Author: Ryuzaki

TikTok has created a new U.S.-based joint venture designed to comply with federal national security requirements and keep the app operating for more than 200 million Americans. The new entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, was formally established under an executive order signed by President Trump on Sept. 25, 2025, according to an announcement released today. The big picture. TikTok USDS Joint Venture is majority American-owned and operates as an independent entity with responsibility for U.S. user data, content moderation, and algorithm security. ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake, below the threshold often cited by U.S. officials as a national security…

Generative AI has become a practical tool in search, content, and analytical workflows. But, as adoption increases, so does a familiar and costly problem: confidently incorrect outputs. Also called “hallucinations,” the term implies that an AI model is malfunctioning.  But here’s the truth: This behavior is often predictable and results from unclear instructions. Or, more accurately, unclear prompts. For example, prompt AI for a “cookie recipe,” and nothing more. Don’t offer details about allergies, preferences, or constraints.  The result might be Christmas cookies in July, a peanut-packed option, or a recipe so bland and basic as to be unworthy of…

Automation has been reshaping PPC account management for years, from rules, scripts, and API-driven workflows inside Google Ads.  Most marketers are already comfortable with automated bidding, data-driven optimization, and other AI-powered enhancements. The next shift goes further. Two developments in particular are changing how PPC campaigns are managed and optimized: AI agents and vibe coding. Together, they point to a more autonomous way of working, where execution increasingly moves to AI – while marketers focus on strategy, systems, and creative direction.  This shift unlocks new levels of efficiency and flexibility, but it also changes what effective PPC management looks like.…

Google is asking a federal judge to pause enforcement of DOJ antitrust remedies, arguing that mandatory search and ad syndication would expose its proprietary technology and harm advertisers. The argument appears in a new affidavit from Jesse Adkins, Google’s director of product management for search and ads syndication, filed Jan. 16 as part of the company’s motion to stay Judge Amit Mehta’s Final Judgment while it appeals. The big picture. Adkins’ affidavit focuses on damage that cannot be undone: exposure of proprietary ad technology, advertiser harm, and loss of control over query and pricing data. Mehta’s Final Judgment requires Google…

Google’s head of Search warned a federal court that forcing the company to share its search index, ranking data, and live results with competitors would cause “immediate and irreparable harm” to Google, its users, and the open web. The warning appears in a filed affidavit from Elizabeth Reid, Google’s vice president and head of Search, submitted with Google’s motion to pause key antitrust remedies while it appeals the final judgment in the DOJ search monopoly case. The filing spells out what Google sees as its most sensitive Search assets and why sharing them would expose proprietary systems, enable reverse engineering,…

Google is rolling out Campaign Mix Experiments (beta), a new testing framework that lets advertisers experiment across multiple campaign types, budgets, and settings within a single, unified experiment. How it works: Advertisers can create up to five experiment arms, each containing a different mix of campaigns. Campaigns can appear in multiple arms, with traffic split between them. Experiments support Search, Performance Max, Shopping, Demand Gen, Video, and App campaigns (excluding Hotels). Traffic splits can be customized (minimum 1%), with results normalized to the lowest split for fair comparison. What you can test: Budget allocation across campaign types Account structure, including…

Google is pushing more Demand Gen features (boosting shoppable and travel ads) into general availability, expanding its role as a full-funnel performance channel that blends discovery, video, and commerce across YouTube and Google surfaces. What’s new: Shoppable CTV via Demand Gen is now live, letting viewers browse and buy products directly from YouTube ads on connected TVs. Attributed Branded Searches are available for Demand Gen, giving advertisers visibility into how campaigns drive brand search activity across Google and YouTube (activation required via a Google rep). Travel Feeds allow advertisers to connect Hotel Center feeds to create dynamic video ads with…

Rediscovering Intimacy After 60: A Journey of Connection As we age, relationships and intimacy evolve, but they remain as vital to our well-being as ever. For those of us over 60, navigating love, romance, and connection in later life can be both thrilling and challenging. Whether you’re in a long-term relationship or exploring new connections, understanding how to foster intimacy can lead to fulfilling experiences. The Importance of Communication Open communication is the bedrock of intimacy. Sharing thoughts, feelings, and desires can deepen your connection with your partner. Don’t shy away from having conversations about romance and physical closeness; discussing…

Personal Intelligence, which was introduced first on the Gemini app last week, is already rolling out to some users in AI Mode within Google Search. “Starting today, Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers can opt-in to securely connect Gmail and Google Photos to AI Mode,” Robby Stein, VP of Product, Google Search announced. Personal Intelligence in AI Mode lets Google Search give you a more personal response to your queries by connecting across your Google ecosystem, including Google Search, Gmail, Photos, and your YouTube history.  This is rolling out over the next few days AI Pro and Ultra subscribers…

The SEO versus GEO debate has dominated industry discourse over the past year.  New acronyms appear weekly, sentiment swings quickly, and even trusted voices often contradict positions they held just months earlier. That volatility isn’t happening at the edges of the industry.  It’s coming from a small group of highly visible SEO influencers whose framing of AI-era search shifts in response to news cycles, platform announcements, and branding pressure. To understand how widespread – and how unstable – this discourse has become, we analyzed how 75 leading SEO influencers discuss AI-driven search on LinkedIn.  The goal wasn’t to decide which…