KIMP’s Picks March 6th: Weekly Highlights In Design, Marketing, AI, & More

Every Friday, do you find yourself scrolling endlessly to catch up on the social media buzz? Struggling to keep up with the latest AI news, changes coming to the social media platforms you use every day? You’re in the right place. This is your shortcut to staying in the loop. Your weekly recap of the big updates that you just cannot miss. 

So, are you ready for the KIMP’s Picks’ March 6th Edition? Let’s get started. 

In the Marketing Realm 

Google Ads vs ChatGPT ads – preparing for the future of advertising 

Semrush, a renowned digital marketing platform, shared a post summarizing the differences between Google Ads and ChatGPT Ads. OpenAI introduced ads in ChatGPT recently and it has created a buzz. But considering that seeing ads in AI responses might be the reality in the future, this post compares what advertising looks like on the well-known Google Ads platform and when advertising via ChatGPT. 

From the differences arising between search queries on traditional search engines like Google and user prompts on AI search to the differences in ad placement and the goals that feel practical for each, the post gives an insightful comparison for advertisers. 

It also highlights that while AI search might be becoming more and more crucial in the early stages of the buyer’s journey, at the “moment of action”, the time of actual purchase, traditional search engines, and hence Google Ads, still play a pivotal role. 

Direct Offers in Google Ads 

Google shared a post delving into one of their recently introduced ad formats called Direct Offers, which was introduced in January. This ad format is all about enhancing the shopping experience in AI Mode by allowing shoppers to find and negotiate deals. 

The format is built to let brands tailor discounts for users by targeting high-intent users who are most likely to convert with the right deals presented at the right moment. Formats like these exemplify the power of AI in advertising, especially when it comes to enhancing personalization. 

McDonald’s Big Arch reveal creates a buzz, for the wrong reason 

In an attempt to humanize the brand, several brands are now placing their CEO and other members in leadership roles as the face of their brand. McDonald’s made a similar attempt, revealing its Big Arch burger, but ended up creating buzz for the wrong reason and becoming one of the biggest marketing moments in recent times. 

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski recently introduced the new Big Arch Burger on LinkedIn. The post quickly went viral, but not for the reason the company expected. Online viewers focused less on the burger and more on Kempczinski’s visible hesitation while taking a bite.

Social media users pointed out that the moment felt unnatural. Some questioned whether the CEO even eats McDonald’s food regularly. The reaction sparked comparisons to Dave Thomas, the late founder of Wendy’s, who became famous for his authentic on-camera appearances. 

The moment also revived memories of the brand’s 1996 launch of the Arch Deluxe. Back then, CEO Michael Quinlan introduced the burger as a more “grown-up” option for adult diners. Whether the new burger resonates with customers remains to be seen. On the whole, this incident proves one thing – authenticity and the right spokesperson can matter as much as the product itself.

In the Content Marketing Realm 

SEO vs PPC in the AI search era 

A recent post from Search Engine Journal explores the long-running debate between SEO and PPC. The reality is that this debate is getting more complicated as search behavior evolves. While both are under the same digital marketing umbrella, they operate very differently when it comes to growth, cost, and scalability.

A major shift is the rise of AI-driven search features like Google AI Overviews. Since rolling out to U.S. users in 2024, these summaries have reduced clicks on traditional search results.

Research from the Pew Research Center found users clicked links only 8% of the time when AI summaries appeared, compared to 15% without them. Zero-click searches are also rising, with Similarweb reporting news queries without clicks increased from 56% to 69% within a year. 

The good news is that SEO still plays the long game. It builds organic visibility, brand authority, and content that can appear in AI-generated answers. But traffic growth now depends heavily on changing search result layouts. PPC, on the other hand, offers speed and precision. Brands can gain instant visibility through platforms like Google Ads, but the results last only as long as the ad budget continues.

In the Design Realm 

Lessons in rebranding 

When the creative block hits hard, there are several sources on the internet where you can find inspiration and The Brand Identity is one such place for branding design inspiration.  

One of their recent posts discusses the rebranding of a supplement brand, Equip Foods. Their new visual identity is built around a simple idea that nutrition should feel natural and understandable. 

The rebrand centers on the philosophy “Nutrition As Nature Intended,” highlighting whole-food ingredients and transparent nutrition. 

The design direction draws inspiration from vintage pantry staples like flour bags and butter packaging. The goal was to reflect a time when food felt straightforward and trustworthy, without turning nostalgia into a gimmick. The updated color palette keeps Equip’s red and blue but softens the tones and replaces stark white with cream to add warmth and familiarity.

The design project demonstrates that clear positioning and thoughtful design rooted in brand philosophy can cut through crowded wellness categories and drive real performance.

In the AI Realm 

NotebookLM introduces AI-powered cinematic video overviews 

NotebookLM has introduced Cinematic Video Overviews, a major upgrade to its AI-powered video creation feature. The update takes the model beyond simple narrated slides and generates immersive, visually rich videos built directly from a user’s source material.

The feature uses several advanced AI models from Google, including Gemini 3, Nano Banana Pro, and Veo 3. Together, these models create fluid animations, detailed visuals, and a structured narrative designed to explain complex topics more clearly. 

On the whole, in this system, Gemini acts as a creative director. It decides the narrative flow, visual style, and format of the video. The model also reviews and refines its own output to maintain visual and storytelling consistency.

Perplexity Computer gets a new ‘Voice Mode’

Just last week, Perplexity created a buzz by introducing Perplexity Computer. Now Perplexity has introduced Voice Mode to Perplexity Computer, allowing users to interact with the system using natural speech instead of typing.

The feature enables hands-free conversations with the AI. Users can simply talk to the AI giving their request, and the system listens, processes the task, and responds with spoken answers. Voice Mode also supports extended speaking sessions, meaning users can continue a conversation or workflow without repeatedly pressing buttons or restarting prompts.

Google unveils Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite

Google has launched Gemini 3.1 Flash‑Lite, a new model that combines speed and cost-efficiency. Built for large-scale developer workloads, the model focuses on delivering strong performance while keeping costs low.

The new model is priced at $0.25 per million input tokens and $1.50 per million output tokens, making it significantly cheaper than larger AI models. Despite the lower cost, it improves performance compared with earlier models like Gemini 2.5 Flash. According to Google, benchmarks show a 2.5× faster time to first response and about 45% faster output speed.

Developers can access the model in preview through Google AI Studio via the Gemini API, and enterprises can use it through Vertex AI. The model also includes adjustable “thinking levels,” allowing developers to control how much reasoning power the AI uses for different tasks.

Google’s March Pixel Drop adds smarter AI features across Pixel Phones and Watches

Google has rolled out its March Pixel Drop, bringing a range of AI-powered upgrades to Google Pixel devices. The updates focus on making everyday tasks faster, more intuitive, and more personalized. 

One of the biggest updates improves Circle to Search. The feature now supports multi-object recognition, allowing users to identify multiple items within a single image. 

AI assistant Gemini also becomes more integrated with daily tasks. Through the Gemini app, users can ask the assistant to complete actions like ordering groceries or booking rides without leaving the app.

Messaging is getting smarter, too. With Magic Cue, Gemini can suggest restaurant recommendations directly inside a chat conversation based on what friends are discussing.

Other updates include a standalone version of the Now Playing music recognition tool, improved widgets in At a Glance, and expanded AI safety tools like scam detection and call transcription.

ChatGPT-5.3 Instant enhances conversations 

ChatGPT is getting a usability upgrade with the release of GPT-5.3 Instant. This new update is designed to make everyday conversations smoother, more helpful, and more accurate. The model focuses less on benchmark performance and more on real user experience, improving tone, relevance, and conversational flow.

One of the biggest changes is fewer unnecessary refusals and disclaimers. Earlier versions, such as GPT‑5.2 Instant, sometimes rejected questions or started answers with long safety explanations. The new model is designed to respond more directly while still following safety guidelines, reducing interruptions that slow down conversations.

According to OpenAI, the update also improves how the model uses web information. Instead of listing links or loosely connected facts, GPT-5.3 Instant combines online results with its own reasoning to deliver clearer, more relevant answers upfront.

Amazon introduces an AI-powered canvas experience in Seller Central 

Amazon is enhancing the experience for sellers on the platform with new AI-powered updates coming to Seller Central. 

These updates come with a new AI-driven canvas experience in Amazon Seller Central that allows sellers to generate personalized, interactive dashboards using their business data in real time. The feature combines conversational AI with dynamic visualizations. This helps sellers explore insights, test scenarios, and take action directly from a single workspace.

The canvas works alongside Seller Assistant, Amazon’s AI chat tool that already offers recommendations and support to sellers. Built on Amazon Bedrock and powered by models like Amazon Nova and Claude, the system analyzes real-time data and generates tailored visual workspaces based on a seller’s questions or prompts.

Sellers can use the canvas to review sales performance, optimize marketing campaigns, plan inventory, or evaluate new product launches.

Claude’s memory comes to the Free tier 

Since voicing out against the display of ads in AI search results, Anthropic has consistently been making progress in expanding features for the users in the free tier. 

This week, they announced that the memory feature is coming to free users as well. When the memory feature is turned on, Claude will remember past conversations and therefore be able to provide you with more personalized responses. 

Alongside this update, Anthropic introduced a basic memory import process designed to help people bring their saved chatbot preferences into Claude. The method is straightforward. Users copy a prompt into another AI chatbot, generate their stored memory data, and then paste the results into Claude’s memory settings.

OpenAI announces GPT-5.4

OpenAI has rolled out GPT-5.4 sooner than anticipated as GPT-5.4 Thinking. The model has been introduced in both the ChatGPT API and Codex. The model is particularly built to tackle professional work and it comes with a performance-driven GPT‑5.4 Pro option as well. 

From reasoning to coding, the model ups the game across the essential tasks in agentic workflows. Notably, users can view the thinking plan before the model’s flow begins and therefore can modify the approach upfront, as required. 

Social Media Feature Updates and Algorithm Changes

Meta to notify parents if teens search for self-harm content 

As a part of its process of strengthening teen safety on its platforms, Meta has announced a new feature that will notify parents if their teen repeatedly searches for content related to self-harm. 

The alerts will trigger when a teen attempts several searches for harmful terms within a short period. Instead of showing results, Instagram already blocks such searches and directs users to support resources and helplines. The new system now also notifies parents so they can step in if their child may need help. 

View on Threads

Meta adds new features in Edits 

Meta is making its video editing tool, Edits, even more intuitive with the introduction of several new features. First, there are more new effects added and these can be applied to specific objects or even people in the video. This is in addition to the overlay effects like OuterGlow and Pulse. 

Finally, the Ideas Tab is getting a few updates and the app will now let you highlight specific words in captions to draw attention to the core message. 

View on Threads

X introduces “Paid Partnership” labels 

X has announced a new Paid Partnership label for posts, aimed at improving transparency around sponsored content on the platform. The feature is designed to clearly indicate when a post includes a commercial collaboration between creators and brands.

This will let creators disclose brand partnerships to maintain transparency in their content. 

X begins testing X Chat app 

X has started testing its new standalone messaging app called X Chat. This marks a major shift in how private conversations work on the platform. Like Facebook’s Messenger app, the X Chat app separates direct messages from the main X experience while still remaining connected to users’ existing accounts.

X announces Creator Subscriptions 2.0

X has updated the paid subscription on the platform with the introduction of Creator Subscriptions 2.0. The new feature is designed to help creators convert followers into paying subscribers more easily. The refresh adds new content formats and tools that help strengthen recurring revenue on the platform.

Notably, this adds a new Exclusive Threads option. With that, creators can give their audience a preview and reserve the rest of the content for subscribers. 

In addition to this, there is an updated onboarding for subscribers and a revamped subscription dashboard as well. 

Let’s Wrap Up…

With that, we wrap up the KIMP’s Picks’ March 6th Edition. So, if you are someone looking for a way to catch up on the social media highlights without doomscrolling, then stay tuned and we’ll meet you again with a fresh round-up. Let us curate the updates for you so you don’t have to spend all weekend hopping between platforms trying to get a recap. See you soon!