Written by Caitlin Hartigan

AI advertising advances

Just 200 days after launching its self-serve advertising platform to brands worldwide, ChatGPT has already reached an annualised advertising run rate of US$1 billion.

OpenAI reports tens of thousands of brands worldwide have adopted the platform. It works by letting companies place targeted ads directly within ChatGPT conversations. Advertisers provide topic descriptions that help determine when their products or services are relevant to a user’s query, ensuring placements appear in appropriate contexts.

The rapid growth of ChatGPT’s advertising business highlights the increasing interest from brands looking to connect with consumers in conversational environments, as AI-powered platforms continue to become a larger part of everyday online activity.

However, it’s important to remember that while paid ads can accelerate brand awareness, they won’t improve search citation rates. Long-term visibility in AI search still depends on strong content, consistent messaging, and third-party validation.

Ads currently only appear to users on ChatGPT’s Free and Go plans, while premium subscription tiers remain ad-free.

A festival with purpose

This past weekend, Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival made a powerful debut, bringing together music, activism and advocacy in a celebration of women’s voices and achievements. Held in Irvine, California, the festival was created to honour the artistry and influence of women in music while supporting causes that impact females around the world.

The event raised awareness and funds for a range of issues, including reproductive rights, maternal health, economic empowerment, domestic violence prevention and gender equality. All net proceeds were directed to the Daisy Chain Fields Fund, which supports 10 nonprofit organisations, including Planned Parenthood, Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance and the National Women’s Law Centre.

The all-female lineup featured some of the industry’s biggest names, including Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Stevie Nicks, Garbage, Die Spitz and Not For Radio. Each artist performed without pay, ensuring that more funds could be directed towards charity. The festival initially raised $10 million, with philanthropist Melinda French Gates pledging to match the amount, doubling the total to $20 million.

At a time when women’s rights are facing growing challenges globally, the festival brought people together for important conversations, creating a powerful platform for women’s voices, stories and advocacy.

Seeing women use their platforms to drive meaningful change is a powerful reminder that progress happens when women support, advocate for and invest in one another.

A new player in media monitoring

Former Isentia leader, John Croll, has officially brought his own media intelligence platform to Australia. Founded seven years ago, the software has already established a presence in Singapore, New Zealand and the United States. However, it previously avoided the Australian market due to the high costs associated with accessing copyrighted media content.

The platform is designed to help PR, communications, marketing and government teams monitor and analyse media coverage in real time. Using artificial intelligence, Truescope offers sentiment analysis, competitive benchmarking, custom reporting and instant alerts, providing organisations with valuable insights into public perception and media performance.

Speaking to Mumbrella, John said growing demand from Australian clients ultimately drove the decision to launch locally. Confident in the company’s position, he noted that Truescope understands the industry well and is focused on delivering high-quality media intelligence solutions.

With its arrival, Truescope becomes the fourth major player in Australia’s media monitoring sector, joining established competitors such as Streem, Meltwater and Cision. As competition in the space continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how Truescope’s capabilities compare and what new opportunities it may bring to communications and marketing teams.

Melbourne turns up the heat with a week of culinary action

IMPACTers Trish McGee and Eva Macquet were on the ground in Melbourne this week, soaking up all the energy and excitement at the 2026 Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award grand finals. Held as part of Fine Food Australia, the two-day live cook-off saw 11 of Australia’s brightest emerging chefs battle it out for one of the industry’s most coveted titles.

With standout dishes on the pass and plenty of support from the sidelines, the atmosphere was electric. The celebrations wrapped up in style last night at Melbourne’s trendy Half Acre, where chefs, mentors and foodservice leaders came together to recognise the passion, creativity and hard work of the next generation of culinary stars.

A huge congratulations to all finalists and winners who proved the future of Australia’s culinary industry is in very good hands.

Nestlé Professional is an IMPACT client.