Digital Connect October 16, 2025

Our mid-October Digital Connect is focusing on big news in the growing worlds of AI and Retail Ad Networks. Keep reading to see the latest ways Meta is targeting users, how ChatGPT is entering ecommerce, and two new proprietary ad networks.

Platform Updates:

Meta is listening! Meta’s ad targeting is about to get sharper. The company announced it will begin using data from Meta AI conversations, excluding sensitive topics, to enhance audience precision. This should come as no surprise to both users of Meta's platforms and its advertisers as Meta has long leveraged its proprietary first-party data to refine ad targeting. DCW is helping advertisers leverage this latest evolution to build smarter, more efficient campaigns.

In another big AI development, ChatGPT will be offering an on-platform shopping experience for its users. The rollout will begin by partnering with Shopify and Etsy. ChatGPT, with its millions of daily users, is now poised to take on both Amazon and Shopping in the world of e-commerce and we expect its retail partnerships to multiply soon. This is also great news for retailers already using the powerful catalogs on Shopify and Etsy as they will be able to easily integrate their offerings with ChatGPT. DCW is here to help brands optimize their listings and maximize exposure in this next chapter of AI-driven shopping.

DoorDash is the latest entrant into the booming sector of retail ad networks. They have partnered with Criteo to offer an expansive ad inventory including sponsored products, on-site Display, video ads, and offsite placements including display and social media. DoorDash ads are a no-brainer for advertisers such as CPGs, restaurants, and local retailers, but could also be an opportunity for businesses and brands looking to reach high-intent, impulsive consumers right at the time of purchase. DCW is ready to discuss this exciting opportunity on of the America's largest shopping apps.

American Express is also joining the proprietary ad network party with the unveiling of its own network. AMEX has been a key player in digital audience data, but its latest venture now links advertisers directly to their wealth of first-person data (34 million members) built up over years of card member purchases. Retail ad networks in general, and AMEX in particular, offer high-performance ad opportunities for advertisers looking to reach users with fewer middlemen. Such ad networks have seen amazing growth as spending on these networks is expected to top 100 billion dollars by 2028. DCW is ready to help clients navigate this complex landscape to help advertisers reach their audiences as efficiently as possible.