Just Ad'Ed January 19 - January 25

This week: Google upgraded AI Overviews with Gemini 3 Pro and launched shoppable CTV formats across YouTube, Meta expanded Reels distribution across Instagram profiles and rolled out new ad placements, OpenAI officially launched ads in ChatGPT after years of resistance, Netflix doubled ad revenue and projects similar growth for 2026, and Amazon Publisher Services released its Prebid adapter for open beta testing.

GOOGLE UPGRADES AI OVERVIEWS WITH GEMINI 3 PRO AND LAUNCHES SHOPPABLE CTV FORMATS

📈 What Happened?

Last week, Google began using its more advanced Gemini 3 Pro model to generate AI Overviews for complex search queries. Separately, Google officially rolled out shoppable CTV ad formats across all Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns on YouTube after seven months of quiet testing in Google Merchant Center.

🔍 SO WHAT?

The Gemini 3 Pro upgrade means your brand could appear in more sophisticated AI-generated answers for complex queries, making structured data and AI Optimization (AIO) strategies critical. The shoppable CTV rollout on YouTube creates immediate conversion paths from your video ads, potentially shortening attribution windows and making YouTube a direct response channel instead of just top-of-funnel awareness. If you're not already using Google Merchant Center feeds with your YouTube campaigns, you're leaving money on the table.

META EXPANDS REELS DISTRIBUTION AND INTRODUCES NEW AD PLACEMENTS

📈 What Happened?

Last week, Meta announced it would expand Reels distribution across users' main Instagram profiles, giving advertisers access to potentially millions more viewers. The platform also introduced new ad placement options to provide marketers with more flexibility in reaching audiences.

🔍 SO WHAT?

This distribution expansion means your Reels ads just got significantly more reach without additional spend. For brands already investing in short-form video creative, this represents immediate efficiency gains, the kind of "free" scale-up that rarely happens in paid media. The new placement options also give you more control over where your creative appears, which matters when you're managing brand safety at scale across $5M+ annual budgets.

OPENAI LAUNCHES ADS IN CHATGPT AFTER YEARS OF RESISTANCE

📈 What Happened?

Last week, OpenAI officially launched advertising in ChatGPT, reversing CEO Sam Altman's 2023 statement that ads would be a "last resort." The rollout marks a fundamental shift in how AI platforms monetize their massive user bases.

🔍 SO WHAT?

This is your early warning to start experimenting with conversational AI advertising before it becomes table stakes. While the initial formats and targeting remain unclear, being an early adopter gives you months of learning data while competitors wait for "proof." If you're spending millions on Google Search, you need a ChatGPT testing budget now. This isn't a question of if conversational AI takes search share, but when. Start small, learn fast, and don't wait for perfect attribution.

NETFLIX DOUBLED AD REVENUE IN 2025, PROJECTS REPEAT PERFORMANCE

📈 What Happened?

Last week, Netflix reported $1.5 billion in ad revenue for 2025, representing 100% year-over-year growth and exceeding company expectations. During their earnings call, Netflix executives projected similar doubling for 2026, signaling aggressive expansion of their ad tier.

🔍 SO WHAT?

Netflix's ad tier is now validated and scaling fast, which means your competitors are already testing or actively buying. The 100% growth trajectory indicates strong viewer adoption of the ad-supported tier, giving you access to premium audiences at scale. If you've been waiting for Netflix to "prove" its ad model works, you're already behind. This kind of growth means CPMs will likely increase as demand catches up. For brands with significant TV/streaming budgets, Netflix should be part of your 2026 media mix testing now.

AMAZON PUBLISHER SERVICES RELEASES PREBID ADAPTER FOR OPEN BETA

📈 What Happened?

Last week, Amazon Publisher Services (APS) released its long-awaited Prebid adapter for open beta testing, marking a shift toward open-source programmatic standards instead of proprietary, closed integrations.

🔍 SO WHAT?

This matters if you're working with publishers or managing programmatic partnerships. Amazon embracing Prebid represents a win for open standards over walled gardens, potentially giving you better cross-platform visibility and more standardized implementation across your publisher relationships. For enterprise advertisers managing complex programmatic strategies, this reduces integration complexity and should improve data normalization across your stack. One less custom integration to maintain.