Latest Marketing News: AI Fuels Growth While Businesses Trim Their Workforce

20%

Uber’s Q4 2025 earnings showed 20% revenue growth to about $14.4 billion and a record 202 million monthly users, but profits and earnings per share (around $0.71) came in below Wall Street expectations. Despite strong trip demand and user expansion, mixed guidance and profit pressure from investments dented investor confidence as the company pushes its robotaxi and AV strategy into new cities.

GPT-5.2

OpenAI plans to retire its GPT-4o model along with several older ChatGPT models on February 13, 2026, as usage has shifted largely to newer versions like GPT-5.2, with only about 0.1% of users still choosing GPT-4o daily. The move aims to streamline the platform and focus development on the most actively used models, though some users are unhappy about losing a familiar, conversational favorite.

$50 B

Amazon is reportedly in early talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI as part of a much larger $100 billion fundraising round, potentially valuing the AI company near $830 billion. The discussions, led by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, would deepen ties between the tech giants and mark one of the biggest bets yet in the AI funding race.

15%

Pinterest announced plans to cut up to 15% of its workforce (about 700 jobs) as it restructures to prioritize investment in AI and refocus its products and sales teams. The move, expected to cost $35 M–$45 M, comes with reduced office space and a shift toward AI-driven shopping and discovery tools.

$29 B

Retailers expect Valentine’s Day spending to hit about $29 billion this year, with consumers budgeting roughly $200 on gifts while some brands like Merit raise prices and free-shipping thresholds. Meanwhile, nine Team USA athletes are partnering with DICK’S Sporting Goods ahead of the Winter Olympics, bringing behind-the-scenes content and youth grant support to the season’s retail buzz.

76%

VML’s The Future 100: 2026 report reveals that consumers feel a mix of anxiety and hope, with 76% stating that few brands stand out and 71% expressing concern that AI blurs the truth. Marketers should tap into this “dysoptimism” by delivering real value, simple messaging, and human connection to win attention in 2026.

186%

China-linked short-video platforms are rapidly transforming Latin America’s media scene, with downloads of these apps jumping about 186% globally and massively outpacing traditional streaming growth. In 2025, the top short-drama apps saw huge year-on-year use increases in Latin America, showing how bite-sized entertainment is reshaping how audiences watch and engage with content.