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OTT video鈥攊ncluding YouTube, subscription OTT, AVOD, and free ad-supported streaming TV鈥攊s extremely popular in nearly all forms. But traditional pay TV continues to reach new lows.

AI agents are revolutionizing marketing with autonomous capabilities that go far beyond traditional automation. Organizations are implementing AI agents to boost workflow efficiency and prepare for a consumer marketplace increasingly mediated by AI.

The retail outlook for 2025 is worse than previously anticipated. However, many smaller emerging markets are still in line for strong years, and ecommerce continues to claw share from traditional retail.

Digital banks lead in attracting Gen Z, with 54% preferring non-traditional providers for real-time payouts and aligned social values. However, traditional banks are adapting. They're boosting digital capabilities, like Truist's mobile ID verification, and personalizing experiences, such as U.S. Bank's targeted social media marketing and immediate rewards. Traditional FIs leverage existing strengths, emphasizing low fees and an omnichannel approach that blends digital convenience with in-person options. Winning Gen Z requires a strategic mix of digital excellence, relevant marketing that resonates, and human-centric personalization, delivering tailored and empowering financial interactions for long-term loyalty.

The news: Marketing teams are rapidly integrating AI tools into search engine optimization (SEO) workflows. A vast majority (86%) of US SEO professionals and digital marketers use ChatGPT alongside traditional platforms like Ahrefs (64%) and Semrush (56%), per a Databox survey to understand how generative AI (genAI) is changing their work in 2025. Our take: As shifts from traditional search to AI chatbots continue to alter the marketing landscape, CMOs need to maintain a balanced approach to AI integration while preserving traditional SEO foundations. Combining AI鈥檚 efficiency with human oversight is key to ensure brand control while exploring emerging search and SEO opportunities.

And for the first time this year, time spent with CTV is projected to outpace time spent with traditional TV鈥攊ndicating that CTV provides an increasingly lucrative opportunity for advertisers to reach target audiences. Yes, but: While CTV will likely continue to outpace traditional TV, there are challenges with the format.

The trend: Gen Z is opting out of both traditional pay TV and ad-supported streaming tiers, signaling deeper changes in viewing behavior. Just 42% of Gen Z subscribers use ad-supported SVOD, while less than half of all US households now maintain a pay TV subscription. Our take: Streaming鈥檚 future depends on reaching the next generation, but current models鈥攅specially ad-supported tiers鈥攁ren鈥檛 meeting Gen Z where they are. With only 1.3 hours of streaming and 0.8 hours of traditional TV per day, Gen Z prefers social video, gaming, and music. To stay relevant, platforms must prioritize native formats, interactivity, and creator integration over legacy ad models.

The news: Klarna is pivoting toward digital banking in the US, preparing for its IPO amid growing scrutiny of the buy now, pay later (BNPL) market. This includes launching US debit cards and expanded savings offerings, with Klarna rebranding itself as a neobank aiming for a "super app" experience. Our take: This signals a broader trend of fintechs evolving into banks, intensifying pressure on traditional financial institutions (FIs) to differentiate. FIs must clarify their niche, pursue strategic scale, and accelerate digital transformation. Despite Klarna's expansion, FIs retain a key advantage: their card-based installment plans still outperform BNPL in customer satisfaction.

Audiences are losing trust in traditional advertising and gaining trust in the influencers they follow. Unlike traditional ads, creators 鈥渉ave built dedicated audiences, oftentimes over many years.鈥� Fans trust creator recommendations鈥攇iving brands a chance to 鈥渉ave creators tell stories on their behalf.鈥�. AI is enhancing the creator marketing ecosystem.

The news: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) plans to split into two separate public companies by 2026, one focused on streaming and studios and the other on global cable networks, the company announced. Its streaming company will include HBO Max and WBD鈥檚 movie properties, while the global networks company will include TNT Sports, Discovery, and CNN. Our take: WBD鈥檚 move emphasizes that sticking with a one-size-fits-all model is no longer viable given traditional TV declines and the rise of streaming. Managing decline while pursuing growth requires two fundamentally different playbooks.

The news: The banking sector is evolving towards embedded finance and enhanced data-sharing, allowing customers to access financial products and services from any provider, on any platform. This unbundling trend, driven by fintechs, could marginalize traditional banks. The article draws a parallel to the music industry's digital disruption, where unbundling (like iTunes) and streaming (like Spotify) fundamentally reshaped its value chain. This transformation, catalyzed by companies like Napster, created diverse new models. The opportunity: Similar to how streaming music providers anticipate continued growth, banking customers increasingly seek unbundled services, with fintechs outpacing traditional financial institutions in new checking account openings as consumers hold multiple accounts for specific needs.

The news: Banks shouldn't use a single marketing strategy for all young people鈥擬illennials (born 1981-1996) and Gen Z (born 1997-2012) have distinct financial behaviors. Millennials, shaped by economic uncertainty, seek stability and pragmatic digital tools, valuing expert advice. Gen Z, digital natives, demand effortless speed, are influencer-driven, and focus on immediate experiences, often skeptical of traditional banks. Our take: Marketing must be tailored. For millennials, emphasize trust, reliability, and security for long-term goals, offering expert education. For Gen Z, highlight speed, flexibility, and convenience through engaging, short-form content on platforms like TikTok, utilizing influencers to build rapport.

The news: US adults are increasingly dependent on digital platforms for news, with social media and video overtaking traditional news outlets for the first time. 54% of US adults get their news from social media, per the Reuters Institute鈥檚 2025 Digital News Report, compared with 50% from TV news and 48% from news websites and apps. Our take: Linear platforms could offer personalized news digests and mobile- and social- friendly content to reengage younger users, while advertisers should diversify their campaigns across social media platforms to follow fragmented user engagement.

Yet, traditional linear TV still receives the majority of ad spending, with 67.5% of total TV ad budgets going towards the channel, according to a November 2024 forecast from 蘑菇AV. What it means: After decades of benefiting from linear TV's direct line into US households, marketers have been slower to explore CTV channels, even as the streaming service space nears saturation.