💬 AI takes over ads

It’s Monday—

Pop-up ads in your car? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. A Jeep owner’s viral Reddit post showed an in-dash ad for an extended warranty–brushed off as a “glitch”–but Ford has already patented tech to turn car consoles into ad networks. With retail media booming, it’s only a matter of time before automakers cash in on your commute.

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) just landed a $3 million sponsorship deal with Alex Cooper’s Unwell Hydration.

Bringing Gen Z to the stadium

Cooper, dubbed the "Gen Z whisperer," will appear at games and host in-stadium events, leveraging her social media reach and event success to boost attendance. Unwell FC, a new fan club, will offer ticket deals and merch, kicking off with a $25 ticket-and-swag promo at the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup.

Women’s brands investing in women’s sports

The deal follows a growing trend–brands historically absent from men’s sports, like E.l.f. Cosmetics, are now seeing value in women’s leagues. The NWSL is positioning soccer as a welcoming experience for young female fans, tapping into live event culture rather than just screen time.

A new Prime?

Like Logan Paul’s Prime Hydration, Unwell is banking on personality-driven marketing. The brand will target athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and college students–including those needing post-hangover hydration.

For Cooper, the partnership isn’t just about sports. “This is an opportunity to expand what Unwell is,” she said.

AI is reshaping ad buying, with Google, Meta, TikTok, and Amazon pushing tools that automate targeting, creative, and placement–often with limited transparency for advertisers.

More efficiency, less control

AI tools like Meta’s Advantage+ and Google’s Performance Max help brands optimize ads but offer little insight into where they run or who sees them.

“It’s a necessary evil,” says Nicole Fisch, SVP at Lalo, which uses AI-driven ads but can’t tell if they’re reaching the right audience. Event Tickets Center, on the other hand, values traffic over transparency–CMO Ben Kruger says, “As long as it’s delivering profitable sales, I don’t really care where it’s running.”

Not everyone’s sold: Some brands hesitate due to lack of control over placements, especially in regulated industries. Even Saxx, which spends 30% of its Meta budget on AI ads, says they don’t always lead to more sales.

AI by default: With Meta’s AI shopping tool usage up 70% and Google making AI-powered campaigns the default, brands are losing choice in the matter. AI is running the show–whether advertisers trust it or not.

A weeklong boycott of Amazon started March 7, led by The People’s Union USA. The goal? Protest corporate greed by avoiding Amazon, Twitch, Prime Video, and Whole Foods. The reality? Amazon won’t feel it–small businesses will.

More than half of Amazon’s sales come from independent sellers, many of whom already struggle with rising costs and tariffs. Longtime Amazon seller Lori Barzvi summed it up: “Nobody hates Jeff Bezos more than Amazon sellers. But we need Amazon to survive.”

Will a boycott even work?

The one-day “economic blackout” on Feb. 28 had little impact–consumer spending fell 7.4%, but online sales, including Amazon, actually rose 2.3%. Amazon pulls in over $1 billion daily in U.S. sales, making it immune to short-term boycotts.

A weeklong protest might get attention, but Amazon’s third-party sellers—not the company itself–will take the hit.

Boycotts can be powerful, but hurting small businesses to “punish” Amazon misses the mark. As Craig Leslie, founder of The Bean Coffee Company, put it: “Amazon will be fine. Small businesses won’t.”

With new tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, advertisers are bracing for budget cuts. The Trump administration’s 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10% on China have already caused uncertainty, with more trade policy changes expected in April.

Uncertainty means hesitation–94% of U.S. advertisers say they’re worried about the impact, and 45% plan to reduce ad spend this year, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Retail, consumer electronics, and media are expected to feel the biggest cuts.

Inflation, interest rates, and ad budgets

Companies have two choices: pass costs onto consumers or absorb them–either way, ad budgets will likely take a hit. Auto advertisers, who spent $2.6 billion on TV ads in 2024, are already in limbo with a 30-day tariff delay.

Tech platforms like Google and Meta, which rely on ad spend from Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Shein, could also feel the squeeze. Temu was one of Google’s top five advertisers in 2023, but new trade restrictions could curb its ad spending.

What’s next?

Some brands are already adjusting–Walmart is pushing tariffs onto Chinese suppliers, while Sony and Suntory are stockpiling goods in the U.S.. In Canada, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario is removing U.S. alcohol brands from shelves entirely, a move industry execs say is even more damaging than tariffs.

AdAge: How creators are building their own brands.

Adweek: Brands back away from Black History Month.

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