As generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI-powered search assistants become a primary source of information for buyers, brands face a new challenge: ensuring their content is visible in AI-generated answers. Recognizing this shift, the American Marketing Association (AMA) and Notified are hosting a webinar focused on how marketers can leverage press releases and earned media to improve AI discoverability.

Scheduled for June 30, 2026, the one-hour virtual session will examine how communications strategies are evolving as AI increasingly determines which sources are credible enough to reference in its responses.

Why AI Visibility Matters

Unlike traditional search engines that primarily direct users to websites, generative AI platforms synthesize information from multiple trusted sources to answer questions directly. That shift means brands can no longer rely solely on SEO rankings to maintain digital visibility.

For marketers, public relations professionals, and communications teams, earned media and well-structured press releases are becoming valuable assets for influencing how AI models understand, reference, and cite organizations.

The webinar will explore how these content formats can strengthen brand authority while contributing to measurable business outcomes, including website traffic, lead generation, and pipeline growth.

What Attendees Will Learn

The session promises practical guidance rather than theoretical discussions around AI search. Topics include:

• How press releases and earned media contribute to AI visibility and marketing pipeline growth.
• Best practices for structuring content so AI systems can more easily discover, understand, and cite it.
• A real-world case study demonstrating how AI-optimized press releases contributed to revenue growth.

The discussion reflects the growing interest in what many marketers now refer to as Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)—the practice of optimizing content not only for search engines but also for AI assistants that increasingly influence buyer research.

Industry Experts to Lead the Discussion

The webinar brings together communications and AI search specialists with experience across enterprise marketing and public relations.

Kyle Arteaga, Founder and CEO of The Bulleit Group, will share insights from advising organizations including Google, LinkedIn, Amazon's Zoox, Bridgewater, and Procter & Gamble. Arteaga has also been an early advocate for responsible AI adoption in communications and has conducted research into how AI platforms discover and cite branded content.

Joining him is Lisa Davis, Vice President of Marketing at Notified, who leads growth marketing initiatives across the company's public relations and investor relations solutions. With more than two decades of B2B marketing experience, Davis specializes in demand generation, customer engagement, and integrated marketing strategies.

Also speaking is Jimmy Kropelin, Team Lead for Agency and Channel Partnerships at Notified. His work focuses on helping agencies understand how AI search is reshaping communications through Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), AI citation tracking, and AI-friendly content frameworks.

AI Search Is Reshaping PR and Content Strategy

The webinar arrives as marketers increasingly rethink how content is created and distributed. While SEO remains important, organizations are beginning to recognize that AI visibility depends on credibility signals such as authoritative media coverage, structured content, consistent messaging, and trusted third-party references.

Press releases—once viewed primarily as a media relations tool—are evolving into structured content assets that can influence how AI systems interpret brands across the web.

As AI-powered search becomes more embedded in customer journeys, communications teams may need to treat earned media and digital PR as core components of search strategy rather than standalone brand awareness initiatives.

For marketing leaders looking to adapt to this changing landscape, the AMA and Notified webinar offers a timely look at how AI is redefining discoverability—and what brands can do to stay visible.

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RegEd is expanding the capabilities of its AI Compliance Assistant, Eddie, to help investment advisers navigate increasingly complex advertising regulations. The enhancement extends AI-powered compliance review capabilities beyond broker-dealer and FINRA requirements to include support for SEC Rule 206(4)-1, commonly known as the SEC Marketing Rule, providing firms with automated assistance across both pre-submission compliance checks and formal review workflows.

The growing use of digital marketing in financial services has created new compliance challenges for investment advisers, broker-dealers, and dual-registered firms. As firms produce larger volumes of content across websites, social media platforms, email campaigns, videos, and advertising channels, ensuring regulatory compliance has become an increasingly resource-intensive process.

Against this backdrop, RegEd has expanded its AI Compliance Assistant, Eddie, to support investment adviser advertising compliance within its Advertising Review platform. The enhancement brings SEC-focused regulatory intelligence into the company's existing AI-powered compliance infrastructure, extending coverage beyond broker-dealer regulations governed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

The move reflects a broader industry trend toward applying artificial intelligence to regulatory technology (RegTech) workflows as firms seek to manage compliance obligations more efficiently while reducing operational risk.

The primary focus of the expansion is SEC Rule 206(4)-1, the agency's modernized Marketing Rule.

Implemented to address evolving marketing practices in the investment advisory industry, the rule established updated standards governing performance advertising, testimonials, endorsements, third-party ratings, and promotional claims. Since its introduction, compliance teams have faced heightened scrutiny regarding how firms present investment performance data and substantiate marketing statements.

For investment advisers, the rule significantly changed the advertising review process.

Marketing teams must now ensure communications are fair, balanced, and appropriately disclosed while maintaining documentation that supports performance claims and promotional messaging. These requirements have become particularly challenging as content production accelerates across digital channels.

According to the 2026 Investment Adviser Association Industry Snapshot, the number of SEC-registered investment advisers reached a record 16,544 firms in 2025. At the same time, advisers served significantly more clients, reflecting continued growth across the wealth management and investment advisory sectors.

As the industry expands, compliance demands continue to increase.

RegEd's latest update is designed to address this challenge by incorporating AI-driven regulatory analysis into both content creation and compliance review workflows. The company's AI Compliance Assistant identifies potentially problematic language, missing disclosures, and regulatory concerns before content enters formal compliance review.

For compliance officers and reviewers, the system highlights potential risks, provides contextual guidance, and supports more consistent application of regulatory standards.

The expansion is particularly relevant for dual-registered firms.

According to FINRA, more than half of registered representatives now maintain both broker-dealer and investment adviser registrations. This dual-registration model has become increasingly common as financial professionals seek to provide broader advisory and investment services to clients.

However, operating under multiple regulatory frameworks creates added complexity.

Broker-dealer communications are generally subject to FINRA advertising standards, while investment adviser communications must comply with SEC regulations. Managing reviews across both regimes often requires separate processes, policies, and expertise.

By extending Eddie's intelligence layer to cover both frameworks, RegEd aims to provide firms with a more unified compliance experience.

Beyond Rule 206(4)-1, the update also expands coverage to include additional SEC advertising and sales literature requirements, including Rules 482, 156, and 34b-1. These regulations are particularly relevant for investment companies, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and asset managers engaged in public-facing marketing activities.

The broader significance of the announcement lies in the continued evolution of AI-powered compliance technologies.

Financial institutions are increasingly exploring artificial intelligence to streamline compliance operations, automate repetitive reviews, and improve risk identification. Regulatory technology providers have responded by embedding AI capabilities into monitoring, surveillance, governance, and content review systems.

This trend is accelerating as compliance teams face mounting pressure to manage larger volumes of data and content without proportional increases in staffing.

Research from Gartner and Deloitte has highlighted how AI is becoming a key component of modern compliance strategies, particularly in highly regulated industries such as financial services, healthcare, and insurance. Organizations are increasingly using AI not as a replacement for compliance professionals, but as a tool that helps identify issues earlier and improve review efficiency.

The challenge remains balancing automation with regulatory accountability.

Financial firms remain responsible for ensuring compliance with SEC and FINRA requirements regardless of whether AI tools are used during the review process. As a result, many organizations are adopting AI as a decision-support layer rather than a fully autonomous compliance system.

RegEd's approach aligns with this model by providing intelligence and guidance while maintaining human oversight throughout the review lifecycle.

As marketing activity continues to expand across digital platforms and regulatory expectations evolve, technologies that help firms scale compliance operations efficiently are becoming increasingly important.

For investment advisers, broker-dealers, and dual-registered firms, the ability to apply AI-driven compliance intelligence across multiple regulatory frameworks could help reduce operational complexity while improving consistency and risk management.

The expansion of Eddie's SEC coverage signals how AI-powered compliance platforms are evolving from productivity tools into strategic infrastructure for modern financial services organizations navigating increasingly complex regulatory environments.

Market Landscape

The global regulatory technology market continues to expand as financial institutions invest in automation, compliance monitoring, and AI-powered governance solutions. According to Gartner, regulatory complexity and digital transformation are driving increased adoption of RegTech platforms across banking, wealth management, insurance, and investment services.

The SEC Marketing Rule has emerged as a significant focus area for investment advisers, particularly as firms increase digital marketing activity and customer engagement initiatives. At the same time, growing numbers of dual-registered professionals are creating demand for compliance solutions capable of supporting both SEC and FINRA regulatory frameworks through unified workflows and intelligent automation.

Top Insights

•  RegEd has expanded its AI Compliance Assistant, Eddie, to support SEC investment adviser advertising compliance within its Advertising Review platform.
• The update adds coverage for SEC Rule 206(4)-1, helping firms evaluate marketing materials against the agency's modernized Marketing Rule.
• Dual-registered firms can now apply AI-powered compliance intelligence across both SEC and FINRA regulatory environments through a unified workflow.
• Eddie assists both content creators and compliance reviewers by identifying disclosure gaps, promotional risks, and potential regulatory concerns.
• The announcement reflects broader adoption of AI-powered RegTech solutions as firms seek to scale compliance operations amid growing marketing activity.

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Hightouch has been recognized as a Leader in the Activation and Delivery category of Snowflake’s 2026 Modern Marketing Data Stack report, highlighting the growing importance of customer data activation and AI-powered marketing execution in enterprise marketing strategies. The recognition underscores how organizations are increasingly leveraging governed data environments and composable customer data platforms (CDPs) to power real-time personalization, campaign automation, and agentic marketing workflows.

As enterprise marketing teams accelerate their adoption of artificial intelligence, the focus is shifting from data collection to data activation. Organizations are increasingly seeking ways to transform governed customer data into measurable business outcomes across advertising, customer engagement, CRM, and digital marketing channels.

Against this backdrop, Hightouch has been recognized as a Leader in the Activation and Delivery category of Snowflake’s fifth annual Modern Marketing Data Stack: Governing the Agentic Enterprise report. The recognition highlights Hightouch’s role in helping brands activate trusted customer data across multiple marketing and engagement environments while maintaining governance, privacy, and operational control.

The report reflects broader changes taking place across the marketing technology landscape. Marketing organizations are moving away from fragmented ecosystems of disconnected tools toward integrated AI-driven infrastructures capable of supporting real-time decision-making and autonomous campaign execution.

According to Snowflake, the report draws insights from more than 11,500 customers and ecosystem partners across 13 technology categories. The findings emphasize how enterprises are bringing applications directly to governed data environments rather than moving data across multiple systems, a trend increasingly associated with data gravity, compliance requirements, and operational efficiency.

For Hightouch, the recognition reinforces the growing market demand for composable customer data platforms.

Unlike traditional CDPs that centralize customer information within proprietary environments, composable CDPs leverage existing enterprise data infrastructure. In Hightouch’s case, organizations can unify customer data directly within platforms such as Snowflake and activate that data across advertising, CRM, loyalty, analytics, and customer engagement systems.

This architectural approach has gained traction as enterprises seek greater flexibility, lower data duplication, and improved governance.

The company’s platform extends beyond customer data activation. Hightouch has increasingly focused on what it describes as agentic marketing, where AI-powered systems assist marketers in orchestrating campaigns, making decisions, and optimizing customer experiences using contextual business data and historical performance insights.

The emergence of agentic marketing represents one of the most significant developments within the Martech industry.

Rather than relying solely on predefined workflows and manual campaign execution, agentic systems use artificial intelligence to continuously analyze data, generate recommendations, automate actions, and optimize outcomes. Industry leaders including Salesforce, Adobe, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are all investing heavily in AI-powered marketing infrastructure that enables more autonomous operations.

The ability to operationalize trusted customer data has become a critical requirement for these systems.

According to Gartner, data quality and governance remain among the most significant barriers to successful AI implementation. Enterprises increasingly recognize that AI models are only as effective as the data foundations supporting them. This has elevated the importance of platforms that can activate governed data while maintaining compliance, security, and transparency.

Snowflake's recognition of Hightouch reflects this shift.

The company's integration with Snowflake enables brands to activate customer intelligence directly from governed data environments, reducing the need for complex data movement processes. This approach supports audience segmentation, campaign execution, personalization, and customer journey orchestration while preserving enterprise-grade data controls.

The partnership between the two companies has become particularly relevant as privacy regulations continue evolving globally.

Organizations face increasing pressure to balance personalization with responsible data management. By activating customer data directly from trusted environments, enterprises can potentially reduce compliance risks while improving operational efficiency.

Beyond governance, the recognition highlights the growing role of activation technologies within modern marketing stacks.

Historically, marketing technology investments focused heavily on data collection and storage. Today, competitive advantage increasingly comes from an organization's ability to translate customer intelligence into timely actions across multiple channels.

This shift is driving demand for platforms capable of connecting data infrastructure with execution systems in real time.

Research from IDC indicates that enterprise AI spending continues to rise as organizations seek greater automation, improved customer experiences, and measurable business outcomes. Similarly, Forrester has identified customer intelligence activation as a critical capability for organizations pursuing more personalized and data-driven engagement strategies.

Hightouch's position within Snowflake's report illustrates how activation platforms are becoming foundational components of modern marketing architectures.

As AI-driven marketing evolves from experimentation to enterprise-scale deployment, organizations increasingly require technologies that connect governed data, intelligent decision-making, and customer engagement within a unified framework.

The recognition also reflects a broader industry movement toward composable architectures, where enterprises can build flexible technology stacks using best-of-breed platforms rather than relying on monolithic solutions.

For marketers, this approach offers greater agility, faster innovation cycles, and the ability to adapt rapidly as AI capabilities continue advancing.

As the industry moves deeper into the era of agentic marketing, the companies that successfully connect trusted data with intelligent activation are likely to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of customer engagement.

Market Landscape

The customer data platform and marketing activation market is undergoing significant transformation as enterprises adopt AI-driven marketing operations. According to Gartner, organizations are prioritizing investments in first-party data strategies, customer intelligence platforms, and AI-powered personalization technologies to improve customer engagement and marketing efficiency.

At the same time, the rise of composable CDPs and cloud-native data architectures is reshaping how organizations manage and activate customer information. Platforms such as Snowflake, alongside marketing technology providers like Hightouch, are helping enterprises unify governed data with real-time marketing execution, enabling more scalable and compliant AI-powered marketing ecosystems.

Top Insights

•  Hightouch was recognized as a Leader in Snowflake’s 2026 Modern Marketing Data Stack report within the Activation and Delivery category.
• The company’s composable CDP enables enterprises to activate customer data directly from Snowflake across advertising, CRM, loyalty, and engagement channels.
• Agentic marketing is emerging as a key Martech trend, combining governed data, AI decisioning, and autonomous campaign execution.
• Enterprises are increasingly adopting composable architectures to improve flexibility, governance, and operational efficiency across marketing systems.
• Trusted data foundations are becoming essential for organizations seeking to scale AI-powered customer engagement and personalization initiatives.

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Sonos is expanding beyond the smart home and into the automotive sector through a new partnership with Škoda. The audio technology company will serve as the premium sound partner for the all-new Škoda Peaq, the automaker's flagship electric vehicle, bringing its audio engineering expertise to a purpose-built in-cabin sound system designed to deliver an immersive listening experience for drivers and passengers.

The race to differentiate electric vehicles is increasingly moving beyond battery range and performance specifications. Automakers are now investing heavily in software, digital experiences, and premium entertainment systems as consumers place greater value on the in-car experience.

Against this backdrop, Sonos has announced a strategic partnership with Škoda, becoming the audio partner for the automaker's new flagship electric vehicle, the Škoda Peaq.

The collaboration marks another step in the growing convergence between consumer electronics, digital entertainment, and automotive technology. While Sonos has built its reputation through premium home audio products, the company is now extending its expertise into connected mobility experiences, recognizing that consumers increasingly expect seamless, high-quality audio wherever they spend their time.

The partnership centers on a custom-engineered premium sound system designed specifically for the Peaq. Rather than adapting an existing speaker platform, Sonos worked to architect the vehicle's listening environment from the ground up, focusing on how music, voice content, podcasts, and entertainment are experienced throughout the cabin.

The system will be available as part of Škoda's optional Relax Package and has been developed to deliver the acoustic characteristics that have become synonymous with the Sonos brand.

According to the companies, the audio platform was custom-tuned for the vehicle's interior architecture, enabling sound reproduction that emphasizes clarity, depth, balance, and immersion across all seating positions.

Key features include deep bass performance, a front-focused soundstage, balanced audio distribution throughout the cabin, and spatial audio technologies designed to create a more immersive listening environment.

The announcement reflects a broader trend reshaping the automotive industry.

As electric vehicles become more software-defined, manufacturers are increasingly partnering with technology and entertainment brands to enhance customer experiences. Premium audio systems have emerged as a critical differentiator, with automakers collaborating with brands such as Bose, Harman Kardon, Bang & Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, Meridian Audio, Sony, and Dolby to create distinctive in-vehicle experiences.

For consumers, these partnerships help transform vehicles into connected digital spaces where streaming media, voice assistants, navigation systems, and entertainment services operate seamlessly together.

The growing importance of in-car entertainment is also linked to changing consumer behavior.

Research from industry analysts suggests that streaming audio consumption continues to rise globally, while connected vehicles increasingly serve as extensions of digital lifestyles. As a result, drivers expect the same quality of listening experience in their vehicles that they receive from premium home audio systems.

This shift creates new opportunities for audio technology companies.

For Sonos, the Škoda partnership represents an important expansion into a market where premium audio is becoming a core component of brand differentiation. The move aligns with broader industry efforts to extend consumer technology ecosystems beyond traditional devices and into vehicles, smart environments, and connected experiences.

The partnership is particularly notable because it positions Sonos within the rapidly growing electric vehicle market.

Automakers are increasingly using advanced technology integrations to attract buyers and distinguish their EV offerings in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Premium sound systems, digital dashboards, over-the-air software updates, and AI-powered interfaces are becoming essential elements of the modern vehicle experience.

The Škoda Peaq serves as a strategic platform for showcasing these capabilities.

As the automaker's flagship electric model, the vehicle is expected to represent the company's vision for future mobility, combining electrification, connectivity, and user-centered design. Integrating a premium Sonos audio experience supports that positioning by enhancing one of the most frequently used aspects of daily driving: entertainment.

The collaboration also highlights how audio technology is evolving from a hardware-focused category into a broader experience layer.

Spatial audio, adaptive sound tuning, and personalized listening environments are increasingly becoming standard expectations among consumers. By designing a system specifically for the vehicle cabin rather than adapting a generic configuration, Sonos and Škoda are following an industry trend toward highly customized audio experiences optimized for individual environments.

As vehicles continue evolving into connected digital ecosystems, partnerships between automotive manufacturers and technology companies are likely to become even more common.

For Sonos, entering the automotive market provides access to a growing category where consumers increasingly value premium entertainment experiences. For Škoda, the collaboration strengthens the Peaq's premium positioning while supporting broader efforts to enhance the overall ownership experience.

Together, the partnership reflects a larger transformation taking place across the automotive and consumer technology sectors, where sound quality, software capabilities, and digital experiences are becoming as important to buyers as traditional vehicle performance metrics.

Market Landscape

The global automotive audio market is experiencing significant growth as automakers invest in premium entertainment experiences to differentiate increasingly software-defined vehicles. According to industry research from MarketsandMarkets and IDC, connected vehicle technologies, digital infotainment systems, and immersive audio experiences are becoming major purchase considerations for consumers.

Electric vehicles have accelerated this trend, as manufacturers seek to enhance in-cabin experiences through advanced software, connectivity, and entertainment ecosystems. Partnerships between automotive brands and technology companies are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the next generation of connected mobility experiences.

Top Insights

•  Sonos has partnered with Škoda to provide a custom-designed premium audio system for the automaker's flagship electric vehicle, the Škoda Peaq.
• The audio experience was engineered specifically for the vehicle cabin, featuring spatial audio, enhanced bass performance, and balanced sound distribution.
• The collaboration reflects growing demand for premium in-car entertainment as vehicles become increasingly software-driven and connected.
• Automakers are leveraging technology partnerships to differentiate electric vehicles beyond traditional performance and range specifications.
• The partnership marks Sonos' expansion into automotive audio, extending its premium sound expertise beyond the smart home market.

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Walmart is deepening its investment in commerce media and connected TV advertising with the planned acquisition of Vibe.co, a self-serve CTV advertising platform focused on small and mid-sized businesses. The deal, which will integrate Vibe.co into Walmart Connect, signals Walmart's continued push to build a more comprehensive advertising ecosystem that combines retail media, streaming television, commerce data, and closed-loop measurement capabilities. The move also strengthens Walmart's position in the increasingly competitive retail media and connected TV markets, where major players are racing to connect advertising exposure directly to purchasing behavior.

The convergence of retail media and connected TV advertising is accelerating, and Walmart is making another strategic move to capitalize on the trend.

The retail giant announced an agreement to acquire Vibe.co, a self-service connected TV advertising platform designed to simplify campaign management for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and mid-market brands. While financial terms were not disclosed, the acquisition underscores Walmart's ambition to expand Walmart Connect into a broader commerce media platform that spans digital advertising, streaming television, and retail transactions.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, with both companies expecting completion by the end of Walmart's fiscal year 2027.

The deal comes at a time when connected TV has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the advertising industry.

As consumers continue shifting viewing habits from traditional television to streaming services, advertisers are increasingly allocating budgets toward CTV inventory. Yet despite strong audience growth, many brands—particularly SMBs—still face challenges navigating fragmented inventory sources, complex buying processes, and limited visibility into campaign performance.

Vibe.co was built to address those challenges.

The platform offers self-serve campaign activation, automated optimization, direct integrations with supply partners, and tools that make streaming television advertising more accessible to performance marketers. Its approach mirrors the simplicity of social advertising platforms, allowing marketers to launch and manage television campaigns without the infrastructure traditionally required for media buying.

For Walmart Connect, the acquisition adds a key missing layer to its growing advertising ecosystem.

Over the past several years, Walmart has aggressively expanded its retail media business, leveraging shopper data, first-party audience insights, and commerce measurement capabilities to attract advertising spend. The retailer has also strengthened its position in connected TV through its acquisition of VIZIO, which gave Walmart access to a significant smart TV footprint and additional consumer viewing data.

By adding Vibe.co's self-service platform, Walmart Connect gains a technology layer that could make connected TV campaigns more accessible to a broader advertiser base.

The strategic significance extends beyond media buying.

One of the most valuable aspects of retail media is its ability to connect advertising exposure directly to consumer purchases. Unlike traditional television advertising, commerce media platforms can provide advertisers with clearer attribution and measurable business outcomes.

Integrating Vibe.co with Walmart's commerce data infrastructure could allow advertisers to target audiences across streaming environments while measuring the impact of campaigns on actual shopping behavior.

This capability is becoming increasingly important as advertisers demand greater accountability for media investments.

According to eMarketer, retail media continues to be one of the fastest-growing advertising channels globally, while connected TV spending is expected to maintain strong growth as streaming audiences expand. The intersection of these two sectors is creating a new category often referred to as commerce media, where retailers use transaction data to improve advertising effectiveness and measurement.

Walmart's latest move positions the company to compete more directly with other major commerce media and advertising ecosystems.

Industry leaders such as Amazon, Google, and The Trade Desk have all invested heavily in connected TV infrastructure, audience targeting capabilities, and performance measurement tools. Retailers are increasingly seeking to differentiate themselves by combining first-party commerce data with premium media inventory and advanced advertising technology.

The acquisition also reflects a broader industry shift toward self-service advertising.

Many SMBs and emerging brands lack dedicated media teams or agency support, making traditional television advertising difficult to access. Self-service platforms lower those barriers by enabling advertisers to create, launch, optimize, and measure campaigns through intuitive interfaces.

For Walmart's growing marketplace ecosystem, this capability could prove especially valuable.

Thousands of third-party sellers operating on Walmart Marketplace are already familiar with performance-based digital advertising. Extending similar capabilities into connected TV could create new opportunities for sellers seeking to increase brand awareness and drive sales through streaming channels.

The deal also complements Walmart Connect's existing partnerships with advertising and technology providers, including integrations involving Google DV360, Yahoo DSP, and Magnite. Rather than building a closed ecosystem, Walmart continues to emphasize interoperability with publishers, broadcasters, supply-side platforms, and measurement providers.

That open approach could help accelerate adoption among advertisers seeking flexibility across multiple media environments.

Following the acquisition, Vibe.co's leadership team, including CEO and Co-Founder Arthur Querou and CTO and Co-Founder Franck Tetzlaff, are expected to join Walmart Connect. Their expertise in connected TV technology, self-service advertising platforms, and performance optimization will likely play a central role in integrating Vibe's capabilities into Walmart's broader media strategy.

As retail media networks evolve into full-scale advertising platforms, the distinction between commerce, media, and entertainment continues to blur. Walmart's acquisition of Vibe.co reflects this transformation and highlights how retailers are increasingly positioning themselves as major players in the future of digital advertising.

For advertisers, particularly SMBs and mid-market brands, the transaction could make connected TV advertising easier to access, more measurable, and more closely tied to business outcomes than ever before.

Market Landscape

The connected TV advertising market is experiencing rapid growth as consumers increasingly migrate from traditional television to streaming platforms. According to Insider Intelligence (eMarketer), CTV ad spending continues to rise as brands seek premium video inventory combined with digital targeting and measurement capabilities.

At the same time, retail media networks have emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of digital advertising. Companies including Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers are leveraging first-party commerce data to create advertising ecosystems that provide advertisers with closed-loop attribution and measurable sales outcomes. The convergence of retail media and connected TV is creating new opportunities for brands to combine audience reach, commerce intelligence, and performance measurement within a single advertising environment.

Top Insights

•  Walmart plans to acquire Vibe.co to expand Walmart Connect's connected TV advertising capabilities and strengthen its commerce media ecosystem.
• Vibe.co's self-service platform simplifies CTV campaign activation, helping SMBs and mid-market advertisers access streaming TV advertising more efficiently.
• The acquisition combines Walmart's commerce data, closed-loop measurement, and VIZIO assets with Vibe.co's advertising technology and optimization tools.
• Connected TV and retail media are increasingly converging as advertisers seek measurable links between advertising exposure and purchasing behavior.
• Walmart continues to build a comprehensive advertising platform capable of competing with major commerce media and digital advertising ecosystems.

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Zeta Global and Palantir Technologies have announced a strategic partnership aimed at creating a unified data and artificial intelligence infrastructure for enterprise marketing. The collaboration combines Palantir's data management and operational intelligence platform with Zeta's AI-powered marketing technology stack, positioning Athena by Zeta™ as the intelligence layer that transforms governed enterprise data into real-time marketing decisions. The partnership reflects the growing convergence of enterprise AI, customer intelligence, and marketing execution as organizations seek to operationalize agentic AI at scale.

As enterprises accelerate investments in artificial intelligence, one challenge continues to stand out: connecting fragmented operational data with customer intelligence in a way that enables real-time decision-making.

Zeta Global and Palantir Technologies are attempting to address that challenge through a strategic partnership designed to create a new AI infrastructure layer for modern marketing organizations.

The agreement brings together two companies that have historically operated in different parts of the enterprise technology stack. Palantir is known for its enterprise data platforms and operational intelligence capabilities used across government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, and large corporations. Zeta, meanwhile, has established itself as a major player in AI-powered marketing technology, customer acquisition, retention, and personalization.

The centerpiece of the partnership is a deep integration between Palantir Foundry and Zeta's Data Cloud, with Athena by Zeta serving as the intelligence engine that transforms enterprise data into actionable marketing decisions.

Under the agreement, Zeta will rearchitect its Data Cloud on Palantir Foundry, enabling marketers to access governed enterprise data through a unified operational framework. Athena, Zeta's AI-powered decisioning layer, will then leverage that information to identify opportunities, generate recommendations, automate actions, and measure outcomes in real time.

The announcement highlights a broader trend reshaping enterprise technology: the convergence of operational intelligence and customer intelligence.

Historically, enterprise operational systems and marketing platforms have operated independently. Customer data platforms, marketing automation systems, CRM platforms, and business intelligence tools often exist in separate environments, creating challenges for organizations seeking a complete view of customer behavior and business performance.

As AI adoption increases, enterprises are recognizing that effective AI systems require more than customer data alone. They need access to operational, financial, supply chain, inventory, service, and transactional information to generate more accurate recommendations and actions.

The Palantir-Zeta partnership seeks to bridge that gap.

Foundry's ontology-based architecture provides a framework for organizing and governing enterprise data across departments and systems. This capability has become increasingly important as organizations seek to deploy AI responsibly while maintaining visibility, compliance, and control over sensitive business information.

By integrating Zeta's customer intelligence capabilities into that environment, the companies aim to create a platform where marketing decisions can be informed by broader enterprise context rather than isolated campaign metrics.

Athena plays a central role in this vision.

The platform has evolved from a marketing intelligence tool into what Zeta describes as an operating system for agentic marketing. Agentic marketing refers to the use of AI systems capable of autonomously identifying opportunities, making decisions, and executing actions within predefined business objectives and governance frameworks.

Rather than relying solely on human-driven campaign management, agentic systems continuously analyze data, adapt to changing conditions, and optimize outcomes in real time.

This approach is gaining traction across the marketing technology industry as organizations seek greater efficiency and personalization without increasing operational complexity.

Major technology providers including Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Adobe, and Amazon are all investing heavily in AI agents and autonomous business workflows. The next competitive battleground is increasingly centered on the quality of the underlying data infrastructure powering those systems.

For enterprise organizations, trusted data remains one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption.

According to Gartner, data quality, governance, and integration challenges remain among the primary obstacles preventing organizations from realizing the full value of AI initiatives. Similarly, IDC research suggests that enterprises continue prioritizing investments in data platforms that can support AI-driven decision-making across multiple business functions.

The Palantir-Zeta partnership directly addresses those concerns by combining enterprise-grade governance and security with customer-focused AI decisioning.

Beyond the technology integration, the agreement also has commercial implications.

Palantir will support Zeta's go-to-market strategy by providing infrastructure that enables Zeta to bring its marketing intelligence capabilities to eligible Foundry customers. This creates an opportunity for both companies to expand their presence within large enterprises seeking AI-powered marketing solutions built on trusted and governed data foundations.

Zeta leadership believes the partnership could generate significant business value over time, citing expectations that the collaboration may contribute more than $100 million in annual revenue in future years.

While financial projections remain subject to execution and market adoption, the announcement underscores growing confidence that AI-powered marketing infrastructure will become a strategic priority for enterprise organizations.

The timing is notable as well.

The partnership was unveiled during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, where conversations around AI, customer experience, marketing transformation, and enterprise innovation have dominated industry discussions. Increasingly, marketing is viewed not merely as a communications function but as a strategic layer connecting customer behavior, operational performance, and business growth.

As enterprises move deeper into the era of agentic AI, the ability to connect operational intelligence with customer intelligence could become a critical competitive advantage.

For Palantir and Zeta, the partnership represents a bet that the future of marketing will be built not only on better algorithms but on a unified foundation of trusted data, governed infrastructure, and autonomous decision-making systems capable of acting in real time.

Market Landscape

Enterprise marketing is undergoing a significant transformation as organizations seek to operationalize AI across customer acquisition, engagement, retention, and revenue growth initiatives. According to Gartner, AI and data-driven decisioning remain among the top strategic investment priorities for CMOs, while IDC forecasts continued growth in enterprise AI and data platform spending through the decade.

At the same time, businesses are increasingly moving toward agentic AI systems that can autonomously analyze data, recommend actions, and execute decisions. Success in this environment depends heavily on data quality, governance, security, and real-time accessibility. As a result, partnerships that combine enterprise data infrastructure with AI-powered customer intelligence platforms are emerging as a key trend across the Martech and enterprise software sectors.

Top Insights

•  Palantir and Zeta Global are integrating Foundry and Athena by Zeta to create a unified AI infrastructure for enterprise marketing and customer intelligence.
• Zeta's Data Cloud will be rearchitected on Palantir Foundry, enabling marketers to access governed enterprise data and activate insights in real time.
• Athena is evolving into an agentic marketing intelligence layer capable of driving autonomous decisions, personalization, and campaign optimization.
• The partnership addresses growing enterprise demand for trusted, secure, and compliant AI environments that connect operational and customer data.
• Both companies see the convergence of operational intelligence and marketing intelligence as a foundational requirement for the next generation of enterprise AI applications.

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SonicWall is expanding access to advanced AI-powered cybersecurity by joining OpenAI's Daybreak Cyber Partner Program as a founding Trusted Access for Cyber (TAC) partner. The move enables the cybersecurity vendor to integrate GPT-5.5-Cyber into its security platform, bringing enterprise-grade AI-assisted threat detection, policy management, and remediation capabilities to mid-market organizations and small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that have historically lacked access to cutting-edge security technologies.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most significant forces shaping the cybersecurity industry. While large enterprises have been among the earliest adopters of AI-driven security operations, smaller organizations often face challenges accessing similar capabilities due to budget constraints, limited security staffing, and technology complexity.

SonicWall's participation in the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program aims to address that imbalance.

The company announced it is among the first organizations selected as a founding Trusted Access for Cyber (TAC) partner, allowing it to integrate GPT-5.5-Cyber into its cybersecurity ecosystem. The initiative is designed to make frontier AI security capabilities available through existing cybersecurity platforms and services, extending advanced protection beyond large enterprises.

The announcement reflects a broader trend in cybersecurity where AI is increasingly used not only to detect threats but also to automate analysis, accelerate response times, and improve operational efficiency.

As cybercriminals adopt AI to develop more sophisticated attacks, defenders are seeking ways to use advanced models to strengthen security operations. Industry analysts have noted that organizations of all sizes face increasingly complex threat environments, yet security resources remain unevenly distributed across the market.

This disparity is particularly evident among mid-market companies and SMBs.

Many smaller organizations face the same ransomware threats, phishing campaigns, credential theft attacks, and supply chain risks encountered by large enterprises, but often operate with smaller IT teams and fewer dedicated cybersecurity professionals. As a result, security vendors are increasingly exploring ways to automate critical functions and reduce the operational burden on resource-constrained organizations.

SonicWall's strategy centers on embedding GPT-5.5-Cyber into existing security workflows rather than requiring customers to deploy standalone AI systems.

According to the company, the integration roadmap includes AI-assisted policy management, accelerated threat triage, and remediation guidance delivered directly within the operational environments used by managed service providers (MSPs), managed security service providers (MSSPs), and enterprise IT teams.

This approach aligns with a growing industry preference for integrating AI into established workflows rather than introducing entirely new security platforms. Vendors including Microsoft, Google, Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, and Cisco have increasingly embedded generative AI and autonomous reasoning capabilities into security operations products to improve efficiency and reduce response times.

For SonicWall, the differentiator lies in its customer base and distribution model.

Unlike many cybersecurity providers that primarily target large enterprises, SonicWall has historically focused on mid-market businesses, distributed organizations, and SMB environments. The company operates through a channel-centric model supported by more than 17,000 global partners, including resellers, distributors, MSPs, and MSSPs.

That network provides a mechanism for delivering AI-enhanced security services to organizations that may not have direct access to enterprise-grade security resources.

The announcement also highlights a significant shift in how AI is being deployed within cybersecurity operations.

Early AI implementations largely focused on threat detection and alert generation. More recent developments emphasize AI reasoning capabilities that can analyze security events, recommend actions, automate policy adjustments, and guide incident response activities.

This evolution is particularly important for smaller organizations where security teams may lack specialized expertise across multiple domains.

By incorporating GPT-5.5-Cyber into threat triage and remediation workflows, SonicWall aims to reduce the time required to investigate security incidents while helping administrators make more informed decisions.

The company also plans to leverage its Unified Management platform as the operational layer connecting AI-driven insights with security controls and policy enforcement mechanisms.

Industry analysts increasingly view AI-powered cybersecurity as a necessity rather than an optional enhancement. According to IDC, global spending on AI-enabled security technologies continues to rise as organizations seek solutions that can address growing alert volumes, talent shortages, and increasingly sophisticated attack methods.

The rise of managed security services has further accelerated demand for automation. MSPs and MSSPs are under pressure to support larger customer bases while maintaining service quality and response effectiveness. AI-driven workflows can help providers scale operations without proportionally increasing staffing levels.

For channel partners, SonicWall's integration with OpenAI's Daybreak initiative could provide access to advanced AI capabilities that have traditionally been associated with large enterprise security operations centers.

This democratization of AI-powered cybersecurity reflects a broader industry movement toward making sophisticated security tools accessible across organizations of all sizes.

The partnership also underscores the growing role of AI ecosystems in cybersecurity innovation. Rather than developing every component internally, vendors are increasingly collaborating with AI model providers to accelerate product development and enhance security outcomes.

As cyber threats become more automated and adaptive, the ability to combine advanced AI reasoning with operational security data is likely to become a key competitive differentiator across the cybersecurity market.

For SonicWall, joining the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program represents more than a product enhancement. It signals a strategic effort to ensure that frontier AI capabilities extend beyond Fortune 500 security teams and become accessible to the businesses that form the backbone of the global economy.

Market Landscape

The cybersecurity industry is undergoing a major transformation as artificial intelligence becomes integrated into threat detection, security operations, incident response, and risk management platforms. According to IDC, global spending on AI-enabled cybersecurity solutions continues to grow as organizations confront increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and persistent cybersecurity talent shortages.

At the same time, SMBs and mid-market organizations remain attractive targets for cybercriminals while often lacking the resources available to large enterprises. This has accelerated demand for AI-powered security solutions that automate routine tasks, improve threat visibility, and enhance operational efficiency. Partnerships between cybersecurity vendors and AI providers are expected to play a central role in expanding access to advanced defensive capabilities across the broader market.

Top Insights

•  SonicWall has joined OpenAI's Daybreak Cyber Partner Program as a founding Trusted Access for Cyber partner, bringing GPT-5.5-Cyber capabilities to SMB and mid-market customers.
• The company plans to integrate AI-powered threat triage, policy management, and remediation guidance directly into existing cybersecurity workflows.
• SonicWall's channel ecosystem of more than 17,000 partners provides a scalable route for delivering advanced AI security capabilities beyond large enterprises.
• The initiative addresses growing demand for enterprise-grade cybersecurity tools among organizations facing sophisticated threats with limited security resources.
• AI-driven security operations are becoming increasingly important as cyberattacks grow more complex and organizations seek greater automation and operational efficiency.

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Education technology provider StrongMind is set to showcase its K–12 digital curriculum and virtual school support services at the 2026 National Charter Schools Conference (NCSC26) in New Orleans. The event, organized by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, brings together charter school leaders, educators, administrators, and policymakers from across the United States, creating an important forum for discussions around digital learning, student engagement, and school growth strategies.

As virtual and hybrid learning models continue to evolve, education providers are increasingly seeking technology-driven solutions that improve student outcomes while supporting enrollment growth and operational efficiency. Against this backdrop, StrongMind has announced its participation in the 2026 National Charter Schools Conference (NCSC26), where the company will present its digital curriculum and virtual school services to charter school leaders nationwide.

The conference, taking place June 24–26 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, is widely recognized as the largest national gathering focused on charter education. The annual event attracts thousands of attendees, including school operators, board members, educators, administrators, and education advocates exploring new approaches to teaching and learning.

StrongMind's presence at the conference reflects growing demand for scalable digital education infrastructure as charter schools expand online and blended learning programs. Since its founding in 2001, the company has focused on providing curriculum development, virtual school management, and student support services tailored to online learning environments.

At Booth #659, StrongMind will highlight two key components of its portfolio: its K–12 digital curriculum platform and its marketing and enrollment services designed specifically for virtual schools.

The curriculum offering represents one of the company's core differentiators in an increasingly competitive EdTech landscape. Built by educators and aligned with modern instructional design principles, the curriculum has earned Quality Matters (QM) certification, a widely recognized benchmark for quality assurance in online learning environments.

As schools continue integrating digital learning technologies, curriculum quality has become a critical factor in student engagement and academic performance. Research from organizations such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Digital Learning Collaborative has consistently emphasized the importance of structured, standards-aligned digital content that supports diverse learning needs.

StrongMind's curriculum is designed to address these challenges by delivering interactive learning experiences that can be deployed across fully virtual, blended, and alternative education settings.

Beyond curriculum, the company is also emphasizing marketing and enrollment support services, an area gaining increased attention among charter school operators.

As competition for student enrollment intensifies, many schools are investing in digital marketing strategies, community outreach initiatives, and enrollment optimization programs to attract and retain students. This trend mirrors broader developments across education, where institutions increasingly rely on data-driven marketing and customer engagement practices commonly used in other sectors.

To demonstrate these capabilities, StrongMind plans to offer complimentary marketing analyses to conference attendees, providing schools with insights into their current enrollment and outreach strategies.

The inclusion of enrollment services alongside curriculum solutions reflects a broader shift within the education technology market. Rather than focusing solely on instructional content, vendors are increasingly providing comprehensive support ecosystems that address academic delivery, student acquisition, retention, and operational performance.

According to market research from HolonIQ, digital learning and education technology investments continue to expand globally as schools seek scalable solutions capable of supporting evolving student expectations and learning models. Virtual charter schools, in particular, have emerged as an important segment within the broader education landscape, creating demand for specialized technology platforms and support services.

StrongMind's participation in NCSC26 also highlights the growing role of technology providers within the charter school sector. As schools navigate challenges related to student achievement, staffing, compliance, and enrollment growth, partnerships with education technology companies are becoming increasingly strategic.

For charter school leaders attending the conference, discussions are likely to focus on how technology can improve learning outcomes while helping schools operate more efficiently and reach broader student populations. Areas such as digital curriculum development, virtual instruction, student engagement analytics, and enrollment management remain among the most significant priorities for education leaders nationwide.

The National Charter Schools Conference serves as a venue where these conversations take place, bringing together stakeholders from across the education ecosystem to exchange ideas, evaluate emerging technologies, and explore new approaches to public education.

For StrongMind, the event provides an opportunity to demonstrate how integrated curriculum and school support services can help virtual and online charter schools scale effectively while maintaining educational quality.

As demand for flexible learning models continues to grow, technology-enabled education providers are expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of charter education. StrongMind's participation at NCSC26 underscores the ongoing evolution of digital learning infrastructure and the expanding intersection between educational outcomes, technology innovation, and school growth strategies.

Market Landscape

The education technology sector continues to experience significant transformation as schools adopt digital-first learning strategies and expand access to virtual instruction. According to HolonIQ, global investments in digital learning technologies remain strong as institutions seek scalable solutions for curriculum delivery, student engagement, and operational management.

Virtual charter schools represent a growing segment within K–12 education, increasing demand for high-quality digital curriculum, enrollment optimization tools, and student support services. As online learning becomes more mainstream, education providers are focusing on integrated platforms that combine instructional excellence with operational efficiency and long-term student success.

Top Insights

•  StrongMind will exhibit at the 2026 National Charter Schools Conference, highlighting digital curriculum and virtual school support services for charter education leaders.
• The company's Quality Matters-certified K–12 curriculum is designed to support virtual, hybrid, and alternative learning environments through standards-aligned digital instruction.
• StrongMind is expanding focus beyond curriculum delivery by offering marketing and enrollment services tailored specifically to online and virtual schools.
• Charter schools are increasingly investing in technology-driven enrollment and engagement strategies as competition for student acquisition continues to grow.
• The conference reflects broader industry interest in digital learning infrastructure, virtual education models, and scalable educational technology solutions.

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