Adthena vs Captify

Adthena shortlisted at the Search ‘n Stuff Awards 2026

Adthena has been shortlisted at the Search ‘n Stuff Awards 2026, and its AI Overview Dashboard won at the Global Search Awards 2026.

OpenAI launches product carousels in ChatGPT ads

OpenAI has added a product-carousel ad format to ChatGPT that displays multiple products in a single placement at the bottom of user conversations, built from retailers' product feeds. While carousels currently surface items from a single retailer, the system supports showing multiple retailers side-by-side. OpenAI's ad platform automatically determines whether to serve a single-product ad or a carousel. Separately, an AppsFlyer integration lets roughly 40 brands (including Grubhub) attribute app installs, in-app purchases, and subscriptions to ChatGPT ads, though it does not measure incrementality. The rollout follows automation that enables retailers to bulk-create product-feed campaigns and includes guidance ahead of Q4 holiday spending. Together these moves create basic infrastructure for performance advertising on ChatGPT, even as advertiser control, measurement depth and scale remain open; reported ad-revenue targets include $2.5 billion for 2026 and $100+ billion by 2030.

• OpenAI launched a product-carousel ad format in ChatGPT that appears at the bottom of conversations and expands from single-product ads.
• Carousels and single-product ads are generated from retailers' product feeds; carousels currently show items from one retailer but the system can support multiple retailers side-by-side.
• OpenAI's ad platform decides whether to serve a single-product ad or a carousel rather than advertisers selecting the format.

Social commerce surges 457% and AI fashion searches rise 44% during Christmas, Captify UK data reveals

Captify UK data reveals social commerce surges 457% and AI fashion searches rise 44% during Christmas. Also, Black Friday shopping starts earlier, and gamers are turning in-game finds into real-world buys.

Gamers are turning in-game finds into real-world buys, Captify UK data reveals

New Captify UK data reveals gamers are turning in-game finds into real-world buys (Aug 27, 2026). Also added: Captify UK data reveals Back to School is no longer one shopping moment – it’s two distinct consumer journeys (Aug 10, 2026).

Gaming Spurs Real-World Brand Discovery, Captify UK Data

Captify (part of Verve) analysed UK search data from January–July 2026 alongside Fandom survey data and finds gaming is increasingly a commerce and brand-discovery channel. One-third of UK gamers (33%) are more likely to consider a brand after an in-game interaction (47% for 18–24s); 55% of 18–24s discover brands in-game versus 27% overall. The report highlights specific campaign lifts (e.g., The Sims 4 drove a 40% rise in searches for Coach) and shows Fortnite players searched Lamborghini far more often than Porsche. Captify also found AI responses broaden brand comparisons (AI mentions both PlayStation and Xbox far more than users do). Anticipation for GTA VI is already driving console research: 20% of GTA VI searchers researched Xbox and 16% researched PlayStation. The findings signal opportunities for brands to engage younger, high-consideration gaming audiences.

• Captify analysed billions of UK real-time search signals from January–July 2026 alongside Fandom 2026 UK survey data.
• 33% of UK gamers said they are more likely to consider a brand after an in-game brand interaction; that rises to 47% among 18–24-year-olds.
• 55% of 18–24-year-old gamers discover brands through in-game presence versus 27% of gamers overall.