Digiday Daily

February 23, 2026

In several earnings calls this month, executives at high-profile advertisers like Airbnb and Expedia fielded questions from analysts over the impact of generative AI chatbots or Google’s AI Overviews feature on their businesses. It’s a sign that the changing dynamics of how search marketing will affect major brands has finally reached the boardroom.

TOP STORY

Zero-click Future

Zero-click reality is rewriting the rules of search for brands

Search performance concerns have reached brand boardrooms. Both organic and paid search practitioners are scrambling to find effective responses to the questions posed by AI developments.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

For advertisers, the challenge that comes with TV is not whether people will watch. It is where they watch, how they move between platforms and how quickly plans need to adapt. Partner insights from Nexxen.
Weather impacts what people try, buy and how they feel. This powers targeting to predict the moments when weather shifts a consumer’s mindset toward purchase, driving sales and long-term growth. Learn more in this video. Partner insights from The Weather Company.
This WTF explainer guide covers why brands like Sephora and Adidas are moving away from a siloed approach to loyalty and promotions, and are instead implementing a unified incentives marketing strategy. Partner insights from Talon.One.

MEDIA & PLATFORMS

Marketing on Platforms

As it ramps up push to fund AI bets, Meta makes a new play for agencies

Even in the age of Advantage+, Meta needs agencies.

Evolving Agencies

In fighting a whistleblower suit, WPP put its own account of media agency trading on the public record

A former GroupM executive is suing WPP for $100 million, alleging he was fired for exposing a systematic scheme to pocket billions in client rebates.

Retail Media Rewritten

Walmart Connect's full-funnel ambitions come into focus, with Amazon in its sights

Walmart Connect is scaling quickly, with AI investments and the Vizio acquisition shaping its push to rival Amazon’s ad business.

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM EXPERIAN

Why context is key to making AI successful in marketing

As AI takes center stage in marketing strategy, context is emerging as the differentiator that turns reactive automation into predictive intelligence.

AI Revenue Generation

Walmart says AI users build 35% bigger baskets than others

Walmart customers who use the company’s Sparky AI-powered shopping assistant have an order value that’s about 35% higher than those who don’t.

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM CHANNEL FACTORY

What the next phase of suitability means for brands

The discussion around brand suitability has matured. The first phase focused on safety, and the second shifted to suitability. The industry is now entering a third phase, where brands expect more customization, control and accountability.