OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads with a beta self-serve Ads Manager for US businesses, enabling easier ad creation and management. They introduce cost-per-click bidding alongside cost-per-mille, charging advertisers only for clicks. New measurement tools track ad impact while protecting privacy. Partnerships with agencies and tech firms support campaigns. The aim is a broader ad platform that keeps ChatGPT answers independent and private.
Measurement is key for growth in the AI era, helping businesses understand consumer journeys and drive sustained growth. Google is simplifying data management, causal experiments, and unified insights to improve marketing decisions. New tools include Data Manager updates, Google tag upgrades, Meridian GeoX for geo-experimentation, and Meridian Studio for easier marketing mix modeling, all aimed at boosting ROI and media investment efficiency.
Starting June 1, 2026, Google Ads and related APIs will enforce a 37-month data retention policy for granular performance data. Queries for data older than 37 months with granular segments will return errors. High-level data remains available for 11 years. BigQuery transfers will stop backfilling data older than 37 months. Users should export data before the deadline and update queries accordingly.
AI Max, Google's AI-powered Search ads product, turns 1 and expands to Shopping and Travel campaigns, helping advertisers capture more opportunities. AI Max for Shopping uses Merchant Center feeds to create dynamic ads for complex searches. Travel campaigns are unified for easier management. AI Brief lets advertisers guide AI with brand tone, messaging, and audience preferences. Final URL expansion uses AI to match searches to the best landing pages.
Markifact is a no-code marketing automation platform that lets users create AI-driven workflows for automating marketing tasks. Users can trigger workflows, connect apps, and track performance through a visual interface. The platform offers pre-built templates, integrates with various marketing tools, and supports team collaboration.
Starting June 15, 2026, Google Ads API will expand product reporting to include all Performance Max networks. Metrics for shopping_product will cover Video, Demand Gen, and App campaigns, not just Shopping and Performance Max. All campaigns using Google Merchant Center will report via shopping_performance_view. Performance Max campaigns will show all networks, causing a one-time increase in metrics. Historical data before this date won't include these changes.
Meta introduces the ads CLI, a command-line tool for managing Meta ad campaigns without custom code. It simplifies repetitive tasks like authentication and pagination, supports multiple output formats, and integrates into workflows. Users can create, update, and analyze campaigns, ad sets, creatives, catalogs, and datasets from the terminal. Designed for automation, it supports scripting, exit codes, and environment variables. Requires Python 3.12+.
Facebook updates Developer Policies to improve ad-buying transparency and account structure. Advertisers must keep end advertisers in separate ad accounts unless using vendor_id or brand fields properly. From February 3, 2027, ad-buying solutions must disclose ad spend, fees, and campaign details upon end advertiser request. Meta may disclose info if policy violations are suspected, without prior notice. These changes align with industry standards.
Google Ads introduces a new metric called "Association" in Brand Lift Studies. It lets you pick a concept or attribute, and Google surveys viewers asking which brands they associate with that text. This metric helps measure brand positioning between awareness and consideration stages, not just recall. Note that only three metrics can be used per study.
Meta introduced a no-cost, one-click Conversions API for easier setup. If you already use an advanced CAPI, no changes are needed. For those relying only on Meta Pixel with limited tech resources, this basic CAPI can be enabled via Events Manager in Meta Business Suite. It creates a server-side connection to send web data alongside the Pixel, with automatic event deduplication. Setup involves selecting or creating a dataset and choosing 'Set up with Meta.'
