Each day, New Digital Age gathers the most interesting marketing and ad tech news from around the world…
HOLDCOS
Financial Times – Samuel Agini and Sarah White, 17th May 2026 (also in Adweek, More About Advertising, Beet.TV)
Publicis to buy US data company in $2.2bn deal as it deepens AI marketing push
Publicis has agreed to buy US data company LiveRamp in a $2.2bn deal, as the French advertising group accelerates its push into AI marketing. Publicis said its all-cash takeover of LiveRamp valued the US company at $38.50 a share, almost 30 per cent higher than its closing price on Friday.
BIG TECH
Financial Times – Michelle Chan, 15th May 2026
Big Tech goes beyond Wall Street for huge AI borrowing
Big tech groups have embarked on a borrowing spree around the globe to fund the AI arms race as they seek to diversify their sources of funding beyond Wall Street to support runaway capital expenditure.
PUBLISHERS
Digiday – Jessica Davies, 18th May 2026
The Economist prepares for a two‑track internet: one for humans and one for AI agents
The Economist is testing new ways of structuring content to be read solely by agents as AI engines increasingly surface and summarize news.
CTV
Broadband TV News – Julian Clover, 15th May 2026
Omdia: Google, Amazon and Netflix to control half of CTV ad market by 2030
Google, Amazon and Netflix are forecast to control half of the global connected TV advertising market by 2030, according to new research from Omdia.
DOOH
Performance Marketing World – Joseph Arthur, 18th May 2026
Co-op Media Network Out of Home launches as retailer joins DOOH market
Launch signals a strategic move from Co-op to better establish retail media as a brand-building, upper funnel capable proposition.
AI
Financial Times – Samuel Agini & Sarah White, 17th May 2026
Publicis to buy US data company in $2.2bn deal as it deepens AI marketing push
French advertising group to purchase LiveRamp and enhance its focus on disruptive technology
AdAge – Asa Hiken, 18th May 2026
How Meta advertisers hit automation challenges in rush to use AI
Advertisers are clearly eager to use Claude and ChatGPT to automate many aspects of their Meta campaigns—from tracking ad performance to devising and executing new strategies. But while this is suddenly a real opportunity thanks to Meta opening its ads ecosystem to third-party AI tools, some advertisers are reporting a rocky start to their integrations.
Digiday – Krystal Scanlon, 18th May 2026
Inside The Trade Desk’s Claude-powered campaign agent
The Trade Desk has a long history of AI ambition and a more complicated history of AI delivery. Its latest effort is notably smaller in scope and notably harder to argue with.
