Krikey AI, a leader in AI animation software, has partnered with ElevenLabs, a pioneer in AI voice technology, to revolutionize animated avatar creation. This integration allows gaming studios, media companies, and content creators to incorporate lifelike AI voices into animations seamlessly, unlocking new possibilities in storytelling, education, gaming, and more.

Transforming Animation with AI-Generated Voices

The partnership brings advanced text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities to Krikey AI Animation, enabling users to:

• Create Talking Avatars: Generate realistic animations with natural-sounding AI voices.

• Streamline Content Creation: Automate dubbing and narration, eliminating manual voice recording.

• Access a Diverse Voice Library: Choose from a wide range of AI-generated voices or create custom AI voices.

• Enhance Accessibility: Make professional-quality voice creation more accessible to all users.

"With this partnership, we’re making it easier than ever for creators to bring animated characters to life with expressive AI-driven voices," said Krikey AI.

Seamless AI Voice Integration for Animation

ElevenLabs' TTS technology allows Krikey AI users to instantly sync AI-generated speech with animated characters, enhancing:

• Marketing & Explainer Videos: Quickly produce polished, AI-voiced animations.

• Gaming & Virtual Worlds: Generate dynamic, interactive characters with realistic dialogue.

• Education & Training Content: Develop engaging, voice-enabled learning materials.

This collaboration ensures that AI-generated voices sync seamlessly with Krikey AI’s animated characters, reducing production time while enhancing storytelling quality.

By integrating ElevenLabs' AI voice generator, Krikey AI Animation empowers users to create high-quality talking avatars faster and more efficiently. Whether for media, gaming, marketing, or education, this AI-powered solution redefines animation and voice creation.

QVC Group, a leader in live shopping entertainment, has announced a strategic agreement with TikTok to host 24/7 live shopping streams featuring QVC Group’s brands, products, and talent. This partnership expands QVC’s reach, offering interactive, discovery-driven shopping experiences to millions of TikTok users.

Revolutionizing Social Commerce

QVC Group, the original innovator in live shopping, brings:

• 40,000+ hours of live content per year across its platforms.

• 100+ celebrity partnerships and influencer collaborations.

• 400,000+ products from top brands, shipping 200+ million units annually.

"We are uniquely suited to bring our large-scale, high-volume, live social shopping experience to TikTok," said David Rawlinson II, President and CEO of QVC Group, Inc.

Live Shopping on TikTok: What to Expect

Since QVC launched on TikTok Shop in August 2024:

• 74,000+ TikTok creators have featured QVC products in their shoppable videos and livestreams.

• The new 24/7 live experience will showcase exclusive QVC and HSN content, tailored specifically for TikTok’s audience.

• QVC’s trusted hosts, celebrity personalities, and product experts will create engaging, real-time shopping experiences.

The Future of Social Commerce

With TikTok Shop’s rapid growth, this partnership is set to reshape social shopping by blending:

• Entertainment & Shopping: Engaging live streams featuring real-time product demos.

• Influencer Collaboration: Expanding QVC’s creator partnerships to reach new audiences.

• Seamless Shopping Experience: Viewers can purchase instantly while watching engaging content.

"Live shopping on TikTok blends entertainment, education, and commerce, redefining how people discover and purchase products," said Nico Le Bourgeois, Head of US Operations for TikTok Shop.

By bringing its decades of expertise to TikTok’s fast-growing social commerce space, QVC Group is setting a new standard for interactive, engaging, and scalable live shopping experiences.

Trustpilot, the world’s largest independent customer feedback platform, has unveiled new features designed to help businesses leverage customer trust for measurable growth. These tools go beyond collecting feedback, enabling brands to analyze, promote, and act on customer insights—leading to stronger relationships, increased conversions, and enhanced brand loyalty.

The Power of Trust in Business Growth

Customer trust is a critical factor in driving business success:

• 93% of executives agree that trust directly impacts the bottom line (PWC Trust Survey, 2024).

• 46% of consumers spend more with brands they trust, and 28% would even pay a premium.

• However, only 30% of consumers highly trust businesses, despite 90% of executives believing otherwise.

"Customer feedback isn't meant to just be collected—it’s meant to drive action," said Alicia Skubick, Chief Customer Officer at Trustpilot.

Features of Trustpilot’s New Update

Trustpilot’s latest enhancements help brands turn reviews into actionable insights across marketing and customer experience teams:

1. Advanced Customer Insights

• Review Follow-Up: Post-review questionnaires provide businesses with more detailed and actionable customer feedback.

• Visitor Insights: Brands gain a deeper understanding of review engagement and customer behavior to identify untapped growth opportunities.

• Analytics Explorer: A centralized dashboard that tracks all key performance metrics, including TrustScore, review volume, search impressions, and engagement trends.

2. Enhanced Review Promotion

• Trustpilot Widgets: Businesses can showcase curated reviews on their website, filtering by keywords, star rating, and recency.

• Custom Social Proof: Trustpilot-branded ads (logo and stars) are nearly 2.5x more persuasive than those without (London Research). The new asset builder allows businesses to easily create and customize trust signals for advertising and social media.

3. Competitive Edge in Customer Experience

These updates bridge the gap between marketing and customer experience teams, making trust-based engagement more effective.

"At Fiserv, we rely on Trustpilot to collect and analyze customer feedback," said Josh Cocciardi, Marketing Analyst at Fiserv. "With new insights capabilities, we can act on feedback and improve more efficiently."

Many businesses struggle to turn customer feedback into valuable action. Trustpilot’s new features empower brands to leverage trust as a business growth tool, enhancing customer relationships, driving conversions, and improving overall business health.

A recent survey by Ignite Visibility, a leading digital marketing agency, has revealed key consumer trends that will shape purchasing behavior in 2025. With responses from over 1,000 American consumers, the study highlights shifting spending habits and provides actionable insights for businesses to adapt their marketing strategies effectively.

Consumer Spending Trends for 2025

The survey found that consumers are prioritizing essential categories, including:

• Daily essentials (groceries, household items)

• Health & wellness (fitness, self-care, medical needs)

• Travel & experiences

• Home improvements (renovations, smart home technology)

At the same time, luxury goods and non-essential items are seeing a decline in consumer interest. With 39.7% of consumers planning to increase spending in essential categories, brands must focus on:

• Affordability and value-driven messaging

• Building consumer trust through transparency and quality

• Highlighting real-world benefits to justify purchases

Franchises Benefit from Brand Trust

The study also found that franchises have a competitive edge due to consumers’ preference for trusted, recognizable brands. Key takeaways for franchises include:

• Localized marketing efforts to connect with communities

• Value-driven promotions to reinforce affordability and reliability

• Transparent communication to strengthen brand loyalty

Expert Insights from Ignite Visibility CEO

"The data provides a clear picture of where consumers are heading in 2025 and how brands can optimize their marketing efforts," said John Lincoln, CEO of Ignite Visibility. "Consumers are prioritizing essentials like health, wellness, and home improvements while cutting back on luxuries. Brands that focus on affordability, trust, and transparent messaging will be best positioned to capture attention and drive loyalty in an increasingly competitive market."

How Brands Can Adapt to Changing Consumer Behavior

To stay ahead of evolving trends, businesses should:
Emphasize affordability without compromising on quality
Leverage trust-building strategies, such as user reviews and social proof
Invest in digital marketing to reach consumers effectively
Create personalized, value-driven campaigns

As consumer spending shifts in 2025, brands that adapt to evolving preferences will gain a competitive advantage. By focusing on essentials, trust, and affordability, businesses can drive stronger engagement and long-term customer loyalty.

Genuin, the AI-powered video-driven community engagement platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Carlist.my, Malaysia’s largest automotive media & classifieds portal. This collaboration enhances interactive, shoppable, and creator-powered video experiences within Carlist.my’s ecosystem, fostering deeper consumer engagement and brand monetization.

How Genuin is Transforming Carlist.my

Carlist.my, part of CARSOME Group, is committed to redefining automotive buying and selling experiences. With Genuin’s AI-powered platform, Carlist.my is:
Building a vibrant, brand-owned digital community
Enhancing trust through expert & user-generated video content
Empowering consumers with interactive, shoppable experiences
Unlocking new media revenue streams for advertisers and creators

The Power of Community-Driven Content

"Consumers today crave more than just content—they want interactive, immersive experiences that drive real connections," said Bhargav Patel, CEO of Genuin. "With these partnerships, brands can reclaim their audiences from Big Social, turning passive viewers into engaged participants while unlocking first-party data and monetization opportunities."

By embedding AI-personalized video feeds, Carlist.my will increase transparency, engagement, and trust, making car buying and selling more informed and community-driven.

Benefits for Automotive Brands & Advertisers

The Genuin-Carlist partnership also opens new revenue and brand engagement opportunities, such as:

• Sponsored community access for premium automotive brands

• Branded challenges & expert takeovers to engage audiences

• Creator-led content series for immersive storytelling

• Shoppable vertical video feeds for seamless product discovery

"Carlist.my is built on a commitment to seamless digital experiences," said KY Gan, Managing Director of iCar Asia. "By integrating Genuin’s video-powered community, we’re enabling a two-way conversation that empowers consumers to make smarter, more confident automotive decisions."

This partnership signals a shift in digital automotive engagement, proving that interactive, community-driven content is the future of media. With AI-powered video integration, shoppable experiences, and creator-led storytelling, Carlist.my is redefining how brands connect with car buyers and sellers in a trusted, digital-first environment.

Tiger Pistol, the most advanced local advertising platform, has launched a new strategic resource: From Roadblocks to Revenue: Solving the Top 3 Digital Advertising Challenges for Marketing Resellers. As small and midsize businesses (SMBs) increase digital ad investments, this playbook provides resellers with the tools to streamline operations, enhance automation, and scale local advertising efficiently.

The Challenges Resellers Face

Despite the rising demand for digital advertising solutions, marketing resellers often struggle with:
Clunky onboarding processes that slow down SMB activation
Manual campaign execution that reduces scalability
Siloed platforms that create inefficiencies and limit growth

"Marketing resellers play a critical role in helping SMBs succeed, but too many are bogged down by inefficient processes," said Sarah Cucchiara, VP of Business Development at Tiger Pistol. "This playbook is a call to action. It’s about moving past friction points and embracing a model built for speed, scale, and service."

Takeaways from the Playbook

This practical guide provides actionable solutions to common digital advertising roadblocks, including:

• Fixing the Onboarding Bottleneck

  • Strategies to simplify page and account connections

  • Faster SMB activation leading to improved retention

• Scaling with Automation

  • Implementing subscription-based models

  • Managing thousands of localized campaigns with minimal manual input

• Seamless Integration

  • Embedding digital advertising into existing platforms

  • White-label and API solutions for brand control and enhanced user experience

"Solving these challenges improves operations and strengthens client relationships," added Cucchiara. "When you remove friction, you unlock adoption, retention, and revenue. This playbook helps resellers deliver the kind of experience that keeps SMB clients coming back."

Tiger Pistol’s From Roadblocks to Revenue playbook is now available for free download. Marketing resellers and digital advertising service providers supporting SMBs are encouraged to access the guide to optimize their advertising strategies, streamline operations, and accelerate long-term growth.

Stagwell, the marketing challenger network built for digital transformation, has appointed John Kahan as its first-ever Chief AI Officer. Reporting directly to Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, Kahan will lead the network’s AI-driven initiatives, accelerating innovation across its global marketing and advertising ecosystem.

A Seasoned AI and Data Leader

With nearly 40 years of expertise in AI, data analytics, and digital transformation, Kahan has an extensive track record in product development, marketing, and strategic consulting. His previous leadership roles at Microsoft and IBM solidified his reputation as a pioneer in AI-powered business transformation.

Most recently, Kahan served as Vice President and Chief Data Analytics Officer at Microsoft, where he was instrumental in developing key data-driven platforms and insights that contributed to Microsoft's growth into a $3 trillion company.

Stagwell’s Commitment to AI Innovation

Under Kahan’s leadership, Stagwell aims to:
Embed AI and automation across its marketing services
Enhance data-driven decision-making for clients
Drive industry-leading advancements in AI-powered marketing technology

"Kahan's leadership will be key in driving our AI initiatives forward, ensuring we continue to provide unparalleled value to our clients," said Mark Penn, CEO of Stagwell. "His extensive background from Microsoft and IBM aligns perfectly with our vision to lead the industry in technological innovation."

Kahan’s Vision for AI at Stagwell

Recognizing the rapid evolution of AI and MarTech, Kahan is eager to push the boundaries of how AI enhances marketing strategies and business performance.

"I'm especially excited to be joining at such a pivotal time for the challenger network," said Kahan. "The pace of innovation in AI and marketing technology is accelerating like never before, and Stagwell is committed to pushing boundaries that will drive meaningful transformation for the industry at large."

Stagwell’s appointment of John Kahan as Chief AI Officer underscores its dedication to AI-driven marketing innovation. As AI reshapes the industry, Kahan’s expertise will help position Stagwell as a leader in the next generation of marketing transformation.

A new research study, Gen Z Culture Decoded, unveils fresh insights into how Gen Z consumes content, discovers entertainment, and engages with media. The study, conducted by Toluna, Halford Media Advisory, and Coraly Partners, surveyed 2,000 US-based Gen Z respondents (ages 16-27) and highlights how this hyper-connected generation demands new approaches to marketing, content creation, and engagement.

Findings: How Gen Z Consumes Content

• Social Media and YouTube as Discovery Hubs

  • 71% of Gen Z consumers start their content discovery journey on social platforms or YouTube.

  • From TV shows to sports to podcasts, Gen Z relies on digital channels for entertainment exploration.

• The Always-On Generation

  • More than 55% of Gen Z is "always on" across different activities throughout the day.

  • On average, they engage in seven different activities daily, increasing to eight in the early evening.

• Activity Peaks Throughout the Day

  • Social media: Used by at least 74% of Gen Z at any time of day.

  • Video consumption: Builds throughout the day, peaking in the evening.

  • Sports and gaming: Most popular in the evening.

  • Music, audiobooks, and podcasts: Skew towards the afternoon and evening.

  • Radio and news updates: Primarily consumed in the morning.

• Comedy Dominates Content Preferences

  • Comedy is the most popular genre across entertainment platforms.

  • It is also a preferred element in advertising, indicating that humor resonates deeply with Gen Z.

Insights from Industry Experts

• Mary Ann Halford (Managing Principal, Halford Media Advisory):

  • “We knew Gen Z would have different media appetites, but their consumption patterns are even more complex than expected.”

• Christy Tanner (Founder, Coraly Partners & Chair, Swerve Sports):

  • “Breaking through to Gen Z requires agility and investment in new skills and tools.”

• Jasen Holness (EVP Commercial Strategy, Toluna):

  • “This study provides a blueprint for brands to connect authentically with the most connected generation.”

• Paul Pastor (Co-Founder & CBO, Quickplay):

  • “Gen Z demands short-form, engaging content across all platforms. Streamers and studios must integrate short-form content to stay relevant.”

What This Means for Brands & Marketers

• Social-First Strategies Are Essential

  • Brands must prioritize short-form, engaging content on social media to connect with Gen Z.

• Humor and Authenticity Matter

  • Comedy is a key ingredient in both entertainment and advertising.

  • Authentic engagement fosters deeper connections with this audience.

• Multichannel Presence Is Crucial

  • Gen Z moves fluidly across platforms; brands must have an integrated presence across social, video, music, and news channels.

Gen Z’s consumption habits are redefining how brands, content creators, and media companies engage with audiences. With an always-on, social-first approach and a preference for short-form, entertaining content, brands must rethink their strategies to stay relevant to this digitally native generation.