By Sheila Obeng-King
Publication Date: 2026-02-19 09:00:00
In today’s Digest we discuss Perplexity stopping ads to protect AI trust, Havas posting APAC gains in a ‘transformative’ year, and Nvidia landing a multibillion-dollar deal with Meta.
Perplexity abandons ads to protect trust in AI
Perplexity AI has withdrawn from advertising, citing concerns that sponsored content could undermine user confidence in its chatbot’s answers. Executives confirmed this week that there are no current plans to progress with ads, following the start of their phaseout late last year. arguing that users must trust they are receiving the best possible answer if they are to remain engaged and willing to pay for subscriptions.
Executives said the company’s priority remains answer accuracy, maintaining that advertising may be fundamentally misaligned with user expectations.
Havas posts gains in ‘transformative’ year
Havas reported global organic growth of +3.1% in 2025, exceeding its guidance range of +2.5% to +3.0%, as it reported net revenue of €2.78bn (£2.52bn) and continued margin expansion. This growth was supported by major account wins including Emirates’ global media business, while net income rose 9.2% to €210m (£182.3m). Operating cash flow after working capital surged 53% to €360m (£314m), underscoring improved financial discipline alongside topline growth.
Regionally, Europe remained the group’s largest contributor, delivering solid organic growth, while North America also posted gains despite a competitive market…