The Drum’s Daily Briefing: Google AI’s comically incorrect advice & retail media spend surges
Our quickfire analysis of the brand, marketing and media stories that might just crop up in your meetings and conversations today.
Google’s new AI Overviews feature is producing some comically incorrect advice / Adobe Stock
Google’s AI delivers pizza glue advice
Google’s new AI Overviews feature is producing some comically incorrect advice, like suggesting users add glue to their homemade pizza to keep the cheese from falling off.
This error, based on a decade-old Reddit joke, highlights the AI’s tendency to generate inaccurate responses.
Other blunders include false claims about historical figures and implausible sports achievements.
Despite Google’s disclaimer that the technology is experimental, these mistakes raise concerns about the reliability of AI in search.
While tech companies promise improvements, the current state leaves much to be desired, casting doubt on AI’s readiness for widespread use.
Retail media ad spend surges as TV fades
Advertisers are shifting focus to retail media networks, like those from Amazon and Walmart, as traditional TV advertising declines.
Global retail media ad spending is set to more than double from $114bn in 2023 to nearly $234bn by 2027. These networks offer valuable first-party data and reach, making them an attractive alternative amid tightening tech privacy regulations.
With brands seeking growth and effective outcomes, retail media is becoming the new frontier, dominating conversations and strategies within the marketing and media landscape. The integration of customer data and diverse platforms is driving this major shift.
Kids seeing fewer age-restricted TV ads
The ASA’s latest biennial report highlights a continued decline in children’s exposure to age-restricted TV ads.
From 2010 to 2023, children’s exposure to alcohol ads fell by 80%, gambling ads by 40%, and HFSS product ads by 67%.
Overall, children’s exposure to all TV ads decreased by 75%, averaging 58.2 ads a week in 2023, compared with 226.7 in 2010.
This trend reflects changing media consumption habits, prompting the ASA to enhance the monitoring of online ads using innovative tools like Avatar technology to ensure comprehensive child protection.
Tech diversity gap costs Black professionals billions
A McKinsey report reveals only 3% of Fortune 500 executives are Black and that Black professionals hold just 8% of tech jobs.
This disparity could cost Black households over $350bn in tech wages by 2030. Additionally, the salary gap for Black professionals is expected to widen from $37.5bn in 2023 to $51.3bn by 2030.
Despite the tech industry’s growth, systemic barriers persist. Addressing these requires inclusive recruitment, educational access, and visible role models. Companies must prioritize diversity and inclusion to foster innovation, improve performance and achieve a truly equitable workforce.
BBC Studios names Susannah Clark as marketing chief
BBC Studios has appointed Susannah Clark as chief communications and marketing officer, starting in August.
Reporting to CEO Tom Fussell, Clark joins from Farfetch, bringing experience from King Digital Entertainment and MoneySuperMarket.com.
BBC Studios, a global content powerhouse producing hits like Planet Earth III and Strictly Come Dancing, aims to double its 2022 revenue by 2028. Fussell emphasizes Clark’s commercial acumen and storytelling prowess as crucial for this growth.
Clark will spearhead strategies to enhance stakeholder engagement and elevate BBC Studios’ global profile, leveraging its rich heritage and broad content portfolio.