KIMP’s Picks 2nd May: Weekly Highlights In Design, Marketing, AI, & More
AI breakthroughs fly past you in a flash. Social media algorithms change overnight. Staying on top of it all feels overwhelming, right? Social media is one of the main sources of updates these days, but again, social media moves at lightning speed. Wink and you miss all the buzz. Sounds relatable? Then the KIMP’s Picks is for you.
FOMO daunting you at the end of the week? Don’t worry. Our weekly roundup is your escape from endless scrolling. You do not have to spend hours rummaging through social feeds to catch up on all the big updates. We do that for you. So in a few quick minutes, you will be all caught up.
From AI updates to social media algorithm shifts, marketing inspiration, and so much more, KIMP’s Picks is for all those who wish to stay in the loop. So, without further ado, let’s get started with the KIMP’s Picks 2nd May Edition.
- In the Marketing Realm
- In the Content Marketing Realm
- In the Design Realm
- In the AI Realm
- Meta launches a standalone app for Meta AI
- Runway rolls out Gen-4 References for all paid users
- OpenAI brings fresh updates to ChatGPT Search
- Native AI image editing comes to the Gemini app
- Google’s new experiments with tools for language learning
- Yelp rolls out AI-powered updates
- OpenAI launches a lightweight version of Deep Research
- Have you tried KilingAI’s Instant Film Effect?
- Social Media Feature Updates and Algorithm Changes
- Let’s Wrap Up…
In the Marketing Realm
AI-driven success stories
Google shared a post discussing the power of AI-powered ads. The post discusses how three teams used AI-powered Google advertising products to achieve better ROI.
Renowned clothing brand Baltic Born was able to boost customer acquisition by tapping into AI-powered search. And for the language learning app, Babbel, Demand Gen campaigns provided nearly a 55% boost in sales. Finally, for the custom signs company Fastsigns, it was all about brand visibility. The brand achieved about 20% more leads with the use of Performance Max campaigns.
In short, these numbers are just a preview of the possibilities that AI-powered advertising solutions from companies like Google have to offer advertisers.
Trying to turn attention into intent? AI-powered ads drive incremental demand and value across the consumer journey.
— Google Ads (@GoogleAds) April 25, 2025
Check out how Baltic Born, Babbel, and FASTSIGNS used Google Ads to drive real ROI 👉
Cross-channel remarketing – a must-have for marketers
Search Engine Journal recently shared a post about cross-channel remarketing. With consumer journeys now spread across screens and platforms, marketers are turning to cross-channel remarketing as a vital tool for re-engaging audiences and driving conversions.
Unlike multi-channel remarketing, where platforms operate in silos, cross-channel strategies synchronize messaging and tracking across platforms like Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and programmatic networks.
The article underscores that consumers rarely convert after a single interaction, making it crucial for brands to reconnect across platforms like Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Cross-Channel Remarketing Campaigns: A Complete Guide. via @brookeosmundson: https://t.co/XAwyv963yg#marketing #PPC #PaidSearch #SEM
— SearchEngineJournal® (@sejournal) April 29, 2025
Google Merchant Center introduces AI-powered product filtering
Google has unveiled a new AI-driven filtering feature in Merchant Center Next, designed to help retailers quickly identify and resolve product feed issues that can hinder performance.
The tool enhances the platform’s usability by enabling natural language search for product filtering.
The “Search for Products” tool leverages AI to convert natural language searches into precise filters, enabling merchants to quickly pinpoint specific product groups. For instance, users can now filter for manually added products, out-of-stock items with traffic, or listings with high impressions but low clicks, streamlining the optimization process.
Google Merchant Center adds AI-powered product filtering via @TheMarketingAnu https://t.co/fZtJ38yyDE pic.twitter.com/LAJJ1Zh94f
— Search Engine Land (@sengineland) April 30, 2025
PayPal expands into programmatic ads using shopper data
ADWEEK shared a post regarding PayPal’s next move in advertising. PayPal is taking its advertising ambitions beyond its own ecosystem by launching programmatic ad offerings powered by extensive shopper data from across its platforms.
The move positions PayPal Ads to compete more aggressively with digital giants by offering targeted ad inventory on third-party websites.
The initiative taps into the growing trend of commerce media. PayPal’s aggregated data across multiple retailers could be a game-changer for non-endemic advertisers, such as those in entertainment and insurance, seeking broader reach.
This opens up a high-intent targeting opportunity for brands looking to enhance their targeting strategy based on buyer behavior.
Campaigns that create a buzz
Some campaigns feel intrusive and some fade away in the competition. However there a few that create a buzz and the one that Creative Review discusses here is one such.
Skincare brand The Ordinary has launched a provocative campaign in New York City that questions the real cost of celebrity-backed beauty products. Inside a Manhattan pop-up, the brand set up a towering pile of fake cash (meant to represent $10 million reportedly spent on celebrity endorsements)
The brand uses this innovative set up to challenge the marketing dollars funneled into celebrity endorsements, which the brand argues ultimately inflate prices for consumers.
The installation is part of a larger multichannel push, including outdoor ads, social media content, and influencer-led activations. The Ordinary has always been known for its authentic out-of-the-box campaigns, and this one proves their unique approach.
In the Content Marketing Realm
Neurowriting is just what your brand needs
Neuromarketing, on the whole, is known to be beneficial to brands looking to connect authentically with their audience. Another crucial concept to discuss is neurowriting, and Content Marketing Institute discusses that in the post here.
Given the rising competition and the ever-growing volume of content on the internet, neurowriting is what taps into subtle cues to connect with readers more effectively.
The post talks about simple and practical strategies like adding numbers to headings, using beneficial adjectives, asking readers questions, formatting headlines as quotes, and other ideas. It even delves into some innovative concepts like the use of the Socratic method to engage readers and the power of sensory words and negative language.
In the Design Realm
Brand identity inspiration
Swiss publisher Kein & Aber, known for its unconventional yet traditional approach to German and international literature since 1997, has received a bold rebrand. The publisher’s name, meaning ‘No & But,’ reflects its playful philosophy by riffing on the German phrase ‘without ifs and buts’ and the biblical ‘Cain and Abel.’ The brand’s identity is built on this duality while also feeling fresh and modern.
At the heart of the updated brand is a typographic wordmark created from the Söhne font, customized to balance the weight between Semi Bold and Demi Bold. The standout feature is the tilted ampersand, a visual twist that adds playfulness and enhances brand recognition. This small but impactful detail differentiates Kein & Aber’s identity, allowing its serious literary content to shine while maintaining an approachable feel.
This branding project demonstrates how distinctive design choices can help differentiate a brand in a crowded market.
Creative outdoor campaign
Eurostar has unveiled a striking new campaign, Reasons to Eurostar, created in collaboration with celebrated illustrator Noma Bar and agency adam&eveDDB, to shift traveler preference from planes and cars toward train travel.
The campaign leverages Bar’s minimalist, negative-space artwork to visually convey the perks of choosing Eurostar (such as speed, comfort, and eco-friendliness). The designs are also paired with witty lines like “Time flies when you don’t” and “Carry on with your carry-ons.” It targets travelers in the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Another interesting aspect of this campaign is the placement of these contextual ads near airports and service stations.
A font idea for the week
Designers and marketers are always on the lookout for new fonts. If that’s you, I Love Typography has a brilliant font recommendation.
This is a modern sans-serif font that works well in designs that call for a touch of elegance. As a high contrast font, this one is fresh and breaks the stereotypical notions about sans-serif fonts. If you think that sans-serif fonts are plain and boring, this font is sure to change your perspective.
So, here’s one more to add to your list when working on your next design.
In the AI Realm
Meta launches a standalone app for Meta AI
Meta has released its first standalone Meta AI app, a personalized, voice-first assistant powered by its latest Llama 4 model. The app is designed to offer a more intuitive and conversational way for users to interact with AI across devices.
Building on the popularity of Meta AI assistant and keeping up with the growing popularity of rivals like ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok, Meta’s Meta AI app allows users to engage through voice or text.
The app comes with a Discover feed to let users explore community prompts and integrations with tools like image generation and editing. Built to remember user preferences and contextual details, Meta AI delivers responses informed by data from across Meta’s platforms. This also offers a consistent experience whether accessed via smartphone, desktop, or Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Runway rolls out Gen-4 References for all paid users
Runway has officially launched Gen-4 References for all paid users. This upgrade allows creators to generate consistent characters, scenes, and styles with better control.
With this feature onboard, users can conveniently input reference images (like selfies and 3D models) and place them into any imagined context.
This release marks a major leap in creative continuity. By combining character and location references, users can prompt for new angles, compositions, and even adjust character styling within a scene. Although the tool currently performs best with people and places, it also supports experimenting with stylistic references for broader use cases.
OpenAI brings fresh updates to ChatGPT Search
OpenAI is rolling out a series of improvements to ChatGPT’s search capabilities. Firstly, a streamlined shopping experience – designed to make product discovery more intuitive and informative. The update introduces visual product listings, pricing, reviews, and direct purchase links (without relying on ads).
The update also brings improved citation features, allowing users to see multiple sources for a single response.
Additional upgrades include trending search suggestions and autocomplete functionality for faster queries. Users can also access live information by messaging ChatGPT via WhatsApp at +1-800-ChatGPT.
Native AI image editing comes to the Gemini app
OpenAI made headlines with the fresh updates to ChatGPT images. From generating images to editing them, the new model supports a variety of features. Joining the league and keeping up with the rising competition, Google has now announced native image editing on the Gemini app.
Users can modify AI-generated visuals or their own uploaded images with ease. This includes hanging backgrounds, adding elements, or even exploring creative prompts like altering hair color in personal photos.
This rollout enhances Gemini’s ability to handle multi-step, contextual prompts that blend text and visuals.
Google’s new experiments with tools for language learning
Google has launched Little Language Lessons, a trio of experimental tools powered by Gemini models. These are tools that change your perspectives about language learning with their personalized, contextual, and interactive methods.
Tiny Lesson helps users learn vocabulary and grammar based on real-life situations like asking for directions. On the other hand, Slang Hang generates informal, native-level conversations to help learners sound more natural, despite occasional inaccuracies with slang.
Finally, Word Cam lets users point their camera at objects to identify and label them in their target language, making real-world vocabulary acquisition easier. All three tools include text-to-speech playback as well.
Yelp rolls out AI-powered updates
Yelp’s Spring 2025 Product Release introduces 15 new features powered by AI to improve hiring and dining experiences. This includes photo recognition in Yelp Assistant that helps match users with service pros based on uploaded images, and response quality badges that highlight professionals who consistently provide helpful replies.
On the dining side, Yelp Guest Manager updates include a Guest Experience Survey for feedback, a redesigned party management interface, automated waitlist features, and guaranteed seating areas to give diners more control.
Additionally, Yelp plans to launch AI-powered call answering soon to help businesses stay responsive even when busy, with more AI-driven features on the way.
OpenAI launches a lightweight version of Deep Research
OpenAI has begun rolling out a lightweight version of its deep research tool, powered by a variant of o4-mini. Reportedly, this new lightweight model delivers nearly the same level of intelligence as the original while being significantly cheaper to serve.
Responses on this model are generally shorter but they still maintain expected depth and quality. When usage limits for the original deep research are hit, queries will automatically fall back to the lightweight version.
According to OpenAI, Plus, Team, and Pro users now enjoy expanded access, with Enterprise and Edu users gaining access the following week at Team-level usage.
Have you tried KilingAI’s Instant Film Effect?
KlingAI has carved a niche for itself as a fun and easy AI tool to create lively animations. Their recent launch is the Instant Film Effect. Available in the Effects section, this lets you add a 3D polaroid style effect to your photos. This includes selfies, travel photos and even pet photos and group photos.
Social Media Feature Updates and Algorithm Changes
TikTok enhances accessibility with ALT text support for images
TikTok is no more just about scrollable short videos. The platform has also been expanding into other formats like longer videos and most importantly, image posts.
To build on this, they have added support for ALT text in image posts. Hence, creators can add descriptive text along with their images to help users with visual or cognitive impairments better understand visual content through screen readers.
ALT text can be added during upload or after publishing. This one joins TikTok’s growing suite of accessibility features like auto-captions and adjustable text size.
Facebook’s steps to tackle spam
Facebook is taking stronger action to clean up its Feed by limiting the spread and monetization of low-quality, repetitive, or misleading posts.
According to a recent post, the platform is dialing back visibility for accounts that rely on excessive hashtags, irrelevant captions, or coordinated fake engagement, in an effort to reduce noise and highlight more meaningful content.
It’s also expanding tools to protect creators from impersonation and content theft, reinforcing its focus on originality and authentic user experiences.
Threads now lets you save posts as images
Threads has introduced a new way to share your favorite threads. Now, you can skip the screengrabs and save threads as image files to share more easily. Simply click the share button under a post, select “Copy as image,” and customize the background color, size, and whether to show post metrics. Once you’re satisfied, download or copy the image and share it wherever you like.
View on Threads
Threads on web gets fresh UI updates
Threads on web has rolled out several updates to improve the user experience. First, the feed navigation is now smoother with feeds conveniently placed at the top, allowing easy switching between them just like on the app.
Posting has also been simplified. A new pop-up composer appears when you click the + button at the bottom right, and it will stay open as you browse Threads, making posting quick and easy.
Additionally, adding a column is now more straightforward. Click the new column button on the right side to add a variety of columns, including search, activity, profile, insights, or any of your feeds. For those looking for liked and saved posts, you can now find them in the menu at the bottom left.
View on Threads
Let’s Wrap Up…
Time to wrap up the KIMP’s Picks 2nd May Edition. We hope these posts gave you a quick recap and helped you catch up on all the big updates. Now, if you wish to receive such updates directly in your inbox, subscribe to The KIMP Scoop newsletter. And stay tuned. We’ll be back soon with the next round of social media highlights.
