Paid Media News (Week 12)
Paid Media News (Week 12)
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.
Video usage segment added to PMax channel reporting
Google Ads has added a new "Ads using video" segment inside Performance Max Channel Performance reporting, allowing advertisers to break down results by whether video assets were actually used in a given placement. This addition complements the "Ads using product data" segment introduced in July 2025 and helps us understand which creative inputs are driving channel performance.
Read this update in detail →Vehicle inventory now surfaced inside Search text ads
Google Ads has launched vehicle feeds on Search ads, allowing automotive advertisers to enrich their existing Search text ads with live inventory data from their Google Merchant Centre vehicle feed. The integration surfaces car make, model, price, and imagery alongside standard ad components: without requiring separate campaigns or targeting setups.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads Editor 2.12 ships with 12 new features
Google has released Ads Editor version 2.12, one of the most substantial updates to the desktop tool in recent memory. The release spans campaign management, creative controls, and bidding, with changes that affect practically every campaign type.
Read this update in detail →Out-of-stock products must now have disabled buy buttons
Google has updated its Merchant Centre landing page requirements to mandate that the buy button on out-of-stock product pages be visually disabled: greyed out and non-clickable: rather than simply hidden or removed. Emmanuel Flossie of FeedArmy, who identified and detailed the change, notes the distinction is specific: hiding the button or styling it as invisible is no longer compliant.
Read this update in detail →Vehicle ads data quality checks coming to Merchant Centre in mid-April
Starting in mid-April 2026, Google Merchant Centre will begin surfacing data quality issues specific to Vehicle Ads within the account issues interface. The system will evaluate submitted vehicle data against corresponding landing page content and flag discrepancies across six dimensions: availability, visibility, condition, price, mileage, vehicle identification details (VIN, brand, model), and landing page URL validity.
Read this update in detail →How to fix Shopify products not updating in Google Merchant Centre
Emmanuel Flossie of FeedArmy has published a practical guide for one of the most common Merchant Centre frustrations among Shopify merchants: product data that stops updating in the feed despite changes being made in Shopify. The issue typically stems from configuration in the Google channel app rather than from Merchant Centre itself: feed refresh settings, mismatched attribute mappings, or suppressed sync jobs are the most frequent causes.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads refreshes interface with new navigation and account switcher
Google Ads has rolled out an updated interface design that repositions the account switcher to the top left corner and refreshes the horizontal campaign hierarchy navigation. The visual change is cosmetic rather than functional, but it affects daily navigation habits for agencies and MCC users who frequently switch between accounts.
Read this update in detail →Google renames YouTube campaign objective to "YouTube reach, views and engagements"
Google has rebranded the "Awareness & Consideration" campaign objective to "YouTube reach, views and engagements." The new label better reflects the discrete goals available within YouTube campaigns: reach for broad visibility, views for content consumption, and engagements for interaction: rather than collapsing them under a vague funnel metaphor.
Read this update in detail →New Gmail overlay ad format spotted on mobile
Thomas Eccel has spotted a new ad format in Gmail on mobile, displaying overlay ads as a sticky banner with a grey background at the bottom of email threads. The placement differs from existing Gmail ads, which typically appear at the top of the inbox.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads support forms now include instant screenshot capture
Google Ads has added a "Capture Screenshot" button directly within support ticket forms, eliminating the need for manual screenshots when raising issues. The button captures the current state of your account or campaign view and attaches it automatically.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads deprecates legacy policy requirements tied to older products
Anthony Higman shared an unusual Google Ads notification stating: "This change is a result of these product offerings evolving into newer Google products, rendering the original policy requirements obsolete for advertisers." The specific policy affected was not detailed in the post, but the language suggests Google is retiring legacy compliance requirements tied to product lines that have since been superseded.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads API will block duplicate Lookalike lists from April 30
Google has announced a uniqueness check for Lookalike user lists in the Google Ads API, effective April 30, 2026. The enforcement primarily targets Demand Gen campaigns, where automated systems have generated duplicate audience lists sharing identical seed lists, expansion levels, and country targeting: consuming system resources without delivering distinct signal value.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads API v23.2 Release Highlights event scheduled for March 26
The Google Ads API team has scheduled a v23.2 release event for March 26 at 11:00 AM ET on Discord and YouTube. The update is a minor release with additional features.
Read this update in detail →Google launches Ads DevCast podcast for the ads technical community
Google's Advertising and Measurement Developer Relations team has launched Ads DevCast, a bi-weekly vodcast and podcast hosted by Developer Relations Engineer Cory Liseno, covering technical updates across Google Ads, Google Analytics, Display & Video 360, Meridian, and related tools. The series is aimed at developers and marketing technologists rather than campaign practitioners: a deliberate complement to Ginny Marvin's Ads Decoded, which covers strategy and product for marketing teams.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft Advertising adds negative keyword support for Performance Max
Microsoft Advertising has introduced self-serve negative keyword management for Performance Max campaigns, allowing advertisers to add, modify, or delete negative keywords at the campaign or account level: including via shared negative keyword lists with a 5,000-keyword limit. Negative match types behave identically to standard Search campaigns, and the feature is supported in the API, Ads Editor, and via import from Google Ads.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft Advertising streamlines bid strategy options globally
Microsoft Advertising has completed a global rollout of its simplified bidding interface, consolidating Target CPA and Target ROAS into optional target settings within Maximise Conversions and Maximise Conversion Value, respectively, rather than treating them as standalone bid strategies. The change applies only to newly created campaigns; existing tCPA and tROAS campaigns continue to run without any required action, and portfolio bid strategies remain unchanged.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft Advertising launches Health Check diagnostics for lodging campaign feeds
Microsoft Advertising has made Health Check diagnostics generally available in Property Centre for all advertisers running Lodging campaigns: covering both Property Promotion Ads and Hotel Price Ads. The tool highlights issues that prevent campaigns from serving correctly, such as missing or invalid prices and images, and provides high-level summaries with downloadable, detailed reports for granular resolution.
Read this update in detail →Apple Ads launches Insights, replacing Custom Report Builder
Apple Ads has launched Insights, a new data analytics engine that replaces the platform's Custom Report Builder. The tool allows advertisers to explore performance across every dimension in their account: campaigns, ad groups, keywords, ad placements, and search terms: with predefined report templates for both standard performance views and advanced metrics, including Impression Share, rank, and search term popularity by country.
Read this update in detail →Looker 26.4 adds Gemini across analytics, search, and expressions
Google has released Looker 26.4, a substantial update that extends Gemini AI capabilities across multiple layers of the platform. The most significant addition for analytics teams is a new set of modes in Conversational Analytics: Fast mode delivers quicker answers for straightforward queries, while Thinking mode enables deeper reasoning for complex analytical questions: offering a meaningful capability split that was previously unavailable within a single interface.
Read this update in detail →Meta officially releases Google Tag Manager template for Meta Pixel
Meta has released an official Google Tag Manager template for the Meta Pixel, ending a years-long absence of a native integration. Previously, implementing the Pixel via GTM required community-built templates or manually added HTML tags: neither of which offered the same reliability or official support as a platform-maintained solution.
Read this update in detail →GTM Consent Mode Preview Mode UI glitch confirmed fixed
Simo Ahava reported: and subsequently confirmed resolved: a UI glitch in Google Tag Manager's Consent Mode APIs within Preview Mode. The bug, flagged by Jim van der Zalm , caused the consent state to be misrepresented in the debug view, potentially misleading advertisers checking Consent Mode implementation during QA.
Read this update in detail →GA4 AI Assistants channel instructions are published, but non-functional
Google has added documentation for creating an AI Assistants channel in GA4: a dedicated channel grouping intended to capture traffic from AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini. Dana DiTomaso flagged, via Jason Dodge , that the published instructions do not work: the channel grouping configuration cannot be correctly mapped without additional steps that are not yet documented.
Read this update in detail →Meta releases Creative Video Generation with AI in beta
Meta has launched a beta feature in Ads Manager called Creative Video Generation with AI, allowing advertisers to transform static images into dynamic multi-clip videos with text overlays and background music. Unlike AI creative suggestions that previously surfaced as recommendations, this feature allows advertisers to generate video from within the ad creation flow.
Read this update in detail →Meta integrates the LLaMA AI model directly into Ads Manager
Meta has embedded its LLaMA large language model into the Ads Manager interface, providing an AI-powered analysis layer for reviewing campaign performance, identifying trends, and monitoring delivery. Unlike the Manus connector, which links an external AI platform to Meta's systems, this integration makes Meta's own model natively available within the Ads Manager workflow, without requiring third-party tools or separate access.
Read this update in detail →Jon Loomer warns of AI agent-connected ad account shutdowns
Jon Loomer has issued a warning that multiple advertisers have reported their Meta ad accounts being shut down after connecting them to Claude or other AI agents. In his Field Notes newsletter, Loomer characterises the risk as current and unresolved, advising against connecting ad accounts to AI agents until the issue is better understood.
Read this update in detail →Bram Van der Hallen reports four new Meta Ads updates
Bram Van der Hallen identified four updates rolling out across Meta Ads this week. Instagram has been added to the Manus AI connector, allowing advertisers to manage and analyse Instagram content: including posts, stories, and Reels: through the Manus interface, and to configure automations and schedules for publications.
Read this update in detail →Amazon introduces 1-hour and 3-hour delivery in hundreds of cities
Amazon has launched 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options across a growing number of US cities, covering over 90,000 products typically found in local supercentres: including everyday household essentials, electronics, clothing, and over-the-counter medications. One-hour delivery is available in hundreds of cities, including parts of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.; 3-hour delivery is available in over 2,000 cities and towns.
Read this update in detail →Amazon launches conversational AI advertising product
Amazon has officially launched its first conversational AI advertising product, marking what Hadia Arif describes as "a step that could significantly change how shoppers interact with brands on Amazon." The product allows brands to engage shoppers through AI-powered conversations within the Amazon ecosystem, drawing on first-party signals from product detail pages, Brand Stores, and advertising data to surface relevant brand information at decision moments.
Read this update in detail →Amazon DSP adds Performance+ Tactics Insights at the order level
Amazon DSP has quietly added a Performance+ Tactics Insights section at the order level, surfacing metrics about which AI-driven tactics are contributing to campaign performance. The feature shows advertisers how specific DSP optimisation choices: such as audience expansion, bid adjustments, and placement selection: are affecting their results.
Read this update in detail →Amazon silently suppresses US listings enrolled in North America Remote Fulfilment
Vanessa Hung flagged a pattern affecting sellers enrolled in North America Remote Fulfilment (NARF): US product listings can be suppressed without any policy violation, seller-initiated change, or explanation from Amazon. The suppression occurs because NARF: a programme that allows US sellers to sell in Canada and Mexico using existing US FBA inventory: can trigger listing state changes in the US marketplace as Amazon manages fulfilment routing across the network.
Read this update in detail →Google is testing AI-generated replies for Business Profile reviews
Google is running a test of AI-generated reply suggestions inside Google Business Profile, allowing businesses to respond to customer reviews with AI-drafted text that they can review, edit, and submit. The feature was first observed and shared by Darren Shaw of Whitespark, based on a screenshot from Chandan Mishra showing a "Use Google AI to create personalised replies" prompt within the Business Profile interface.
Read this update in detail →Walmart reports ChatGPT-integrated checkout converted three times worse than click-out
Walmart has disclosed that its Instant Checkout integration in ChatGPT achieved roughly one-third the conversion rate of simply sending users to Walmart's own website. Juozas Kaziukėnas, who reported the finding, noted this outcome prompted OpenAI to discontinue Instant Checkout in favour of directing users to merchant sites.
Read this update in detail →ChatGPT Ads trial shows low CTR and slow spend pacing
Ashley Fletcher of Adthena reported further observations from the ongoing ChatGPT Ads trial. One advertiser has spent only 3% of their allocated $250,000 budget.
Read this update in detail →AI monthly sessions are now 56% the size of search worldwide
New research from Graphite.io, published this week, overturns the conventional view that AI usage data: typically drawn solely from web traffic: provides the full picture. Combining web visits and mobile app sessions across the top five LLM products (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok, and Claude), the study finds that AI now receives 45 billion monthly sessions worldwide, equivalent to 56% of search engine sessions globally and 34% in the US.
Read this update in detail →Perplexity appeals federal injunction blocking its Comet shopping agent from Amazon
Perplexity has petitioned a US federal appellate court to lift the temporary injunction barring its Comet AI agent from accessing Amazon's website. The original ruling found Amazon had provided sufficient evidence that Comet accessed the platform without authorisation; Amazon also argued the agent disrupted its advertising business by generating traffic that required detection and filtering before advertisers could be charged.
Read this update in detail →Meta is removing end-to-end encryption from Instagram DMs on May 8
Meta will cease support for end-to-end encrypted chats on Instagram by May 8, 2026, ending a feature that added an extra layer of privacy for users. There is no direct substitute.
Read this update in detail →Gemini app discloses human review of some saved chats
Thomas Eccel spotted a new notification bar appearing inside the Gemini app stating that some saved chats may be reviewed by humans to improve Google AI. The disclosure is a standard practice across AI platforms, but its visibility in the interface signals that Google is increasing transparency around data use: potentially in response to regulatory pressure or to user expectations following GDPR enforcement actions elsewhere.
Read this update in detail →Google Stitch evolves into an AI-native UI design canvas
Google Labs has relaunched Stitch as a full AI-native design canvas, allowing users to generate high-fidelity UI from natural language descriptions, images, or code snippets on an infinite canvas. The update introduces a design agent that reasons across an entire project's history, a DESIGN.md file for exporting and importing design systems across tools, and voice interaction for real-time design critique and iteration.
Read this update in detail →Universal Commerce Protocol adds Cart, Catalogue, and Identity Linking
Google has announced three new optional capabilities for the Universal Commerce Protocol, the open standard designed to enable AI agents to interact with retailer infrastructure without hard-coded integrations. The additions reflect feedback from the first wave of UCP adopters and address practical gaps in the initial release.
Read this update in detail →OpenAI releases GPT-5.4 mini and nano for high-volume workloads
OpenAI has launched GPT-5.4 mini and nano, two smaller models designed to bring GPT-5.4 capabilities to faster, cheaper, and higher-volume use cases. GPT-5.4 mini is described as more than 2x faster than GPT-5 mini while approaching full GPT-5.4 performance on several coding benchmarks, including SWE-Bench Pro and OSWorld-Verified.
Read this update in detail →Claude Code Channels enables remote control via Discord and Telegram
Anthropic has launched Channels in Claude Code: a research preview feature that allows users to connect a persistent local Claude Code session to a Discord or Telegram bot, enabling remote task delegation from a phone or secondary device. Messages sent to the bot arrive as events in the running Claude session; Claude reads the request, executes work on the local machine, and replies back through the same channel.
Read this update in detail →Claude Cowork adds Projects for task organisation
Anthropic has added Projects to Claude Cowork, allowing users to keep tasks and context organised within defined work areas. Files and instructions stay on the user's local computer, and existing projects can be imported in one click.
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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