Need to Know News - July 3rd, 2025
In this week's Need to Know News edition:
🤖 The AI 'band' with no real members that just hit 858,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
🤖 Why Wall Street is calling ad agencies 'cockroaches, not dinosaurs' in the face of AI...but there's a surprising reason they're still betting on them to survive.
🤖 Why the internet's gatekeeper just gave every website a 'kill switch' for AI crawlers...and what it means for the future of free content.
And whole lot more!
Meta's New AI Will Sell to You Directly in Your DMs
Meta is rolling out new ad tools focused on messaging apps like WhatsApp. The biggest change is that you can now manage all your campaigns—for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—in one place. Meta is also expanding its "business AIs."
These are custom chatbots that can do more than just answer questions. They'll be able to recommend products and even help customers make a purchase. For more complex issues, brands can now receive direct phone and video calls from customers right inside WhatsApp.
Google Opens the "Black Box" on its AI Ad Targeting
For years, advertisers have complained that Google's AI ad targeting is a "black box." Now, Google is finally opening it up. A new feature called "AI Max" is being rolled out as its own distinct match type in reports.
This lets marketers see exactly how the AI is performing with key metrics like ROAS and CPA. It helps them answer a critical question: is this automation improving results or just driving up costs? By making its AI more measurable, Google is giving advertisers the data they need to make smarter budget decisions.
Missing One of These 5 Essential 'Copy Blocks' Could Cost You A Fortune!
Two $100+ million copywriters discovered what REALLY drives conversions—5 simple building blocks arranged in a specific order. This framework is so powerful that beginners are generating 5-figure profits with it. And you can learn the full system in just 33 minutes.
Discover All 5 'Copy Blocks' Now
The Internet's Gatekeeper Just Put Up a Paywall for AI
AI companies have been "stripmining" the web for free content, but that's about to change. Cloudflare, a massive company that handles 16% of the world's internet traffic, just gave website owners a powerful new tool.
They can now choose to block AI crawlers entirely or charge them a fee for access. This is a huge shift in power back to content creators. As Cloudflare's CEO says, it's only fair that creators get compensated for the content that fuels AI engines.
Survey: 68% of Marketers Are Changing Strategy for AI Search
Think AI is killing SEO? A new BrightEdge survey of over 750 marketers found the opposite is true. As AI changes search, 68% of companies are adapting, and they're putting SEO teams in the driver's seat. In fact, 54% of companies have tasked their SEO experts with leading the charge—more than all other departments combined. While most marketers (57%) are "cautiously optimistic," they know they need experts to navigate this new world.
TikTok's AI Ads Are Getting Smarter (And Less Optional)
ikTok is doubling down on its AI ad platform, Smart+, even as it faces a potential U.S. ban. The company is giving advertisers more control, adding new features for bidding (tROAS) and advanced audience targeting. But here's the big change: soon, advertisers will no longer be able to opt out of running search ads.
The placement will be bundled into all Smart+ campaigns by default. It's a smart move for TikTok to grow its search business, but it means advertisers are losing control, a strategy already used by Google and Meta.
Publishers See Growing Traffic from AI, But Is It Enough?
AI chatbots are sending more readers to news sites, with traffic growing 124% last year. Big publishers like The Atlantic, Le Monde, and The Guardian are making deals with OpenAI for fair pay and attribution. The Atlantic saw an 80% jump in referrals from chatbots in just one month.
But for now, the numbers are still small compared to Google. To adapt, publishers are being told to focus on high-quality content and a new strategy called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to get their articles recommended in AI chats.
AI ‘Band’ Tops 858,000 Spotify Monthly Listeners
A band that doesn't really exist is blowing up on Spotify. "The Velvet Sundown," an AI-generated act, has racked up over 858,000 monthly listeners in just weeks.
The clues are obvious: the band photo looks fake, the members have no online presence, and it has released three albums in six weeks. So how did it get so popular? The music was added to huge Spotify playlists, like one with over 630,000 saves.
Wall Street Warns of Slow Growth for Ad Agencies in AI Era
Top ad agencies are facing a rough patch, according to Wall Street analysts at Barclays. They've downgraded giants like Omnicom and WPP, warning of slow growth ahead. The problem is AI, which threatens the industry's hourly billing model and makes it easier for clients to do the work themselves.
But the long-term outlook is more optimistic. Analysts believe agencies will adapt, comparing them to "cockroaches, not dinosaurs." They predict AI will eventually create new opportunities, improve ad results, and even grow the entire market.
Freepik Now Offers Unlimited AI Images From Top Models
Freepik is shaking up the AI image world. The company now offers truly unlimited AI image creation on its premium plans. The best part is that Freepik is an aggregator, giving you access to top models from Google, ChatGPT, and Kling all in one place.
For most people, the Premium+ plan is the best deal at $39 a month. It includes unlimited images and 540,000 video credits. This move makes Freepik a powerful and affordable option for anyone who needs a lot of AI-generated content.
Thanks for reading.
Until next time!
The AI Marketers
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