John Travolta returns as Santa Claus in a holiday campaign for Capital One titled "Greased Sleigh-Ridin'." The ad, created by GSD&M Austin and directed by Bryan Buckley, features Travolta blending his iconic "Grease" character Danny Zuko with Father Christmas.

Taco Bell, J.Crew, Duolingo, Google and Manscaped faced challenges with AI in 2025, highlighting the technology's risks. Taco Bell's AI-driven drive-thru service struggled with basic orders, Google Gemini's local Super Bowl ads contained factual inaccuracies and Duolingo's "AI-first" approach led to a backlash and a loss of followers. Marketers should ensure that AI enhances rather than detracts from the customer experience, rigorously vet AI-generated content, and be transparent about AI use, writes Ad Age's Asa Hiken.

Great digital advertising is characterized by visually engaging design and clear brand storytelling, according to a survey by Triplelift and eMarketer. While 71% of marketers say evaluating creative effectiveness has become more vital over the past 12 months, only 59% consistently link creative quality to metrics such as click-thru and engagement rates.

Generation Z consumers are moving away from trusting traditional brand heritage and advertising, instead placing their trust in real people -- online creators -- who share reviews and experiences on platforms like YouTube, per research from Pulse Advertising. Brands, says Pulse CEO Lara Daniel, need to shift their strategies to a "community-driven influence ecosystem," rather than "top-down broadcast models."

Marketers plan to reinvest in email marketing in 2026, with 65% of organizations citing it as a reliable channel, according to a survey from AdRoll and WBR Insights. The research also found that 97% of respondents report that AI has affected marketing performance, with 21% calling it "very significant."