Latest Marketing & Advertising News
Pinterest Acquires tvScientific for CTV Advertising
Pinterest announced its acquisition of tvScientific, a connected TV (CTV) performance advertising platform, to integrate CTV into its performance products. This allows marketers to measure TV's impact on ad campaigns using Pinterest's intent-rich audience signals.
The capability will scale first in the U.S. before global expansion.
Rumors Swirl of OpenAI Acquiring Pinterest
Predictions suggest OpenAI may acquire Pinterest to leverage its user-generated data for a ChatGPT shopping tool and ad revenue. Pinterest already uses AI-powered search and generates revenue from its data, but a deal could provide significant financial benefits.
The rumor stems from 2026 forecasts amplified by The Information.
Instagram Limits Hashtags to Five Per Post
Instagram implemented a hashtag limit of five in captions for reels or grid posts to improve content performance and user experience. The platform advises using fewer, targeted hashtags over many generic ones.
This addresses ongoing debates about optimal hashtag usage on social media.
Agentic AI to Transform Advertising Workflows in 2026
Agentic AI will compress campaign timelines from weeks to days by automating versioning, testing, and optimization across strategy, creative, and media. This shift rewires advertising workflows, decision-making, and talent models.
Silos between creative, content, and influencer marketing are collapsing due to AI integration.
AI Search Shifts to Conversational Prompts
Search marketing evolves from traditional queries to conversational interactions with LLMs and AI agents for advice and purchases. Consumers will converse naturally rather than click links, altering search behaviors.
Marketers must adapt to this subtle but significant change in 2026.
Creative Testing Evolves into Continuous Feedback Loops
Automation and AI enable ongoing creative testing and tweaks, turning linear ad processes into continuous loops. Tools allow real-time adjustments to scenes or variations based on performance.
This Capital-A trend reshapes marketing workflows profoundly.
Human Connection Becomes Marketing's Key Advantage
As AI scales marketing, trust, empathy, and human-generated content provide competitive edge; 55% trust brands more for human content. Consumers prioritize brands crafting authentic stories over automated output.
Hybrid human-AI models where humans steer messaging will dominate.
Google Launches AI-Driven Ad Personalization
Google rolled out a personalized advertising tool allowing brands to offer exclusive deals to shoppers via AI. This capability enhances targeting and shopper engagement.
The feature was formally unveiled on January 12, 2026.
Rise of AI Influencers in Mature Ecosystem
The influencer economy grows performance-driven, with AI influencers addressing limited human supply while focusing on business results. Advertisers prioritize verifiable outcomes over impressions.
Consumers increasingly trust influencers for product recommendations.
Privacy and Responsible AI Top 2026 Digital Trends
Brands must prioritize responsible AI, data protection, customer experience, and brand trust amid tightening privacy laws. Interactive digital experiences like quizzes will replace static sites to engage users and collect intentional data.
AI-driven automation accelerates reinvention in consumer-brand interactions.
Retention Overtakes Acquisition in Marketing Focus
Marketers shift budgets to retention via onboarding, upsells, and reactivation for sustainable revenue. Lifecycle marketing unlocks profit from loyal customers over new acquisitions.
This trend emphasizes long-term value in 2026 strategies.
Commerce Media Faces 8 Key Shifts in 2026
Retail media networks mature with changes in AI, alliances, and ending shortcuts. This marks the first real maturity test for commerce media.
Published January 12, 2026, highlighting immediate relevance.