Paid Media News (Week 10)
Paid Media News (Week 10)
Explore every update from this edition, with the original reporting and contributor credits.
A digest of the original edition. Updates and availability reflect what was reported at the time.
VRC Non-Skip ads are now generally available globally
Google has made Video Reach Campaigns with Non-Skip ads generally available globally in Google Ads and Display & Video 360. The format is optimised for CTV delivery and ensures your message is delivered in full.
Read this update in detail →YouTube introduces interactive quiz option for videos
YouTube has added an interactive quiz option for videos, allowing creators to add quiz elements directly into their content. For you, this means new engagement formats may become available for video ads, worth watching for brand awareness campaigns.
Read this update in detail →Build-to-Order availability attribute added for vehicle listings
Google Merchant Centre has introduced a new "build to order" value for the availability attribute, specifically for vehicle listings. This applies to vehicles that aren't in dealership inventory but can be customised and ordered directly by customers.
Read this update in detail →Google now highly recommends 1500x1500 images for product feeds
Google has updated its image recommendations to strongly recommend 1500x1500-pixel images for product feeds, up from previous guidance. For you, this means reviewing your product image specifications and updating them to higher-resolution assets where possible.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads API will stop accepting new Customer Match adopters on April 1
Starting April 1, 2026, the Google Ads API will stop accepting new Customer Match adopters. Developers who haven't uploaded data to a Customer Match list from October 2025 to March 2026 will encounter a CUSTOMER_NOT_ALLOWLISTED_FOR_THIS_FEATURE error.
Read this update in detail →Multi-Party Approval for Google Ads - Tutorial is now available
Google introduced multi-party approval, a security feature that requires a second administrator's authorisation before high-risk account changes take effect. Actions that trigger approval requests include adding, removing, or changing user roles.
Read this update in detail →Alcohol subscriptions now included for US merchants
Google Merchant Centre now allows US merchants to list alcohol subscriptions, such as wine clubs, under its Physical Goods Subscriptions policy. Offers must follow Alcoholic Beverages policies and use product category "Alcoholic Beverages" (ID 99676).
Read this update in detail →Certified US pharmacies can now promote prescription drug subscriptions
Google updated its billing policy to let certified US Online Pharmacies promote prescription subscriptions, drug-plus-service bundles, and recurring consultation models. Requirements include maintaining certification, using subscription_cost in Merchant Centre, and disclosing all fees.
Read this update in detail →Indian advertisers promoting business identifiers must apply for exclusion
Google's Government Documents and Services policy updates on March 17, 2026. Advertisers targeting India with business identifiers don't need to qualify as government providers but must apply for a policy exclusion to prevent ad disapproval.
Read this update in detail →Indiana online gambling certification has been paused since March 31
Google will temporarily pause new certification applications for online gambling aggregators in Indiana starting March 31, 2026. This affects content promoting online gambling within the state.
Read this update in detail →Bing is testing Asian owned tag for Shopping ads
Microsoft Bing has been spotted testing an "Asian owned" business tag on Shopping ads, similar to other business attribute labels. For you, this means watching for potential business identity tags that could differentiate your listings.
Read this update in detail →AI Max Guide: 18-page report published
Miles Ryan at Smarter Ecommerce has published an 18-page report on AI Max for Search Campaigns, covering 10 topics including feature comparisons with legacy tech, automation overlap, why AI Max will officially replace DSA, real-world performance data, and known pitfalls. The report includes a new script, designed with Ivan Petrov, that filters and scores the AI Max search term and landing page report data, from best to worst performers.
Read this update in detail →Meta splits Click-Through attribution into Click and Engage-Through
Meta is updating its attribution settings to split Click-Through attribution into two categories. Click-Through will now only include link clicks (any click taking users to a destination on or off the platform).
Read this update in detail →Tableau Desktop Free Edition launches
Salesforce has launched Tableau Desktop Free Edition with no subscriptions, no data restrictions, and no limits on creativity. The analytics platform runs permanently on your machine.
Read this update in detail →Meta introduces Location Fees for Digital Service Taxes [Last Week]
Meta will begin adding Location Fees to cover Digital Service Taxes in certain countries starting April 2026. Current rates: Austria 5%, France 3%, Italy 3%, Spain 3%, Turkey 5%, United Kingdom 2%.
Read this update in detail →Meta Ads introduces AI prompts for audience targeting
Meta Ads Manager is testing a feature that lets advertisers describe their target audience using natural language prompts instead of manually selecting detailed targeting options. Advertisers can enter full text, keywords, or hashtags.
Read this update in detail →Meta message campaigns now show channel breakdown in reports
Meta has updated message campaign reporting to differentiate conversations by channel. Reports now show which channel each conversation comes from, whereas previously only the total number was visible.
Read this update in detail →Marketing Messages on WhatsApp spotted as a new Meta placement
A new placement, Marketing Messages on WhatsApp, has been spotted in Meta Ads Manager, allowing advertisers to send marketing messages to warm audiences. WhatsApp Business onboarding must be completed before using the placement.
Read this update in detail →Meta rolls out four new Ads Manager features
Bram Van der Hallen spotted four Meta Ads updates:
Read this update in detail →Amazon adds Collection ad format for Sponsored Brands
Amazon has made the Collection ad format available across Sponsored Brands ads. Advertisers can now create campaigns by selecting the ad format and collection type directly.
Read this update in detail →Amazon Rufus Ads Prompts report now available in Sponsored Products
Amazon has launched the Prompts report within Sponsored Products reporting, allowing advertisers to see actual shopper prompts that trigger ads in Rufus-driven experiences. This represents a shift from keyword-based to prompt-based discovery.
Read this update in detail →Amazon BSA update breaks 1000+ third-party tools
Amazon's new Business Solutions Agreement, effective March 4, 2026, bans the use of Amazon data for training AI or machine learning models. This caused disruptions like login walls, hidden prices until added to cart, and removal of reviews from product pages.
Read this update in detail →Criteo joins OpenAI advertising pilot in ChatGPT
Criteo has announced that it is joining OpenAI's advertising pilot for ChatGPT, expanding its commerce media capabilities to conversational AI surfaces. For you, this means retail media and commerce advertising is extending into AI assistant experiences.
Read this update in detail →Meta tests AI Shopping Research feature in Meta AI
Bloomberg reports Meta is testing a shopping research feature in Meta AI for select US desktop users. They see a "Shopping research" button that shows product carousels with images, prices, brand info, merchant links, and recommendations, personalised by location and gender.
Read this update in detail →ChatGPT abandons agentic commerce checkout
OpenAI is abandoning its Instant Checkout feature for ChatGPT shopping, reverting to redirecting users to retailer websites rather than in-app purchases. Staff realised that while users researched products in ChatGPT, they were not using it to actually buy.
Read this update in detail →ChatGPT merchant dashboard spotted for product feed management
Juozas Kaziukėnas shared images of the ChatGPT ecommerce merchant dashboard, currently live only for invited retailers. The interface allows merchants to set up product feeds via SFTP push or URL pull, similar to Google Merchant Centre.
Read this update in detail →Meta opens WhatsApp to external AI chatbots for one year
Meta has decided to allow external AI developers to host their chatbots on WhatsApp through its official Business API for a period of one year. The move is seen as a strategic step to address EU antitrust concerns about market dominance.
Read this update in detail →EU Political Ads confirmation deadline is March 31, 2026
Google Ads requires advertisers to confirm whether their campaigns contain European Union political ads by March 31, 2026. The setting can be confirmed in Campaign Settings under "EU political ads," in bulk from the Campaigns section, or set once at account level to apply across campaigns.
Read this update in detail →OpenAI details advertising and privacy policies for ChatGPT
OpenAI has published details on its advertising and privacy policies. Key points: contact syncing is optional for finding friends using OpenAI services, ads may appear for Free and Go plan users while Plus, Pro, Enterprise, Business, and Education plans remain ad-free, ads are clearly labelled and do not influence ChatGPT responses, advertisers never see chats or personal details and only receive aggregated data like clicks or views, and age prediction helps provide safer experiences for younger users.
Read this update in detail →Google Labs launches Pomelli, an AI creative agency
Google Labs has launched Pomelli, a free AI marketing tool built in partnership with Google DeepMind. The tool extracts brand voice, colour palette, fonts, and imagery from a website URL to create a "Business DNA" profile.
Read this update in detail →OpenAI launches GPT-5.4 with computer use capabilities
OpenAI released GPT-5.4, combining GPT-5.3-Codex's coding skills with improved reasoning, tool use, steerability, and computer capabilities. It scores 83% on GDPval for professional knowledge, includes built-in computer use for software operation, a 1M-token context window, and higher efficiency.
Read this update in detail →GPT-5.3 Instant brings smoother everyday conversations
OpenAI has released GPT-5.3 Instant, focused on smoother and more useful everyday conversations. For you, this means improved conversational fluency when using your day-to-day AI assistant.
Read this update in detail →Anthropic publishes AI Fluency Index research
Anthropic has published the AI Fluency Index, its first empirical measurement of how people collaborate with AI. The research tracked 11 behaviours across thousands of Claude.ai conversations, including how often people refine and iterate on work with Claude, question Claude's reasoning, and fact-check outputs.
Read this update in detail →Anthropic releases free curriculum covering the AI ecosystem
Anthropic has released a comprehensive curriculum of free courses covering Claude Code for CLI automation, MCP Mastery for building custom tools in Python, a complete API guide, AI Fluency frameworks for safe collaboration, and Claude 101 for core features. For you, this means structured learning paths are now available to maximise your Claude implementation.
Read this update in detail →Claude Cowork adds scheduled tasks and plugins
Anthropic has updated Claude Cowork with scheduled tasks that run on a schedule you set once, such as morning briefs, weekly spreadsheet updates, or Friday team recaps. Plugins make Cowork more useful by letting Claude work as a specialist in your domain.
Read this update in detail →Claude Marketplace launches for enterprise procurement
Anthropic has launched the Claude Marketplace, allowing enterprises with existing Anthropic spend commitments to apply budget toward Claude-powered solutions from partners including GitLab, Harvey, Lovable, Replit, Rogo, and Snowflake. For you, this means consolidated AI procurement if your organisation has Anthropic enterprise agreements.
Read this update in detail →Claude Community Ambassadors programme opens applications
Anthropic has launched the Claude Community Ambassadors programme, inviting builders to lead local Claude communities, host events, and partner with Anthropic to shape Claude's future. For you, this means opportunities to build local PPC and marketing AI communities with Anthropic support.
Read this update in detail →Google Cloud publishes ROI of AI 2025 report
Google Cloud has published its AI ROI 2025 report, based on a survey of 3,466 senior leaders. Key findings: 52% of organisations using generative AI already deploy AI agents in production, 39% have launched more than 10 AI agents, 74% report ROI on at least one generative AI use case, and 88% of early adopters see positive ROI.
Read this update in detail →The advertiser takeaway
Each update reflects the source reporting at the time. Open an individual update for its full description, original links and media.
Explore the original edition
Every update from this edition is linked above. Explore the original newsletter for its full context, contributor credits and reporting links.
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