Disney is also expanding its data-driven ad business, launching a programmatic exchange for video ads, leveraging its data for cross-channel targeting, and selling combined inventory across Hulu and Disney properties. They’re even promoting their own Disney Audience Graph as a partial replacement for third-party cookies. Isn’t everyone?
In a far different corner of the galaxy, Instacart announced a $265 million financing round for its pandemic-fueled online grocery business. The raise brings total funding to $2.7 billion and values the company at $39 billion. This has more to do with martech than you may think: some of the money will grow Instacart marketplace and advertising services that leverage its massive customer base.
Tighter privacy regulations were supposed to deter companies from sharing their customer data, right? But this Winterberry Group paper gives a mixed message: it reports that 64% of U.S. respondents are collaborating directly others to share their data in a second-party relationship. Yet at least as many are also licensing their data to third parties for targeting and measurement.
It’s one year since Google started showing ads in its now-familiar AI Overviews. They’ve now added them to AI Mode, a newer option that handles more complex queries. AI Mode will also offer a bespoke shopping experience, with agentic AI to track price and purchase when it fits your budget.