KIMP’s Picks June 26th: Weekly Highlights In Design, Marketing, AI, & More
Friday’s here; time to catch up on the week’s buzz. Wondering what everyone on social media is talking about? Big AI announcements, new AI-powered tools you should know about, changes coming to popular social media platforms, updates you just cannot miss? We’ve wrapped them all in a quick recap. So in a few quick minutes, you’ll have all the highlights from the week. Ready? Let’s get started with KIMP’s Picks’ June 26th edition.
In the Marketing Realm
Google Ads homepage gets a Gemini-powered makeover
Google is rolling out a new Gemini-powered homepage for Google Ads. The updated design aims at helping advertisers manage campaigns more efficiently through AI-driven insights and recommendations.
The update introduces proactive insights that automatically surface important opportunities and potential issues, helping marketers identify areas that need attention before they impact performance. Google is also adding custom workspaces, allowing advertisers to track campaign goals and performance metrics through simple prompts, making account monitoring more streamlined.
Another key feature is interactive analysis, which enables users to explore campaign data in greater detail, uncover trends, and make informed optimization decisions without navigating through multiple reports.
Lessons for marketers from Cannes
Google shared a post highlighting some key takeaways for marketers from Cannes. A key takeaway for marketers is the importance of putting the audience first. Successful creators constantly engage with their communities, gather feedback, and shape content around what their audience genuinely wants. This audience-first approach is increasingly influencing how brands collaborate with creators.
Trust also remains a critical factor. Creators work hard to maintain credibility with their followers, and successful brand partnerships often happen when brands allow creators to communicate in their own authentic voice rather than tightly controlling the message.
This shift is significant because it reinforces that audience trust, authenticity, and creator-driven storytelling are becoming essential ingredients for successful brand marketing.
YouTube talks about effectively leveraging creator collaborations
Google says the creator economy has evolved into something much bigger, with creators now at the center of entertainment, culture, and sports. Platforms like YouTube are becoming the primary destination for creator-led content, with audiences increasingly turning to creators over traditional media for entertainment and recommendations.
The article highlights how creators are building media brands, launching original shows, and attracting highly engaged communities. Their success is driven by audience trust, authentic storytelling, and the freedom to create content without traditional industry gatekeepers.
The post highlights that users are more likely to trust creator content and are about 13 times more likely to search for a brand when they discover it through their favorite creators.
The power of brand partnerships
Little Caesars has partnered with Sony Pictures ahead of the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, launching a limited-time menu item and fan experience inspired by the iconic superhero. The collaboration introduces the Webberoni Pizza, featuring a web-like topping made from shredded pepperoni and toasted cheese, designed to reflect Spider-Man’s signature web-slinging theme.
To build excitement around the film, the pizza chain is also hosting an immersive pop-up event in Brooklyn, where fans can explore a recreation of Peter Parker’s apartment, discover hidden Spider-Man references, and sample the new pizza. The campaign extends in-store with Spider-Man-themed pizza boxes and a collectible poster series available with Webberoni Pizza purchases starting in July.
By combining a themed product, experiential marketing, exclusive merchandise, and a blockbuster movie franchise, the brand is creating multiple touchpoints for fan engagement.
This campaign shows how brands can turn entertainment partnerships into immersive, multi-channel experiences that drive excitement, engagement, and purchase intent.
Going back to traditional marketing strategies to cut through the noise
The Kitchn, part of Apartment Therapy Media, is expanding beyond digital with the launch of a new paid membership program that includes a quarterly print magazine.
The membership package also includes exclusive digital recipes, personalized recommendations, an AI-powered cooking assistant, and an ad-free cooking mode feature. Importantly, the company is not putting existing content behind a paywall. Instead, it is focusing on new features and added value for its most engaged audience while maintaining its existing ad-supported model.
The decision to bring back print is part of a wider industry shift, where publishers are using physical magazines as a way to strengthen brand presence and create more tangible connections with readers. The Kitchn joins a growing list of media brands reviving print as a complement to digital growth strategies.
The campaign reflects how publishers are shifting from traffic-driven models to membership-based ecosystems that prioritize loyalty, retention, and deeper audience relationships.
In the Content Marketing Realm
AI search is forcing a shift from international SEO to Global Knowledge Integrity
A recent Search Engine Journal post discusses how international SEO has traditionally focused on ensuring the right page appears in the right market using tools. But the rise of AI-driven search is changing the game, as platforms increasingly synthesize answers instead of simply ranking pages.
With AI systems like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews shaping how information is delivered, the challenge is no longer just visibility. It is about whether the correct information survives retrieval and is accurately represented when AI generates answers. This shift is exposing gaps in how global organizations manage and govern their content across markets.
The discussion shared shows that in AI search, the real competitive advantage is no longer just ranking in search engines but controlling the accuracy and consistency of brand information across all AI-generated answers.
In the Design Realm
A human-centered brand design makeover for a robotics startup
Under Control Robotics has been rebranded as Noble Machines, with a new identity designed to reflect both industrial strength and human purpose. The naming shift signals a broader ambition beyond a single product, positioning the company as an industrial platform focused on removing people from hazardous environments and expanding what they can safely do.
The brand system draws directly from industrial components. The design studio behind the rebrand, built the logo from abstracted bolt and rivet forms, turning functional machine parts into a modular symbol that also encodes the letters “N” and “M.” The system is designed to scale, functioning as a simple icon at small sizes while expanding into structured grids and technical patterns across applications.
Typography plays a dual role, combining a warm geometric sans-serif for clarity and approachability with more technical type styles used for product codes and data. This contrast is meant to balance human readability with industrial precision.
This brand identity project shows how industrial tech brands are moving toward human-centred, purpose-driven identities that prioritize trust and real-world credibility over futuristic aesthetics.
Figma introduces Figma Motion on canvas
Figma has launched Figma Motion, a new feature that integrates animation directly into the design canvas, allowing teams to build, edit, and manage motion alongside components, variables, and design systems. The update removes the need for external tools by embedding a full animation timeline within the same workspace.
The feature enables designers to create keyframes, adjust timing, and apply animation styles directly on the canvas. It also introduces motion variables and animated components, meaning motion can now be systemised and reused across entire products the same way typography or color tokens are used today.
Figma also introduces an AI agent that assists designers in building animations through prompts, lowering the barrier for those less experienced with motion design while speeding up workflows for experts.
In the AI Realm
Anthropic introduces Claude Tag on Slack
Anthropic has launched Claude Tag, a new way for teams to work with Claude directly inside Slack by tagging @Claude in channels to delegate tasks. The system allows Claude to join selected channels, connect to approved tools and data sources, and act as a collaborative teammate within the workspace.
Once tagged, Claude breaks down requests into steps, executes tasks, and responds in Slack threads with results. It can also retain relevant context from channel activity, enabling it to build an ongoing understanding of projects over time and reduce repetitive explanations.
A key shift is that Claude becomes a shared, multi-user assistant inside each channel. Everyone in the channel can see its work, continue conversations, and build on previous interactions.
The tool is currently available in beta for Claude Enterprise and Team customers, with admin controls for permissions, spend limits, and auditing.
Meta introduces Meta Glasses with diverse styles and built-in Meta
Meta has introduced Meta Glasses in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, expanding its AI eyewear lineup with a new collection designed for everyday use and wider style options. The launch includes 26 frame variations across different shapes, colours, and materials, with compatibility for prescription lenses and pricing starting at $299.
The new range includes three core styles with the focus now being on combining fashion with functionality so users can choose frames based on personal style while accessing built-in AI features.
A key upgrade is the integration of Meta AI powered by Muse Spark, Meta’s latest multimodal model. It enables real-time assistance such as answering questions, managing tasks, translating languages, and interpreting surroundings through the glasses.
View on Threads
OpenAI and Broadcom unveil an LLM chip, Jalapeño
OpenAI and Broadcom have announced Jalapeño, a new AI accelerator designed specifically for large language model inference. The chip is built from the ground up to optimize how models like those behind ChatGPT process and generate responses, with a focus on speed, efficiency, and large-scale deployment.
Early testing suggests the chip delivers significantly better performance per watt compared to current leading AI hardware. It has been engineered to reduce data movement and balance compute, memory, and networking, allowing models to run closer to their theoretical efficiency limits. The system is also designed to support both current and future LLM workloads across the industry.
Gemini 3.5 Flash gets built-in computer use capabilities
Google has introduced built-in computer use capabilities in Gemini 3.5 Flash, expanding the model’s ability to interact directly with digital environments such as browsers, desktop systems, and mobile interfaces. The upgrade brings agent-like functionality natively into the main Flash model, rather than relying on a separate system.
With this update, developers can build AI agents that not only generate responses but also take actions across software tools, navigate interfaces, and complete multi-step tasks. Google says this improves performance for long-horizon workflows such as automated testing, enterprise operations, and knowledge-based tasks that require sustained reasoning and execution.
The model already supports tool use like search, maps, and function calling. The addition of computer use allows it to observe screens, interpret interfaces, and act within them, making it more effective for automation-heavy use cases.
Social Media Feature Updates and Algorithm Changes
Instagram for TV expands to Samsung TVs
Instagram is rolling out Instagram for TV on Samsung Smart TVs in the US, expanding its presence across major connected TV platforms, including Fire TV and Google TV. The move is part of Meta’s push to bring short-form social video into the shared living room experience.
The TV version of the app is designed around group viewing based on how people already use Instagram in social settings. Users can now watch Reels, Stories, and creator content on a bigger screen, with the ability to cast videos directly from their phones. The experience also introduces interest-based channels to help viewers quickly find content suited for group viewing, such as comedy, sports, or creator highlights.
LinkedIn introduces Collaborative Posts
LinkedIn is rolling out a new Collaborative Posts feature that allows multiple users and company pages to co-author and publish a single post together. Each collaborator will be visibly credited at the top of the post, making it easier to showcase shared ownership of ideas, announcements, and projects.
The feature is currently being tested with select creators and brands during Cannes. And a broader availability is expected in the coming months. It is designed to reflect how professional content is often created today, where multiple people contribute behind the scenes to product launches, announcements, partnerships, and company milestones.
Gemini-powered analytics tools coming to YouTube for creators
YouTube has announced a new set of AI-powered insights tools built with Gemini to help brands and agencies improve campaign performance and better understand creator-driven marketing. The updates were unveiled at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.
A key addition is deeper trend data within Google Ads Insights Finder, giving advertisers more granular visibility into what content is currently gaining traction on YouTube. This is designed to help brands respond faster to emerging audience interests and cultural shifts.
YouTube is also integrating brand pulse insights directly into Insights Finder, combining paid and organic performance signals in one place. This gives marketers a more complete view of how their brand is performing across the platform.
Meta revamps Facebook Creator Studio as an AI companion app
Meta is bringing back Facebook Creator Studio in a redesigned version, positioning it as an AI-powered companion app focused on helping creators grow faster and manage their content more efficiently. The updated version is being rebuilt with AI at its core and will act as a centralized workspace for insights, planning, and audience engagement.
The new Creator Studio will surface personalized recommendations based on a creator’s voice, audience, and performance data. It will highlight daily priorities such as post performance, goal tracking, and key comments that need responses. An integrated AI assistant will support ideation, analytics interpretation, and content strategy guidance directly inside the app.
A major focus is on simplifying community management. The platform will introduce AI-assisted comment tools that help identify important interactions and draft replies in the creator’s tone, while still allowing full user control before posting.
On a Final Note
With that, we wrap up this week’s social media recap. So many new tools to explore, advanced advertising features to leverage, new AI glasses, creative post formats on LinkedIn – that’s a huge bunch of updates for one week, don’t you think? We know it gets overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to! Stay tuned, and we’ll see you again with a fresh set of updates next week.
