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Tech News
Microsoft has filed a patent for a content management system that inserts ads into games during natural downtimes, such as after boss fights, during loading screens, or in menus. The game freezes while an ad plays, and watching it grants the player a fresh block of ad-free playtime before the cycle repeats.
Microsoft has submitted a patent application, US 2026/0260258 A1, outlining a system that inserts ads into PC and console games at points the game itself flags as natural breaks—like after a boss fight, at the end of a cutscene, or during a loading screen—rather than on a fixed timer. Players would first get an ad-free window, either time-based or tied to progress, and watching an ad afterward would earn a 'credit' extending uninterrupted play.
An advertising firm ran a test challenging consumers to distinguish AI-generated ads from human-made ones in a side-by-side lineup. The results showed that 83% of participants were unable to correctly identify which ad was AI-generated.
The New York Times is celebrating its 175th anniversary since its founding on September 18, 1851, by honoring the advertisers who have supported its journalism over nearly two centuries. The centerpiece is a nine-page print spread showcasing seven real advertisements pulled from the paper's archives, some dating back to its very first year. The campaign also spans a dedicated timeline landing page on its Advertising site, digital placements across its verticals, and audio spots on its podcasts.
The Advertising Standards Authority has banned five social media adverts, all hosted on Meta platforms, that promoted AI companion and video-generation apps by objectifying and sexualising women. One ad reportedly used sexualised imagery of a girl under 18, while others encouraged users to upload photos of a 'crush' or turn images into explicit videos without consent. Meta had already taken the ads down before the ASA's ruling.
R/GA has introduced BRDNA Sequencer, an AI-driven platform designed to help brands build advertising campaigns that adjust in real time based on live data and local conditions. The tool aims to simplify how designers and clients manage AI-assisted workflows while producing more responsive, personalized creative output.
A widely circulated quote attributed to Mark Zuckerberg suggests he characterized Cambridge Analytica's data practices as nothing unusual, implying similar data harvesting was common industry practice rather than a unique violation. The remark, dated to 2017, has resurfaced without full context around the original scandal that saw millions of Facebook users' data improperly obtained.
Amazon announced a partnership allowing advertisers on its demand-side platform to run campaigns inside ChatGPT, starting with select U.S. brands. Amazon will manage campaign setup while OpenAI's ad system handles delivery, with ads shown as text or images under chatbot responses.
inDrive, the fare-negotiation rival to Uber, is scaling up new business lines including advertising, delivery and financial services that it began building over the past year. Its ad business, piloted in mid-2025, now runs in 25 markets, delivering more than 2 billion impressions and drawing over 2,000 paying advertisers monthly, two-thirds of whom return. The company is installing new leadership to grow these units alongside its core ride-hailing service across 1,200+ cities in 48 countries.
The US military has turned off advertising identifiers on Windows, Android and Apple devices used by service members, aiming to stop adversaries from purchasing commercially available location data to track troops. The disclosure came in letters to Senator Ron Wyden, revealing that Windows machines had trackers disabled since before 2021, while mobile devices only got default protection starting in early 2026. The move follows earlier reporting that such tracking data had already been used to target American forces in the Middle East.
Campaign finance filings reviewed by the Washington Post show 39 congressional candidates paid for OpenAI subscriptions, with some acknowledging use for advertising and message drafting despite OpenAI's rules barring political ad generation. Roughly 30 PACs and parties also reported OpenAI payments, led by the Republican National Committee at about $9,700.
US military branches confirmed to Senator Ron Wyden and Reuters that they have turned off advertising identifiers on service members' phones and computers. The Air Force disabled them two months ago, Special Operations Command did so recently, and the Army says mobile ad IDs have been off since earlier this year, with Windows devices blocked since before 2021.