My Darling Marketers,
This week’s marketing mood? Trust issues. But amidst the chaos, there’s some new light at the end of the measurement tunnel. Miracles do happen! Let’s dive in.
AI Takes Over the Super Bowl - Because, Of Course
AI isn’t just writing ad copy anymore - it’s taking center stage in the most expensive commercial lineup of the year. With 30-second Super Bowl spots hitting a record-breaking $8 million (ouch), brands are using AI to cut costs, churn out ad creative faster, and flex their futuristic muscles. Expect tech giants and AI startups alike to flood the game with their machine-made marketing magic, proving that artificial intelligence isn’t just changing how we work - it’s rewriting how we sell. But for marketers, the real question isn’t whether AI belongs in Super Bowl ads (spoiler: it’s already here) - it’s how to harness it without losing that human spark.
Teens vs. Big Tech: The Trust Issues Are Real
As if AI challenging authenticity in advertising wasn’t enough, now we’ve got Gen Z giving Big Tech the side-eye hard. A new Common Sense Media report reveals that the majority of U.S. teens straight-up don’t trust tech giants like Google, Apple, Meta, and TikTok to have their backs - especially when it comes to AI, data privacy, and mental health. Nearly half of teens (47%) doubt these companies will make responsible AI decisions, and over a third say GenAI is only making misinformation worse. For marketers, here’s your wake-up call: If you want Gen Z’s trust (and their dollars), you better show up with transparency, ethical AI, and real human connection - because polished marketing speak and sketchy data practices? Yeah, that’s giving block and unfollow.
Meta Shrugs Off Misinformation Concerns, Says Ad Spend Is Just Fine
After axing its U.S. fact-checking program, CFO Susan Li reassured investors that surprise! ad spend hasn’t taken a hit. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg straight-up admitted that they just copied X’s Community Notes feature because it’s “better” at adding context to content. Advertisers, here’s the tea: Meta’s “brand safety” playbook is evolving again, and if you’re not actively monitoring where your ads show up, you might be funding more chaos than conversions. In 2025, transparency is currency - so if Meta’s latest move makes you nervous, maybe don’t put all your budget eggs in Zuck’s basket.
Meta’s Advantage+ Update: More AI, Less Control - Advertisers Are Thrilled (Not)
Meta is tightening its grip on automated targeting, removing “Audience Types” from Advantage+ catalog ads with the sales objective - because apparently, advertisers don’t need control, just vibes. While retargeting through catalog custom audiences is still an option, brands now have to navigate extra steps just to maintain a shred of control over who sees their ads. Meta swears its AI-driven targeting delivers better results, but let’s be real - if your 2025 strategy involves precision targeting, get ready to wrestle with more automation (and possibly, more frustration).
Google’s Meridian: Finally, a Measurement Tool That Might Keep Up With 2025 Marketing Chaos
Google just threw marketers a (potentially) golden measuring tape with the full rollout of Meridian, its open-source marketing mix model. Traditional MMMs have been struggling to track digital campaigns accurately, but Meridian promises better cross-channel measurement using Bayesian causal inference (fancy math for “more accurate insights”). It’s fully customizable, integrates directly with Google’s MMM Data Platform, and actually accounts for reach and frequency - so no more treating impressions like the be-all-end-all metric. The best part? It’s not another black-box Google product, meaning marketers can tweak and refine it instead of just crossing their fingers. If you’ve been crying into your analytics dashboards over proving ROI, Meridian might just be your new best friend.
Microsoft’s Performance Max Just Got a LinkedIn-Level Upgrade
Microsoft Ads is taking Performance Max from “meh” to must-watch with a fresh batch of updates - including the holy grail of B2B targeting: LinkedIn audience integration. That’s right, soon you’ll be able to target campaigns by company, industry, and job function, giving Microsoft a serious edge over Google in the professional ad game. Add in granular reporting, smart conversion tracking, and a new-customer acquisition focus, and suddenly, Microsoft’s AI-driven campaigns are looking a whole lot sharper. It’s still in pilot mode (ugh), but if these tools roll out broadly, B2B marketers may finally have a reason to actually get excited about Performance Max.
If marketing in 2025 had a playbook, it would be half strategy, half wild guess, and entirely rewritten by AI before halftime. Yea - I know I’m a week early on the Super Bowl jokes - but hey, if AI can predict your next move, I can at least get ahead on my own punchlines. Call it predictive marketing!
You know you love me,
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