Dynamic creative optimization must contend with signal loss from the demise of third-party cookies, says Kepler EMEA Senior Consultant Nick Graham, who recommends that vendors develop closed loops for measurement by building relationships with both ad buyers and sellers. Graham and other experts also weighed in on how incorporating generative artificial intelligence lets brands conduct DCO more efficiently in the short term and how human guidance is still vital to long-term strategy.

Home Depot is extending its retail media road map with "InFronts" in-person pitching to advertisers while swapping its Retail Media+ branding for Orange Apron Media -- a move coordinated by Trade School. The first event, headlined by CEO Ted Decker and Chief Marketing Officer Molly Battin, is expected to attract 500 attendees and will include consumer and business insights, service capabilities and details about Home Depot's retail and marketing plans.

Generative AI search engine Perplexity is branching into ad sales, with placement opportunities within suggested questions generated from users' queries. No time frame for the ads were given by the company's Dmitry Shevelenko, though the timing is expected "in the upcoming quarters," writes Trishla Ostwal.

Google Chat reportedly has started developing Announcements, a broadcast messaging feature like WhatsApp Channels that lets specified users send messages to big groups. The company hasn't released specific details about the option or when it will become available.

Discord starts running ads from game companies this week, offering free gifts to users who can get their friends to watch them play through sponsored in-game missions. Jason Citron, Discord's CEO, previously said that the platform won't follow social media companies like Meta and TikTok into reliance on ads.

Search visibility, glimpses of product creation, and artificial intelligence enhancement can help brands gain an edge in product videos, which influence 96% of customers' purchasing choices, writes Anamta Shehzadi. Shehzadi sees volumetric 3D videos and generative AI taking off in the near future.

By 2029, Generational Alpha -- those born between 2010 and 2025 -- will account for $5.46 trillion in spending, with Allison Carter noting that this generation is digital savvy and has a language all their own that marketers must understand. Carter tries to pull the curtain back on what makes this generation tick by breaking down their more-used slang words, such as bet, GOAT and sus, per a Morning Consult report.

As forecasts for the worldwide digital transformation market are set to eclipse $1 trillion by 2025, a shift toward the digital-first frontier is in full swing and the cultural shift requires innovation, experimentation, measurement and learning from failure. Knowing the difference in audiences and purposes of social media platforms is critical, says Sonali Nair, Segment Agency CEO, in addition to using all the data that's collected to drive informed decisions.

The gradual disappearance of third-party cookies hasn't led to enough creative, customer-focused strategies and first-party data usage, despite studies showing revenue benefits and cost savings, Carol Howley, chief marketing officer of email signature platform Exclaimer, writes. This new, direct connection with customers allows for a higher level of personalization and analysis, requires transparency and trust, and should involve new-to-you technologies that will enhance your efforts.

Mother created a "Missing Articles" campaign for The Wall Street Journal, which features blank articles in its newspaper with headlines such as "His Story Should Be Here" to spotlight the one-year anniversary since its reporter Evan Gershkovich was "imprisoned in Russia for doing his job." An almost two-minute video highlights Gershkovich's plight and the campaign urges supporters to call for his release on social media, using #IStandWithEvan.