 Billion of X Loans After Investor Interest Surges, reports WSJ

General

Feb 5, 2025

Investment Rounds

Elon Musk’s X Corp. secured $5.5 billion in debt financing, exceeding expectations as investors bet on Musk’s influence and X’s improving finances. The company’s 2024 revenue was $2.7 billion, with $1.25 billion in adjusted earnings, buoyed by financial transfers from Musk’s AI firm, xAI, in which X holds a 10% stake.

Advertisers, including Amazon, are returning, boosting confidence in X’s turnaround. Banks, which financed Musk’s 2022 buyout, offloaded risky loans, but $6 billion in debt remains.

Despite progress, X faces high interest costs exceeding $1 billion annually, leaving limited funds for future investment.

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EU pushes ahead with enforcing AI Act despite Donald Trump warnings, reports FT

General

Feb 5, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

The EU has issued new guidance on its AI Act, clarifying banned uses such as internet scraping for facial recognition and detailing compliance expectations. The AI Act, passed in 2023, aims to regulate high-risk AI systems while balancing innovation.

Trump has criticised EU regulations, threatening action against US tech companies, as Brussels reassesses probes into Apple, Meta, and Google. Despite pressure, the EU insists the law will not change but may be applied flexibly.

Big Tech opposes transparency requirements, while negotiations on AI governance continue, with a code of practice for general-purpose AI models expected by April.

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China Weighs Probe Into Apple’s App Store Fees and Practices, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 5, 2025

China’s antitrust regulator is examining Apple’s App Store policies and fees, including its 30% commission on in-app purchases and restrictions on third-party payments and app stores.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has been in discussions with Apple and developers like Tencent and ByteDance, with a formal probe possible if Apple resists changes. The review comes amid escalating US-China trade tensions, with Trump imposing tariffs and China retaliating.

Apple, already facing competition from Huawei and declining Chinese revenue, risks further regulatory pressure as Beijing increases scrutiny on foreign and domestic tech giants like Google and Nvidia.

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Trump wants a TikTok deal. China may pull the plug, reports The Washington Post

General

Feb 5, 2025

Negotiations for TikTok’s U.S. sale are stalling as China delays approval, potentially letting the app shut down rather than agreeing to a deal. Beijing seeks broader concessions on trade and tech policy from the Trump administration.

While Trump pushes for a sale, potential buyers include Elon Musk, Microsoft, and Kevin O’Leary. However, ByteDance has little incentive to sell, as losing TikTok’s U.S. market would not severely impact its global business.

Regulatory hurdles in both countries could block a deal, and China may use export controls to prevent TikTok’s algorithm from being sold to a U.S. company.

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Alphabet Earnings For CY2024 Show +13.9% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +35.7% YoY

+ 14% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 4, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

FT reports:

Alphabet's fourth-quarter revenue rose 12% to $96.5bn, but missed analyst estimates, with net income up 28% to $26.5bn.

Google Cloud revenue grew 30% to nearly $12bn, slowing from 35% in the previous quarter and falling short of forecasts. The company’s capital expenditure surged to $14.3bn due to AI infrastructure investments, with plans to spend $75bn in 2025. Alphabet shares dropped over 6% in after-hours trading.

Rivals Microsoft and Meta also reported high AI-related spending, with Microsoft investing $22.6bn and Meta pledging to continue heavy investment in AI research and infrastructure.

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Publicis Groupe Earnings For CY2024 Show +8.3% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +4.8% YoY

+ 8% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 4, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Reuters reports:

Publicis expects 4%-5% organic growth in 2025, slightly slower than its 5.8% growth in 2024, which exceeded forecasts.

CEO Arthur Sadoun emphasised continued investment in AI, technology, and proprietary data, with €100 million allocated to AI development within CoreAI. The company plans €800-900 million in acquisitions targeting digital media and tech. Publicis' data-driven strategy, including Sapient and Epsilon, has fuelled 40% of its growth since 2020.

It projects an operating margin above 18%, free cash flow of €1.9-2.0 billion, and has proposed a €3.60 dividend per share, up 5.9% from last year.

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Omnicom Earnings For CY2024 Show +6.8% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +6.8% YoY

+ 7% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 4, 2025

AdExchanger reports:

Omnicom expects $750 million in cost savings from its IPG acquisition, likely leading to layoffs in regional and back-office roles. CEO John Wren assured that client-facing employees will not be affected. He highlighted AI investments and the integration of IPG’s Acxiom to enhance first-party data management and drive ad spend growth.

The merger is undergoing regulatory review, with a shareholder vote on 18 March.

Omnicom reported $15.7 billion in 2024 revenue, with 5.2% organic growth, but projects 3.5%-4.5% growth for 2025, citing political uncertainty in the US, its largest market.

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Spotify Earnings For CY2024 Show +18.3% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +313.9% YoY

+ 18% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 4, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

FT reports:

Spotify reported its first annual operating profit since launching in 2008, driven by subscriber growth and cost-cutting measures. Operating income reached €1.4bn in 2024, with revenue rising 16% to €4.2bn. Paying subscribers increased 11% to 263mn, while monthly active users hit 675mn, exceeding forecasts. The company benefited from price increases and expansion into podcasts, videos, and audiobooks.

Spotify expects €548mn in operating profit for Q1 2025. CEO Daniel Ek highlighted AI-driven innovations and new product tiers as future growth areas.

The Wrapped feature significantly boosted engagement, particularly in Europe, North America, and Latin America.

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Snap Earnings For CY 2024 Show +16.4% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Loss Down By -47.2% YoY

+ 16% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 4, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Bloomberg reports:

Snap Inc. reported stronger-than-expected Q4 revenue, with sales rising 14% to $1.56 billion and an optimistic Q1 forecast. A shift to direct-response ads and new advertising formats attracted smaller businesses, driving growth. User engagement rose, with 453 million daily active users, boosted by video content.

Snap invests in AI for ad placement and video recommendations, spending $1.5 billion in 2024.

CEO Evan Spiegel highlighted uncertainty around TikTok as a potential benefit for Snap. The company is also expanding beyond ads, with 14 million subscribers to its paid service and a growing smart glasses business.

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Elon Musk’s X Becomes Weapon in Government Cost Cutting, reports NYT

General

Feb 4, 2025

Responsible Media

Elon Musk is using his social media platform, X, to promote his federal cost-cutting initiative, DOGE, while aggressively criticising agencies and political opponents. He has targeted U.S.A.I.D., calling it “evil,” and challenged the Treasury Department and IRS.

Musk’s influence has led to agency shutdowns, lease cancellations, and personnel removals, sparking backlash from lawmakers. His political activism on X aligns with Trump’s administration, raising conflict-of-interest concerns due to Musk’s government contracts. He has also defended his team, removing posts and accounts revealing their identities.

His approach appeals to Trump’s base, positioning himself as a key force in Washington’s bureaucratic shake-up.

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Meta’s Kaplan Signals Pushback Against EU Regulation for AI, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 4, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Meta’s new global affairs chief, Joel Kaplan, has stated that the company will not sign the EU’s AI Code of Practice, calling it “unworkable and infeasible.”

Speaking at an event in Brussels, Kaplan criticised the burden on Western open-source AI models and said Meta would keep the Trump administration informed of its regulatory challenges abroad. Meta also plans to expand Community Notes in the US first, replacing third-party fact-checkers, with an international rollout likely in 2026.

Meta joins other US tech firms, including Apple, in pushing back against EU regulations impacting their businesses.

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Elon Musk and OpenAI head to court to spar over nonprofit conversion, reports Reuters

General

Feb 4, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk and OpenAI are set for a courtroom battle as a judge hears arguments on Musk’s lawsuit to block OpenAI’s conversion into a for-profit entity. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but later left, claims the company betrayed its nonprofit mission in pursuit of profits. OpenAI argues the shift is necessary to secure funding, including a $25 billion round with SoftBank.

The lawsuit has expanded to antitrust claims, while OpenAI seeks dismissal, stating Musk should compete in the market, not in court.

Experts note that such nonprofit-to-profit conversions are rare outside the healthcare sector.

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China anti-monopoly regulator launches probe into Google, reports Reuters

General

Feb 4, 2025

China's anti-monopoly regulator has launched an investigation into Google, just minutes after U.S. President Donald Trump’s 10% tariff on Chinese goods took effect. Announced by the State Administration of Market Regulation, the probe alleges that Google may have violated China’s anti-monopoly law, though no specific details were provided.

The move comes as Beijing retaliates with tariffs on U.S. products like coal and oil.

Despite Google’s search engine being blocked in China, the company still operates through local advertising partnerships. Google has not yet responded to the investigation.

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Microsoft’s Mustafa Suleyman poaches DeepMind staff behind popular AI podcasting feature, reports FT

General

Feb 4, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft’s AI chief, Mustafa Suleyman, has hired three senior scientists from Google DeepMind to advance Microsoft’s AI capabilities. Marco Tagliasacchi and Zalán Borsos helped develop Google’s podcast-generating “Audio Overviews” and worked on Astra, an upcoming AI agent. Matthias Minderer will focus on AI vision capabilities.

The researchers join Microsoft’s AI lab in Zurich as part of Suleyman’s efforts to enhance Copilot and build interactive AI agents.

This move highlights the fierce competition for AI talent among Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Amazon, all racing to develop multimodal AI capable of understanding text, audio, and video.

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Google Appeal of Epic App Win Eyed by Skeptical Court, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 4, 2025

A U.S. federal appeals court in San Francisco appeared skeptical of Google’s argument that competition with Apple justifies overturning a jury verdict that found Google had an illegal monopoly over Android apps.

The 2023 jury ruling, which favoured Epic Games, accused Google of restrictive Play Store policies and exclusive deals with manufacturers and developers. Google argued that Epic lost a similar case against Apple, but judges noted differences between the two ecosystems. The U.S. Justice Department supported the ruling, warning that overturning it could hinder future competition enforcement.

Google is also facing multiple other antitrust cases in the U.S.

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LinkedIn amps up vertical video tools as uploads jump 36%, reports TechCrunch

General

Feb 4, 2025

LinkedIn is expanding its video features, introducing a full-screen vertical video display for web users and new tools to boost engagement. Video uploads on the platform have risen by 36% year-over-year, with video creation doubling.

These updates align with LinkedIn’s 9% revenue growth and its push towards advertising and paid features. The platform is also integrating video carousels in search results and enhancing creator analytics with watch-time tracking.

While a TikTok-style video feed is still in testing, LinkedIn continues investing in video to increase engagement and monetisation.

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Havas Is Acquiring Retail Media Agency Channel Bakers, reports AdWeek

M&A

Feb 4, 2025

Havas is acquiring commerce agency Channel Bakers to expand its retail media expertise. Channel Bakers, known for early Amazon ad campaigns, works with brands like Samsung and Pharmaton and has expanded to Walmart and streaming TV ads.

CEO Joshua Kreitzer will report to Havas Media’s Greg James, with 80 employees joining Havas Market. The acquisition follows similar moves by Omnicom, Publicis, and S4 Capital, as retail media spending nears $60 billion.

Havas aims to differentiate by bridging retail, brand, and performance budgets, focusing on retail operations beyond advertising, including sales forecasting and ad impact measurement.

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WBD Names Ryan Gould and Bobby Voltaggio as New Ad Sales Leaders, reports AdWeek

General

Feb 4, 2025

Leadership Transitions

Warner Bros. Discovery has appointed Ryan Gould and Bobby Voltaggio as presidents of U.S. advertising sales, following Jon Steinlauf’s exit. Gould will lead go-to-market strategy, while Voltaggio will oversee platform monetisation.

Both report to chief revenue officer Bruce Campbell and will present at WBD’s upfront event in May. Gould, formerly head of streaming and digital sales, joined via Bleacher Report in 2012, while Voltaggio, a Discovery veteran, has been with the company since 2005.

Their appointments mark a strategic shift as WBD adapts to the evolving advertising market. Steinlauf, who helped grow Max’s ad business, exits after three decades.

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Trump Tariffs Loom Over Ad Industry, From Brands to Digital Sellers, reports WSJ

General

Feb 4, 2025

President Trump’s new tariffs on China, and potential tariffs on Canada and Mexico, could slow ad growth at major digital platforms like Meta and Google, forcing brands to cut ad spending, analysts warn.

The removal of the de minimis exemption threatens Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Shein, key advertisers on Meta and YouTube. Other industries, such as automotive, face higher costs, likely reducing brand marketing budgets.

While Meta may absorb the impact, market uncertainty could discourage consumer spending. Analysts predict a 5–15% drop in ad spend, particularly affecting traditional media and brand-building campaigns.

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Ad tech hopes open-source AI like DeepSeek will level the playing field with walled garden rivals, reports Digiday

General

Feb 4, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Ad tech companies see DeepSeek’s open-source AI model as a potential breakthrough, enabling independent AI development beyond Google and Meta’s walled gardens.

Viant and other firms believe custom AI models could improve data transparency and cost efficiency in advertising. Open-weight AI models enhance privacy but still require trust in data integrity. Faster, cheaper AI models, like DeepSeek’s, could transform real-time ad targeting and content categorisation.

Startups like OpenAds.AI and Chalice AI are already testing new AI-driven ad solutions. If successful, this shift could democratise AI in ad tech, reducing reliance on dominant players like Google and OpenAI.

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Trump says new US sovereign wealth fund could purchase TikTok, reports TechCrunch

General

Feb 3, 2025

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to create a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, suggesting it could be used to purchase TikTok. The fund, expected within 12 months, will be overseen by the Treasury and Commerce Departments, though funding sources remain unclear. Trump previously mentioned tariffs as a potential source.

The TikTok ban deadline was delayed by 75 days, and while the app is online, it remains absent from app stores.

Trump has discussed potential buyers, including Microsoft, Elon Musk, and Larry Ellison, and expects to decide on TikTok’s U.S. future in February.

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EU kicks off landmark AI law enforcement as first batch of restrictions enter into force, reports CNBC

General

Feb 3, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

The EU AI Act has officially entered its enforcement phase, imposing strict regulations and heavy fines for non-compliance. The law bans “unacceptable risk” AI, including social scoring, real-time facial recognition, and manipulative AI tools. Companies face fines of up to €35 million or 7% of global revenue.

While some fear it could stifle innovation, others see it as a global standard for trustworthy AI. Compliance details will evolve through guidelines and risk assessments, with exemptions for some open-source models.

Critics argue Europe is over-regulating, while supporters say the rules provide clarity and safety without limiting innovation.

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Google to ask US appeals court to overturn app store verdict, reports Reuters

General

Feb 3, 2025

Google and Epic Games will face off in a U.S. appeals court as Google seeks to overturn a jury verdict that found it monopolised Android app distribution. A lower court ordered Google to allow rival app stores within Google Play, but the ruling is on hold pending appeal.

Google argues that it competes with Apple and that the ruling unfairly applies nationwide. Epic insists Google suppressed competition. Microsoft, the U.S. Justice Department, and the FTC support Epic.

The 9th Circuit’s ruling, expected later this year, could be appealed to the Supreme Court.

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Paramount and Nielsen Strike New Measurement Deal, Ending Months-Long Feud, reports Variety

General

Feb 3, 2025

Nielsen and Paramount Global have reached a new agreement restoring Paramount’s access to Nielsen’s audience ratings for CBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and other properties. This ends a months-long dispute where Paramount criticised Nielsen’s fees and used alternative measurement providers like VideoAmp. The deal comes ahead of the TV industry’s upfront sales season, where networks sell advertising inventory.

Nielsen has been updating its measurement technology, incorporating first-party streaming data and smart TV interactions.

Meanwhile, Paramount faces cost-cutting pressures, with its $2 billion savings plan linked to its pending acquisition by Skydance Media.

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OpenAI gives ChatGPT new web research skills, reports Axios

General

Feb 2, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI has introduced deep research mode in ChatGPT, allowing users to perform multi-step online research for complex topics. Designed for professionals in finance, science, policy, and engineering, it generates comprehensive, cited reports similar to expert analyses. However, OpenAI warns of occasional hallucinations and difficulty distinguishing rumours from facts.

Initially available to $200/month Pro users, it may expand to $20/month Plus users. The tool is computationally intensive, taking 5 to 30 minutes per task.

OpenAI aims to integrate deep research with Operator, its AI agent, to enable ChatGPT to conduct research and take real-world actions.

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Musk’s X Adds Nestle, Colgate, Shell, Other Brands to Ad-Boycott Suit, reports WSJ

General

Feb 1, 2025

Elon Musk’s X has expanded its lawsuit against major brands, alleging they conspired with the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) to boycott the platform and violate antitrust laws. Newly named defendants include Nestle, Lego, and Shell.

X first filed the suit in August, blaming the WFA’s Global Alliance for Responsible Media for triggering an advertiser exodus. Concerns over content moderation and antisemitic posts led to revenue declines.

While some brands reconsider advertising on X due to shifting political dynamics, Musk has criticised advertisers who withdrew, and X continues to push alternative revenue streams like subscriptions and digital payments.

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Safety Council To Meta: New Policy Changes Concern Us, reports MediaPost

General

Feb 1, 2025

The Meta Safety Advisory Council has raised concerns over Meta’s recent policy changes, including the removal of fact-checking across its platforms.

In a letter to the company, the Council criticised the lack of consultation before these “sweeping changes” and warned that such decisions could set a dangerous precedent. It argued that eliminating proactive detection of harmful content shifts the burden onto users, particularly vulnerable groups. The Council also warned that Meta’s global influence could normalise harmful behaviours, reversing social progress.

The changes follow Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to align policies with mainstream discourse after Trump’s re-election.

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Google offers tagging support appointments for advertisers, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jan 31, 2025

Google is introducing one-on-one appointments with technical experts to help advertisers correctly set up conversion tracking tags on their websites.

This initiative aims to improve ad performance tracking, enhance ROI insights, and unlock advanced features like Smart Bidding. Sessions last 30–60 minutes and involve a guided walkthrough with a Google expert and the advertiser’s developer. Advertisers must book appointments for individual accounts, not Manager accounts.

This service addresses common challenges with tag implementation, ensuring accurate data collection and better campaign optimisation. Advertisers should prepare their developer and account details before scheduling an appointment.

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Dentsu Unveils Adobe GenStudio Dentsu+, reports MediaPost

General

Jan 31, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Dentsu has launched Adobe GenStudio Dentsu+, integrating Adobe’s GenStudio suite with its services and Merkury data platform. The AI-powered content supply chain platform aims to help Dentsu clients engage audiences at scale with personalised marketing.

Global Brand President Abbey Klaassen said the initiative addresses CMOs’ demand for holistic marketing platforms.

Major holding companies, including Accenture Song, WPP, and Omnicom, are also integrating Adobe GenStudio into their proprietary systems. IPG and Havas have made similar moves, with Havas leveraging Adobe Firefly’s generative AI to accelerate content creation and enhance marketing integration.

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OpenAI releases o3-mini reasoning model following DeepSeek frenzy, reports Axios

General

Jan 31, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI has launched o3-mini, a cost-effective AI model with improved reasoning capabilities. It offers faster response times, lower computational requirements, and adjustable reasoning levels. The model is available to free ChatGPT users, with limits on daily queries, while Plus users can send 150 queries per day. OpenAI also introduced a reasoning toggle for GPT-4o, using Chain-of-Thought reasoning.

The release follows DeepSeek’s disruptive R1 model, intensifying the U.S.-China AI rivalry.

OpenAI continues raising funds, reportedly in talks with SoftBank for a multi-billion-dollar investment after its October 2024 round valued the company at $157 billion.

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TikTok’s traffic bounces back despite being pulled off app stores, fears of shutdown, reports CNBC

General

Jan 31, 2025

TikTok has nearly regained its original traffic levels after an 85% drop during its brief U.S. shutdown, according to Cloudflare. The app was removed from Apple and Google stores due to a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a ban, but President Trump delayed enforcement until April.

Creators are diversifying to platforms like YouTube, though many struggle to replicate TikTok’s engagement. Brands are adjusting sponsorship deals, while Meta is offering creators incentives to promote Instagram.

Despite uncertainty, some creators doubt TikTok will be permanently banned, believing competing platforms lack its unique community-driven appeal.

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Google offers voluntary buyouts to hardware and platform teams

General

Jan 31, 2025

Google is offering voluntary buyouts to employees in its Platforms and Devices unit, which includes Android, Chrome, Pixel, and Nest teams.

The move signals expected cost-cutting as Google prioritises AI investment. Employees have until 20 February to apply, with acceptances announced on 25 March. The decision follows employee requests for buyouts before layoffs.

Google recently acquired HTC Vive engineers to accelerate its Android XR platform and introduced AI features in Pixel devices. The division’s revenue grew 28% year-over-year, but rising hardware costs and potential tariffs under President Trump could impact future operations.

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Meta in Talks to Reincorporate in Texas or Another State, Exit Delaware, reports WSJ

General

Jan 31, 2025

Meta is considering shifting its legal incorporation from Delaware to Texas, though its headquarters would remain in California. The move follows similar decisions by companies like Tesla, as Texas courts are seen as more business-friendly.

Delaware’s Chancery Court has frustrated executives with rulings favouring minority shareholders. Meta is currently facing litigation in Delaware, including a lawsuit related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Texas has been working to attract corporate registrations by establishing specialised business courts, but it remains unclear whether it can rival Delaware’s extensive legal precedents, which provide greater certainty for companies and investors.

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Meta Blocked News in Canada. Ads for Scams Are Taking Its Place, reports Bloomberg

General

Jan 31, 2025

Responsible Media

Social media platforms in Canada, including Facebook, Instagram, and X, are hosting scam ads masquerading as news while suppressing legitimate journalism.

Meta has blocked news links in response to a Canadian law requiring platforms to compensate publishers, yet deceptive ads featuring fake headlines and AI-generated voices of public figures remain widespread. Politicians, financial executives, and celebrities have been falsely used in investment scams. Despite platforms claiming to combat fraudulent ads, enforcement remains weak.

Meanwhile, Canada’s government stands by its law, highlighting Google’s C$100 million annual contribution to journalism as proof of its effectiveness in supporting the news industry.

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LinkedIn lawsuit over use of customer data for AI models is dismissed, reports Reuters

General

Jan 31, 2025

A class action lawsuit against Microsoft’s LinkedIn, which alleged the platform used Premium users’ private messages to train AI models, has been dismissed.

Plaintiff Alessandro De La Torre dropped the case nine days after filing, following LinkedIn’s denial of wrongdoing. The lawsuit claimed LinkedIn broke its privacy promise by sharing user data with AI partners, a concern raised after a September privacy policy update.

However, LinkedIn provided evidence disproving the claims. Company lawyer Sarah Wight confirmed LinkedIn never used private messages for AI training, and the plaintiff’s legal team acknowledged the company’s transparency and professionalism.

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EU’s Big Tech Antitrust Fines Not a Tax, Competition Chief Ribera Says, reports WSJ

General

Jan 31, 2025

EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera rejected President Trump’s criticism that EU fines on US tech giants are a form of taxation, insisting they are based on the rule of law.

She defended the bloc’s enforcement of competition rules, citing past fines against Google (€8.25bn) and Meta (€797.7m). Ribera dismissed concerns that the EU might weaken the Digital Markets Act, stressing enforcement is independent of political changes abroad.

She also noted US regulators are pursuing similar antitrust cases, suggesting a need for global cooperation to protect consumers from anticompetitive behaviour in the digital economy.

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Apple Files Emergency Motion in Google Search Antitrust Case, reports AdWeek

General

Jan 31, 2025

Apple has filed an emergency motion requesting a stay on potential remedies in the Google search antitrust case, fearing restrictions on its partnership with Google.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) may seek drastic measures, including forcing Google to sell Chrome or Android and banning commercial agreements between Apple and Google for a decade. Apple argues such a ruling would impact millions of users and its right to compensation for distributing Google Search. Judge Amit Mehta previously rejected Apple's request to formally join the case.

The DOJ seeks major structural changes to limit Google's dominance in search and online advertising.

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LinkedIn’s video push appears to be working in 2025, reports Digiday

General

Jan 31, 2025

Influencer Marketing

LinkedIn’s short-form video content has seen 36% year-over-year growth, outpacing other post formats. The platform is actively wooing video creators, offering workshops and publisher support programs.

Brands are increasing ad spend, with LinkedIn-focused influencer marketing agencies seeing doubling or tripling budgets. Creators report higher engagement and longevity of posts compared to TikTok and Instagram. LinkedIn’s algorithm appears to favour video, boosting its prominence.

While monetisation is still evolving, the platform is in an early growth phase, similar to YouTube in 2010, with increasing brand interest and mainstream adoption expected.

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Meta streamlines Advantage+ catalog ad targeting, pushes automated options, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jan 30, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Meta is removing the Audience Types option from Advantage+ catalog ads using the sales objective, shifting advertisers towards AI-driven targeting. The platform claims its automated system outperforms manual audience selection, using real-time behavioural data to personalise product displays. Advertisers can still create custom catalog audiences, retarget potential buyers, and exclude certain users. While this reduces direct control, Meta’s AI-based targeting is designed to enhance ad performance by identifying user intent more effectively.

Advertisers must ensure Meta Pixel or app SDK is installed to maintain advanced targeting.

This move underscores Meta’s confidence in automation over manual audience selection.

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Google expands Demand Gen ad tools ahead of Video Action Campaigns sunset, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jan 30, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Google is updating its Demand Gen advertising platform, adding new placement controls, creative tools, and retail-specific features while phasing out Video Action Campaigns.

From March, advertisers can target YouTube Shorts, place ads across YouTube, Discover, and Gmail, and access Google Display inventory. New creative tools include 9:16 vertical ads for Shorts, video shortening features, and improved ad previews. Retailers will benefit from enhanced product feeds and omnichannel bidding. Video Action Campaigns end in April, with an automatic upgrade to Demand Gen in July.

Google aims to improve ad engagement and performance versus social media.

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Origin begins independent audit process, reports The Media Leader

General

Jan 30, 2025

Origin has begun implementing its independent audit framework, issuing three requests for proposals (RfPs) to review its core panel, Virtual ID model, and campaign reach and frequency implementation. These form part of a broader ongoing audit strategy, with market research firm RSMB overseeing quality assurance.

Led by Isba, Origin launched in beta in September with a segmentation tool and a quarterly media survey. Thirty-five major UK advertisers are testing real campaign data across platforms, including YouTube, Meta, and linear TV.

CEO Tom George emphasised independent validation as key to building trust in the solution.

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Instagram tests Reels pause feature as TikTok remains in limbo, reports CNBC

General

Jan 30, 2025

Meta is testing a new pause feature on Instagram Reels, allowing users to stop videos with a single tap, similar to TikTok. The move comes as TikTok faces a potential U.S. ban on 5 April.

Currently, the feature is available to a limited group of users, with no timeline for a wider rollout. Meta is also launching a video editing app, Edits, to compete with ByteDance’s CapCut and is paying creators to promote Instagram on rival platforms.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg expects Reels to grow regardless of TikTok’s fate, following strong fourth-quarter earnings.

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OpenAI in Talks for Huge Investment Round Valuing It at Up to $300 Billion, reports WSJ

General

Jan 30, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI is in early discussions to raise up to $40 billion in funding, potentially valuing the company at $300 billion. SoftBank is expected to lead the round with an investment of $15–$25 billion, with additional funds from other investors.

The funding will support OpenAI’s operations and its $18 billion commitment to Stargate, a U.S. data center project. If successful, this would be one of Silicon Valley’s largest funding rounds.

The talks follow concerns over competition from Chinese AI firm DeepSeek, which has challenged the cost-heavy strategies of OpenAI and other major U.S. AI developers.

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg tells employees to buckle up for an intense year in a leaked all-hands recording, reports Insider

General

Jan 30, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told employees to prepare for an "intense year" as the company focuses on AI development, policy shifts, and government relations.

He predicted AI assistants would reach 1 billion users in 2025 and acknowledged AI may eliminate some roles while increasing demand for engineers. He defended Meta’s rollback of DEI programs, citing regulatory shifts, and backed the move to a community-based fact-checking system.

Zuckerberg also stressed resetting relations with the US government, aiming for a productive partnership while maintaining Meta’s values. He emphasised a fast-paced strategy, urging employees to stay focused and adaptable.

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NBCUniversal And Instacart Team Up To Give Brands More Retail Data, reports AdExchanger

General

Jan 30, 2025

NBCUniversal has partnered with Instacart to integrate shopper data into ad targeting for its campaigns, expanding beyond traditional demographics. Tested in a closed beta on Peacock, the tool is now widely available, with linear TV integration planned.

Brands using Instacart data saw 8–17x return on ad spend (ROAS), with Jif Peanut Butter achieving 15x ROAS and 30% of sales from new customers.

The collaboration enhances TV ad attribution, allowing marketers to track whether ads influence purchases. Instacart prioritises incrementality testing, ensuring ads drive actual consumer behaviour, making CTV more attractive for retail media investment.

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Fragmentation comes to search advertising as marketers grapple with shifting search behavior, reports Digiday

General

Jan 30, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

The search advertising landscape is shifting with the rise of AI-powered search platforms like Perplexity AI and search ads on social media platforms such as TikTok. Reddit and Amazon’s AI chatbot Rufus may soon enter the space, while Google faces antitrust challenges that could impact its dominance.

Marketers are preparing for a decentralised search market, with budget diversification and new ad models emerging. AI search ads may focus on CPMs for brand awareness rather than CPCs for conversions.

While Google remains dominant, TikTok, Perplexity, and Reddit are positioning themselves as potential challengers in the evolving search ad industry.

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Amazon Raises Its Ad Spending on Elon Musk’s X, in Major Reversal, reports WSJ

General

Jan 30, 2025

Responsible Media

Amazon is increasing ad spending on Elon Musk’s X, marking a shift after pulling back due to concerns over content moderation. Apple is also considering returning to the platform.

The move aligns with Musk’s growing political influence under President Trump, as he leads efforts to cut government spending. Advertisers that left X after Musk’s takeover are slowly returning, though at lower levels. X’s financial struggles have pressured Musk to revive ad revenue.

Meanwhile, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Musk have strengthened ties, reflecting broader corporate re-engagement with Trump’s administration as tech leaders seek to navigate the shifting political landscape.

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TikTok Bidders to Offer Significantly More Than $20 Billion, reports Bloomberg

M&A

Jan 29, 2025

A group of U.S. investors, led by tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley and backed by YouTuber MrBeast, has secured over $20 billion for a bid to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations. The group includes Roblox CEO David Baszucki and Anchorage Digital CEO Nathan McCauley.

Despite their offer exceeding a rival $20 billion bid, ByteDance has not engaged with them directly and maintains TikTok is not for sale. President Trump’s delay on the ban has spurred competitive negotiations, with TikTok’s fate potentially tied to broader U.S.-China trade discussions.

MrBeast has yet to commit to a single bid.

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Meta Earnings For CY2024 Show +21.9% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +59.5% YoY

+ 22% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Jan 29, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

Bloomberg reports:

Mark Zuckerberg expects 2025 to be a major year for Meta’s AI assistant, predicting it will become the most widely used globally. Meta’s Q4 revenue exceeded expectations at $48.4 billion, though its Q1 forecast fell short.

The company is investing heavily in AI, with $65 billion planned for 2025, but faces competition from Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. Meta is also cutting 5% of its workforce.

Meanwhile, Zuckerberg has aligned the company more closely with Trump’s administration, scaling back fact-checking, diversity initiatives, and adjusting content moderation policies, while appointing Trump allies to leadership roles and attending political events.

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Trump signs settlement agreement with Meta, source says, reports CNN

General

Jan 29, 2025

Donald Trump has settled his lawsuit against Meta, which suspended his account after the January 6 Capitol attack.

The agreement, signed at the White House, reportedly requires Meta to pay $25 million, with $22 million funding Trump’s presidential library and the rest covering legal fees.

The settlement follows Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to align with Trump, including a $1 million donation to his inauguration and loosening content moderation rules. Meta has also ended its DEI programs, appointed Trump ally Dana White to its board, and replaced fact-checkers with user-driven “community notes”, aligning with conservative criticism of censorship.

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Microsoft Earnings For CY2024 Show +15.0% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +12.4% YoY

+ 15% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Jan 29, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

CNBC Reports:

Microsoft’s Q2 earnings exceeded expectations, but slower-than-expected Azure growth led to a 5% share drop in extended trading. Revenue rose 12.3% YoY to $69.63 billion, but Azure’s 31% growth missed forecasts. AI-driven revenue hit a $13 billion run rate, yet capacity constraints remain an issue. Microsoft’s $2.3 billion loss in “other expenses” was linked to OpenAI and an impairment charge from Cruise. Capital expenditures were $15.8 billion, with slower growth expected in 2026.

CEO Satya Nadella highlighted efficiency gains in AI while DeepSeek’s latest model raises competition concerns.

The company is adjusting sales strategies to balance AI and cloud migration.

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Search ad spending surged in Q4 2024, with retail media leading: report, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jan 29, 2025

Digital ad spending surged in Q4 2024, driven by retail media, paid search, and paid social despite economic pressures and a shorter shopping season, according to Skai’s Digital Marketing Trends Report.

Retail media saw a 23% YoY increase, with stable CPCs boosting its appeal. Paid search grew 20% QoQ but fell 2% YoY, reflecting a shift toward Performance Max. TikTok led paid social growth with a 28% YoY increase, while Meta faced challenges due to changes in campaign objectives.

The report highlights retail media’s growing dominance, evolving shopping behaviours, and strategic shifts in digital advertising for 2025.

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A third of streaming subscribers chose ad-supported tiers in Q4, reports The Media Leader

General

Jan 29, 2025

Ad-supported streaming tiers gained popularity in Q4, with 31% of new paid subscribers opting for them, up from 10% a year ago. Netflix saw strong adoption, with 69% of its new UK subscribers choosing the ad tier. Amazon Prime Video led new sign-ups with a 21.1% market share, boosted by seasonal demand. Apple TV+ increased in importance among UK audiences.

The UK’s total paid streaming households reached 19.6 million. Netflix’s Black Doves and Sky’s The Day of the Jackal drove subscriber growth.

Experts suggest streaming services are balancing quality content, programming diversity, and pricing to enhance retention and growth.

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Apple Presses Bid To Intervene In Google Search Monopoly Battle, reports MediaPost

General

Jan 29, 2025

Apple is appealing a federal judge’s decision to deny its request to intervene in the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust case against Google. The case challenges Google’s dominance in search, including its $20 billion annual deal to be Safari’s default search engine. Judge Amit Mehta ruled Apple’s request was untimely but allowed it to file written arguments.

The Justice Department wants Google to end its revenue-sharing agreement with Apple, arguing the deal stifles competition. Apple contends it has a stake in the outcome.

The appeal was filed with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, but substantive arguments have not yet been submitted.

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Subway Reviewing Its U.S. Media, Creative Accounts, reports MediaPost

General

Jan 29, 2025

Subway has launched a review of its U.S. creative and media account, valued at an estimated $325 million in 2024, according to COMvergence. Dentsu, the current incumbent since 2017, has not confirmed if it will defend the account.

Subway stated the review is part of a routine business evaluation.

The move follows leadership changes, with former Global CMO Carrie Walsh becoming interim CEO after John Chidsey’s departure. Walsh previously served as president of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company is still searching for a permanent CEO.

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OpenAI Is Probing Whether DeepSeek Used Its Models to Train New Chatbot, reports WSJ

General

Jan 29, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI is investigating whether Chinese AI startup DeepSeek used distillation techniques to extract data from its models to train its chatbot. OpenAI’s terms prohibit using its outputs to develop competing models, and it has banned suspected accounts.

DeepSeek’s R1 model has impressed investors with its performance despite using less advanced chips. However, OpenAI's concerns raise doubts about its originality. U.S. AI czar David Sacks accused DeepSeek of copying OpenAI’s models, though DeepSeek claims it only used distillation on its own models.

The case highlights challenges in protecting AI innovations from being replicated by competitors.

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Super Bowl Ads Hit $8 Million. Expect More AI and Fewer Movies, reports Bloomberg

General

Jan 29, 2025

Super Bowl ad prices have hit a record $8 million for 30-second spots, with sponsors securing premium slots for the 9 February broadcast on Fox.

Advertisers include Uber Eats, Bud Light, and MSC Cruises, with fewer movie trailers expected due to industry setbacks. AI-focused ads will feature prominently, and celebrity endorsements will continue, following last year’s trend where 65% of ads included famous faces. Brands are using humour and nostalgia, with Meta featuring Chris Hemsworth and GoDaddy ending its ad hiatus.

The high-profile Chiefs vs Eagles match-up and Taylor Swift’s connection to the game are expected to boost viewership.

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Amazon Cuts Dozens of Corporate Jobs in Latest Round of Layoffs, reports Bloomberg

General

Jan 29, 2025

Amazon is laying off dozens of employees in its communications department as part of broader cost-cutting and restructuring efforts. The company aims to streamline operations, increase efficiency, and bring teams closer to customers.

Since CEO Andy Jassy took over in 2021, Amazon has cut tens of thousands of corporate jobs, including 27,000 in 2022. Additional layoffs have followed, targeting specific departments. Jassy’s push for a stricter return-to-office policy has also been seen as a way to reduce headcount.

Executives have until March to restructure business units and lower the manager-to-employee ratio.

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DeepSeek's chatbot achieves 17% accuracy, trails Western rivals in NewsGuard audit, reports Reuters

General

Jan 29, 2025

Artificial Intelligence

A NewsGuard audit found that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s chatbot had only 17% accuracy in delivering news, ranking tenth out of eleven compared to Western models like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. It repeated false claims 30% of the time and provided vague or unhelpful responses in 53% of cases, resulting in an 83% fail rate—worse than the 62% average for its competitors.

Despite its rapid rise in downloads, the findings raise doubts about DeepSeek’s claims of efficiency.

The chatbot also inserted Chinese government narratives into unrelated topics, further highlighting concerns about bias and misinformation in AI-generated content.

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Meta Fights €798 Million EU Fine Over Facebook Marketplace Power, reports Bloomberg

General

Jan 29, 2025

Meta is appealing a €798 million ($831 million) EU fine for allegedly using its user data to favour Facebook Marketplace. The appeal, filed in the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg, escalates tensions between Meta and regulators amid a broader crackdown on Big Tech.

The European Commission’s November ruling ordered Meta to stop tying Marketplace to Facebook and imposing unfair conditions on rivals. The case follows similar scrutiny in the UK, where Meta settled with regulators.

A hearing is expected in the coming months, as criticism grows over the EU’s approach to fining American tech firms.

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Lawsuit accuses Amazon of secretly tracking consumers through cellphones, reports Reuters

General

Jan 29, 2025

Amazon is facing a lawsuit in the U.S. accusing it of secretly tracking consumers’ movements via their mobile phones and selling the data. The complaint, filed in San Francisco, alleges Amazon used its Ads SDK to embed tracking code in apps, collecting timestamped geolocation data without user consent. This data allegedly reveals sensitive information such as religious affiliations and health concerns.

The lawsuit, brought by a California resident, claims Amazon violated state privacy and computer access laws. Amazon has not commented.

The case follows increasing legal action against companies over unauthorised data collection, including a recent lawsuit against Allstate.

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