Kendra Barnett

Leaders at the world’s most influential ad agencies are predicting a lift in ad spend thanks to favorable economic conditions, more practical applications of AI and a renewed focus on brand-building and bold creativity.

San Francisco’s creative legacy and Silicon Valley’s tech prowess are more intertwined than ever – powering an ecosystem where marketing and innovation go hand in hand. But as the Bay Area grapples with economic inequality and a tarnished reputation, tech leaders and creatives are working to revive the city’s image – and its promise.

The surge in new ad formats on connected TV is intensifying the need for uniform formats that deliver consistently strong performance.

But the city’s diverse population and burgeoning tech industry are also exerting more sway on LA’s marketing ecosystem than ever before.

As concerns about AI content misuse abound, Google is opening up access to its AI text watermarking technology. It will be a welcome change for advertisers and publishers, who stand to benefit from improved transparency.

Both platforms have been accused of significant GDPR violations this week over their advertising practices. But experts say that steep fines may not be enough to deter bad behavior – and that more intensive remedies are needed.

New personalization capabilities, writing tools and process automation features will be welcome additions for marketers. But some updates will introduce new challenges, too.

High-profile scandals, lagging regulatory oversight and a pervasive ‘bro’ culture have hamstrung the crypto industry’s reputation. As part of The Drum’s Finance & Utilities Focus, we look at how the sector may yet revive its brand.

The Stagwell executive, a former adviser to Bill Clinton and chief strategist for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential run, opines on all things political advertising on the night before the 2024 US presidential election.

Voters’ economic discontent, paired with Harris’ failure to distinguish herself meaningfully from either her predecessor or her opponent, ultimately sunk the Democrats’ dreams of securing the White House.