AI in Marketing

NVIDIA and pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly have announced the establishment of a new AI lab aimed at revolutionizing drug discovery. This collaboration seeks to harness the power of artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of new medicines. The lab will focus on integrating NVIDIA's advanced computing capabilities with Lilly's extensive pharmaceutical expertise to streamline the drug discovery process. By leveraging AI, the partnership aims to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of identifying potential drug candidates, ultimately reducing the time and cost associated with bringing new drugs to market. This initiative reflects a growing trend in the pharmaceutical industry to adopt cutting-edge technology to address complex challenges in drug development. The lab will utilize NVIDIA's state-of-the-art AI platforms to analyze vast datasets, enabling researchers to identify promising compounds more quickly. This collaboration underscores the potential of AI to transform traditional methods of drug discovery, offering the possibility of more effective treatments for a range of diseases. The partnership is expected to yield significant advancements in the field, benefiting both companies and patients worldwide.

Next up

The BBC reports that Ofcom has initiated an investigation into Elon Musk's platform X due to concerns that its AI tool, Grok, is being used to create sexualized deepfake images, including those of children. The UK regulator expressed alarm over reports of the chatbot generating non-consensual intimate images. If X is found in violation of the law, it could face a fine of up to 10% of its global revenue or £18 million, whichever is higher. X responded by highlighting its policy that users creating illegal content with Grok will face consequences similar to those uploading such content. Elon Musk criticized the UK government, suggesting it seeks excuses for censorship. The BBC has documented instances of women being digitally undressed and placed in sexual scenarios without consent. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized the urgency of the investigation, while her predecessor Peter Kyle condemned the inadequate testing of Grok. Other MPs, including Cara Hunter, have voiced concerns, with some leaving the platform. Downing Street remains committed to child protection and is reviewing its presence on X. Dr. Daisy Dixon, a victim of Grok's misuse, criticized Musk's deflection of the issue. Ofcom will assess X's efforts to remove illegal content and prevent UK users from accessing it. The investigation follows international backlash, with Malaysia and Indonesia temporarily blocking Grok.

Moving on

DaVinci Commerce, formerly Jivox, has secured strategic financing to enhance its AI-native platform, aimed at scaling consumer engagement for global brands through agentic commerce marketing. This platform integrates AI-powered content optimization and media activation, automating campaign launches across retail networks. Recognized as a top innovation at the 2026 National Retail Federation Innovators Showcase, DaVinci Commerce addresses the growing demand for AI in commerce media, a rapidly expanding segment in digital advertising. The company’s board now includes industry leaders like Ash Lilani of Saama Capital and Jerry Porter, formerly of Procter & Gamble. DaVinci Commerce's AI capabilities enable personalized consumer interactions, linking ad exposure to transactions, and supporting agentic shopping experiences.

In other news

OpenAI and Anthropic are pursuing different strategies in integrating AI into healthcare. OpenAI is expanding its platform to include healthcare, focusing on integrating its AI models into existing health systems to automate documentation and standardize care. It emphasizes APIs and partnerships, allowing its models to be embedded in clinical tools. OpenAI's consumer-facing ChatGPT Health connects personal health data for tailored responses. Conversely, Anthropic is focusing on specialized, domain-specific applications with its Claude model family. It targets clinicians and researchers, integrating with datasets like ICD-10 and PubMed for tasks such as medical coding and literature synthesis. Anthropic prioritizes control and predictability, ensuring data used in healthcare integrations does not train its models, reflecting a cautious approach to AI adoption.

Now to

AGIBOT Innovation Technology Co., based in Shanghai, made its U.S. debut at CES 2026, showcasing its AGIBOT A2 humanoid robot. The company, founded in 2023, was ranked first globally in humanoid robot shipment volume and market share for 2025, according to Omdia. AGIBOT shipped over 5,100 robots, capturing 39% of the global market. The company's portfolio includes humanoid and mobile robots for various settings. At CES, AGIBOT introduced Genie Sim 3.0, a simulation platform powered by NVIDIA Isaac Sim, offering a unified simulation workflow. Additionally, AGIBOT Research launched the SOP framework for online updates of vision-language-action models, enhancing robot fleet performance. Omdia reported rapid growth in the global humanoid market in 2025, with total shipments reaching approximately 13,000 units. AGIBOT's shipments included 3,588 humanoids and mobile manipulators. The report did not clarify if dual-armed mobile manipulators were categorized as humanoids. Humanoids have been deployed in diverse scenarios, including hospitality, entertainment, manufacturing, logistics, security, data collection, and education. Omdia predicts exponential growth for the humanoid robot market, projecting 2.6 million annual shipments by 2035. However, Interact Analysis offers a more conservative outlook, estimating over 40,000 units by 2032 with a market revenue of about $2 billion, indicating varying perspectives on the market's future trajectory.

Also in the news

Kobalt's 2026 Cybersecurity Readiness Roadmap addresses the increasing threat of ransomware attacks, which predominantly target organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees. The roadmap provides a detailed plan for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to develop a phased maturity model, drawing on data from government frameworks, insurance requirements, and current threat intelligence. As new laws remove protections for small businesses and insurers demand higher security standards, this roadmap offers actionable insights to help organizations safeguard their operations. The document emphasizes the importance of preparing for cyberattacks in 2026 and beyond, ensuring that SMBs can meet the evolving demands of cybersecurity and maintain their ability to function effectively in the face of potential threats.

Shifting gears

During a CES 2026 session, ADWEEK's Jenny Rooney and Moloco's Paul D’Arcy discussed the impact of AI on brand discovery strategies. D’Arcy highlighted that AI overviews on Google result in no clicks 80% of the time, indicating a significant behavioral shift. Moloco, with BCG, developed the AI Disruption Index to assess brands' exposure to AI-driven changes. Industries like travel and retail face high disruption risks due to weaker customer relationships, while financial services and social media remain more secure. Brands relying on organic search traffic are most affected, as consumers increasingly use AI for discovery. Strengthening customer relationships through loyalty programs and personalized experiences is crucial for reducing AI disruption risks and adapting to evolving consumer behaviors.

Turning to

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his administration is collaborating with major tech firms, starting with Microsoft, to prevent increased utility costs from AI data centers from affecting household bills. Trump emphasized that technology companies should bear the costs of their power consumption, not American citizens. This initiative aims to maintain U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence while addressing concerns over rising electricity and water costs due to the energy-intensive nature of AI data centers. Both political parties have expressed worries about potential utility bill hikes for Americans. The Trump administration has been promoting the expansion of AI data centers with expedited approvals and relaxed regulations, seeking to lower living costs and boost Trump's popularity before the midterm elections.