The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 in New Delhi spotlighted AI, data-driven marketing, and immersive media as key trends shaping modern marketing. With industry leaders gathered, the event expanded to 22 categories, emphasizing technology's role in enhancing brand storytelling and customer engagement.

Game Pass unveils a robust lineup for March 2026, featuring new titles like South of Midnight and The Alters launching today for premium users across all platforms. This expansion includes kid-friendly games and acclaimed titles, enhancing the service's diverse gaming library.

Nike and Apple's Beats are set to release a limited-edition Powerbeats Pro 2 on March 20, featuring Nike branding, a new design, and enhanced tech features. The collaboration marks Beats' first partnership with a sportswear brand, aiming to blend performance, culture, and sports with a global launch in 14 markets.

The World Foundation's new AgentKit toolkit ties AI agents to verified human identities via World ID and x402 protocol, enhancing human presence verification on websites. This aims to curb bot abuse in transactions, aligning with the rising trend of agentic commerce and emphasizing the importance of trust and safety in AI-driven decisions.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority uncovered over 1,000 unauthorized financial ads on Meta platforms in a week, with many from known offenders. Meta claims swift removal and investment in anti-scam measures, but regulators highlight persistent enforcement gaps, pushing for enhanced oversight and faster action before the Online Safety Act is enforced.

Microsoft is restructuring its AI Copilot division to unify consumer and commercial efforts under Jacob Andreou, indicating a strategic shift toward independent AI development. The move, prompted by competition from OpenAI and Google, involves focusing on proprietary models and integrating AI across devices to enhance adoption and security.

Google is partnering with Chinese firms like Envicool to secure liquid cooling equipment for its data centers amid a global AI data-center boom. This collaboration highlights the industry's push for advanced cooling technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability, with market potential predicted to exceed $17 billion by 2026.

Persistent Systems partners with NVIDIA to enhance AI-driven drug discovery, using NVIDIA's AI platform for more efficient healthcare and life sciences solutions. The collaboration aims to reduce risks and accelerate clinical developments, while Persistent's recent earnings show revenue growth but a dip in stock value due to various legal and regulatory issues.

KAIST researchers unveiled SoulMate, the first on-device AI semiconductor capable of real-time learning and adaptation without cloud reliance, focusing on privacy and personalization. The chip, consuming just 9.8 milliwatts, promises ultra-fast, secure responses, with commercialization expected in 2027 through OnNeuro AI.

Picsart unveils an AI agent marketplace, enhancing creator workflows with assistants for tasks like resizing and editing. This move caters to their 130-million-strong Gen Z user base, integrating WhatsApp and Telegram for seamless task management.