Latest news with #searchadvertising
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CMA proposes strategic market status for Google in UK
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed granting Google "strategic market status" (SMS) in the UK's general search and search advertising sectors. This designation, pending consultation and a final decision by October 2025, would empower the CMA to implement targeted measures to regulate Google's operations in the UK. If confirmed, the CMA's roadmap includes early priorities such as requiring choice screens for users to access various search providers, ensuring fair ranking principles for businesses, enhancing transparency for publishers regarding their content, and enabling consumer data portability to foster innovation. Google currently dominates the UK search market, accounting for more than 90% of general search queries and serving millions of users and over 200,000 businesses reliant on its advertising services. The CMA's investigation has highlighted several concerns, including Google's extensive website index, access to vast historical search data, and a challenging ecosystem for competitors to replicate. Issues such as high search advertising costs, limited transparency in ranking and presentation of search results, and difficulties for publishers in securing fair terms for their content have also been raised. Additionally, default agreements with mobile manufacturers and barriers to data sharing hinder competition, the watchdog said. Under the new Digital Markets Competition Regime, the CMA aims to promote competition while safeguarding consumers and businesses from unfair practices. The CMA's initial measures include implementing choice screens for easier selection of search services, ensuring fair ranking of results, and providing publishers with greater control over their content, especially in AI-generated responses. A second phase of actions, starting in 2026, will tackle more complex issues, including Google's bargaining power with publishers and transparency in search advertising. The CMA is also considering the impact of generative AI on the search landscape, noting that while AI assistant usage is growing, it remains significantly smaller than Google's search platform. The proposed SMS designation would encompass AI-based search features but exclude Google's Gemini AI assistant, with plans for future reviews as usage evolves. CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said: 'Google is the world's leading search tool and plays an important role in all our lives, with the average person in the UK making 5 to 10 searches a day. 'It is equally critical for over 200,000 UK businesses which rely on Google to reach their customers. Google search has delivered tremendous benefits – but our investigation so far suggests there are ways to make these markets more open, competitive and innovative.' The CMA is currently seeking feedback on its proposed designation and roadmap, with a final decision on Google's SMS status expected by 13 October 2025. Concurrently, the CMA is exploring SMS designations in mobile ecosystems and will assess the potential for further investigations in early 2026. "CMA proposes strategic market status for Google in UK" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Free Malaysia Today
25-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
UK aims to tackle Google dominance of online search
The Competition and Markets Authority said more than 200,000 businesses in the UK rely on Google search advertising to reach customers. (AFP pic) LONDON : Britain's competition watchdog proposed measures aimed at tackling Google's dominance in online search, with the US tech giant warning that 'punitive regulations' could impact UK economic growth. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it proposes to designate Google with 'strategic market status', subjecting it to special requirements under new UK regulations. A similar tech competition law from the EU, the Digital Markets Act, carries the potential for hefty financial penalities. Britain's CMA in January launched an investigation into Google's dominant position in the search engine market and its impacts on consumers and businesses. It followed the 2025 implementation of Britain's Digital Markets Competition Regime, which the regulator said today 'can help unlock opportunities for innovation and growth'. Google's spokesman on competition, Oliver Bethell, warned that the CMA update, preceding a final outcome due in October, 'could have significant implications for businesses and consumers in the UK'. 'The positive impact of Google Search on the UK is undeniable. Our tools and services contribute billions of pounds (dollars) a year to the UK,' he added in a statement. While noting that 'Google Search has delivered tremendous benefits', CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said 'there are ways to make these markets more open, competitive and innovative'. The regulator said that it plans to consult on potential changes, including 'ensuring people can easily choose and switch between search services – including potentially AI assistants – by making default choice screens a legal requirement'. Another proposal is for 'ensuring Google's ranking and presentation of search results is fair and non-discriminatory'. Bethell expressed concern that 'the scope of the CMA's considerations remains broad and unfocused, with a range of interventions being considered before any evidence has been provided'. The CMA noted that 'Google Search accounts for more than 90%' of online enquiries in the UK. It added that more than 200,000 businesses in the UK rely on Google search advertising to reach customers.
Zawya
05-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AI-driven search ad spending set to surge to $26bln by 2029, data shows
Spending on AI-powered search advertising is poised to surge to nearly $26 billion by 2029 from just over $1 billion this year in the U.S., driven by rapid adoption of the technology and more sophisticated user targeting, data from Emarketer showed on Wednesday. Companies that rely on traditional keyword-based search ads could experience revenue declines due to the growing popularity of AI search ads, which offer greater convenience and engagement for users, according to the research firm. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Search giants such as Alphabet-owned Google and Microsoft's Bing have added AI capabilities to better compete with chatbots such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Perplexity AI, which provide users with direct information without requiring to click through multiple results. Apple is exploring the integration of AI-driven search capabilities into its Safari browser, potentially moving away from its longstanding partnership with Google. The report has come as concerns grew about users increasingly turning to the chatbots for conversational search and AI-powered search results could upend business models of some companies. Online education firm Chegg said in May that it would lay off about 248 employees as it looks to cut costs and streamline operations because students are using AI-powered tools including ChatGPT over traditional edtech platforms. QUOTE "Publishers and other sites are feeling the pain from AI search. As they lose out on traffic, we're seeing publishers lean into subscriptions and paid AI licensing deals to bolster revenue," Emarketer analyst Minda Smiley said. AI search ad spending is expected to constitute nearly 1% of total search ad spending this year and 13.6% by 2029 in the U.S., according to Emarketer. Sectors such as financial services, technology, telecom, and healthcare are embracing AI as they are seeing clear advantages in using the technology to enhance their ad strategies, while the retail industry's adoption is slow, the report said. Google recently announced the expansion of its AI-powered search capabilities into the consumer packaged goods sector through enhancements in Google Shopping. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
CNA
04-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
AI-driven search ad spending set to surge to $26 billion by 2029, data shows
Spending on AI-powered search advertising is poised to surge to nearly $26 billion by 2029 from just over $1 billion this year in the U.S., driven by rapid adoption of the technology and more sophisticated user targeting, data from Emarketer showed on Wednesday. Companies that rely on traditional keyword-based search ads could experience revenue declines due to the growing popularity of AI search ads, which offer greater convenience and engagement for users, according to the research firm. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Search giants such as Alphabet-owned Google and Microsoft's Bing have added AI capabilities to better compete with chatbots such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Perplexity AI, which provide users with direct information without requiring to click through multiple results. Apple is exploring the integration of AI-driven search capabilities into its Safari browser, potentially moving away from its longstanding partnership with Google. The report has come as concerns grew about users increasingly turning to the chatbots for conversational search and AI-powered search results could upend business models of some companies. Online education firm Chegg said in May that it would lay off about 248 employees as it looks to cut costs and streamline operations because students are using AI-powered tools including ChatGPT over traditional edtech platforms. QUOTE "Publishers and other sites are feeling the pain from AI search. As they lose out on traffic, we're seeing publishers lean into subscriptions and paid AI licensing deals to bolster revenue," Emarketer analyst Minda Smiley said. GRAPHIC AI search ad spending is expected to constitute nearly 1 per cent of total search ad spending this year and 13.6 per cent by 2029 in the U.S., according to Emarketer. Sectors such as financial services, technology, telecom, and healthcare are embracing AI as they are seeing clear advantages in using the technology to enhance their ad strategies, while the retail industry's adoption is slow, the report said. Google recently announced the expansion of its AI-powered search capabilities into the consumer packaged goods sector through enhancements in Google Shopping.
