MadTech Daily: Google Denies 2026 Ads Plan for Gemini; EU Probes Google’s AI Overviews; Uber Launches Ad Insights Platform

In this episode of the MadTech podcast, ExchangeWire co-founder & advisor Ciaran O’Kane and head of content John Still join head of marketing Grainne Reid to look at pivotal changes across media consolidation and transatlantic policy tensions.  They discuss Paramount’s move to gazump Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, US backlash against the EU’s fine on X, and the EU’s investigation into Google’s AI overviews.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Disney and OpenAI striking a deal to bring characters to Sora, Google testing AI article overviews on certain Google News pages, as well as a look at Meta’s shift from open-source to revenue-driven AI.

In today’s MadTech Daily we look at newly released figures from Ofcom, Tencent dropping out of Paramount’s Warner Bros bid over US regulatory fears, and Cadent acquiring YouTube ad firm VuePlanner.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Google denying a 2026 ads plan for Gemini, the EU probing Google’s AI search summaries, and Uber turning rider and delivery data into ad insights.

In today’s Digest, we cover Paramount’s late bid for Warner, Meta securing a series of AI content deals, and China’s open-source AI reaching 30% of global usage.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, X being hit with a €120m EU penalty, and the UK eyeing tougher laws for AI chatbots.

In this episode of the MadTech Podcast, Shula Sinclair, chief strategy officer at T&P, joins ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín and head of content John Still to discuss the latest surrounding Meta’s fraudulent ads, AI sending traffic and conversions soaring for retailers, and the influencer landscape. They look at a complaint launched by Swedish publishers against Meta, how AI is reshaping consumer habits, and influencer content’s increasing popularity with older viewers.

 In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at global ad spend set to top USD$1tn in 2026, WPP being demoted from the FTSE 100, and the EU probing Meta’s AI use in WhatsApp.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Anthropic hiring IPO counsel in its race against OpenAI, Mistral unveiling new AI models, as well as Sam Altaman declaring ‘code red’. We also discuss Google testing AI overviews blended with AI mode, and Eventbrite being acquired by Bending Spoons. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at Omnicom announcing a major overhaul with new leadership and job cuts, Havas buying Unnest to boost data services, and retailers seeing an 830% jump in traffic from generative AI.