The Click Brief Podcast: June 2026

Jeremy Packee and Emily Anderson break down June's biggest paid media updates, including Google's AI Max delay, new Smart Bidding controls, OpenAI's expanding advertising platform, and Meta's latest AI creative tools. They also discuss Reddit's growing role in product discovery, new Google Analytics reporting features, and what these changes mean for advertisers navigating an increasingly AI-driven landscape. As always, the conversation focuses on separating platform hype from practical strategies marketers can apply today. Episode Highlights Biggest Relief Google delayed the automatic migration from Dynamic Search Ads to AI Max until February 2027, giving advertisers more time to test AI Max before the transition becomes mandatory. Most Significant Change Google's Smart Bidding updates will optimize more aggressively toward target CPA and target ROAS goals for budget-limited campaigns, potentially changing how advertisers approach bidding strategies. Platform to Watch OpenAI continues expanding its Ads Manager with product feed campaigns, signaling that ChatGPT is becoming an increasingly viable advertising channel for e-commerce brands. Creative Reality Check Meta introduced new AI-powered creative tools and brand memory features, but advertisers should continue reviewing AI-generated assets carefully before publishing. Reporting Win Google Analytics introduced cleaner source grouping and additional reporting integrations, making attribution and campaign analysis easier to manage. Other Platform Updates • AI Max remains the default option for new Google Search campaigns • Google expanded Smart Bidding Exploration and introduced Promotion Mode for seasonal campaigns • Reddit launched new community-powered shopping ads and AI-assisted ad creation tools • Google added attributed brand searches and Shorts engagement metrics for YouTube campaigns • Microsoft introduced Product Explorer within Merchant Center • Google is testing a "Strongest Match" label on search ads • Google Analytics now integrates directly with Google Business Profiles • Amazon introduced Sponsored Brands Gallery for richer branded shopping experiences • Triple Whale added AI visibility reporting for e-commerce brands Final Take June's updates reinforce a trend we've been watching all year: AI is becoming the default across nearly every advertising platform. While these new tools offer more automation and efficiency, advertisers still need strong measurement, clean data, and human oversight to ensure AI is driving real business results—not just platform metrics. Follow The Click Brief for fast, no-fluff performance marketing updates. Visit The Click Brief blog for more in-depth analysis and updates from June