In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire CEO Rachel Smith and COO Lindsay Rowntree join head of marketing, Grainne Reid, to discuss the agentic commerce and streaming landscapes.

They look into Meta's AI shopping research tool and the conclusion to Netflix and Paramount's months-long battle to acquire Warner Bros Discovery.

Meta tests AI shopping research tool (Bloomberg)

Meta is piloting a shopping research feature inside its Meta AI chatbot, aiming to rival similar commerce tools emerging in ChatGPT and Gemini. The test, available to some US users via the Meta AI web interface, lets people ask for product suggestions and returns a carousel of items with images, brand, website and price, plus brief bullet‑point rationales.

Meta says the tool is experimental but aligns with Mark Zuckerberg’s ambition to build “personal superintelligence” that leverages users’ history, interests, and social graph. Recommendations can be tailored by inferred location and gender, and currently click out to merchants rather than supporting in‑chat checkout.

Netflix exits Warner Bros race, clearing way for Paramount–Skydance (BBC)

Netflix has withdrawn its bid for Warner Bros Discovery, removing the main rival to a proposed $111bn takeover by Paramount Global and its backer, Skydance. The move follows months of speculation about who would consolidate Warner’s valuable HBO, film, and streaming assets, as the studio struggles with heavy debt and intense competition.

A combined Paramount–Warner entity would unite the companies' streaming platforms, including Paramount+ and HBO Max, creating a heavyweight rival to Disney and Netflix in both content and distribution. Regulators in the US and beyond will now scrutinise the implications for competition, creators and consumers.