AI Breakthroughs, Budgeting Trends, and the Future of Shopping: What’s Next?

Discover how AI, smart shopping, and LinkedIn's latest feature are reshaping our digital world. [image]() Hi {NAME}, AI is everywhere, and it’s changing how we interact with the world around us. Snapchat, for instance, has exploded from 1 million subscribers in 2022 to over 11 million in 2024, thanks in part to its new AI-driven features like Bitmoji Pets. But while Snapchat is all about connection, Google continues to dominate search, even as AI competitors like Perplexity try to carve out their own space. Speaking of AI, OpenAI has developed a tool that can detect AI-generated text with 99.9% accuracy, but they’re hesitant to release it. Maybe they’re worried about the backlash? But it’s not just tech that’s evolving. The way we shop is changing too. Forget impulse buys; loud budgeting is the new trend for 2024. Shoppers are focusing on joyful, intentional purchases, with TikTok leading the charge in showing us how to spend wisely. And over on LinkedIn, brands are now able to sponsor newsletters, boosting visibility and engagement like never before. These shifts show just how much our digital landscape is evolving, and there’s no slowing down in sight. Keep reading to find out more! Cheers, Jeff What you need to know this week... Social Media From 1 million in 2022 to 11 Million in 2024: Subscription explodes Snapchat's subscription service has surpassed 11 million subscribers, growing from 1 million in 2022. Initially offering six features, it now includes over 40 exclusive options like Chat Wallpapers and AI Bitmoji Pets. The community has also tested popular features such as Snapchat for Web and My AI. Snapchat aims to enhance its service, helping users express themselves authentically and strengthen connections with others. [Snapchat/Newsroom]( Forget impulse buys: Loud budgeting is changing shopping forever The 2024 Shopping Trend Report highlights significant shifts in consumer behavior due to economic challenges. Shoppers are moving away from impulsive spending towards intentional, joyful purchases, termed loud budgeting. This trend emphasizes community building and long-lasting investments. The report showcases insights from TikTok, illustrating how creativity and strategic spending are reshaping shopping experiences. Sofia Hernandez from TikTok notes a transition from chasing viral trends to making informed purchases motivated by joy and authenticity. Brands must adapt to these changes and support consumers in navigating their evolving priorities. TikTok serves as a key platform for understanding these new trends and relationships. [TikTok/Newsroom]( Boost your brand: LinkedIn now offers sponsored newsletters opportunity! LinkedIn is expanding its sponsored newsletters feature, allowing brands to sponsor user-generated content. With over 184,000 newsletters hosted on the platform and a 47% increase in engagement, companies can now promote newsletters from thought leaders in their niches. Brands can boost their visibility through paid promotions via Campaign Manager, targeting newsletters from their content library or other users' content. Creators can approve sponsorship requests, but they won't earn ad revenue share at this stage. The initiative aims to enhance brand exposure while supporting newsletter creators in gaining visibility for their work. [LinkedIn]() SEO Discover actionable SEO tips from Google's latest experimental feature Google Search Console introduces a new feature offering optimization recommendations for websites. These suggestions help improve visibility on Google Search by utilizing various data from indexing, crawling, and serving. Previously available data is now presented as actionable recommendations, guiding users to prioritize tasks like implementing structured data, adding sitemaps, and exploring trending queries. This feature is experimental and will be gradually rolled out, with recommendations appearing on the overview page as they become available. Google aims to refine and expand these recommendations over time, encouraging user feedback through various channels. [Google Blog/Search]() [image] Judge declares Google a monopoly: What's next for big tech? Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google is a monopolist, violating US antitrust laws. The decision, a win for the Department of Justice, confirmed Google's monopoly in search and advertising markets but rejected some specific claims regarding its advertising power. The ruling does not yet outline remedies for Google's business practices, with future proceedings determining potential consequences, including possible changes to its operations. Google plans to appeal, asserting that the ruling undermines its ability to provide effective services. The case is seen as a significant step toward holding Google accountable and fostering innovation in the tech industry. [The Verge](=) Google dominates search amid wave of AI competitors A report indicates Google Search traffic has remained stable despite emerging AI search competitors. Data from Datos clickstream panel, analyzed by Sonata Insights, shows a 1.4% growth in Google traffic from May 2023 to May 2024. Meanwhile, AI search platform Perplexity experienced significant growth, achieving a 42% increase. Google maintains a dominant position with over 290 times the number of search users compared to Perplexity. Users on Google engage in approximately 200 searches monthly, while Perplexity users average 15. Despite predictions of a slowdown in traditional search, Google maintains significant market share against AI-driven alternatives. [SparkToro]( [image] Advertising Google Ads bug confuses Demand Gen campaigns with Display Network label A Google Ads bug incorrectly labels Demand Gen campaigns as Display Network, causing advertiser confusion. This mislabeling can lead to inaccurate performance analysis and poor campaign management decisions. Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin confirmed the issue is a bug, which started the week of July 8, 2024. The error has led to Demand Gen campaigns being misreported under the Display Network label. Advertisers are advised to be cautious and await further updates from Google regarding this issue. The timing is particularly challenging as advertisers are already facing other reporting and product listing glitches. [Search Engine Land](=) [image] Google Ads’ major outage reveals competitor info amidst reporting crisis Google Ads is facing a major outage that compromises reporting tools and exposes competitor data. Advertisers cannot manage campaigns or access crucial performance data due to the unavailability of features like Report Editor and Dashboards. This glitch reveals sensitive information, including unrelated item IDs and product titles, raising privacy concerns as advertisers could identify competitors through exposed data. Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin has acknowledged the issue and is working on updates. The situation began around July 30-31, 2024, when a UK agency reported the breach. Advertisers are advised to exercise caution and refrain from acting on any exposed data until the issue is resolved. [Google Ads Status Dashboard]() [Buy TikTok Views with Fast Delivery]( Technology 99.9% accurate AI text detection! So why is OpenAI hesitant? OpenAI has developed watermarking software to detect AI-generated text with 99.9% accuracy but won’t release it. This tool could help prevent cheating and manage AI content online. Despite public support for watermarking, OpenAI hesitates due to concerns over user retention and potential risks. A survey indicated that 30% of users might abandon ChatGPT if competing services didn't implement watermarks. OpenAI’s spokesperson emphasized the need for caution, citing complexities and broader ecosystem impacts as reasons for the delay. Critics argue this hesitation seems contradictory, given the widespread use of ChatGPT over recent years. [Futurism]() Latest Podcast Episode [data for business growth]( [Listen Now](=) Latest from JeffBullas.com - [20 Quotes on the Future of AI That Will Make You Think]( - [How to Sell on Etsy: Transform Your Hobby into a Business (2024 Guide)]() - [8 Surprising Tricks to Skyrocket Your Affiliate Marketing Commissions]( Tool of the Week [UseViral]( [Unsubscribe]( Jeffbullas.com Pty Ltd PO Box 73 Lilyfield, New South Wales 2040 Australia +61413662620