Digest: Uber in for Expedia?

by editorial on 17th Oct 2024 in News

News in brief: On today's MadTech Daily: Uber looking at Expedia purchase; Google v adblockers; Amazon bolsters AI offering

Uber has explored a possible bid for Expedia, the US travel booking website. As the ride-hailing app looks to diversify further, adding to it’s line-up of cars, scooters, trains and delivery. The FT reports that Uber has examined whether a deal for Expedia would be possible, but no formal approach has been made.

Google Chrome’s transition to Manifest V3, will impact ad blockers like uBlock Origin. The developer has responded by creating uBlock Origin Lite, but users will need to manually install it. Manifest V3 is set to restrict ad-blocking capabilities, with Google aiming to fully implement it by 2025. This move has sparked debates among users and developers, with concerns raised about the implications for online privacy and user experience.

Amazon is launching a suite of generative AI tools for advertisers to create audio ads, images, and videos. The introduction of a new AI creative studio aims to simplify campaign creation across various Amazon platforms. Advertisers can now leverage AI-generated content creation tools to produce ads for multiple platforms and customise campaign assets. Amazon is also enhancing ad frequency controls, integrating Amazon Marketing Cloud with Amazon Publisher Cloud, and expanding partnerships with third-party tech companies.