Networked Insights uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to understand what consumers are talking about in social media and to build individual-level interest profiles. These are used by agencies and brand marketers for analysis and audience targeting across Facebook, Twitter, and ad networks. The company just raised $30 million, bringing total funding to $80 million.

This study was not issued by Wunderman’s Department of the Obvious, although it could have been. Headline finding is that 79% of consumers ages 18-65 in the US say brands must actively demonstrate “they understand and care about me” before the consumers consider purchasing. No surprise there.  Still, if you’re looking to refresh that opening slide on Growing Customer Expectations, you can find some new stats in the report at www.wantedness.com.

Procrastinators of the world can throw a party whenever they get around to it: Google has once more pushed back complete third-party cookie deprecation.  The new target is “early next year.” Reasons for the delay include concerns expressed by U.K. data regulator Information Commissioner’s Office, an ongoing inquiry by the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority, and widespread discontent in the advertising ecosystem.