Compared with 2024, more companies are using AI to develop ads and more consumers believe they have seen AI-generated ads. But a notable perception gap exists between consumers and advertisers, especially among Gen Z.

AI media is quickly becoming a today budget decision, not a tomorrow one. To kick off 2026, The AI Ad Economy is launching a 6-part series that will help marketers build an action plan.

Studies from Microsoft, Perplexity and OpenAI reveal that consumer AI use cases are becoming more personal, more intent-driven and more commerce-oriented.

Advertisers, it’s time to get ready for AI media: Ads in AI chatbots, platforms and experiences like ChatGPT, Copilot and Rufus.

Introducing my new Substack: The AI Ad Economy. Subscribe for weekly analysis, data and insights about the fast-growing AI media ad market, where advertising in chatbots is only the beginning.

OpenAI is delaying its ads launch as part of an all-hands-on-deck response to Google’s latest model. But that doesn’t mean all AI ads are delayed.

Personal use of genAI is increasing much faster than work use. Work use is up only 4 points year over year, while personal use is up 13 points.

On Weds 11/19/25, learn how Microsoft’s Copilot team and Outset use AI-moderated research to understand how people interact with Copilot.

Pay attention to consumer attitudes toward AI advertising.

When I spoke recently to a group of marketers in Iowa, I decided to do something fun. I wanted to give them a glimpse of how a local brand—Jolly Time Popcorn—shows up in AI search. So I ran an experiment.

Meta and Alphabet both reported record revenue and strong user growth, but also two very different depictions of AI’s impact on their business.

Debra “brings a uniquely grounded (and human) perspective to keynotes and presentations. Her sessions cut through AI hype with data-driven insights about how people really use these tools.” —Tameka Kee, Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement

It’s time to give AHO the attention it deserves.

If a platform as well-funded and well-liked as Perplexity is struggling to define its ad model, it’s a signal for marketers to watch closely. The race to monetize AI search is on—but the ad model is yet to be decided.

Perplexity’s Comet browser is now free to everyone. Free AI is not only a tech story, but also a consumer behavior story.

Hollywood vet Lloyd Braun wants to use AI to produce microdramas for your phone. Will US consumers want to watch?

In a podcast, Microsoft AI ads chief Paul Longo described how ads on Copilot look and act now. That’s not necessarily how they’ll look in the future.

My latest research collab with WARC Advisory and its client TikTok sheds new light on the role of social and video platforms in search (and how they stack up against AI search).

Meta revealed new details about the impact of AI on its ad business—leading to a big jump in revenue growth in Q2 2025.