A third of US businesses were paying for subscriptions to OpenAI AI models, platforms, and tools as of April, according to Ramp’s AI Index, which measures the adoption rate of artificial intelligence products and services among American businesses. That’s up from 18.9% in January and 28% in March. “OpenAI continues to add customers faster than any other business on Ramp’s platform,” said the company in a blog post. Jasper’s AI writing tool, purpose-built for marketers, and Deepgram’s voice transcription software also posted significant growth.

OpenAI has decided not to convert to a for-profit corporation. Instead, the company is restructuring as a public benefit corporation, and the nonprofit that controls OpenAI will continue to control the company. “OpenAI was founded as a non-profit, and is today overseen and controlled by that nonprofit,” wrote OpenAI Board Chairman Bret Taylor in a blog post. “Going forward, it will continue to be overseen and controlled by that nonprofit.” OpenAI says it reversed course “after hearing from civic leaders and engaging in constructive dialogue with the offices of the Attorney General of Delaware and the Attorney General of California.”

Google has agreed to pay the state of Texas $1.375 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2022, accusing Google of tracking users’ personal data without permission. “In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law,” said Paxton in a statement. “For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won.” A spokesperson for Google stated, “This settles a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed. We are pleased to put them behind us, and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services.”

Global consumer spending on overall media content grew 8.1% in 2024 to $1.075 trillion, while total media-related technology spending inched up 1.4% to $1.296 trillion. Consumer spend on digital media content and tech worldwide increased 5.7% in 2024 to $1.783 trillion, while end-user spend on traditional media content and tech inched up 0.6% to $588.56 billion. The US remained the largest consumer media and related tech market in the world with total expenditures of $544.18 billion in 2024. Additional findings include:
– Pure-play mobile media was the largest of the 10 hybrid-media silo spending categories in 2024 at $563.77 billion, while recorded music was the fastest growing, rising 10.9%;
– Wireless data subscriptions were the largest of the 28 digital media categories in 2024 at $300.31 billion.
– Basic and premium TV subscriptions was the largest of the 14 traditional media categories in 2024 at $231.03 billion.

What’s ahead? “While consumer spending on media will accelerate in even years, the growth rates will be significantly lower than in previous years when international sporting events and major elections were held,” said PQ Media CEO Patrick Quinn. “The tariffs are impacting both developed and emerging markets, particularly relating to electronically delivered content and the devices that are used to upload that content.”

Streaming impressions rose to nearly 14% of total TV ad impressions in Q1 2025, while linear’s share narrowed to around 86%, according to iSpot’s Q1 2025 TV Ad Transparency Report. The good news for linear? National linear ad spend rose 3.99% year-over-year, to $12.34 billion. Other takeaways include:
– Men’s college basketball outscored the NFL for Q1 ad impressions, and the Big Game delivered a 4.55% YoY increase in household reach.
– The Academy Awards delivered a 4.37% YoY increase in TV ad impressions and a 28% boost in attention, with Samsung’s “Fight Greg” spot outperforming the brand’s key purchase intent drivers.
– Several top Super Bowl LIX ads, like those from Pfizer and Jeep, demonstrated that emotional storytelling, not just humor, captures attention and boosts likeability on the biggest stage.

Comcast Technology Solutions and Orange Logic announced a strategic partnership that aims to enhance how organizations manage and utilize their video content. The collaboration integrates Comcast Technology Solutions’ VideoAI with Orange Logic’s platform. “Companies across the premium video landscape are looking for practical and scalable ways to leverage AI to improve operational efficiency and cost savings,” said Bart Spriester, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Streaming, Broadcast, & Advertising for Comcast Technology Solutions. “CTS’ VideoAI was built for that very purpose, and we look forward to integrating with Orange Logic and enabling them to bring this value-added capability to their customers across the globe.”

Ninety-three percent of consumers are now reachable through streaming, according to LG Ad Solutions’ 2025 Big Shift Study. Streaming TV apps are the dominant viewing choice for 70% of consumers, up 8% year-over-year, according to the study, and usage of FAST apps has grown 3 times faster than subscription-based services since March 2023. “CTV is no longer a side dish – it’s the main course,” said Tony Marlow, CMO, LG Ad Solutions. “As 90% of consumers become reachable through streaming platforms, advertisers must center their strategies around the biggest screen in the home. With two in five viewers using the TV home screen to guide their journey, it’s clear: the living room is the new front row.”

Google also introduced AI Max for Search campaigns, a suite of targeting and creative enhancements that make Google Search more exploratory and multimodal. Google reports that data shows advertisers activating AI Max in Search campaigns will typically see 14% more conversions or conversion value at a similar CPA/ROAS; for campaigns that are still mostly using exact and phrase keywords, the typical uplift is 27%. The suite is rolling out to all advertisers globally in beta starting later this month.

T-Mobile Advertising Solutions announced that following the acquisitions of Vistar and Blis, T-Ads is integrating its premium first-party data into the Vistar and Blis platforms, expanding the impact of omnichannel and DOOH campaigns kfor marketers. Additionally, T-Ads announced a strategic partnership with IPG Mediabrands, enabling their agencies and clients to activate campaigns with T-Ad’s first-party data and product suite, while also opening up opportunities for shared innovation and test-and-learn initiatives.

During its NewFronts presentation, Samsung Ads unveiled Samsung Television Network, dubbed “the broad-FAST channel of the future,” offering a curated selection of Samsung TV Plus programming. The network will feature live sports, as well as library content like late night shows (David Letterman was on hand to talk about his new channel, Letterman TV) and series like “Killing Eve.”

Over at Tubi’s showcase, the Fox-owned streaming service introduced Tubi Wrappers, allowing studio advertisers to take over Tubi’s homepage to market upcoming theatrical releases, complete with animation, trailers, and high-visibility-branded UI elements. Among other announcements was Tubi Moments, which will involve tagging certain scenes to help enable brands’ ad creative to appear in relevant content moments during a viewer’s journey.

Highlights from NGLmitú’s show included a partnership with Fuse Media that combines NGLmitú’s social audience with Fuse’s multi-platform reach; the debut of Mitúlytics Insights Platform, a proprietary first-party audience intelligence platform; the relaunch of food platform Hispanic Kitchen; and a partnership with DRAFTED, a new media brand centered on Latinas in sports. “This isn’t about DEI – this is about whether you want your brand to resonate with the most impactful, culture-leading demographic in the US across any age, race, gender or ethnicity,” said Chief Revenue Officer Joe Bernard. “If you’re not spending on this audience, and with us, you’re leaving dollars on the table.”

Fuse unveiled AMPLITUDE, enabling brands to streamline execution with Fuse Media’s multicultural audiences via content strategies, cultural campaigns, data-driven performance insights, and interactive ad experiences. “Fuse Media has always led with culture – and our audiences are loyal, engaged, and growing. AMPLITUDE is the next evolution in advertising at Fuse Media, where cultural relevance, advanced technology, and authentic storytelling come together to help brands truly connect with today’s cross-cultural consumers,” said Jim Keller, Chief Revenue Officer of Fuse Media. “Whether you’re a global advertiser or an emerging SMB, AMPLITUDE delivers more than just scale—it amplifies what matters most: connection, culture, and conversion.”

NBCUniversal will handle domestic ad sales for VERSANT, Comcast’s planned spin-off, under NBCU’s One Platform banner. NBCU’s Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships, Mark Marshall will continue to manage the sales strategy and revenue for NBCUniversal and VERSANT’s key premium properties, working with Tom Winiarski, who is transitioning to VERSANT in the newly created role of EVP, Ad Sales Strategy and Monetization. Winiarski has served as NBCUniversal’s President of Platform Monetization for the last five years. “NBCUniversal first introduced One Platform to make it easy for our clients to access the premium content across our ecosystem in one place,” said Marshall. “By entering into this partnership with VERSANT, we’re maintaining that simplicity for our partners.”

ITN and Magnite are collaborating to enable advertisers to transact live linear ads from local TV stations programmatically. The integration supports:
– Real-time bidding and VAST workflows that allow advertisers to buy live local linear TV programmatically alongside streaming and online video buys
– A bid multiplier that forecasts impressions for one-to-many delivery channels
– A seamless back-end workflow that allows local TV stations to compete directly for advertising dollars alongside national networks and online streaming alternatives

“Programmatic linear TV is finally happening,” said Todd Watson, CEO of ITN. “Linear TV is still one of the most powerful mediums available to advertisers, but it was getting squeezed out of media plans because it was harder and more expensive to activate than its digital counterparts. This collaboration changes all that.”

DoubleVerify touted the launch of AI-powered pre-bid controls for Google’s Search Partner Network, offering advertisers greater control and protection when extending their campaign reach on SPN inventory, beyond Google. Brands can apply DV’s brand safety and suitability protections to SPN inventory, enabling informed decisions to avoid content that does not align with their brand preferences. “As advertisers seek greater performance and transparency across every digital channel, our mission is to provide scalable solutions that uphold brand reputation and improve performance,” said Steven Woolway, EVP, Business Development, DoubleVerify. “With this launch, DV is extending our industry-leading protections to an important piece of Google’s ecosystem – empowering advertisers to make smarter, safer, and more efficient media investments.”

Integral Ad Science debuted its IAS Pre-Screen Brand Safety Solution for Google’s Search Partner Network inventory. “This expansion builds on our partnership with Google to provide global advertisers continued access to independent, and trusted, third party measurement and optimization solutions,” ​​said Lisa Utzschneider, CEO of IAS.

Future Today threw a spotlight on new collaborations, original programming and
advertising solutions at its IAB NewFronts presentation. In addition to the launch of series under the Fawesome Originals banner are content collaborations with Pangea Entertainment Productions and Digital Media Studios in association with Global Content on upcoming titles blending lifestyle, romance and documentary storytelling; expanded culinary content through partnership with Gusto TV and Bold Baking Network; the launch of the Chuck E. Cheese Media Network; a new suite of ad formats; and an expanded distribution footprint.

TikTok announced the expansion of Pulse Premiere to include publishers Formula 1, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Red Bull Media, and introduced Pulse Core, during its NewFront event. Pulse Core puts ads next to the top user-generated content categorized by trends, holidays, or a custom-designed heading, while Pulse Premiere marries ads with premium publisher content. Also rolling out are Content Sponsorship Packages, enabling brands to target audiences across cultural categories like live music and beauty.

LoopMe announced the expansion of its partnership with Reveal Mobile, establishing Reveal as LoopMe’s dedicated partner for global OOH brand lift measurement. “Reveal’s expansion into Europe is a game-changer for the OOH industry,” said Stephen Upstone, CEO and Founder, LoopMe. “Their precision in audience curation and understanding of OOH formats provides the perfect data foundation for our measurement technology. Together, we’re enabling more brands, agencies, and platform partners to measure real impact and outcomes across the OOH channel.”