A J.D. Power customer satisfaction benchmark ranked Citi No. 1 for US mortgage origination, above Bank of America (BofA). The study suggests that lenders are changing their sales model from a focus on volume over service to one emphasizing consultation and advice to enhance customer trust and deepen relationships. Consumers should feel supported in the mortgage market. How borrowers feel about the origination experience, from awareness through closing, should strongly influence their choice of provider amid frequent negative headlines and interest rate uncertainty.
As retail media moves from side business to centerpiece, big brands are prioritizing measurement and efficiency to cement the channel as a mature budget item. Retail media will grow almost 20% this year (19.4%) to reach $58.79 billion, according to EMARKETER's September 2025 forecast. In recent earnings calls, tech leaders described a channel that is now about solid data, AI-driven relevance, and reshaping how advertisers reach shoppers.
Key stat: 72% of US buy-side retail media advertisers say they are buying video ads offsite, second only to social media, according to a March RetailX survey commissioned by Koddi.
Jeff Bezos is returning to an operational role for the first time since stepping down as CEO from Amazon in 2021. His new startup—Project Prometheus—launched with $6.2 billion in funding, instantly making it one of the best-capitalized early-stage AI companies, per The New York Times. The company is focused on "physical AI" for engineering and manufacturing across computers, humanoid robots, aerospace, and automotive. Brands should watch how physical AI reshapes manufacturing and R&D. The next competitive edge will come from using AI to prototype new products, automate factory intelligence, and bring ideas to market with unprecedented speed.
TikTok Shop is now almost as large as eBay, according to EchoTik. The marketplace’s global gross merchandise value (GMV) hit $19 billion in Q3, not far off eBay’s $20.1 billion. Between $4 billion and $4.6 billion of those sales took place in the US, up 125% QoQ, making it TikTok Shop’s largest single market. TikTok’s ability to blend shopping and entertainment is turning the platform into an ecommerce powerhouse. While price concerns and value are top of mind for consumers this holiday season, so too is the desire to shop for fun—an itch that TikTok Shop is perfectly placed to scratch.
WPP is reportedly eyeing a merger with holding company Havas and private equity firms KKR and Apollo, per the Times. A merged WPP and Havas would provide more value to advertisers by giving access to a broader mix of services.
PayPal’s Pay Later is soaring in popularity, with 56% of US buy now, pay later (BNPL) customers having used its installment services—outstripping industry leaders Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay, per a Lending Tree survey. PayPal’s dominance is likely to stick unless BNPL competitors can expand their offerings' acceptance at the point of sale. Continuing to push BNPL-enabled debit cards and merchant partnerships may help to secure loyalty from Gen Zers and young parents seeking these financing options.
LinkedIn’s AI-driven people search lets users type plain-language queries like “marketing leaders with AI experience” and instantly find matches—even if those exact words don’t appear on a profile, per TechRadar. The upgrade, available to US Premium subscribers, makes LinkedIn far more context aware—and strengthens its role as a precision targeting engine at a time when its ad business keeps climbing. For marketers on LinkedIn, the implications are significant and offer improvements in precision targeting, campaign efficiency, and intent-driven discovery.
Mozilla SVP Suba Vasudevan argues that digital advertising’s next frontier isn’t automation—it’s accountability. In her view, trust is no longer a soft metric but a measurable driver of performance. As advertisers recoil from fraud, opacity, and unsafe inventory, Firefox Ads positions itself as the premium alternative: a clean, privacy-first space where engagement aligns with user consent. The data backs her up—CPMs are climbing, and brands are paying more for quality—but the shift remains uneven. Many still prize efficiency over ethics. For marketers, the new equation is clear: trust and performance are converging, and only one will sustain the other.
Amazon has partnered with Ford to list certified pre-owned “Blue Advantage” vehicles on its Amazon Autos platform, allowing shoppers within 75 miles of participating dealers to browse inventory, arrange financing, and complete most paperwork online. The move adds momentum to Amazon’s push into the automotive space following its deal with Hyundai and aligns with its marketplace strategy of scaling without owning inventory. Despite a softening used-car market, the collaboration could strengthen Amazon’s foothold in auto ecommerce, helping it compete with Carvana and CarMax by offering convenience and dealer-backed credibility.
7-Eleven is making bold moves that contradict retail wisdom, expanding its footprint despite declining same-store sales and traffic. "It's not that they're opening a ton of new stores, it's just they're rejigging their footprint," said our analyst Blake Droesch on a recent episode of “Behind the Numbers.”
GoodRx is launching a weight loss telehealth membership plan and discounting the cash-pay price for low doses of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy to $199 per month. GoodRx is newer to telehealth, but already making waves and forging closer relationships with drugmakers.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three big questions surrounding Meta in Q3 and beyond: How will AI-generated social video affect social media? What’s the biggest takeaway regarding Meta using AI chatbot conversations to target ads? And do Meta's new smart glasses really have a future? Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Analyst Emmy Liederman, and Principal Analyst Minda Smiley. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Disney and YouTube TV struck a new carriage agreement late Friday, ending a nearly two-week clash that made more than 20 Disney channels, including ESPN and ABC, unavailable on the pay TV service. The outcome reinforces that YouTube is one of the most powerful forces in digital video, pay TV, and streaming. With a pay TV audience that eclipses its competitors and a viewership that is increasingly moving to digital platforms, YouTube TV is well positioned to capture sports-hungry audiences and the advertisers eager to reach them.
Starbucks unveiled a new holiday drink available exclusively at Target stores. The release of the limited-edition Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate marks the first time the two companies have collaborated on a holiday drink. While the holiday exclusive won’t address their deeper challenges, it’s the right note to hit at a time when shoppers need extra motivation to visit a Starbucks or Target store.
Travelers are becoming more comfortable with AI and incorporating it into their trip discovery and planning processes, presenting an opportunity for travel companies to apply the technology for decision-making and customer experiences. However, the travel industry is still in an experimental phase and could be missing user and revenue gains. To capitalize on travelers’ use of and confidence in AI, travel companies need to move from testing the technology to fully integrating it. That includes building traveler trust through transparency, investing in data infrastructure, and exploring consumer-facing AI agents.
Agency and digital marketers are adopting AI en masse, but notable confidence and training gaps could hinder execution and ROI. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of agency and brand marketers worldwide plan to use AI next year, per MIQ. However, less than half (45%) are confident in their ability to use it to drive operational efficiencies. CMOs need to treat upskilling as a core investment so employees can help support pilots and work independently on AI-driven projects. Leaders should develop role-specific training paths, establish AI leads to answer project questions, and offer prompt libraries to safely practice engaging with AI.
OpenAI's GPT-5.1, a notable model upgrade with improved prompt comprehension over the poorly received GPT-5, is now equipped with seven personality options. Marketers should test how GPT 5.1 and the chatbot’s personalities align with specific tasks and brand tone and voice. Agencies working with numerous brands can use the chatbot’s personalities to meet the various requirements of clients, such as Professional for more serious product campaigns—for example, a pharma or financial company—and Friendly or Quirky for Christmas campaigns from fashion brands.
Google is expanding its AI-powered travel planning and booking tools, introducing Canvas itineraries and broader agentic booking features directly within AI Mode in Search. The update brings real-time flight and hotel data, personalized recommendations, and streamlined reservations across major platforms, with full flight and hotel bookings coming soon. Google is also rolling out its Flight Deals tool globally. The shift toward surfacing these capabilities in Search should boost adoption and intensify pressure on travel companies that lag in AI-driven decision-making.