Summary: Publishers Face Traffic Decline Due to Google’s AI Tools; Mars Transfers $1.7B Global Media Account from WPP to Publicis

Today’s Digest covers significant developments in the media and tech industries. Publishers are experiencing a notable decline in traffic due to Google’s AI-driven search features, which diminish the need for users to click through to external links. Data indicates that HuffPost and the Washington Post have seen traffic drops exceeding 50%, compelling Business Insider to reduce its workforce by 21%. Meanwhile, Mars has transferred its $1.7 billion global media account from WPP to Publicis, following a competitive pitch that involved multiple major agency networks. Although creative duties for Mars’ Food & Nutrition division will remain with WPP and Omnicom, this shift reflects Publicis’s growing dominance in high-profile account wins. Lastly, Meta plans to invest $14.8 billion to acquire a 49% stake in Scale AI, which specializes in curated training data essential for advanced AI models, and anticipates leadership changes that will bolster its AI ambitions.

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