A new program reportedly being tested at Instagram could allow popular creators to leverage AI-powered chatbots to respond to fan messages and comments as part of an effort to reduce their workload on the platform, insiders say. The program builds on parent company Meta's earlier work to develop AI versions of celebrities for fans to interact with, which has earned a mixed response from users.

YouTube has started preventing people from viewing content through outside apps if they block ads. The company stated that ads "help support creators and let billions of people around the world use the streaming service" and recommends YouTube Premium for those who prefer to go ad free.

No technology platform has developed sufficient tools to ensure ad transparency ahead of major upcoming elections, CheckFirst and Mozilla have found. Companies like X and Snap got the lowest scores, which mark how easily users can find information like ads' target audience and reach, and "even the best approaches don't meet [the researchers'] baseline."

Business-to-business marketers can use AI in three ways to power improved e-commerce experiences, including tapping generative AI for content from product descriptions to personalized recommendations, advises Sana Commerce CEO Sebastiaan Verhaar. AI assistants can create a seamless online purchasing experience while AI analytics help to drive customized moments, Verhaar writes.

RMS Beauty is on track to double its business this year with estimated annual revenue of as much as $80 million, a feat that the clean beauty brand says is due in large part to new customers, revenue from loyalty program members, social communities and viral videos across social media featuring founder Rose-Marie Swift. Influencer partnerships and outdoor ads and events have also played a role in growth, says CEO David Olsen.

The advertising world can better engage with Black consumers by being consistently culturally aware, building a foundation of authentic storytelling, writes Kenny Lloyd, director of culture and innovation at VCCP. "Leverage those people in your organization that want to share their voice, hire more of those people, and trust their perspectives," Lloyd writes.

Linear TV makes up 85% of connected TV ad inventory, a Bernstein Research study found, and CTV total inventory will probably have grown 3% between January and April. While cord-cutting is shrinking linear TV's inventory, Bernstein analyst Lawrence Yoon says that the format remains "the primary channel for mass marketing and a pivotal component for legacy players."

Goodby Silverstein & Partners created an AI-powered "Ask Dali" activation at The Dali Museum, which enables visitors to pick up a telephone resembling the artist's "Lobster Phone" and ask him questions about his work. A 90-second video showcases the experience, explained by the AI-version of Dali.

Leadership confidence is about improving yourself, but not on the backs of others. Confidence comes from within and is "an unshakeable sense of self, which requires consistent and continued dedication to your values, goals and personal self-worth," writes executive coach Joel Garfinkle, who offers five ways to build your confidence without throwing your weight around.