Equativ vs Verve

Equativ brings contextual expertise to ChatGPT Ads

Equativ, an adtech provider, has joined OpenAI's partner network for ChatGPT Ads, leveraging its expertise in contextual and native advertising. The company has developed its own campaign tool called Ad Studio, which advises advertisers on adapting messages and creatives to different stages of the purchase decision. A first campaign with BNP Paribas, its direct bank Hello Bank, and agency Havas Media France was implemented, targeting students and their families. OpenAI expanded ChatGPT Ads to 31 European markets in August and has been building a network of technology partners, including Criteo, StackAdapt, and Adform. Equativ's partnership focuses on campaign planning and design, while ad delivery remains with OpenAI, which decides which ads appear based on signals and bids. The partnership covers markets including Germany, France, the UK, and the US.

• Equativ has become a technology partner for ChatGPT Ads as part of OpenAI's partner network.
• Equativ developed its own campaign tool called Ad Studio for ChatGPT Ads.
• Equativ emphasizes its expertise in contextual and native advertising for ChatGPT Ads.

ChatGPT Ads Expands Partnerships; McDonald's Tests Drive-Thru Ads

This article from AdExchanger's daily roundup covers multiple advertising technology developments. Key points include the expansion of ChatGPT Ads' partner ecosystem with Equativ and Quartile joining the technology partner program, Adform partnering to sell ChatGPT's agentic conversation ads in Europe, and Amazon Ads beta testing ads in ChatGPT. Additionally, McDonald's is testing ads on digital menu boards at drive-thru windows, leveraging first-party customer data to create a new revenue stream. The article also mentions YouTube's new features announced at Made on YouTube event, including TV-focused enhancements and a Coachella streaming rights deal through 2030. Other news includes Scope3 rebranding to Apostra, Disney raising streaming prices, and Pluto TV launching a new ad campaign.

• Equativ and Quartile joined ChatGPT Ads' technology partner program.
• Adform signed on to sell ChatGPT's agentic conversation ads in Europe.
• Amazon Ads is beta testing ads in ChatGPT.

Equativ Brings ChatGPT Ads to Brands as Advertising Partner

Equativ announces partnership with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT ads to brands, as highlighted in the latest press release on September 22, 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.

AI-Generated Ads Reduce Brand Trust for One in Three

A representative survey of 2,000 Germans commissioned by Verve Group and conducted by Censuswide finds mixed consumer attitudes toward AI in advertising. Thirty-five percent said they would trust a brand less if they knew an ad was AI-generated, rising to 45% among 18–24-year-olds, while 69% could imagine buying on the recommendation of an AI chatbot. Eighty percent prefer ad-funded app benefits over paying fees, and many respondents expressed data-protection concerns and use self-help measures (rejecting cookies, incognito mode). The findings coincide with Article 50 of the EU AI Act, which requires clear labeling of AI-generated ads from 2026-08-02. Verve CEO Remco Westermann says consumers accept AI when it works in the background but lose trust when its use is visible, with implications for creative strategy, compliance, and labeling practices.

• Article 50 of the EU AI Act requires clear labeling of AI-generated advertising from 2026-08-02.
• Verve Group commissioned the representative survey, conducted by Censuswide among 2,000 people in Germany.
• 35% of respondents said they would trust a brand less if they knew an ad was AI-generated; 45% among 18–24-year-olds.

Verve Expands Its AI Advertising Platform with AI Native Ads Solution

Verve Expands Its AI Advertising Platform with AI Native Ads Solution