Global Scans · Media & Entertainment · Weekly Summary

• [New] In 2026, media organizations will fully grasp that AI is not primarily a tools problem, but a systems problem. media.am
• [New] Nearly four years after the launch of ChatGPT, in 2026, media experts and newsroom leaders around the world are trying to understand what new rules will shape journalism in the near future. media.am
• [New] TikTok's unpredictable nature is disrupting some of the fundamentals of retail, increasing a reliance on social listening, media mix modeling and analytics horsepower. Retail Dive
• [New] TikTok will begin to roll out new age-verification technology across the EU in the coming weeks, as calls grow for an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s in countries including the UK. The Guardian
• [New] Oxford research identified misinformation as a major threat to society and public health, with social media significantly contributing to its spread and global reach. Forbes
• [New] Prediction: A new generation of decentralised EU-based social media platforms with user-centric values will emerge to challenge US tech dominance, and most of them will be ignored. Media Diversity Institute
• [New] By 2035, immersive technologies could transcend entertainment to become vital in education, professional training, and collaborative work. Futurist Keynote Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Wo
• [New] Trusted, high-quality, accurate content will be increasingly valued in a world of AI slop, deep-fakes, and toxic social media debates. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] By the 2030s, AR could exceed $300 billion, creating unprecedented opportunities across retail, education, healthcare, and entertainment. Gadget Hacks
• [New] Research examining 290 United States digital media experts revealed 61% expressing excitement about AI-generated content opportunities, yet 53% identified unsuitable adjacencies as their top 2026 challenge. PPC Land
• [New] The popularity of creator-owned, direct-to-consumer platforms will continue to grow in 2026 as both creators and fans find new channels to authentically engage with their digital communities outside of the walled gardens of social media. TV Tech
• [New] Digital budgets will continue to outpace traditional media and over the next five years that shift will fundamentally reshape global advertising. Communicate online
• [New] By 2026, social media will function as a full-funnel sales engine. Social Lady
• [New] In 2026, AI will be embedded into nearly every social media workflow. Social Lady
• [New] 2026 will be the year of revolution in media. The Media Leader
• [New] 2026 will be the year of reckoning in media. The Media Leader
• [New] 2026 will be the year of supercharged strategy, planning and creativity in media. The Media Leader
• [New] The Chinese AI ecosystem, with its major players and strong integration between social media, e-commerce, and payment platforms, has already demonstrated the potential for personalized offers and conversational marketing. SendApp - Whatsapp Marketing Software
• [New] AI models will become a sticky layer across everything in 2026, absorbing time and attention, not for news in the narrow sense, but as catch-all interfaces for information and entertainment. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] In 2026, media archives will stand at the heart of a global shift: as Generative AI accelerates, audio-visual collections will become strategic training fuel for AI models. Public Media Alliance
• [New] By 2026, athletes will operate as owned media centers, using AI and NIL frameworks to control their narratives, grow their communities, and unlock new monetization models. Shotcaller

Last updated: 19 January 2026