At a media event in New York City this week, DoorDash announced a $175 million acquisition of retail search platform Symbiosys and launched new AI-powered ad tools for restaurant merchants creating campaigns on the platform.

The company also detailed new capabilities for brands advertising on the network, including the ability to reach consumers actively searching for items within the app and, with assistance from Symbiosys’ ad tech tools, the ability to target consumers off-site across search and social platforms.

In a fireside chat with NBA CMO Tammy Henault, DoorDash chief marketer Kofi Amoo-Gottfried shared his thoughts on where advertising is headed, creating experiences that drive culture, delivering value for customers and tips for brands building campaigns on its network.

More than half (55%) of consumers are tired of hearing about AI, according to Twilio’s 2025 State of Customer Engagement Report. And while they do want the technology to improve their brand experiences, what they want is more high touch than high tech. Here’s a look at consumers’ AI preferences and pain points, which includes customer service efficiencies, data transparency and personalized experiences.

Lastly, according to CM guest columnist Scott Blessman of Goodway Group, attention is the new currency—and attention metrics are “the rising star of advertising measurement.” Read his practical tips for marketers in this new era of AI-driven measurement.

Until next week,