News and Notes from Debra Aho Williamson

New research: The AI Ad Gap
Advertisers are eager to harness the power of AI for ad creation. Gen Z and Millennial consumers are far less convinced.

I asked ChatGPT what ChatGPT ads will look like. Here’s what I learned.
2025 will be the year when ads come to ChatGPT and other AI experiences. This is what they might look like.

Agencies seem underwhelmed by Perplexity ads
I'm still perplexed by Perplexity's ad rollout strategy.

No, consumers don’t make up 75% of OpenAI’s revenue
When OpenAI says “consumers” make up ¾ of its revenue, what does that actually mean? In this video post, I break it down.

Sonata Insights is 6 months old!
Woo hoo! Here’s what I’ve learned in my first 6 months as a solopreneur analyst, researcher and advisor. Also: exciting international travel news for 2025, and a yearend gift for all of my supporters!

Perplexity’s ad strategy perplexes me
Perplexity revealed a bit more about its fledgling ad business at Advertising Week New York this week. I'm going to go out there and say this: It's taking a risky approach.

RMNs and creators are a power duo: New white paper!
Retail media can help marketers solve a thorny influencer marketing problem: understanding the impact on sales. And creators have the ability to liven up stale product pages, leading to more engagement and a better shopping experience. And yet .... retailers and brands haven't fully come together on this opportunity. Budget challenges, siloes and other issues keep standing in the way.

AI for creative generation and campaign optimization: New white paper!
While nearly all marketers are using AI in some way during the creative process, no one is ready to let machines take over. Having humans not only involved but responsible for checking the AI’s work is essential.

AI search isn’t yet the disruptive nemesis it’s been portrayed to be
Yes, AI is transforming search. And no, it's not happening as quickly as everyone thinks it is. Here's why I believe that.

Consumers, AI and the power of connection
Yes, AI can make marketing more efficient, but if your consumers are moving in a new direction, all the internal cost-savings in the world won’t matter if you can’t meet them where they are. Read my opinion column on P&G Signal 360.

Will Apple bring AI to the masses?
Apple Intelligence will likely cause a big uptick in the number of people using AI. And they may not even know they're using it.

Will consumer AI platforms feel the Oprah effect?
Next week's Oprah Winfrey show about AI could do a LOT to change the average person's impressions of AI. Watch my video that went viral on LinkedIn.

Talking AI with MediaPost
I chatted with MediaPost’s editor in chief Joe Mandese about why it’s important to pay attention to consumer AI behaviors, and what marketers should know. Fun fact: Joe and I worked together when I was a copy editor at Ad Age way back when.

So, Perplexity is selling ads?
Just how big is Perplexity compared to Google and ChatGPT? Here are four stats to know now that Perplexity is starting to sell ads.

Fall speaking tour: AI and social media
Look for me on-stage this fall at Ascendant Network’s fall events, Shoptalk Fall and AMA Puget Sound.

How Meta Outperformed Alphabet, Amazon, Snap, and Others This Quarter
Meta delivered impressive results in Q2 2024, especially compared to other tech giants. Here’s how it did it. Big thank you to BNN Bloomberg for inviting me on-air!

Meta and Zuck Pitched AI, and the Market Liked What It Heard
Meta reported Q2 2024 business results ahead of expectations today, and the market’s positive response to the earnings report is a bellwether for AI stocks.

Decoding the AI disruption
AI is starting to change the way people interact with content and search for information. Just like social media did - or maybe even more so. In this interview with M Agency’s Bobbie Bailey, I share the key action steps I recommend for marketers.

Consumer search behavior in the age of AI
AI search isn’t the disruptive nemesis it’s been portrayed to be (yet). In my inaugural white paper with my client Datos, I explain why Google is still a powerhouse and which AI platforms have a chance of challenging it.

How ChatGPT Helped Me Find Cocktail Bars, Chinese Takeout and a Potato Salad Recipe
Businesses of all sizes that market to consumers need to make sure they show up in the places consumers are going when they need an answer fast: generative AI platforms.