Smartly Data Reveals How AI and Cross-Channel Intelligence Are Reshaping Marketing

Smartly’s 2026 Digital Trends Report finds 92% of marketers say AI is transforming engagement as video and CTV strategies become key to competitive advantage

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smartly, the leading AI-powered advertising technology platform, today released its seventh annual Digital Trends Report, revealing that 2026 will mark a new era of predictive marketing where AI turns the funnel into a fluid, intelligent journey. The research highlights three major forces driving this shift: the rise of AI-powered decisioning and outcomes, the convergence of social, video, and CTV, and the evolution of precision-first marketing.

Based on proprietary data and insights from more than 450 global marketers, the report finds that most marketers are using AI for creative asset creation and optimization, with the majority planning to expand their predictive and creative intelligence capabilities in 2026. As campaigns stretch across more screens, precision-first marketers, those deeply embedding AI into workflows, now use six or more platforms to reach audiences, signaling that cross-channel fluency is no longer optional.

“AI is fundamentally rewiring marketing, from creative ideation to performance optimization, and redefining how brands connect with consumers across social, video, and CTV,” said Brianna Gays, SVP, Marketing and Communications at Smartly. “We’re seeing a new class of precision-first marketers emerge, those who let intelligence guide where, how, and how fast they scale. They’re not just keeping pace with change, they’re shaping it.”

Key Findings from Smartly’s 2026 Digital Trends Report

• AI is redefining engagement: 92% of marketers say AI is transforming how they connect with consumers, with one in three already using it for predictive modeling or AI-driven creative.
  
  
• Cross-channel fluency drives growth: Precision-first marketers advertise on nearly twice as many platforms and are 22% more likely to apply AI to campaign planning and creative workflows.
  
  
• Predictive intelligence fuels efficiency: These marketers are 27% more likely to keep media waste under 10% and 40% more likely to test campaigns with AI before launch.

As video consumption continues to proliferate across social and streaming platforms, Smartly’s findings underscore the growing connection between creative intelligence and video performance, laying the foundation for continued innovation across adtech, cross-platform, and CTV solutions.

The 2026 Digital Trends Report is available for download at https://bit.ly/3JwpCEA.

About Smartly

Smartly is the AI-powered advertising technology company ranked as the leader in The Forrester Wave™: Creative Advertising Technologies. Our platform unifies creative and media to produce intelligent creative—dynamic, data-driven image and video assets optimized for seamless activation across channels. Brands manage, optimize, and scale high-performance campaigns in one place, achieving PwC-validated results, including a 5.5x return on ad spend (ROAS) and 42 minutes saved every hour.

We support 800+ brands and manage over $6 billion in ad spend globally. With strategic partnerships across major media platforms—including Amazon, Google, Meta, Pinterest, Reddit, Snap, and TikTok—we help Fortune 500 companies deliver relevant advertising at speed and scale. Backed by deep media expertise and best-in-class customer support, we empower brands to maximize performance and drive real business outcomes. Visit Smartly.io to learn more.