蘑菇AV

The news: A Microsoft AI pilot study showed a fourfold improvement in diagnostics compared with a panel of real doctors, but researchers acknowledged the continued need for human expertise. The takeaway: It鈥檚 evident AI is not a replacement for doctors, but it is a tool they should start adopting. There鈥檚 a window of opportunity for doctors and healthcare systems to grab a first-mover advantage by presenting AI as a co-pilot and a value-add that leads to more accurate diagnoses and more time spent with patients.

The news: Pharma advertisers spent more than $10 billion on prescription drug ads last year, with the top 10 drug brands accounting for $3.3 billion last year, per Fierce Pharma鈥檚 report based on MediaRadar data. Our take: As pharma marketers shift drug ad budgets from TV to more digital channels, they鈥檒l have to shift thinking from spendy brand awareness to more nuanced messaging. Social media edutainment, paid AI search ads, and partnering with doctor and patient influencers can reach more relevant consumers and deliver higher ROI.

The milestone: Amazon recently deployed its 1 millionth robot in its fulfillment centers鈥攁 figure approaching the number of human workers at those facilities. Our take: Automation is a central element within Amazon鈥檚 relentless push to narrow the gap between click and doorstep. Fast delivery isn鈥檛 just about convenience; it transforms how consumers shop. The faster Amazon gets everyday essentials like toothpaste into customers鈥� hands鈥攅specially with free delivery for Prime members鈥攖he harder it becomes for other retailers to compete. That gives Amazon a durable edge as it looks to expand its share of US ecommerce sales.

The news: Nearly half of US and UK consumers admit to abusing retailers鈥� returns policies in the past 12 months, according to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll. Our take: Retailers face a Catch-22 when it comes to returns. Being too generous opens the door for fraud and can result in retailers being overburdened by reverse logistics costs. But being too restrictive can deter shoppers from opening their wallets.

The trend: Walmart has begun rolling out 鈥淪ummer Frights鈥� Halloween displays in about 1,000 stores across the US, featuring quirky early-season items like watermelon jack-o鈥�-lanterns and ghost plushies in Hawaiian shirts. Our take: Walmart is smart to embrace offbeat retail moments like Summerween. While consumers are cutting back on discretionary spending, they continue to splurge on seasonal celebrations like Halloween and the holidays. Halloween alone has become a major retail event, with spending hitting $11.6 billion last year鈥攁 31.8% increase from pre-pandemic 2019. Summerween pulls some of that spending forward and gives budget-conscious shoppers a playful reason to open their wallets鈥攅ven if they鈥檙e feeling spooked by the economy.

The news: Apple is in talks with OpenAI and Anthropic to power a revamped version of Siri, per Bloomberg. This follows internal delays and setbacks in launching the AI-enhanced Siri that was announced at WWDC in June 2024. Advertising repercussions: Advertisers and brands won鈥檛 just be contending with Apple鈥檚 ad systems and algorithms鈥攖hey also need to consider third-party vendors鈥� ecosystems and how those preference ad placements. Our take: Apple settling for outside AI is a turning point for walled gardens. For advertisers, it鈥檚 both a risk鈥攄ue to reduced predictability鈥攁nd an opportunity to innovate within new conversational interfaces.

The news: The Trump administration recently met with leading retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, to explore ways in which more US consumers can get their prescription medications directly from pharma manufacturers, according to a Bloomberg report. Our take: It鈥檚 unrealistic to expect pharma鈥檚 middlemen to be cut out anytime soon, as they are so deeply rooted in the US healthcare infrastructure.

The news: Lululemon is suing Costco for selling dupes. In a lawsuit filed June 25, the athleisure brand accuses the wholesale giant of infringing on its design patents by selling knockoff sweatshirts, jackets, and other activewear. Lululemon seeks an immediate halt to sales of the disputed products and unspecified monetary damages. Our take: For nearly as long as there have been name brands, there have been knockoffs. But the rise of dupe culture on TikTok鈥攃ombined with increasingly cost-conscious consumers looking鈥攊s pushing more shoppers toward cheaper alternatives and more brands to the brink. It's become a growing headache for companies like Est茅e Lauder, which have struggled as buyers opt for low-priced lookalikes. Lululemon鈥檚 lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the brand鈥檚 efforts to protect its designs. If it succeeds, it could set a precedent鈥攁nd signal that the era of unchecked dupes may be nearing a turning point.

The news: Valley Bank worked with Adrenaline to create digital signage at its Fifth Avenue NYC branch to boost brand recognition and customer engagement. Displays feature dynamic visuals of diverse eyes and motivational taglines, unified across large LED and supporting screens. This omnichannel approach also used QR codes to direct customers to digital platforms. Our take: This initiative effectively uses digital signage to increase foot traffic. Custom, human-centric content, not stock photos, resonates, especially with younger audiences. QR codes with product displays are smart, converting brand awareness into new banking relationships via strategic visual storytelling and direct engagement.

The news: Verizon customers can now pay-by-bank through Trustly in Verizon鈥檚 brick-and-mortar stores. Our take: As long as the cost of accepting credit cards remains sizable, merchants who have the means to dodge fees will find ways to make pay-by-bank accessible.

The news: Sezzle debuted a suite of payment and deal-hunting features, per a press release. Our take: Sezzle needs to find any kind of foothold in the BNPL space, as its market share is massively outstripped by competitors like Klarna and Affirm.

The news: Klarna will be the default payment option for Bolt鈥檚 CheckoutOS merchants, per a press release. Our take: Klarna faces multiple challenges. It has to increase its availability to US consumers while also rivaling credit cards that offer both installment plans and cash back or points that likely exceed the value of Klarna鈥檚 gift-based rewards system through Nift

Snap鈥檚 attention metric shows the measurement maturing: The platform aims to capitalize on advertiser demand for new ad effectiveness signals.

Almost half of Gen Zers (46%) and Baby Boomers (45%) would switch to less expensive brands or product alternatives if there are price increases related to tariffs, according to March data from Collage Group.

The news: Podcast ad spending intention will reach an 11-year high in 2025, and more advertisers are investing in the medium than ever, per a Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights report. Podcast ad spend intention reached 69% among agencies and advertisers surveyed, the highest in the eleven years tracked by Cumulus and Signal Hill. 78% are already investing in podcast advertising, five times higher than the amount investing in 2015. Our take: As listenership spikes, podcasts will continue being a key investment for savvy advertisers鈥攁nd those who know how to maximize the medium鈥檚 potential will come out on top.

The news: Nexxen has launched an AI-powered Discovery platform that delivers audience insight decks in minutes, merging first-party data with sentiment, search, and competitive signals. Brands like LG Ad Solutions are using the tool to shape campaign strategy, validate ROI, and uncover untapped behaviors. Our take: In an era demanding speed and accountability, Nexxen offers a hybrid model: automation without sacrificing human analysis. With pressure rising on publishers to justify CPMs and on marketers to prove performance, tools like Discovery promise faster insight, smarter storytelling, and deeper advertiser confidence鈥攑ositioning Nexxen as a data partner in a post-cookie world.

TikTok will see healthy user growth this year in the US, even as its future remains unclear. User time spent on the app is falling YoY, but it still leads other social networks. However, it鈥檚 facing more competition from Instagram and YouTube.

The news: Budget concerns are top of mind for consumers as they plan their summers. Our take: Consumers鈥� inclination to save is likely to fuel anxiety in the hospitality industry鈥攅specially as uncertainty causes travelers to delay booking until practically the last minute.

The news: Apple鈥檚 F1: The Movie made $144 million globally in its opening weekend, becoming the company鈥檚 first box office success after prior flops. With standout reviews and marketing synced across the Apple ecosystem, the Brad Pitt-led film was driven by premium formats like IMAX and high youth turnout. Our take: F1 validates Apple鈥檚 blockbuster ambitions, but success here is about more than ticket sales. It鈥檚 a brand-building tool, aimed at strengthening Apple TV+ and its wider services. Turning big-screen moments into lasting streaming growth is the next test鈥攅specially as Apple balances cost, competition, and the evolving economics of global theatrical releases.

Showing commitment to Pride pays off: LGBTQ+ consumers, representing large portions of key demographics, are willing to reward brands who stay the course.

US advertisers will spend $25.9 billion on AI search ads in 2029鈥�13.6% of all search ad spending, up from just 0.7% in 2025, according to 蘑菇AV's May forecast.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss the various definitions of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and try to come up with the best one we can. Then we look at how smart humans are compared to current AI models. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, and Analysts Jacob Bourne and Gadjo Sevilla. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Our analysts took a look at the first half of this eventful year and provided their own very specific鈥攁lbeit unlikely鈥攑redictions at what could happen in the second half of the year and beyond.