As the tit-for-tat tariff fight between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, China and the European Union continues, marketers are watching closely — and worrying.
It’s been almost a year since Google rolled out its AI-generated search feature AI Overviews, and publishers still know very little about how it’s impacting their referral traffic.
Last week Google introduced AI Mode, an experimental feature for search, which lets users ask follow-up questions without leaving the page, as part of an overall AI Overviews update, which will now be powered by its Gemini 2.0 AI model.
AI Overviews, which provides generated summaries of information from multiple sources to answer a user’s search query, will also be available to more people, including teens and users not signed into Google accounts. AI Mode, which resembles the same kind of experience provided by Perplexity or ChatGPT Search, is only being made available to Google AI One Premium subscribers.
Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.
Brian O’Kelley has made a career out of rewiring the ad tech machine. The AppNexus co-founder has spent much of the past two decades deep in the weeds of programmatic advertising — an industry that, for all its ubiquity, remains an opaque, arbitrage-fueled mess. Now, he’s back with a new mission: tear down its inefficiencies and rebuild something cleaner, leaner and, ideally, more honest.
How? By using AI to rebuild ad tech from the ground up, Scope3’s agentic advertising platform optimizes media buying for efficiency, sustainability and brand safety.
If there were ever a moment for such a reckoning, this is it: marketers, long resigned to the system’’s flaws, are losing patience. Real-time bidding, the lifeblood of programmatic, is running low on both trust and liquidity. And then there’s the latest scandal, which landed like a bomb in the middle of an already shaky industry: revelations that major brands’ ads had appeared alongside child sexual abuse content. The fallout was swift.
Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.
YouTube is turning 20 next month and if there’s one thing the company wants you to know, it’s just how big it is. The numbers are staggering, but what do they really mean?
Digiday has sifted through the data to find the numbers that actually matter. Here’s what you need to know:
YouTube has become huge
Over the past 20 years, YouTube has cemented itself as one of the most dominant platforms in the digital landscape. Launched in 2005, the same year as Reddit and just a year after Facebook, it emerged at a time when social media was still a novelty.
Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.
Creators are utilizing Substack’s live video co-hosting features to grow their audiences — and their subscriber counts.
It’s been one month since Substack enabled video posts — previously a desktop-only function — on its mobile app, and two months since the platform expanded live video to all creators, with the ability for creators to team up and pool viewers as one of the features.
It’s early days, but so far seven creators have told Digiday that they are pleased with the results.
Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.
There’s a talent problem in the media agency world, and it starts at the bottom — meaning the entry level.
(There’s a whole different talent problem in the C-suite as well, as a steady dribble of executives leave one holding company for another — but that’s a story for another time.)
The rising use of AI for entry-level and sometimes menial tasks has started to jeopardize the ability of young people to break into the agency business. At a Town Hall discussion held during the Digiday Media Buying Summit in Nashville on March 12 — a meeting that was held under Chatham House Rules, which guarantees anonymity for the agency attendees — some media agency folks spoke of that very problem.
Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.
LVMH is pushing for Bernard Arnault, who is 76, to helm the company until he's 85.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
LVMH is trying to keep Bernard Arnault, 76, in charge for nearly another decade.
The company proposed changing its bylaws to raise the age limit of its chairman and CEO to 85.
The luxury giant had already changed the limit once in 2022 when it was raised from 75 to 80.
French luxury giant LVMH is trying to keep its chairman and CEO, Bernard Arnault, 76, in charge for nearly a decade more.
LVMH is trying to amend its company bylaws, hoping to raise the age limit for its chairman and CEO from 80 to 85, per its company filings.
If shareholders agree to the change during the annual general meeting on April 17, Arnault could continue to helm the company for another nine years. He has been the chairman and CEO of LVMH since 1989.
If the vote is successful, it will be the second time the luxury tycoon pushes back his retirement. In 2022, when Arnault was 73, LVMH raised the age limit from 75 to 80.
Bloomberg reported that the first time the change went through, famed investor and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett wrote to Arnault, telling him he had set the new age limit too low.
Arnault has made several leadership reshuffles in the brands he owns — moving his children around from role to role.
On Wednesday, LVMH announced in a statement that Arnault's second-youngest son, 30-year-old Frédéric Arnault, would be the new CEO of Loro Piana, an Italian cashmere brand under LVMH.
The company statement said the younger Arnault will start his new role on June 10. Before the promotion, he led LVMH's watches division.
Other leadership shake-ups included Damien Bertrand, the current CEO of Loro Piana, being promoted to deputy CEO of Louis Vuitton, and Pierre-Emmanuel Angeloglou being appointed deputy CEO of Dior.
According to his LinkedIn, Angeloglou is currently the managing director of LVMH's fashion group and the CEO of Fendi.
All five of Arnault's children hold leadership positions in LVMH, with four of them sitting on the board of directors.
Representatives for LVMH did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside regular business hours.
The emails were uncovered while reporters from Axios and The Assembly were working on a joint story about the increase in budget for the University of North Carolina after Belichick’s arrival at the program.
Lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate and legal resident from Syria, are asking a federal judge to order U.S. immigration authorities to immediately release him and find his detention in violation of the First Amendment.
The big picture: Court documents filed late Thursday show that Khalil's lawyers intend to aggressively challenge the Trump administration's use of a rarely used law that gives the secretary of state the authority to revoke visas from foreigners deemed to be a threat.
Zoom in: Khalil's expanding legal team, which now includes the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), is asking U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman to set aside the determination by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that resulted in Khalil's arrest.
Lawyers want Furman to declare efforts to target noncitizens "advocating for Palestinian rights" unlawful — something President Trump hinted could be more common soon.
Catch up quick: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Khalil on Saturday after he returned from dinner with his wife.
The Department of Homeland Security has been investigating him and gathered evidence that he was actively supporting Hamas, but not materially supporting the terror group, a White House official said.
Rubio was presented with evidence from the DHS review and determined that Khalil acted against U.S. foreign policy positions, the official said.
Context: U.S. law allows the secretary of state to deport a green card holder if that person is deemed to have "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States" — but it's been rarely used outside of the Cold War or serious crimes, experts told Axios.
Rubio posted on X last week that the U.S. has "zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists."
He added that "violators of U.S. law — including international students — face visa denial or revocation, and deportation."
Reality check: Khalil, a legal resident with a green card, has not been charged or accused of any crimes.
Zoom out: That case has drawn international attention and generated protests nationwide.
Nearly 100 people were arrested after protesters gathered at Trump Tower in Manhattan Thursday to demand the release of Khalil.
What they're saying: "This is a clear attempt by President Trump to make an example out of Mr. Khalil and silence dissent across the country," Brett Max Kaufman, senior staff attorney with ACLU's Center for Democracy, said in a statement.
"No matter what your views are on Israel and Palestine, we should all be terrified of a government incarcerating its residents for their political opinions."
"With today's filing, we are making it crystal clear that no president can arrest, detain, or deport anyone for disagreeing with the government," said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, another group that joined the legal team.
For the record: Furman on Wednesday halted ICE from deporting Khalil, who is in a detention facility in Louisiana.
Representatives for the White House, State Department and ICE did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.
What we're watching: Lawyers for the Trump administration are expected to submit their response toKhalil's attorneys on Friday.
They are likely to invoke the broad authority the secretary of state has to deem foreigners a threat to the nation's foreign policy.
The legal challenge toKhalil might ultimately come down to the Supreme Court, which would decide how far the secretary of state can determine whether a permanent resident can be removed for speech.
A second judge late Thursday ordered the Trump administration to reinstate probationary workers who were let go in mass firings across multiple agencies.
In Baltimore, U.S. District Judge James Bredar, an Obama appointee, found that the administration ignored laws set out for large-scale layoffs. Bredar ordered the firings halted for at least two weeks and the workforce returned to the status quo before the layoffs began.
He sided with nearly two dozen states that filed a lawsuit alleging the mass firings are illegal and already having an impact on state governments as they try to help those who are suddenly jobless.
The ruling followed a similar one by U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who found Thursday morning that terminations across six agencies were directed by the Office of Personnel Management and acting director, Charles Ezell, who lacked the authority to do so.
Alsup's order tells the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior and the Treasury to immediately offer job reinstatement to employees terminated on or about Feb. 13 and 14. He also directed the departments to report back within seven days with a list of probationary employees and an explanation of how the agencies complied with his order as to each person.
The temporary restraining order came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and organizations as the Republican administration moves to reduce the federal workforce.
The Trump administration has already appealed Alsup’s ruling, arguing that the states have no right to try and influence the federal government's relationship with its own workers. Justice Department attorneys argued the firings were for performance issues, not large-scale layoffs subject to specific regulations.
Probationary workers have been targeted for layoffs across the federal government because they're usually new to the job and lack full civil service protection. Multiple lawsuits have been filed over the mass firings.
Lawyers for the government maintain the mass firings were lawful because individual agencies reviewed and determined whether employees on probation were fit for continued employment.
Alsup, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, has found that difficult to believe. He planned to hold an evidentiary hearing on Thursday, but Ezell did not appear to testify in court or even sit for a deposition, and the government retracted his written testimony.
There are an estimated 200,000 probationary workers across federal agencies. They include entry-level employees but also workers who recently received a promotion.
Stephen Curry became the first player to reach 4,000 3-pointers made in a career, extending the Golden State Warriors superstar's record to the milestone number on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings.
Nikki McKibbin, who appeared alongside Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini on season 1, died in November 2020 at the age of 42.The Fear Factor alum, who finished in third place on the competition’s debut season in 2002, suffered a brain aneurysm several weeks before her death.
“She would already be gone, but she’s an organ donor and has been kept on life support to make that possible,” McKibbin’s husband, Craig Sadler, wrote via Facebook at the time. “That shouldn’t be a surprise to us. Even at the end she is still giving. She was so loved that I know thousands of you will be grieving with us. There are only a few hours left for me to hold her hand and kiss her forehead.”
Kiker, who appeared on Idol season 18 in 2020, died five years later in March 2025. He was 32.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of my brother, Douglas Kiker,” his sister Angela wrote via Facebook. “He was sooo loved and will be missed by so many! You’re singing with the angels now Bubba. Please pray for our family as we go [through] this very difficult time.”
Jacobs died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on February 17, 2023. He was 49.
“Nashville’s Department of Emergency Communications received a 911 call at 1:21 p.m. Friday from a home on Sneed Road in the police department’s West Precinct. Officers and Nashville Fire Department personnel responded and located resident Kyle Jacobs, 49, deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in an upstairs bedroom/office. His death is being investigated as an apparent suicide,” the Metropolitan Nashville Police told Variety in a statement at the time. “Mr. Jacobs’ wife, Kellie Pickler, reported that she awoke a short time earlier, did not see her husband, and began looking for him. After she and her personal assistant were unable to open the door to the upstairs bedroom/office, the assistant telephoned 911.”
The Georgia native passed away in October 2022 after sustaining injuries in a car accident in Tennessee, according to a local news outlet. He was 23.
Katharine McPhee mourned the "tragic" loss in an Instagram Story at the time, reflecting on the time she shared with Spence as a mentor during season 19 of the singing competition. "Life is so unfair and nothing is ever promised. God rest your soul Willie. It was a pleasure to sing with you and to know you," she wrote at the time.
After being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, McKibbin died in November 2020. She was 42.
“Nikki was a superstar the moment she walked into auditions – she set the bar high with her talent and memorable stage presence,” American Idol host Ryan Seacrest tweeted at the time. “It was an honor to watch her grow and inspire millions of people. Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and fans who are grieving this tragic loss.”
LaBelle, who rose to fame as a contestant on season 3 in 2004, died after a January 2018 car accident at the age of 31. The musician and her husband, NBA athlete Rasual Butler, were both in the car when Butler lost control. The twosome are survived by the late Chicago Bulls athlete’s daughter from a previous relationship, Raven Butler.
“.@leahlabelle was beautiful & had the voice of an ANGEL. She was my wild card pick on @AmericanIdol,” former judge Paula Abdul tweeted. “I’m heartbroken to know that she & her husband @RasualButler45 have passed away. What a horrible tragedy. I send my love and deepest condolences to her family and friends.”
The season 2 finalist was killed in a May 2016 car accident. He was 36. TMZ reported at the time that Smith was driving on the highway in Oklahoma City when another car caused a head-on collision.
Borgella, a season 7 contestant, died at the age of 32 following a long battle with endometrial cancer.
“To God be the glory! With heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Joanne," her family wrote in an October 2014 statement shared via Facebook. “On Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 5:45AM, Joanne Borgella Ramirez was called by the Lord to heaven. At an early age, Joanne made a choice to serve and trust the Lord; and since her diagnosis over a year ago, Joanne made a choice to also be a fighter and share her journey with the world. Her faith, courage and strength were unshaken throughout every obstacle she encountered. Although our family is suffering with this great loss, we find comfort in the closeness Joanne shared with the Lord. We know her spirit still shines and will continue to live on in heaven.”
Johns, who also competed on season 7, died in August 2014 after suffering from a blood clot in his ankle, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 35.
“I just heard the very sad news that Michael Johns has passed away," Simon Cowell tweeted at the time, remembering Johns' eighth-place finish. “A truly great guy. Rest in peace Michael.”
Smith’s father, Mike Smith, told TMZ after her death that he believed a deer may have caused the fatal motorcycle accident, noting that Haley was a “good rider” and likely lost control.
The All-New Mickey Mouse Club alum briefly competed on season 3 of American Idol, getting eliminated ahead of the Top 12 cut. Lynche was found dead in his New York apartment in December 2015. The musician, who was 34 at the time, reportedly died of acute and chronic alcoholism, per TMZ.
Harris, who finished in the top six in the 2014 season of the reality show, died after suffering an apparent heart attack, his family told TMZ in January 2023. The season 13 alum was 31.
Fans of the show may remember then-judge Keith Urban gushing about Harris’ voice, telling him: "You sing 'cause you have to sing, not 'cause you want to sing. ... I mean that in the deepest way. And that's why it's so believable and real."
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/jd-vance-trump-031325-c867c9846d954e14a72d78f4a89d6289.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/cate-blanchett-2025-golden-globes-010525-f825427fc54046e7a6a73651bff54678.jpg)
