In this weeks digital news, Google may introduce channel reporting for PMax campaigns, as revealed at a Google Think event in Amsterdam. Digital marketing and PR contribute significantly to carbon emissions, often overlooked compared to transport or energy.
Google AI Mode is now available within Google Search Labs for logged and accepted users to test. Google launches QR code feature for Business Profiles, making it easier to send customers directly to the review page. 66% of the public believe governments should introduce regulations to ensure AI is free from gender bias.
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Google Ads may get channel reporting for PMax campaigns
Google may introduce channel reporting for Performance Max campaigns, as revealed at a Google Think event in Amsterdam. A removed slide indicated this feature would enhance transparency and control. Since its 2021 launch, PMax has faced criticism for its lack of visibility into budget distribution across Google channels. Experts say this update could improve optimisation, though some doubt its usefulness.
Read more here.
Digital marketing’s carbon footprint
Digital marketing and PR contribute significantly to carbon emissions, often overlooked compared to transport or energy. Research shows digital marketing produces more emissions than aviation, with data centres responsible for 2.5% of global CO2 output. Every online ad, email, and press release consumes energy, adding to this footprint.
Many digital ads are wasted impressions, and mass PR outreach creates unnecessary emissions. Businesses must prioritise quality over quantity, rethink ad targeting, and reduce digital waste. Sustainable hosting, optimised content, and fewer emails can help. To create a greener future, the industry must recognise and reduce its own impact.
Read more here.
Google begins testing AI Mode while rolling out Gemini 2.0 AI Overviews
Google AI Mode is now available within Google Search Labs for logged and accepted users to test. This new search mode is a step beyond AI Overviews and brings a new Google Search AI interface for a more immersive search experience to provide more advanced reasoning, thinking, comparisons and multimodal capabilities. AI Mode will use a “query fan-out” technique to issue multiple related searches simultaneously across subtopics and multiple related sources that can then be pulled together to provide a response. You can sign up for testing at Google Search Labs if the experiment is available in your area and for your account.
Read more here.
Google Business Profile update: QR codes for review pages
Google now offers QR codes for Google Business Profiles, making it easier for businesses to send customers directly to the review page. The QR codes can be displayed at physical locations, added to receipts or included in post-purchase emails to encourage customers to leave a review with greater ease. Whilst the number of reviews doesn’t directly correlate with rankings, they do affect Google’s Local Pack and help to provide trust signals for both Google and users. This feature is accessible through Google Business Profile dashboards on desktop.
Read more here.
Only 28% are aware of AI gender biases
66% of the public believe governments should introduce regulations to ensure AI is free from gender bias. While public awareness of gender inequality has increased, there is a growing anxiety around gender bias in AI. In fact, only 28% of people were aware of AI’s gender bias. After learning about it, over half (51%) expressed concern. Furthermore, 66% believe governments should introduce regulations to ensure AI is free from gender bias.
Additionally, only two-fifths of people view the overrepresentation of men in leadership roles within AI as problematic (40%). A quarter think that AI often portrays women in misogynistic ways (24%). 29% think that AI creates more accurate visual representations of men than women.
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Cision report shows AI capabilities improving
Cision’s 2025 Comms Report explores communicators’ use of and interaction with technology, data, measurement, content and influencers.
Key findings from the Report include:
- Communications is more influential than ever: 84% of PR leaders say the C-suite is relying on their expertise more than in previous years.
- Employees are the new influencers: Internal advocates now have more influence on brand credibility than big-name celebrities or social media stars.
- Do more with less: 81% of communicators surveyed feel greater pressure to do more with fewer resources compared to last year.
But what might be most interesting is the data surrounding AI—which shows that use and productivity is progressing.
- AI is revolutionising PR: Nearly 65% of comms leaders report that AI is significantly enhancing their data and analytics capabilities, while 90% say it plays a role in their overall strategy.
Read more here.
For more information on any of these stories, or for support with your digital marketing. Get in touch with our team of digital specialists. If you’re looking for an improved results with your PMax campaigns using PPC or for long term SEO strategies, send us an email to team@modo25.com
