We’re entering the agentic web era, with LLM-driven traffic surging across key industries—forcing brands to shift from persuading people to persuading AI, which now guides what we buy.

Mediaocean’s 2026 H1 Advertising Outlook finds a gap between marketers’ AI ambitions and execution due to fragmented ad tech. While 70% see generative AI as the top 2026 trend, growth is focused on CTV/digital video (63%), social (61%), and AI-driven media (54%), as traditional channels decline.

The CDO appointment will be effective as of March 31, when Henrique Braun succeeds James Quincey as CEO, with Sahin reporting directly to Braun. “We believe our ongoing growth depends on understanding consumers even more deeply,” Braun said in a statement. “We are evolving our operating organization structure and elevating digital leadership so we can move faster and work smarter across all markets.”

Tesco Media research shows most grocery purchases are still up for grabs—shoppers decide in the aisle, switch mindsets mid-trip, and respond to non-endemic ads, making the supermarket shelf a place to influence and build brands.

When Hershey’s takes the rare step of overhauling its brand marketing creative and communications platform, it is news. And this Wednesday marks the beginning of Hershey’s first major brand marketing campaign since 2018, VP of consumer connection Vinny Rinaldi told AdExchanger. “It’s a big refresh,” he said.

Total overall marketing budgets in the UK were unchanged in the final quarter of 2025, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report, and are expected to grow only slightly in the 2026/27 financial year.

Global streaming spend is forecast to rise 6% to $101bn this year, reaching about 40% of total content spend, according to Ampere Analysis—outpacing overall content growth of 2% to $255bn.

Hello, social friends! This week’s updates include numerous AI-powered tools for TikTok Shop creators and advertisers. YouTube is also rolling out more features to help creators with audience targeting from a desktop. Let’s take a closer look at how these improvements can steer your social strategy in the right direction.

AI Overviews are reshaping organic attribution—learn which metrics matter and how to clearly communicate SEO impact to stakeholders. Flat traffic? Don’t worry—flat doesn’t mean failure anymore.

ChatGPT ads are coming soon, offering advertisers early access to a new impression-based placement inside conversational AI. OpenAI is preparing to launch impression-based ads inside ChatGPT as early as February, marking a faster-than-expected step into advertising.

As per TikTok: “This year, we’ll see trends rooted in our Irreplaceable Instinct, representing a shift toward the curiosity, conviction, and care that connect us.”

Threads will officially begin rolling out ads to all users across the globe the first week of February.

Pinterest’s 2026 events guide groups moments into three types: calendar moments (fixed cultural or festive events), life moments (personal milestones), and big moments (rare global events that unite audiences)

The shift is underway in consumer behavior, brand strategies, and data rebuilding. After nearly two decades in reward-led marketing, I see 2026 as the year rewards move from accessory to operating system.

Just 24 hours after the news that Paramount was filing a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix – the competing bidder for WBD – is considering revamping its deal to an all-cash offer, according to reports.

If we don’t fix AI bias, autonomous agents will systematically defund premium media in favour of performance marketing. Jon Block explains how.