The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a new permit system for all businesses and individuals advertising on social media platforms. Effective from July 30, 2025, this regulation aims to create a more transparent, organized, and trustworthy environment for digital advertising in the country.
Under this new system, anyone wishing to advertise on social media must first obtain a “Social Media Advertiser Permit.” Applications will be reviewed by the UAE’s Digital Economy and Development Authority, and permits will be issued to those who meet the necessary criteria.
The Future of Digital Advertising in the UAE: Regulation and Transparency through Permits
UAE officials have stated that the goal is to curb the uncontrolled growth of social media advertising activities. The new system will enable more effective monitoring of ad content quality, legal compliance, and consumer protection.
This regulation is also seen as part of the UAE’s broader digital transformation strategy. Social media advertising is a rapidly growing sector within the country’s digital marketing landscape, and these measures aim to ensure its development into a healthier and more sustainable industry.
Strict fines and legal penalties will be imposed on those who advertise without a permit, making regulatory compliance mandatory for digital advertising activities.
Experts suggest that the UAE’s move could serve as a model for other countries, potentially setting a global standard for advertising oversight on digital platforms.
In the coming period, brands and content creators advertising on social media in the UAE are expected to quickly adapt to these new regulations. For companies operating in digital marketing, this represents a crucial opportunity to review their operations and ensure legal compliance.
The world of digital commerce is growing rapidly, and 2025 stands out as a significant milestone in this expansion. According to 2024 data, the global e-commerce market has surpassed $7 trillion, and mobile commerce is expected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2025. This figure highlights the increasing share of mobile shopping within the overall digital commerce landscape.
Technological advancements and changes in consumer behavior are also fundamentally transforming the structure of e-commerce. In particular, AI-powered personalization systems play a critical role in tailoring the shopping experience. Currently, about 75% of e-commerce companies actively use AI technologies, and 62% of these firms regard AI as the most important trend in the industry. Thanks to AI, applications such as product recommendations, content creation, and dynamic pricing have become more efficient and impactful.
Social media platforms are also emerging as key players in the growth of e-commerce. Social commerce through channels like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok is expected to reach $2.9 trillion by 2026. The most active consumer group in social commerce is between 18 and 34 years old, driving significant sales via these platforms.
The Rise of Mobile, AI, and Social Commerce in E-Commerce by 2025
Augmented reality (AR) technology is taking the online shopping experience a step further. About 32% of users have the opportunity to try products through AR before purchasing, and 40% are willing to pay extra for brands offering these innovative experiences. As a result, experience-focused services in e-commerce are on the rise.
By 2025, mobile device shopping is expected to account for more than 60% of global e-commerce sales. This trend underscores the importance of mobile-friendly infrastructure and fast, secure payment options. Additionally, free shipping and easy return policies effectively reduce shopping cart abandonment rates.
In conclusion, companies aiming to gain a competitive edge in e-commerce by 2025 must invest in mobile infrastructure, integrate AI and augmented reality technologies, focus on social commerce, and offer sustainable shopping experiences.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced a radical shift in the company’s artificial intelligence strategy, unveiling a bold vision for “personal superintelligence.” This new approach marks a departure from Meta’s former metaverse-centered plans, placing individuals at the core of a powerful, next-generation AI system.
According to Zuckerberg, the goal is to give every person their own personal superintelligence—not just a virtual assistant that answers questions, but a deeply personalized system that learns user habits, adapts over time, and enhances productivity, creativity, and decision-making. This system is designed to act almost like a “digital twin,” evolving alongside its user.
The Future of Personal AI: Meta’s Vision for Superintelligent Digital Companions
To bring this vision to life, Meta has established a new research division called Meta Superintelligence Labs. This unit brings together world-class AI researchers to develop advanced, multimodal models capable of understanding not only text but also voice, visuals, and real-world context.
A key feature of Meta’s new AI systems is their ability to self-improve. Rather than relying on constant manual updates, these systems evolve through usage—becoming more intelligent the longer they interact with users. Meta plans to embed these AI capabilities into wearable devices, especially smart glasses, so that AI becomes a seamless part of everyday life.
Zuckerberg emphasizes that the aim is not to automate away human effort, but to augment it. Unlike other tech firms focusing on AI that replaces jobs, Meta envisions AI as a collaborative force—designed to empower individuals and help them reach their full potential.
To support this vision, the company is investing billions of dollars into infrastructure, research, and talent acquisition, competing aggressively in the global AI race. This strategy signals a shift not just in technology, but in how humans and machines will interact in the years to come.
As personal AI becomes the next frontier in artificial intelligence, Meta is positioning itself at the forefront—shaping the tools, devices, and experiences that could define the next decade.
Recently, Amazon has taken a decisive step by blocking Google’s AI-powered shopping agents from accessing its e-commerce platform. This move reflects Amazon’s strategic focus on developing and prioritizing its own artificial intelligence (AI) shopping assistants within its ecosystem. By adding Google’s AI agents to its “robots.txt” file, Amazon effectively prevents external AI tools from operating on its site, signaling a clear boundary for third-party AI automation.
This decision aligns with similar actions by other major e-commerce players like Shopify, which has also restricted AI bots that automate purchasing processes, such as “buy-for-me” agents. These measures indicate a broader industry trend: e-commerce platforms want to control AI-driven shopping experiences, favoring their proprietary systems over external competitors.
AI in E-Commerce: Strategic Control and Competitive Advantage
The growing integration of AI agents into online shopping highlights both opportunities and challenges for e-commerce platforms. While AI can enhance customer experience by providing personalized recommendations and automating purchases, allowing external AI agents unrestricted access poses risks in terms of data security, user privacy, and platform control.
Amazon’s strategy to limit third-party AI reflects an effort to maintain competitive advantage by shaping how AI shopping tools interact with its marketplace. This approach ensures that the benefits of AI-driven commerce—such as improved efficiency and personalization—are channeled through their own technology, rather than enabling competitors.
In conclusion, Amazon’s blocking of Google’s AI shopping agents underscores a critical development in the evolving relationship between AI technologies and e-commerce platforms. It raises important questions about control, competition, and the future landscape of AI-enhanced online retail.
Africa is experiencing rapid growth in the digital commerce sector, with e-commerce volumes expanding year after year. However, there are key challenges preventing the continent from fully realizing this potential. Chief among these is the difficulty medium-sized businesses face in accessing financing. While microfinance institutions support smaller enterprises, appropriate credit and investment options remain limited for mid-sized firms. Traditional banks often hesitate to invest in this area due to perceived high risks.
Innovative Approaches to E-Commerce Financing and Digital Transformation
To overcome these challenges, data-driven financing models are gaining prominence. Utilizing digital data such as e-commerce sales, inventory status, and customer feedback can improve credit assessment processes and help businesses access funding more easily. Moreover, data sharing between payment systems, logistics providers, and banks enables more accurate risk analysis.
Public-private partnerships that develop blended finance models facilitate access to capital through risk-sharing mechanisms, increasing the growth potential of businesses. The widespread adoption of mobile payment systems and strengthening of digital infrastructure in Africa also support e-commerce’s reach to broader audiences. This not only accelerates economic development but also delivers social benefits.
In conclusion, unlocking e-commerce in Africa requires easing access to financing and supporting digital transformation. These two elements form the foundation for a stronger digital commerce ecosystem and sustainable growth across the continent.
BigCommerce, a long-standing provider of e-commerce infrastructure solutions, announced a major transformation in 2025 as it rebrands under the new name “Commerce.” This strategic shift is far more than a visual makeover—it signals a deep evolution in the company’s technology and service model. Now operating as “Commerce.com, Inc.,” the brand brings together BigCommerce, Feedonomics, and Makeswift under one unified corporate identity.
At the heart of this change lies a concept the company calls “agentic commerce.” In this new model, shopping is not only conducted by people but also by AI-powered digital agents. These agents can search for products, make recommendations, and even complete purchases on behalf of users. The Commerce brand aims to provide future-ready infrastructure that aligns with this AI-driven vision of e-commerce.
A New Era in AI‑Driven E‑Commerce Infrastructure
With this rebranding, Commerce offers businesses faster growth, flexible deployment, and greater operational efficiency. BigCommerce continues to provide its adaptable platform, while Feedonomics enables optimized product catalog syndication across global digital channels. Makeswift allows brands to build custom storefronts through intuitive, drag‑and‑drop tools. Together, these three components create a modular and comprehensive commerce ecosystem.
As AI changes how consumers discover and interact with products, Commerce delivers data‑driven solutions that help brands remain visible and competitive in a shifting digital landscape. Multi‑storefront management, B2B capabilities, pricing optimization, and personalization are just some of the advanced features available. Through this transformation, Commerce isn’t just changing its name—it’s redefining its role in the global e-commerce industry.
In mid-2025, Takealot Group officially launched Takealot Fulfilment Solutions (TFS), a new business unit that brings together its logistics operations under one brand. Services that were previously used internally—such as warehousing, order fulfillment, delivery, and international shipping—are now available to third-party businesses. This strategic shift marks Takealot’s evolution from a traditional e-commerce platform to a technology-driven logistics partner.
The new model caters not only to Takealot sellers but also to small and medium enterprises and even individual entrepreneurs. With its inclusive approach, TFS offers users fast delivery, efficient warehouse management, and full supply chain visibility. It aims to close the gaps in South Africa’s logistics infrastructure while supporting regional trade growth.
Takealot’s Logistics Solutions Provide Strong Support for Digital Commerce
Takealot’s TFS initiative is poised to have a significant impact on the South African e-commerce ecosystem. At a time when international giants like Amazon are entering the market, Takealot is reinforcing its competitive position by investing in robust infrastructure. The company is also leveraging its last-mile expertise developed through its previous platform, Mr D, and expanding that into a comprehensive logistics service network.
Through TFS, companies in sectors such as retail, food, healthcare, and fast-moving consumer goods can reduce logistics costs while improving operational efficiency. This positions Takealot not only as a service provider but also as a key player shaping the future of logistics in South Africa.
In conclusion, the launch of TFS represents a strategic move by Takealot that strengthens digital trade and enables local businesses to access global markets more efficiently.
A transformative shift is underway in digital marketing strategies with the rise of “agentic search” — a new approach where AI systems respond directly and personally to user queries, replacing traditional search engine methods. Powered by large language models like ChatGPT, this technology enables brands to adopt a new communication style: interactive, instant, and voiced in the brand’s own tone.
Today, instead of turning to search engines with questions like “what’s the best moisturizer?”, users are increasingly asking AI tools, receiving not only recommendations but also tailored suggestions, detailed product insights, and even purchasing guidance.
AI ChatGPT Is Changing How Brands Engage and Convert
For brands, this signals a move beyond simple content creation toward customer engagement via conversational AI. These systems don’t just inform — they drive action, offering stock information, usage tips, and personalized product matches in real time.
Several global brands have already integrated GPT-based chatbots into their websites to adapt to this change. These bots not only enhance the user experience but also introduce new priorities in digital marketing, such as “conversational engine optimization,” replacing traditional SEO strategies. In this model, brands design their digital presence not for search engines, but for AI agents capable of dialogue and persuasion.
However, this evolution comes with certain challenges. Ensuring the accuracy of AI responses, maintaining brand consistency, and protecting user data are key concerns. Nevertheless, experts note that brands using this technology strategically can gain a significant edge in a competitive landscape.
By enabling real-time, human-like conversations, AI is reshaping how brands interact with users and how users discover products — marking the dawn of a new era in digital engagement.
Activated for U.S.-based users on the desktop version, this feature provides quick review summaries about online stores, offering consumers instant insights into their trustworthiness.
By clicking the new icon next to Chrome’s address bar, users can access concise summaries covering product quality, customer service, return policies, and pricing. These insights are generated by AI analyzing data gathered from multiple review platforms. The goal is to give shoppers a clear overview of a store before making a purchase and to minimize potential scams.
Chrome is transforming into a shopping-focused browser experience
This move comes amid growing concerns over security gaps and fraudulent sites in online retail. Evaluating the reliability of small or lesser-known e-commerce stores has always been challenging. Thanks to this system, users gain a digital “first impression” of the store, simplifying their decision-making process.
Beyond enhancing user safety, this feature marks a step toward transforming Chrome into a more shopping-focused browser. When combined with Google’s other tools—like product recognition, price comparisons, and AI-powered recommendations—Chrome is steadily evolving into a powerful shopping assistant.
Currently limited to desktop users in the U.S., this feature is expected to expand to other languages and regions over time. It remains unclear whether mobile browser versions will receive it, but global availability seems likely given positive user reception.
Revolutionary developments are taking place in the world of e-commerce with artificial intelligence (AI). Today, AI technologies are being used in many areas such as personalizing customer experience, optimizing inventory management, and strengthening sales forecasting. Providing businesses with both efficiency and competitive advantage, artificial intelligence offers a wide range of solutions from chatbots to visual searches, recommendation engines to dynamic pricing.
As a result, the online shopping experience is transforming into a new universe for both consumers and sellers. With evolving algorithms, e-commerce is becoming not just digital retailing, but a data-driven, intelligent, and predictable system.
We talked with Ozan Sihay — Director, Digital Content Creator, and Instructor at Acunmedya Academy — about the transformation of artificial intelligence in the digital world, especially in e-commerce. Also an AI tools expert, Sihay emphasizes that AI is making e-commerce faster, smarter, and more personalized, stating: “This shifts the competition from product quality to experience quality.” He also offers advice to young people, adding, “An artificial intelligence without emotional intelligence cannot surpass us.”
“It All Started With a Camera!”
Ozan Sihay described his interest in technology with the following words: “It all started with a camera, but it didn’t just stay about the image. When I realized the narrative power of technology, I focused not just on ‘shooting beautifully’ but on the idea of ‘producing intelligently.’ When I encountered AI, I saw that creativity no longer had boundaries. Video, photography, and AI are now like a triangle intertwined. I continue to create at the very center of this triangle.”
“Keeping Up With This World Is Like a Sprint Race”
To the question, “There are incredible developments in the world of artificial intelligence. How do you keep up with this ecosystem? What is it like to operate in such a broad field?”, Sihay responded: “Every morning, a new tool, a new model, a new advancement comes out. Keeping up with this world is not like a marathon, it’s like a sprint race.
But I love this pace. I’m constantly testing, producing content, and teaching. One day I’m generating visuals, the next I’m working with voice synthesis. It may seem exhausting to be active in such a wide field, but it’s also fascinating to be in a universe that can think in dozens of languages at once. If I’m learning something new every day, then I’m on the right path.”
“An Artificial Intelligence Without Emotional Intelligence Cannot Surpass Us”
To the question, “Should we be afraid of artificial intelligence? Where do you think AI will evolve?”, Ozan Sihay answered: “Instead of being afraid, we should try to understand it. AI is not a threat, it’s a tool! How we use it will determine what it becomes. The future of AI must evolve together with humans. An artificial intelligence without emotional intelligence cannot surpass us. But if we stop learning and become mere observers, then the danger begins. I believe AI will progress as far as our imagination goes. So the limit is with those who can dream…”
“This Is Not an Extinction, But a Transformation”
Ozan Sihay also touched on professions that may be negatively affected by artificial intelligence:
“Human need will decrease in routine and repetitive tasks. For example, areas like simple data analysis, content copying, or customer service are being transformed. But in return, brand-new fields are emerging: AI trainers, prompt designers, digital creators, data ethics specialists. If one job disappears, at least two new skill sets take its place. This is not an extinction, but a transformation.”
“E-Commerce Is No Longer About ‘Sales’ But ‘Experience’”
Answering a question about how AI will transform e-commerce, Sihay said: “E-commerce is no longer about sales, it’s about experience. Thanks to AI, user habits are analyzed, personalized recommendations are made, automatic product descriptions are written, and visuals are created with AI. Some brands even produce their videos entirely with artificial intelligence. In short, AI makes e-commerce faster, smarter, and more personalized. This shifts the competition from product quality to experience quality.”
Ozan Sihay’s AI Tool Suggestions for E-Commerce
ChatGPT / Gemini: For product descriptions, customer emails, and chatbot support.
Midjourney / Sora / Ideogram: For product visuals, social media posts, and posters.
Runway / Kling: For product promotional videos or animations.
Canva AI: To speed up the visual design process.
Heygen / ElevenLabs: For voiceovers, short videos, or content dubbing.
Anyone who wants to do e-commerce can even build a brand from scratch with these tools. What matters is using them correctly and maintaining originality.
“My Goal Is to Transform AI From a Source of Fear Into a Creative Force”
Sihay also spoke about tech-focused education: “In the last two years, I’ve worked with many organizations like Google Turkey, Garanti BBVA, Unilever, and Vodafone. I also teach at universities and creative agencies. My training topics usually revolve around generative artificial intelligence, AI in video production, photography, and content strategies. My goal is to transform AI from a source of fear into a creative force. I want to teach young people, companies, and content creators how to use this technology effectively.”
“Shape Yourself Not According to Algorithms But Your Values!”
As a YouTuber and influencer, Ozan Sihay shared advice with young people on social media and AI: “Shape yourself not according to algorithms but your values! Social media is not a race, it’s a platform of expression. What matters is not the number of followers, but whether your content leaves an impact. Copying is easy, but to make a difference, you must be original. Also, instead of constantly producing content, sometimes pausing to reflect is also part of creation. My advice to young people: have fun, create, but never lose who you are to any filter!”
He also added: “Curiosity is the beginning of everything. First explore, then go deeper. You don’t need to know how to code, just understand how it works. YouTube, Discord groups, online courses – all are freely accessible. Start with small tools, then create projects. You can’t become an expert without producing something. Most importantly: don’t be afraid to make mistakes! In the tech world, every mistake is a step toward the next right thing.”
Who is Ozan Sihay?
Ozan Sihay — Director, Digital Content Creator
Ozan Sihay is a cinematographer, director, photographer, digital content creator, and instructor. Born in Adana, Türkiye, Sihay shared the following about himself: “For me, cinema and content creation are not just a profession, but a way of life.
I’ve directed many short films, documentaries, and music videos — and have had the chance to win awards for many of them. I worked as an assistant director in Istanbul shoots of major Hollywood productions like James Bond: Skyfall and Charlie’s Angels.
Currently, I’m working on projects focused on artificial intelligence, video production, and digital content. I also provide training in these areas. I thrive on creating, storytelling, and inspiring others.”
