ITV business development director Jason Spencer says the broadcaster has made greater use of AI ads in sales pitches and the creative process, rather than just in the final result.

In response to widespread backlash against xAI’s chatbot Grok creating and disseminating nude and lewd images of people on X, the platform has said it has “implemented technological measures” aimed at preventing users from utilising Grok to “[edit] images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis”. Whether the changes are effective is another matter.

Total marketing budgets likewise remained flat in the Golden Quarter, with cost pressures, muted economic activity and budget constraints cited as reasons for the lack of growth.

Nine in 10 British adults now say journalism is “important to society today” — up 20% from the year before — but publishing leaders have expressed concern over declining referral traffic and political attacks.

Marketing leaders Richard Brooke (Unilever), Simon Patilinet (PepsiCo), and Alison Keith (ex-Kraft Heinz) spoke to Justin Lebbon at the Future of TV Advertising Global about how they consider TV in an era of increased spend with platforms.

Allwyn’s global media director will leave the multi-national lottery operator in March for new role.

At this year’s CES, WPP, Omnicom, Stagwell, Reddit, Disney, Havas, NBCUniversal and Yahoo unveiled new AI features aimed at making marketing easier and more efficient.

Even as xAI chatbot Grok continues to create and post nude images and CSAM, advertisers seeking to leave the platform could find themselves in a political and legal bind with Elon Musk and the Trump administration.

Full-year box office revenues for 2025 were comparable to those in 2023 and 2024. However, revenues at the UK’s largest ad sales house jumped 12% year on year amid growing advertiser demand.

Senior leaders from around the industry predict 2026 will be a year of community, trust, sport and, according to one analyst, reckoning.