This week, AI continued to reshape advertising, search and consumer technology, while regulators and industry players pushed to redefine the rules of the digital ecosystem. In today's MadTech Daily, we cover ex-WPP executive claiming Sony probe uncovered USD$350m in client rebates 

Apple is taking a more hands-on approach to AI in China, reportedly developing its own large language model with support from Alibaba. At the same time, Apple is facing regulatory pressure closer to home. Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has concluded a multi-year investigation into Apple’s App Tracking Transparency framework, finding that its consent prompts may have given Apple’s own apps preferential treatment over third-party developers. 

The regulatory spotlight also turned to social media and children, after France’s Constitutional Council blocked legislation that would have banned under-15s from using social platforms. The court found the proposed restrictions amounted to a disproportionate infringement on freedom of expression, dealing a setback to France’s efforts to introduce tougher age restrictions online.

Meanwhile, OpenAI is taking its advertising ambitions beyond its existing markets, expanding its ChatGPT advertising pilot to 31 European markets. 

Elsewhere, the advertising ecosystem continued to evolve. Walmart Connect introduced negative keyword controls for Sponsored Products, giving advertisers greater control over where their campaigns appear, while Taboola secured an exclusive deal to power NBC News’ global programmatic display advertising. 

For the broader ad industry, transparency remained a key concern. A new IAB Australia report found that agencies are increasingly investing in programmatic digital out-of-home advertising but want greater visibility into inventory quality, campaign delivery, supply-path costs and measurement standards.

Finally, Experian has folded Audigent into its Marketing Services business nearly two years after acquiring the curation technology company. While the Audigent brand is disappearing, Experian says its technology will remain central to its strategy around data, supply-side intelligence and agentic marketing.