Each day, New Digital Age gathers the most interesting marketing and ad tech news from around the world…
COMMERCE
The Drum – 15th May 2026
Newell Brand explains how it turned influencer content into shoppable Amazon commerce
Newell Brands has been highly commended in Creative Integration of Content & Commerce at The Drum Awards for Commerce Media 2026. Here is the case study that impressed the judges as submitted.
ECOMMERCE
Retail Gazette – Kieran Howells, 15th May 2026
GameStop boss threatens hostile eBay takeover after $56bn bid rejected
GameStop chief executive Ryan Cohen has hit back at eBay after the online marketplace rejected his $56bn takeover proposal, warning he could take the offer directly to shareholders.
RETAIL MEDIA
Adweek – Lauren Johnson, 14th May 2026
ADWEEK Commerce Advantage: Retail Media Is About To Take Even More TV Ad Spend Walmart
Amazon, and commerce media firms are stepping up their data and AI pitches
Decision Marketing – 14th May 2026
Co-op expands retail media with digital OOH network
Co‑op is boosting its retail media proposition by creating a nationwide digital out of home network, which it claims will make it the fourth largest digital outdoor advertiser in the UK, behind long-established ad businesses JCDecaux, Global and Bauer Media Outdoor.
AI
Decision Marketing – 14th May 2026
IAB UK calls on Govt to work with industry on AI laws
The Government is being urged not to overlook one of the UK’s most advanced AI sectors, as new research from IAB UK reveals digital advertising is already delivering AI at scale across the economy, with 95% of businesses in the sector now using the technology.
Campaign – 15th May 2026
TikTok announces new AI ad formats and additions to TikTok One
Features range from allowing users to book full holidays inside the platform to prioritising brand-owned pages in TikTok search results.
VideoWeek – Dan Meier, 14th May 2026
IAB UK, a trade body for digital advertising, is urging government ministers to “seize opportunities” relating to the use of AI in the digital advertising industry, with IAB UK research suggesting that 95 percent of businesses in the sector now use the technology.
AGENTIC
Digiday – Tim Peterson, Kimeko McCoy and Jim Cooper, 15th May 2026
Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit May Recap: How marketers are navigating agentic ad buying
Agentic ad buying isn’t coming soon; it’s already here. And it was the dominant theme at the May 2026 edition of the Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit, held May 6 to 8 in Palm Springs, Calif.
AUDIO
ExchangeWire – 14th May 2026
Digital Audio Proves Its Full Funnel Credentials in Audion & Happydemics Study
Audion, an AI-driven advertising platform specialising in digital audio, has launched its Audio Performance Index. With research carried out by Happydemics, it is the first benchmark study to measure the effectiveness of digital audio advertising across the full funnel.
BIG TECH
Financial Times – Michelle Chan, 15th May 2026
Big Tech groups launch global borrowing spree to fund AI expansion
US tech giants including Alphabet and Amazon are tapping foreign debt market at an unprecedented rate
ECONOMY
CityAM – Mauricio Alencar, 14th May 2026
UK enjoyed surprise growth in March but economy ‘in for a rough ride’
The UK economy’s momentum continued as growth was higher than expected in March, official figures have shown, in what may precede months of expected gloom. The ONS has revealed that GDP growth was 0.3 per cent in March. This contributed to overall growth of 0.6 per cent in the first quarter.
