Advertising and retail media

Topic8 posts

How AI is reshaping ad auctions, sponsored placements and retail media.

Monday November 9, 2026

1:02 am
Ziff Davis says Google search referrals fell about 37% in Q3 and plans no recovery
Search Console showed its content in AI Overviews and AI Mode about 2.7 billion times, close to 10x its Google clicks, CEO Vivek Shah said.
Our takeZiff Davis owns CNET and PCMag, is relaunching the RetailMeNot app, and took a $29.6 million goodwill impairment in its Technology and Shopping segment this quarter. Shah's figures show its content appearing in AI Overviews and AI Mode about 10x as often as it was clicked from Google Search, though PPC Land cautioned that impressions and clicks are not a clean comparison and the company did not disclose its click total.
PPC LandSearch and discovery

6:54 pm
Amazon, Walmart, Shopify and Mercado Libre split on outside AI shopping agents
Four large platforms have taken different positions on letting outside AI agents reach their catalogs and checkout. This explains what each model means for discovery, payment data and product feeds.
Our takeAgent visibility on Amazon and Mercado Libre runs through their own listings and ads for now, while Walmart and Shopify reward product data that outside agents can read.
Agentic commerce
6:33 pm
Amazon lets invited US shoppers buy through Alexa for Shopping by text message
Amazon says millions more customers will get the option in the coming weeks, but has not said whether ads will appear in text replies.
Our takeFor brands on Amazon, a text reply fits very few products, and Workflow Labs research cited by PPC Land found Rufus narrowed 50 results to roughly five. Amazon has not said how products are picked in texts, whether sponsored prompts will run there, or whether Shop Direct merchants will see text-originated sales.
PPC LandAgentic commerceRetailers pick sides on outside AI shopping agents

10:12 am
OpenAI claims ChatGPT handles a fifth of Google's search volume, with no data behind it
The figure came from an interview with ChatGPT's consumer product lead, while Google says its query growth is the fastest in five years.
Our takeOpenAI's unverified one-fifth claim and Google's record query growth may both hold, suggesting AI assistants add search behavior, but neither tells you about your own traffic.
Search Engine RoundtableSearch and discovery
8:35 am
Mercado Libre keeps its inventory away from outside AI shopping agents, for now
CEO Ariel Szarfsztejn is betting on an in-house shopping agent, while Q3 operating margin slid to 6.3% on heavy investment.
Our takeMercado Libre says it will not, for now, supply inventory to external AI shopping agents, keeping customer data and search ad revenue in-house. Its own search and agent become the main route to discovery on the platform.
MarketBeatRetail and marketplacesRetailers pick sides on outside AI shopping agents

9:35 am
Amazon says 400 million used Alexa for Shopping, and keeps rival agents at arm's length
Andy Jassy wants Amazon's own assistant to be the main way people shop its store, though he hinted the block on outside agents may ease.
Our takeAlexa for Shopping looks set to be the agent that matters for brands' Amazon revenue, since Amazon intends to keep shoppers and sponsored placements inside it, though the 50% spending figure is likely correlation.
Modern RetailAgentic commerceRetailers pick sides on outside AI shopping agents

9:35 am
Google Cloud doubles, Azure grows 48%, AWS 39%: AI demand still outruns supply
Microsoft says demand exceeds capacity, Amazon holds 2026 capex near $220 billion and Alphabet flags a significant 2027 step-up.
Our takeMicrosoft's numbers matter most: about 75% of its capex buys short-lived hardware and demand exceeds supply, so providers have little reason to cut inference prices and good reason to favor committed customers.
Associated Press (via NY1)AI infrastructureThe AI infrastructure spending race

9:35 am
Meta's creator ads pass a $15 billion run rate as ad prices climb 14%
Nearly 10 million advertisers used Meta's generative AI creative tools in Q3, and revenue rose 26% to $64.6 billion.
Our takeA 14% rise in the average price per ad heading into the holiday quarter means higher acquisition costs for brands that depend on Meta, while the conversion lifts Meta cites are self-measured and modest.
PPC LandMarketing and retail media