The news: Forecasters are mixed on the future of Elon Musk-owned platform X after CEO Linda Yaccarino, whose experience as an advertising executive at NBCUniversal helped X reclaim some ad revenues, stepped down. But things aren’t all gloom and doom: We forecast that X’s ad revenues will increase by 25% YoY in 2025. Our take: While X’s ad revenues will likely grow in the short term, the shift toward AI could alleviate long-term struggles resulting from a turbulent few years for the platform—and even if some advertisers shift away, many will feel pressured to stay or face consequences.

Conversational analytics tools like Adverity’s Data Conversations are helping marketers bypass traditional data bottlenecks by enabling instant, plain-language access to performance insights. No longer dependent on engineers or BI teams, marketers can now ask natural-language questions and receive real-time analytics—reducing inefficiencies and encouraging deeper experimentation. This shift coincides with growing investment in AI and analytics, especially amid economic pressure to optimize spending. With autonomous agents and AI assistants poised to automate reporting and flag anomalies, the landscape is moving toward faster, more agile decision-making—so long as teams implement governance, training, and clear frameworks for responsible adoption.

UK shoppers will purchase £4.8 billion ($6.1 billion) worth of secondhand products online this year, according to a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) commissioned by Amazon. That’s up nearly 12% YoY, as consumers look for ways to shop that are easier on their budgets and the environment. Retailers that lack a robust resale or refurbishment strategy risk losing out. Platforms like Vinted, Depop, and Amazon are meeting rising consumer demand for more sustainable—and affordable—products. Establishing an official program can set new consumer expectations for retail while easing common fears about shopping secondhand, including concerns about item condition and seller trust.

The news: Salesforce’s Agentforce has handled over 1 million AI support chats from its customers in the past nine months, resolving 84% of queries and cutting customer support case volume by 5%. The impact on business? About 500 Salesforce support engineers were reassigned to higher-value service roles, per VentureBeat. Our take: For brands, the lesson is clear—automation alone won’t win loyalty. Build or refine AI that reflects a brand’s voice and emotional intelligence. Lean on clarity, empathy, and easy handoffs to humans to reinforce user experience, which in turns drives loyalty and satisfaction.

The news: OpenAI’s new “ChatGPT agent”, which started rolling out last week, goes beyond chatbots by acting as an autonomous “digital worker,” per TechCrunch. Available to OpenAI’s Pro, Team, and Enterprise subscribers for $200/month per user, the agent operates software, browses websites, fills out forms, and creates documents within a secure sandbox, potentially rivaling tools like Microsoft Office. Our take: As AI companies combine their models into autonomous tools, marketers, researchers, and pilots should test agents on repeatable, low-risk tasks like generating decks or summarizing reports. Exercise human oversight, track time saved, and evaluate ROI and output quality against legacy tools like Microsoft Office to determine if agents are a viable replacement.

Starbucks is taking a different approach to its much-hyped Pumpkin Spice Latte this year. Rather than pulling the launch forward, as it has done for the past several years, the drink will make its debut on August 26—four days later than in 2024, and the PSL’s latest launch date since 2022. Delaying the launch slightly could build excitement over Starbucks’ fall menu, and encourage customers to visit more often once the PSL hits stores. The move might also lift sales for Starbucks’ grocery assortment—especially given the current popularity of at-home coffee brewing—which could in turn help offset the company’s in-store softness. Still, the enduring popularity of the PSL alone won’t be enough to lift Starbucks out of its slump.

The strategy: Despite ongoing economic headwinds, Domino’s delivered solid Q2 growth across all income levels by doubling down on value and innovation—key pillars of its Hungry for More growth strategy. CEO Russell Weiner noted during the company’s earnings call that Domino’s has consistently gained about 1 percentage point of market share annually over the past decade—and sees ample opportunity to build on that momentum and further outpace rivals. Our take: Domino’s is proving that even in a challenging, price-sensitive environment, smart innovation and a sharp value proposition can drive growth across income cohorts. By blending crave-worthy new items like stuffed crust pizza with a more personalized loyalty experience and increased delivery flexibility, the brand is positioning itself to win market share from slower-moving rivals.