Head of Content James Mulvey joins the show to discuss Motion’s latest creative trends report, which analyzed over $100M+ in ad spend across platforms to extract top creative insights. Listen now to catch the highlights and learn how breakthrough ads are getting faster, funnier, and uglier.

Read Motion’s 2025 Creative Trends Report at Motionapp.com/creative-trends.

• Motion curated a report of the seven top creative trends to keep up with in 2025, finding that ads are getting funnier, running longer, and embracing low-fi aesthetics.
• 71% of advertisers plan to increase their use of AI in the coming year.
• 68% of advertisers plan to increase their use of UGC in the coming year.
• POV storytelling is on the rise – from entertainment to advertising.
• [00:15:10] “Authenticity and humor can be very difficult to marry.” – Brian
• [00:15:15] “–Especially if you’re not funny.” – James
• [00:21:30] “Popular media drives creator notions.” – Phillip
• [00:33:50] “The native platform experts are absorbing the source code, and then they're bringing that into the creative team…we all doomscroll to try to stay relevant, but it’d be awesome to have someone who’s job is to do this.” – James

• Check out the Motion Creative Trends Report
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This week, we’re live-reacting to battles across culture. It’s DeepSeek vs. OpenAI, Millennials vs. Gen X, and Starbucks vs. Sharpies (Sharpies won). PLUS: The Flappy Bird effect drives an aftermarket of devices with TikTok access, yuppie culture booms, and Waymo strikes again.

• DeepSeek’s Disruption – A powerful, cheap, open-source AI from China that is sending shockwaves through the industry, challenging Nvidia’s dominance and raising economic concerns.
• The Death of Loss Leaders? – AI optimization could make it easier for consumers to game retail pricing, forcing businesses to rethink discounts and marketing tactics.
• Tech Arms Race – The U.S.-China AI competition is accelerating, with implications for policy, economy, and innovation.
• The Generational Cycle – Are Millennials the new Boomers? Phillip and Brian discuss how attitudes shift over time.
• TikTok Bans and Black Markets – The aftermarket for phones with TikTok pre-installed mirrors the Flappy Bird phenomenon.
• “If someone was able to optimize their life so that friction was removed, it would break the system.” – Phillip
• “This is ground zero of something huge. The AI game just changed overnight.” – Phillip
• “The best defense is to flood the zone. The moment you try to contain something, you lose control.” – Brian
• “The return of yuppies proves that history doesn’t just repeat itself—it evolves.” – Phillip
• “Technology enabled back.” – Brian

• In-show mention: The Cruel Kids Table, New York Magazine
• In-show mention: TimesNowNews: Phones with TikTok Pre-Installed Selling for $25,000
• Check out Future Commerce on YouTube
• Check out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and print
• Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world
• Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

This episode of Future Commerce is brought to you by Future Commerce Plus and our sponsors Omnisend and MotionApp.