Author Archive

Jersey Mike’s Joins the IPO Party

After IPO pops from Tesla, Bending Spoons, and others – not to mention highly-anticipated AI-giant IPOs on the horizon – you could say that the IPO window has been swung open. And the latest company to file to go public is a multi-location brand that’s a bit outside of the tech world: Jersey Mike’s.

Amazon Deepens CTV Bench with iHeart

Amazon Deepens CTV Bench with iHeart

Amazon has fired the latest shot in the CTV wars, while advancing its sleeping-giant position in the field. This latest series of moves includes an analytics tool for attributing lower-funnel shopping outcomes to CTV ad campaigns; and a collaboration with iHeart to resell Amazon’s streaming inventory.

ChatGPT Market Share Dips Below 50% As the AI Market Fragments

ChatGPT is like Netflix. It enjoyed an early mover advantage that gave it a natural market-share lead for a considerable period. But now, new blood is drawn to the market that it validated, and the room is suddenly a lot more crowded. And this phenomenon can be seen in AI’s shifting market shares.  

Flipping the Script: The API and AI Connectors are the New UI

Flipping the Script: The API is the New UI

As agentic AI permeates our digital domains and desktops, it could require a shift in the way that we interact with software. Connectors between AI engines like Claude Cowork and the various platforms that they unify and automate could mean that logging in as a SaaS subscriber is a thing of the past.

Could Apple Be the Answer to AI’s Trust Issues?

Could Apple Be the Answer to AI’s Trust Issues?

After two years of delayed action and lots of flak from the tech press, Apple recently made good on its AI promises. As we examined in our WWDC coverage last month, the company has finally rolled out the new AI-infused Siri, as well as an Apple Intelligence layer that stretches across its devices and apps.

Meta Launches its own ‘AI Mode’

Meta Launches its own ‘AI Mode’

Meta has come out with its own version of Google’s AI Mode, which it calls…. AI Mode. Carrying on a long tradition of copying features from other tech players – and not bothering to even change the name (e.g., Instagram Stories) – AI Mode will let Facebook users ask natural language questions.

The Tiger Pistol Latest Playbook Tackles Vertical Video

Tiger Pistol’s Latest Playbook Tackles Vertical Video

As social feeds continue to gain importance in the local business media mix, how should they think about vertical video? A new report from Tiger Pistol tackles this question. Entitled 2026 Ultimate Vertical Video Playbook, the thought-leadership resource is the latest in Tiger Pistol’s ongoing playbook series.

InMarket Maestrø Keeps Agentic Ad Campaigns Honest

InMarket’s Maestrø Keeps Agentic Ad Campaigns Honest

Location intelligence leader INMarket has launched what it is calling the first agentic media optimization platform. Known as Maestrø Its built to close the accountability gap that comes with AI-driven media buying. It does this by connecting such campaigns to real-world consumer actions.

Scorpion Deepens Bench with 1SEO Acquisition

Scorpion Deepens Bench with 1SEO Acquisition

SMB-focused digital marketing platform Scorpion has announced the acquisition of search marketing agency 1SEO. With 17 years of experience in digital marketing, and a strong reputation to go along with it, the acquiree strengthens Scorpion’s ability to deliver effective SEO to SMBs, among other things. 

Yext Builds a Universal Adapter for AI Integrations

Yext Builds a Universal Adapter for AI Integrations

Yext this week took the next logical step in the age of agentic AI: opening up its platform for customized AI integrations. But integrations happen in the reverse order that they normally do. This isn’t plugins and addons to Yext’s platform… It’s about bringing Yext into users’ environments.

Universal Ads Expands the SMB Advertising Pie

Universal Ads Expands the SMB Advertising Pie

One of the biggest opportunities in SMB marketing today is the ongoing democratization of video advertising. Generative video models bring production costs down to almost zero, while expanding CTV inventory and programmatic placement make supply abundant and more SMB friendly (read: affordable).

Are AI Trust Issues Going Away? WordPress.com Says No

Are AI’s Trust Issues Going Away? WordPress.com Says No

AI’s biggest barrier today isn’t necessarily technical. The technology is still plagued by consumer trust issues. This stems from several objections, including the AI’s reliability and its association with job losses, not to mention all the dystopian fears. A new report from WordPress.com quantifies the issue. 

Conversational Intent: The Secret Weapon for ChatGPT Ads?

Conversational Intent: The Secret Weapon for ChatGPT Ads?

Ads in ChatGPT are starting to look better. After a splashy entrance, immediate backlash, and handwringing from advertisers over limited options, OpenAI’s move into advertising has turned around. Signs are starting to show some favorable performance as OpenAI figures it out… as we predicted. 

Is Video the Answer to Publishers’ AI Problem?

Online publishers have an AI problem. Everyone from the New York Times to your favorite mommy blog is losing traffic as AI engines’ conversational answers intercept their clicks. It’s zero-click search on steroids, and it’s the latest gripe across the interweb. But a solution is starting to emerge: video.

Is SEO Dead in an AI search world? Yes, No, Both, and Neither

Is SEO Dead in an AIO World? Yes, No, Both, and Neither

One of the burning topics at the intersection of traditional SEO and emerging AI optimization (AIO) is the degree amount of overlap they have. Can good SEO practices translate to good positioning in an AI search world, or is the SEO playbook dead? The short answer is both and neither.

Apple Enters the AI Race Late, But Could it Still Win?

Apple Enters the AI Race Late, But Could it Still Win?

Exactly two years after its splashy unveiling of Apple Intelligence, and lots of handwringing since then, Apple has made good on its AI promise. At this week’s WWDC keynote, Apple painted a more tangible picture of AI’s integration across its ubiquitous products, including Apple Intelligence and the new Siri.

Meta Follows Snap’s Revenue Diversification Playbook

Meta has announced new subscription products for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.  Among other things, this cultivates subscription revenue for Meta, which can diversify its top line amidst a volatile ad revenue landscape. This was also likely driven by watching Snap’s success doing similar.

Democratizing CTV Ads for SMBs is a Group Effort

Democratizing CTV Ads for SMBs is a Group Effort

CTV continues to be one of the most opportune growth areas in media and advertising. As it develops in technical capabilities and reach, it grows into expansive inventory across video channels and streaming apps. The result is that it’s easier than ever for small businesses to advertise on TV.