AI apps – or regular apps that integrate AI – seem to be a road map priority for most players in tech & media spheres. But are they chasing buzz rather than substance? Is AI a value add? Of course, the answer depends on the app but in the aggregate, AI can increase churn according to a new study.
X is testing a new advertising format designed to blend more seamlessly into user conversations. The experimental feature places a small contextual ad unit directly beneath
Wix has announced that its vibe coding tool, Harmony, is now available as an app within ChatGPT. Previously available on Wix’s platform, the move to ChatGPT expands Harmony’s surface area and reduces its barriers to adoption. This is a fitting move for a tool that itself is all about lowering barriers.
Vcita is out this week with a new report that validates and further quantifies what we’ve largely observed and suspected: SMBs want automation. Known as the 2026 Small Business Adoption Report, it points to heightened demand levels for anything that can help SMBs automate marketing and operations.
The tech world has passed a big milestone, which came and went with relatively little fanfare. After years of gaining ground on Walmart as the world’s largest retailer by revenue, Amazon surpassed it. In its Q4 earnings, it reported full-year 2025 revenue of $717 billion, passing Walmarts $681 billion.
New research from Scorpion reveals a widening AI adoption gap between consumers and small businesses—raising urgent questions about local discovery, visibility, and marketing readiness.
In this edition of Localogy’s Local Radar, we look at newly-funded companies, Quanta, ScrunchAI & a re-examination of Harvey.
There’s ample talk these days about the importance of marketing across several channels. The idea is that marketing run in-tandem across social, search and messaging can achieve “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” results. But the problem is that few companies, including SMBs, actually do it.
The last two years of AI’s rise have been scored by a chorus of punditry that goes something like: “AI is here, and it changes everything.” It’s a familiar tune in hype cycles that eventually morphs into “XYZ will change some things.” So jumping ahead, it’s a question of where AI works… and where it doesn’t.
Wix is on a roll. After launching its Harmony vibe coding tool, and a recent integration with Quickbooks, the company’s latest move is to bring instant bookings to Google Search, Maps, and AI Mode. Searchers using those products can transact directly with businesses that run on Wix.
New research from Yext reveals the inner workings of the AI engines increasingly used by consumers in place of traditional search. Though this usage continues to grow, the rules of engagement for companies seeking visibility remain unclear. But according to Yext, AI SEO may be harder than it looks.
Snap has quietly built up to a new milestone that’s turning heads on Wall Street. Its subscription business – consisting of Snapchat+ and a few other things – has reached 25 million paid users. That brings with it an ARR of $1 billion – a well-timed diversification move as the broader ad world suffers.
Now you can do your bookkeeping with your website builder. Wix and Intuit this week announced an expanded partnership that embeds core functions in the others’ familiar workflows. This is meant to offer one-stop-shop functionality for customers of both companies.
AI continues to morph into new forms and flavors as the enterprise software world figures out where it sticks. SMB SaaS is a subset or microcosm of that equation as AI is being applied to everything from email marketing to SEO gruntwork. The latest trend we’ve encountered is automated lead response.
What are the top considerations and strategies for franchise-based multi-location brands? A new report from Tiger Pistol tackles this question. Entitled The Franchise Marketing Enablement Playbook, the thought-leadership resource is the latest in Tiger Pistol’s ongoing playbook series.
The anticipated moment is here: ads in ChatGPT. What do these ads look like? Who are the advertisers signed up for the program so far? And what are strategic drivers and trajectory for OpenAI? We tackle these questions.
Digital out-of-home giant Clear Channel Outdoor – a division of iHeart Media – has agreed to a $6.3 billion all-cash buyout. The buyer is a private equity investor group comprised of Mubadala Capital and TWG Global, which will pay CCO common shareholders $2.43 per share – a 71 percent premium.
Yelp today announced a new partnership designed to help home services businesses streamline and automate their inbound lead management. By integrating Housecall Pro, it offers a Job Inbox that’s connected to existing Yelp tools like “Request a Quote” to automatically cultivate leads and save time.
Precisely has launched a new product to help enterprises and multi-location brands better harness location intelligence. Known as StreetPro Discover, it goes deeper than most intelligence databases in unearthing place insights to support targeted marketing, physical expansion, and other purposes.
Beyond Snap’s financial performance in Q4, one thing that jumped out to us during the analyst call was pointed remarks about SMB advertising. In fact, ‘SMB’ or its spelled-out variations were said 11 times. The headline is that SMB ad growth is driving Snap’s top line.
