Criteo vs Rakuten Advertising

Criteo Expands Regional Reach Through New Reseller Partnership with Tyroo

Criteo announces a new reseller partnership with Tyroo to expand regional reach, and also accelerates ChatGPT Ads integration with Europe expansion.

Todd Parsons Named CEO of Blackstone-Owned Prodege

Todd Parsons, former Chief Product Officer at Criteo, will become CEO of Prodege, a Blackstone-backed consumer insights firm, starting October 1. Prodege operates a panel of over 125 million consumers and powers loyalty programs like Swagbucks, MyPoints, and InboxDollars. Parsons is expected to leverage his AI expertise from Criteo, where he oversaw the development of AI tools including a Model Context Protocol, to enhance Prodege's market research offerings. The appointment marks a significant leadership change for the company, which provides consumer feedback to CPG brands, commerce companies, and game developers.

• Todd Parsons has been named CEO of Prodege, starting October 1.
• Prodege is backed by Blackstone and runs a consumer panel of over 125 million members.
• Prodege powers loyalty programs for Swagbucks, MyPoints, and InboxDollars.

AI Agents Transform Shopping from Circulars to Automated Purchasing

This article explores how AI is reshaping the shopping journey, moving beyond traditional advertising to a future where AI agents act on behalf of consumers. It highlights that 73% of parents plan to use AI in back-to-school shopping, citing a PwC study. The evolution from static ads to predictive, adaptive creative is discussed, with comments from Priti Ohri of Advertible on dynamic creative. The piece also covers conversational AI, referencing Criteo's Prompt Smart Ads, and the transition from assistance to delegation, noting that only 11% of consumers are ready for AI to make purchase decisions. Becky Gundy of CHEQ predicts agents will soon handle purchases end-to-end, emphasizing that advertisers must appeal not only to consumers but also to their AI agents.

• 73% of parents plan to use AI in back-to-school shopping (PwC study, June 2026).
• Only 11% of US consumers are ready to let AI make purchase decisions (Gartner survey).
• Criteo's Prompt Smart Ads use catalog data and prompt-level insights to tailor ad creative.

Mirai Wins 2026 MarTech Breakthrough Award for AI Innovation

Rakuten Advertising’s Mirai has been named AI-Powered Marketing Decision Engine of the Year in the 2026 MarTech Breakthrough Awards. Discover how this agentic AI platform is transforming affiliate and performance marketing.