This week, the digital ecosystem saw advertising formats evolve rapidly and tensions rise between platforms, regulators, and traditional media players. In today’s MadTech Daily, a jury finds Meta and YouTube liable for harming young users, a judge dismisses publishers’ Google monopoly claim, and the UK government is accused of shifting goalposts regarding the LHF ad ban.

TikTok is pushing the boundaries of ad visibility, unveiling new formats designed to capture attention at scale. Its “Logo Takeover” places brand logos directly on the app’s launch screen, signalling a shift toward more immersive and potentially more disruptive ad experiences.

Apple is also looking to expand its advertising footprint. The company is reportedly preparing to introduce ads within its Maps app, allowing businesses to bid for sponsored placements tied to search queries. 

Meanwhile, the race to monetise AI is proving more complex. OpenAI’s ChatGPT ads have attracted strong early demand from major holding groups such as WPP and Dentsu, but a slower-than-expected rollout has frustrated partners. 

Even so, OpenAI is doubling down on its product ecosystem. The company is reportedly building a desktop “superapp” that will unify ChatGPT, Codex, and its Atlas browser into a single platform signalling a shift from experimentation to consolidation as it sharpens its AI offering.

AI is fast becoming a battleground for policy and ethics. Anthropic is facing off against the US Department of Defence in court, challenging a ban on its AI systems after refusing to support use cases tied to surveillance and autonomous weapons. 

Traditional media players are also pushing back against Big Tech’s growing influence. European broadcasters have called on the European Commission to impose stricter competition rules on smart TV platforms and virtual assistants, arguing that companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Samsung now exert significant control over content distribution.

At the same time, platforms are rethinking how they manage content internally. Meta has announced plans to rely more heavily on AI for content moderation, reducing its dependence on third-party vendors as it seeks greater efficiency and control.