The changes that matter to advertisers, with the sources behind them and a practical next step. Pick a topic and catch up at your own pace.
Google Ads
Google Ads now supports account-level placement exclusions, allowing advertisers to block unwanted inventory across all campaigns from a single list. Previously, exclusions had to be managed individually at the ad group or campaign level.
Google Merchant Center
A detailed implementation guide explains how to enable Universal Commerce Protocol payments in your Google Merchant Centre feed. UCP is Google's new open standard enabling AI agents to complete purchases on behalf of users.
Microsoft Advertising
Microsoft Advertising has improved location targeting with broader coverage, more reliable Google import data, and enhanced campaign activation. Fewer campaigns will remain paused or inactive after import due to location targeting issues.
Google Ads
Google has made it easier to select manual CPC bidding when creating campaigns. The option is now more accessible in the campaign setup flow.
Industry
Google and Apple have announced a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalised Siri coming this year.
Google Merchant Center
Google is testing a new A/B testing feature for Shopping Ads within Google Merchant Centre Next. The Experiments tab under Products allows select merchants to run experiments on product titles and images.
Google Ads
Google Ads now allows you to preview Performance Max asset group ads directly from the table by clicking on the images.
Meta Ads
Meta has added the ability to send direct messages from comments directly within Ads Manager. Previously available in Business Suite and through Manychat, the feature is now native to the ads interface for Instagram messaging campaigns.
Google Ads
Microsoft Advertising has added Share of Voice metrics to Performance Max campaigns. New metrics include impression share, click share, impression share lost to budget, and impression share lost to rank.
Google Trends
Google has reimagined the Trends Explore page with Gemini capabilities to make it easier to find insights. When researching a topic, a new side panel automatically identifies and compares up to eight relevant search terms.
Microsoft Advertising
Microsoft Advertising has made Content Targeting generally available for Audience ads. Placement targeting serves ads exclusively on premium Microsoft properties, including MSN, Outlook, Microsoft Casual Games, and Microsoft Edge.
Meta Ads
Meta has released a new breakdown, "Business AI," that shows whether its AI tools helped drive conversions. The breakdown indicates if Advantage+ creative, automatic text and format optimisation, and delivery optimisation contributed to results.
Google Ads
Google Ads now includes Data Transmission Control, a new layer on top of Advanced Consent Mode. Advertisers can independently restrict advertising, behavioural analytics, and diagnostic data at the tag level.
Meta Ads
Meta has upgraded Lead Form intros with new conversion elements. You can now add trust signals for credibility, incentives like free trials or consultations, "how it works" explanations, product highlights, and social proof, including reviews, certifications, and media mentions.
Google Ads
Microsoft Advertising has launched a new customer acquisition feature for Performance Max campaigns. Advertisers can now target new customers specifically, with options to either increase bids for new customers or focus exclusively on acquiring them.
Anthropic
Anthropic has released Cowork, a tool that lets users complete non-technical tasks similar to how developers use Claude Code. Cowork accesses a folder on your computer to read, edit, or create files.
Google Merchant Center
Testing reveals that Google Merchant Centre's automatic import feature, which claims 24-hour updates, is showing 9-10-day delays. Product data was last updated on January 4th and checked on January 13th.
Industry
Google has announced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), enabling AI agents to execute purchases on behalf of users. Instead of providing links, Gemini can now find items, verify stock, apply shipping preferences, and handle checkout without leaving the conversation.
OpenAI
OpenAI has announced plans to test advertising in ChatGPT for logged-in adults in the US on free and Go tiers. Ads will appear at the bottom of answers when there's a relevant sponsored product or service based on the conversation, clearly labelled and separated from organic responses.
Meta Ads
Meta has added a new breakdown option, "Reels trending topic," in Ads Manager. When running Reels trending ads, you can now view campaign results broken down by the trending topics your ads appeared alongside.
OpenAI
OpenAI has released GPT-5.2 Codex in the Responses API, the same model available in Codex. The model handles long-running background tasks, including large refactors, code migrations, and multi-step feature builds.
Amazon Ads
The Prompts tab in Amazon Ads is finally displaying data after being empty for months since its launch. Data is now appearing at the ad group level.
Google Ads
Google has silently tripled the video capacity for Performance Max asset groups. Advertisers can now upload up to 15 videos per asset group, up from the previous limit of 5.
Meta Ads
Instagram has rolled out "Your Algo" to all English-speaking users globally, allowing them to tune their algorithm in the Reels tab by adding and removing topics based on their interests. For a limited time at the start of 2026, users can also select their top three interests to see more of throughout the year.
Google Ads
Google Ads has enhanced the Ads Advisor panel under performance graphs to include a conversion summary alongside AI-driven suggestions. Advertisers now see a quick performance recap showing total conversions and top-performing campaigns before exploring recommended questions.
Industry
France's data protection authority, the CNIL, has issued recommendations on cross-device consent for cookies and trackers. When users consent to cookies on one device, that consent can apply across all devices connected to their account, but there are strict conditions.
Microsoft Advertising
Google is testing a new "Create an Account with Campaign for Faster Set Up" option when creating accounts within an MCC.
Google Ads
Microsoft Advertising has added URL options and tracking templates at the asset group level for Performance Max campaigns. Advertisers can now submit tracking parameters and custom parameters to split data by asset group, extending functionality previously available only at the campaign and ad group level.
Industry
Disney has announced vertical video integration for its streaming environment. The format will complement landscape mode rather than replace it, designed as a native fit for mobile environments.
Google Ads
I've been part of Mike Rhodes' AdsToAI community, and it's one of the few places focused on practical AI for Google Ads: scripts, automation systems, and tools you can actually use.
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