NEW LAUNCHES

The latest features, products & partnerships in AI

• Google Cloud’s AI will help roads in the UK repair themselves

• Smart AI-powered content creation just got cheaper with Katteb’s latest offering

• OpenAI challenges DeepSeek with new free AI model

• SoftBank partners with OpenAI to launch two new initiatives

• ChatGPT vs DeepSeek: Which can plan the better Super Bowl party?

• Microsoft’s new AI-powered Surface Copilot+ PCs are here

DEEPSEEK

Reactions, predictions & more

• NASA blocks China’s DeepSeek AI over security concerns

• Dutch regulator to investigate DeepSeek over privacy concerns

• Millions of people have downloaded DeepSeek — why deleting it may be next

• Texas bans DeepSeek and RedNote AI apps on state devices

• OpenAI’s latest, much leaner AI model o3-Mini can keep pace with DeepSeek

• Cybersecurity professionals sound the alarm about DeepSeek’s vulnerabilities

• US probes DeepSeek’s potential use of restricted AI chips

GOVERNMENT

Geopolitics, regulation, defense & global development

• METR publishes cybersecurity assessment of leading AI models from Anthropic and OpenAI

• Policy and the missing links in AI governance

• Why AI copyright reform is crucial for US national security

MARKETING

Platforms, tools, integrations & AI ads

• How AI is helping smart marketers be much more productive

• One of Google’s AI Super Bowl ads is getting its facts all wrong

• UK ad spend increases a historic 9.7% as AI adoption and digital formats surge

• AI chatbots were a big booster for holiday sales

• 5 key ways AI is transforming social media marketing

IN OTHER NEWS

Compelling stories beyond the usual categories

• Nicolas Cage blasts AI use in film at Saturn Awards

• A majority of people prefer AI-based therapy to humans, survey finds

• Generative adversarial networks explained

• Google’s Notebook LM: How it came to be and why it’s so powerful

• Why carbon footprint alone isn’t enough to assess AI’s sustainability

• AI agents vs generative AI: 5 key differences explained

• Rivian hopes advanced autonomy and AI will help it best Tesla

What’s happening in AI right now

The fierce battle for control of your inbox, newsfeed, and marketing messages

The marketing gold rush

While much attention focuses on OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic's race to build more powerful foundation models, a parallel competition is intensifying in the AI marketing technology space. This week alone saw the launch of Entyx.io, a new AI marketing platform, record growth in UK digital advertising driven by AI adoption, and Katteb's release of an AI content generation platform at an aggressive $79.99 lifetime price point.

These developments point to a growing bifurcation in the AI industry - between the capital-intensive race to build better foundation models, and an equally intense competition to build practical AI applications that deliver immediate business value.

The promise and peril

Marketing technology vendors promise dramatic productivity gains through AI-powered personalization, automation, and optimization. The UK advertising market's 9.7% growth, reaching £10.6bn in Q3 2024, suggests these tools are delivering real results for many businesses.

Yet cracks are beginning to show in the AI marketing facade. Google's Super Bowl commercial featuring Gemini AI included an embarrassing factual error about global cheese consumption - highlighting the ongoing challenges with AI content generation accuracy.

Beyond generic AI

The most successful companies appear to be those focusing on specific use cases rather than generic AI capabilities. Synthesia has reached a $2.1B valuation by focusing exclusively on AI video generation for enterprises. Meanwhile, new AI agents are being developed specifically for sales teams, handling everything from lead qualification to administrative tasks.

Looking ahead

The rapid proliferation of AI marketing tools raises important questions about the future of digital advertising and content creation. Will we see a winner-take-all dynamic emerge, or will the market support multiple specialized players? How will businesses balance the efficiency gains of AI automation against human creativity and oversight?

What's clear is that the real AI revolution isn't just happening in research labs - it's playing out in marketing departments and advertising agencies worldwide. The winners will likely be those who find the right balance between automation and authenticity, scale and specificity, efficiency and accuracy.

We publish daily research, playbooks, and deep industry data breakdowns. Learn More Here

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