It seems like just yesterday that retail media was a cute little toddler looking for its place in the world. Now we have no less than Microsoft offering a very grown up retail media platform based on its PromoteIQ acquisition. Latest additions make it easier to place ads on a retailer’s own site, on other sites using retailer first-party data, and on in-store displays. Release dates vary.
Tanzanian fintech startup NALA has officially launched in the European Union (EU), adding 19 new countries to its list of send countries and aiding its mission of connecting Africans globally.
In-game ads are a candidate for Next Big Channel after retail media. I think gamers’ minds are elsewhere but this Integral Ad Science survey finds 69% of gamers are open to non-disruptive in-game ads, especially if they’re relevant to the game. They also warn that 44% will avoid brands that advertise near inappropriate content, something IAS sells tools to prevent.
“Ask Meta AI anything” is what you now see instead of the traditional search bar across Meta apps such as Facebook and Instagram. Meta AI will still perform the basic search function but will also answer questions and chat with you. It should hardly be a surprise when a tech company launches a genAI solution these days but this is a bold challenge to Google and Open.ai (it’s also available as a standalone tool at Meta.ai).