Bonded Bitesize – Your Midweek Roundup

New experimental tests reveal that when a page exists only in Google’s index, ChatGPT Plus (with browsing enabled) can still reference it, even if not indexed by Bing or others. This implies ChatGPT Plus might be leveraging Google Search behind the scenes to surface answers, reinforcing the importance of ranking well in Google for AI-driven discovery. Planners and SEO professionals should prioritise Google visibility, not just for organic search, but to improve presence in AI-generated responses.
Read more

Meta has highlighted that ad campaigns perform best when all placements, across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Threads, and Audience Network, are enabled with Advantage+ placements. Opting for full automation allows their AI to dynamically allocate budget to the highest-performing channels, resulting in roughly 5% better conversion on Instagram and 3% on Facebook. Advertisers looking to scale with efficiency should resist manual narrowing of placements and embrace Meta’s AI orchestration for optimal reach and ROI.
 Read more

In its H1 2025 results, ITV spotlighted Planet V, its programmatic addressable ad platform, and new AI tools like Automated Contextual Targeting and Retail Match. These innovations enable granular audience targeting using scene analysis and third-party shopper data such as Tesco’s Clubcard. ITV also launched an outcome-planning tool and generative AI creative services to help SMEs create ads cheaply and effectively. Together, these show ITV’s commitment to widening advertiser access and improving campaign performance on ITVX. Planners should explore how Planet V and associated tools can enhance VOD reach and ad relevance.
Read more

In partnership with Amazon, NBCUniversal, FreeWheel, and Index Exchange, the IAB Tech Lab has published its Live Event Ad Playbook featuring the new Concurrent Streams API. This enables ad systems to get real-time viewer data during high-concurrency live streams, like sports or breaking news, so advertisers can optimise delivery in the moment. As live streaming grows, this standard gives media planners the tech needed to ensure responsive, scalable ad monetisation during peak events.
Read more

Google AI Mode officially rolled out in the UK on July 29, delivering conversational, AI-generated responses via Gemini 2.5. SEO experts warn brands are “overwhelmingly underprepared” for this shift, which prioritises direct answers over blue-link results. To stay visible, marketers must deploy structured data solutions like MCP (Model Context Protocol) and reframe content around semantic answers, not just keywords.
Read more