AI Skills Gap Tops Marketers’ Challenges, Surpassing Data, Analytics & Martech Expertise

80%

As brands race to integrate AI into their marketing strategies, a lack of skills may be slowing progress. AI expertise is now the top skills gap among marketers, surpassing data, analytics, and martech knowledge. In Marketing Week’s 2025 survey, 75.8% of over 3,500 marketers flagged AI as a key area of concern.

52 M

​Wendy’s Sponsored Snap campaign on Snapchat generated nearly 52 million impressions in one day, with a 54% spike in followers and a 17% lift in ad awareness. The playful ad—featuring the message “Can we yap now”—drove 120,000 clicks and outperformed category benchmarks. Sponsored Snaps helped boost advertiser reach by 30% on average in Q4 2024, with Snap now expanding its ad tools and agency programs amid strong user and revenue growth.

38%

According to an October 2024 Linqia report, 38% of U.S. enterprise marketers now dedicate most of their influencer marketing budgets to paid amplification, up from 34% in 2023. Social media continues to dominate, with ad spending projected to hit a quarter of all U.S. ad spend by 2027. In 2025, over 90% of marketers plan to boost creator partnerships through retail media networks, while social remains the top paid content channel for tech marketers globally.

27.3%

U.S. creator podcast revenues are set to hit nearly $1 billion in 2025—a 27.3% YoY jump, nearly double the growth rate of social media creator earnings. Though podcasting makes up just 5% of total creator revenues, it’s becoming vital as creators expand beyond social platforms, especially amid TikTok uncertainty. With daily podcast listening surpassing TikTok usage, time spent is driving revenue growth, while lines blur between podcast and social income streams.

9%

Global PC shipments rose 9% in Q1 2025 as companies rushed orders ahead of incoming U.S. tariffs, according to Canalys. Apple and Lenovo saw shipment increases of 14% and 11%, respectively. The market is reacting to tariff concerns, including a 104% levy on China-made goods, pressuring a recovering electronics sector. After years of stagnation, PC sales are picking up as businesses and consumers brace for economic uncertainty.

2.4%

Consumer prices fell 0.1% in March—the first monthly decline since 2020—driven by a sharp drop in gas and travel costs. Year-over-year inflation eased to 2.4%, below expectations, but economists warn the relief may be short-lived. New tariffs, especially those announced in early April, are expected to drive prices higher in the coming months, complicating the Fed’s inflation fight.

1B

Meta plans to launch a standalone Meta AI chatbot app in Q2 to compete with ChatGPT and Gemini, alongside testing a paid subscription model. Despite low current usage, Meta aims to reach 1 billion users by year’s end, backed by major AI investments. A dedicated app could position Meta AI as a serious player, but success hinges on offering a clear edge over rivals.