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Telehealth company highlights how cultural conversations about food, health, and personal responsibility have shifted under the Trump administration

ADWEEK picks the best Super Bowl ads of 2026.

Salesforce partnered with MrBeast for a game of puzzles with the prize being a million dollars.

Omnicom Group has finalized its acquisition of Interpublic Group in a $13.25 billion all-stock transaction, creating the world's largest advertising holding company. The combined entity will have approximately $25 billion in annual revenue and enhanced capabilities in digital advertising, data analytics, and programmatic media buying.

AI search engine Perplexity has introduced its first advertising product, allowing brands to sponsor follow-up questions in search results. The platform represents a new advertising model for AI-powered search, with initial partners including major consumer brands testing contextual placements within conversational AI interactions.

Adobe has unveiled integrations connecting its Real-Time Customer Data Platform with retail media networks including Kroger Precision Marketing, CVS Media Exchange, and Albertsons Media Collective. The integrations enable brands to activate first-party data across retail media environments with improved targeting and measurement capabilities.

The UK's ICO has imposed a £50 million fine on Meta for violating data protection regulations related to its advertising practices, specifically around consent mechanisms and cross-platform data sharing. The ruling requires Meta to implement significant changes to how it processes user data for targeted advertising across Facebook and Instagram.

Roku has launched shoppable advertising capabilities allowing viewers to purchase products directly through their TV remote during commercial breaks. The feature integrates with major e-commerce platforms and payment systems, enabling seamless transactions without leaving the viewing experience.

Salesforce has introduced Einstein for Advertising, an AI-powered module within Marketing Cloud that automates media buying, optimization, and creative personalization across digital channels. The platform uses predictive analytics to allocate budgets and adjust campaigns in real-time based on customer engagement data.

Privacy-focused Brave browser has surpassed 100 million monthly active users and announced significant expansion of its opt-in advertising network that rewards users with cryptocurrency. The company reports 70% higher engagement rates compared to traditional display advertising while maintaining user privacy through local ad matching.

ByteDance has launched a global programmatic advertising exchange through its Pangle platform, offering advertisers access to inventory beyond TikTok including third-party apps and websites. The move positions ByteDance as a direct competitor to Google's Ad Manager and Amazon's advertising infrastructure in the open web advertising market.

Australia's ACCC has introduced mandatory transparency requirements for ad tech intermediaries, requiring disclosure of all fees, take rates, and algorithmic decision-making processes. The regulations also mandate independent audits of ad tech supply chains and give publishers access to detailed reporting on how their inventory is monetized.

Japan's Personal Information Protection Commission released new guidance clarifying how advertisers and ad tech companies can collect and use data in a cookie-less environment. The guidance addresses contextual targeting, first-party data usage, and cohort-based advertising approaches while emphasizing user consent requirements.

Dunkin’s Super Bowl spot rejected the night’s earnest tone in favor of a loud, nostalgia-soaked sitcom parody—prompting creatives to debate whether its maximalist celebrity overload was a smart swing or too much indulgence.

Perplexity AI announced the launch of its advertising platform, introducing sponsored follow-up questions and paid media placements within its AI-powered search interface. Initial brand partners include Indeed, Whole Foods, Universal McCann, and PMG, marking a significant entry of AI search engines into the advertising marketplace.

Australia's competition regulator filed legal action against Meta, alleging the company failed to prevent scam advertisements featuring fake celebrity endorsements from appearing on Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit seeks penalties and injunctions requiring Meta to implement stronger ad verification systems.

Reddit reported fourth-quarter revenue of $385 million, up 68% year-over-year, driven by significant improvements to its advertising platform and machine learning-based ad targeting. The company highlighted growth in its self-serve ad platform and expansion of advertiser demand across multiple verticals.

Havas Media Group unveiled Converged, an AI-powered media planning platform that integrates first-party data, market intelligence, and predictive analytics to optimize cross-channel media investments. The tool aims to streamline planning processes and improve ROI measurement across digital and traditional channels.

The Federal Communications Commission proposed new regulations that would require political advertisers to disclose when campaign ads contain AI-generated content, including synthetic voices, deepfakes, or algorithmically created imagery. The rules would apply to broadcast, cable, and satellite providers, with potential implications for digital platforms.

Microsoft zooms in on technical use cases for Copilot, but misses the opportunity to define its brand in more grounded terms.

Albertsons Companies announced its retail media network, Albertsons Media Collective, surpassed $1.5 billion in annual advertising revenue, representing 85% year-over-year growth. The company attributed success to expanded off-site advertising capabilities, enhanced measurement tools, and integration with major demand-side platforms.

Meta launched Advantage+ Creative, an AI-powered tool that automatically optimizes ad creative elements including images, video, text, and calls-to-action based on performance data. The platform uses machine learning to test variations and personalize creative for different audience segments at scale.

Yahoo announced the acquisition of Artifact, the AI-powered news aggregation app founded by Instagram co-founders, for an undisclosed sum. Yahoo plans to integrate Artifact's personalization technology into its content platforms and leverage the app's engagement data to enhance ad targeting capabilities.

The enterprise giant turned its Big Game spot into a $1 million puzzle, betting on participation.