The news: Generative AI (genAI) has become standard across US enterprises—95% of companies report using it to some extent, up from 83% a year ago, per Bain & Co—but wider enterprise adoption is hitting roadblocks. A lack of robust governance and the need for continuous security validation are getting in the way. Our take: To escape limbo, enterprises must shift from experimentation to disciplined execution. That means building AI governance into the foundation—not as an afterthought. Security, transparency, and trust must be embedded into every AI deployment. Businesses shouldn’t just see AI as a plug-and-play solution without vetting it and aligning it with desired outcomes. For marketers, campaigns built on shaky AI foundations risk brand reputation, compliance failures, and consumer mistrust.
The news: IT leaders are increasingly concerned about unauthorized employee use of AI and its risk to company security and compliance. 90% are concerned about “shadow AI,” or employees adopting AI tools without IT team approval, per Komprise’s IT Survey: AI, Data & Enterprise Risk. 13% of companies said genAI has harmed their finances, customers, or reputation—proof that AI’s risks aren’t just hypothetical. Our take: Companies should pair data management and protection of sensitive data with worker training. Giving employees access to tools they’ll actually use and keeping them in the loop on AI plans could help prevent the use of unauthorized tools and data leaks, foster trust, and deter sabotage of genAI initiatives.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how advertisers have gone from navigating uncertainty to navigating whiplash, and how they can prioritize and get the most out of ad measurement with a limited budget. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analysts Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf and Max Willens, and the Director of Product Management at Cint Stephanie Gall. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Temu and Shein ad impressions dropped to 0% as both retailers effectively cut off Google Shopping ad spend in April.
Retail and commerce media were huge topics at last year’s Cannes Lions festival, and this year, the festival is doubling down on the channel by introducing a new retail media sub-category in the Media Lions and Creative Commerce Lions awards. However, “the tone is definitely shifting” as the industry matures—and faces the threat of tariff-related impacts, according to our analyst, Sarah Marzano.
The trend: Walmart and Amazon are determined to take drone delivery mainstream. Our take: It’s easy to understand the sci-fi appeal of drone delivery—but whether it’s feasible remains a question that retailers are still struggling to answer.
Advertisers’ push for a unified strategy across retail media, loyalty programs, and merchandising is raising the bar on data and transparency. Paul Lentz, executive director and head of strategic development at CVS Media Exchange, shares how new collaborations—from The Trade Desk to social platforms—can help brands see every ad dollar’s impact.
The news: Fiserv will acquire the remaining 49.9% stake in AIB Merchant Services, one of Ireland’s largest payment solutions providers and Europe’s largest ecommerce acquirers. Our take: Fiserv has to find innovative ways to grow among a competitive POS landscape, rising softPOS adoption, and pervasive economic uncertainty.
Amazon Prime is deeply entrenched in the US, with 75% of households as members. Despite this saturation, Amazon sees growth opportunities in international markets and among underpenetrated US demographics: rural, younger, and lower-income consumers. These groups show untapped potential, said Jamil Ghani, Amazon Prime’s worldwide VP. Prime fuels Amazon’s ecosystem—members spend more by using benefits like streaming, pharmacy, Grubhub+, and free shipping. In contrast, nonmembers often spend less over time. By expanding perks and appealing to new segments, Amazon uses Prime to drive loyalty, customer lifetime value, and resilience against macroeconomic shifts.
The news: Paze notched a major partnership with Worldpay to expand its merchant network, per a press release. Our take: Groundwork has been set for Paze to take off. We predicted that Paze would make significant gains in 2025, and this partnership will help Paze establish its online presence and customer familiarity for strong back-to-school and holiday shopping spend.
Canadian banks have heavily invested in digital development, yet their mobile apps remain uniform and lack standout features, according to J.D. Power. While mobile apps perform reliably, satisfaction gains are seen mainly in credit card and website platforms. AI integrations like virtual assistants have failed to personalize experiences. Key missing features include clear transaction data, stored debit cards, and Gen Z’s most demanded functions like electronic direct deposits and subscription controls. To differentiate, banks must enhance mobile app experiences by adding unique, customer-desired features and improving personalization and security.
The news: The USDC stablecoin issuer Circle’s IPO exceeded investor expectations—its stock price ended the day up 168%. Our take: Circle’s IPO signals increasing investor optimism in crypto, particularly stablecoins. As stablecoins become a more accepted element of our financial infrastructure, financial providers should prepare for how to incorporate or interact with this element of the payments space.
employee experience, digital maturity, Alkami report, customer experience, digital tools, AI, data-driven marketing, talent development, upskilling, digital transformation, innovation, service delivery, KPIs, training, banking staff, employee satisfaction
Sixty percent of current and prospective homeowners are unsure whether it’s a good time to buy a home—the highest uncertainty in three years, per Bank of America’s report. Meanwhile, 75% of prospective buyers are waiting for mortgage rates to drop, up from 62% in 2023. Younger generations, especially Gen Z and millennials, are delaying homeownership, with ownership rates flatlining. Stagnant rental prices and economic uncertainty add to the hesitation. Lenders must modernize offerings, streamline processes, and explore alternative financing like crypto and peer-to-peer loans to convert hesitant buyers when the market improves.
The news: Quality control is a growing fear for advertisers as an Adweek investigation found ads from major brands appeared near offensive and inappropriate content. Ads from brands like Amazon and Verizon were found near sexual or racially offensive content on the Android short-form video app XShorts. Our take: Advertisers are increasingly faced with a digital landscape where programmatic ad buying lacks the quality control required to keep up with rapid innovation and demand for ad space—prompting renewed calls for transparency, verification, and human oversight in automated systems.
The news: Google launched “Portraits” on Thursday, a new experiment that creates AI-generated versions of influencers that offer users notes and advice using the voice of the individual they’re based on. Described as “personalized AI coaching built alongside real experts,” Portraits is built in partnership with the AI celebrity’s real-life counterpart. Our take: Google’s experiment, while it may not connect with every audience member, could prove effective at increasing time spent with Google’s AI offerings, drawing attention away from competitors like Meta AI and potentially unlocking a new revenue stream if Google monetizes in the future.
The news: Tesla stock rebounded about 5% Friday after a 14.3% crash during a public social media feud between President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk over the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The EV giant lost $152.4 billion in market value Thursday—its biggest one-day decline ever, per The Wall Street Journal. Our take: The Musk-Trump quarrel could drag on or it could end as abruptly as it started. Its effects on Tesla’s stock are a reminder that Musk is the company’s de facto spokesperson and that his persona is inseparable from Tesla’s brand. The Big Beautiful Bill, paired with cautious US consumer spending and economic uncertainty, could slow Tesla’s EV adoption just when the company can least afford it.