The Stack: Retail Meets AI

"This week, AI takes center stage as retailers, platforms, and tech giants roll out new tools. In today's MadTech Daily, we look at the European Parliament urging a social media ban for under-16s, the Observer debuting a new digital subscription service, and news ad performance leading the industry. Walmart is turning its AI shopping assistant into an ad platform. Sparky already helps users compare products and summarise reviews but now it's testing advertising within conversations, signaling a future where retail and AI blur seamlessly."

"And Walmart isn't alone in reimagining the shopping experience. OpenAI has rolled out a shopping research tool in ChatGPT, offering personalised buyer guides and conversation-based recommendations. But OpenAI isn't stopping at shopping. The company is introducing group chats, transforming ChatGPT from a solo assistant into a collaborative hub. While AI reinvents how we shop and chat, social media giants remain dominant. Pew Research reports 84% of US adults use YouTube, with Facebook trailing at 71%. Despite TikTok's buzz, the platform still commands the biggest audiences."

"Meanwhile in China, Alibaba's new AI app Qwen is off to a flying start surpassing 10 million downloads in its first week. That's faster than early adoption rates for ChatGPT and DeepSeek, signaling Alibaba's serious push into consumer AI. And in the world of media mergers, Warner Bros. Discovery has attracted bids from Paramount, Comcast, and Netflix. A deal could reshape the streaming landscape though regulatory hurdles mean the finish line is at least a year away."

European Parliament urged a social media ban for under-16s. The Observer launched a new digital subscription service. News ad performance leads the industry. Walmart is converting its AI shopping assistant Sparky into an ad platform, testing advertising within conversational interactions. OpenAI released a ChatGPT shopping research tool with personalised buyer guides and conversation-based recommendations, and added group chats to enable collaborative use. Pew Research found 84% of US adults use YouTube and 71% use Facebook, while TikTok remains buzzy but commands the largest audiences. Alibaba's Qwen surpassed 10 million downloads in its first week. Warner Bros. Discovery attracted acquisition bids amid regulatory hurdles.

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