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JULY 27, 2026 |
AI platforms could drive up to 13.7% of US retail ecommerce sales in 2029, per EMARKETER’s forecast under an accelerated-adoption scenario. Download
our new report, made possible by StackAdapt, to see where that leaves the shopper’s journey. |
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In this edition: |
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TOP STORY |
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As AI becomes more embedded in everyday life, a growing number of brands, including Polaroid, are marketing the opposite. |
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At the center of Polaroid's recent "The best of summer is analog" campaign is a billboard overlooking Coney Island Beach that reads, "Go jump in some water before the data centers drink it all up." |
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While the campaign references AI, its target is consumers' increasingly always-on relationship with technology. |
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"It's not a campaign against AI or against data centers," said Patricia Varella, Polaroid's creative director. "Data centers were the perfect metaphor that talks about the scale of this overuse of digital in our lives."
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IN THE NEWS |
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Meta makes Facebook Marketplace more merchant-friendly with standalone seller app. Meta launched Seller, a standalone app that gives Facebook Marketplace merchants dedicated tools for listing creation, inventory management, and performance insights. |
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Amazon’s AI disclosure rule raises the cost of credible product imagery. Amazon has begun requiring third-party sellers to label any product images or videos containing “AI-generated people,” per CNBC. |
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Michaels launches AI assistant to personalize shopping. Michaels’ AI-powered shopping assistant, “Ask Mike,” is now live on the retailer’s website, offering personalized guidance based on shoppers’ conversational queries. |
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EMARKETER EVENTS |
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Featured Event | On-Demand |
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The New Rules of Brand Discovery: What AI Means for Marketers |
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What determines whether AI recommends your brand? Join EMARKETER’s Stephanie Paterik and Blake Droesch to learn how AI is reshaping brand discovery and what marketers can do to strengthen visibility, with new insights from the AI Visibility Index. |
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___________________________________________________________ |
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Featured Event | September 15 | NYC |
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The Future of Digital |
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The agenda is live! Check out the full lineup of sessions featuring EMARKETER analysts, fresh forecast data, and leaders from top brands like Gotham FC, Colgate-Palmolive, SharkNinja, LG Electronics, and more. Join us at City Winery NYC on Sept. 15 and be part of the conversation shaping what’s next in digital. |
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ANALYSIS |
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Gen Alpha (born 2013-2024) represents the first generation born entirely in the age of AI, smart devices, and ubiquitous connectivity. This cohort is already influencing billions in household spending, but as regulatory scrutiny around children's privacy continues to intensify, marketers face a unique challenge. This generation cannot be directly targeted through traditional digital advertising, yet it wields significant impact on millennial and Gen Z parents. |
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QUIZ |
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True or false? Walmart’s “Backyard Escapes” branded content series has generated a sales lift of more than one-third for participating brands. |
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