Digiday Daily

December 11, 2025

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Google’s AI Max for Search product is a key component for brands keen to advertise within AI Overviews and AI Mode search results. But buyers remain unconvinced the AI features intended to save time and increase reach can actually deliver.

Launched in May, AI Max is a suite of targeting and creative tools powered by AI, which aim to improve results for advertisers’ search campaigns across Google Ads, Google Ads Editor, Search Ads 360, and through the Google Ads API.

TOP STORY

Zero-click Future

As industry anticipates AI search ads, buyers scrutinize Google’s AI Max

Media buyers report mixed results with the AI-powered search ads toolset.

As zero-click search rises, publisher traffic and revenue are falling. To stay relevant, publishers need to build experiences that make people want to stay and come back tomorrow. Partner insights from EX.CO.
Domain relevance is critical to help brands improve their standings in AI-powered search results. Keyword-driven top-level domains like .studio signal industry relevance and ensure brands stand out in AI-generated search. Partner insights from name.com.
According to a 2024 holiday shopping study by YouGov, commissioned by Meta, 58% of shoppers said Meta is likely to influence their purchases — up from 55% in 2023. Partner insights from Meta.

MEDIA & PLATFORMS

The Programmatic Publisher

How The Arena Group is rewriting its commercial playbook for the zero-click era

The company is testing AI-powered content recommendation models to keep readers moving through its network of sites and, in doing so, bump up revenue per session – its core performance metric.

A MESSAGE FROM CRITEO

Make every ad, offer and moment feel like discovery, not noise

Shoppers say online shopping can feel dull — uninspired, fragmented and short on surprise and delight. To create richer, more memorable experiences, brands and retailers are upgrading their advertising with commerce intelligence. Lift every shopping moment with AI trained on commerce and built to match every shopper with the right products, right when and where it matters most.

Learn more

Audio Anywhere

The Washington Post debuts AI-personalized podcasts to hook younger listeners

The Washington Post has used AI to build a pick-your-own-format news podcast, letting listeners choose the topics, hosts and duration.

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM MIQ

The ‘see now, buy now’ phenomenon and how marketers are adjusting to the new consumer journey

Go shopping with Global CMO of Assembly, Bria Bryant, as she unpacks the new consumer journey from both a marketing and consumer perspective in this video.

MARKETING

Generative AI