In 2025, WPP's shares have fallen 60% amid concerns that AI will automate core agency work, while Publicis and Omnicom also declined. Analysts say large brands will still need agencies to manage complex, multi‑platform campaigns, and lower AI production costs could spur bigger ad budgets and competition for standout experiences.

South Korea plans to sign new regulations for its artificial intelligence sector in January, with the AI Framework Act expected to take effect on January 22, 2026. According to industry sources, the framework will establish a national AI committee, mandate a three-year plan, and impose safety, transparency, and disclosure rules, including watermarking. A survey reported that 98% of 101 local AI firms lack compliance systems.

Nvidia is evaluating ways to expand H200 chip output after Chinese orders exceeded its current supply capacity. The demand spike followed an export decision that permits H200 sales to China with a 25% levy. Chinese tech firms, including Alibaba and ByteDance, requested large batches and delivery timelines this week.

Apollo Global Management shorted loans tied to Internet Brands, SonicWall, and Perforce during 2025, citing AI-driven pressure on legacy software models. The positions, held for much of the year and amounting to under 1% of its $700 billion credit book, have been closed, according to a person familiar with the matter. Targeted loans now trade above 80 cents on the dollar.

On Friday, seven Democratic senators urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to reverse approval of Nvidia H200 exports to China, calling it a national security risk. The letter came four days after Trump told Xi Jinping the U.S. would permit shipments and noted a 25% revenue share from China sales; the White House and Commerce defended the decision as controlled and vetted.

On December 13, 2025, former President Donald Trump's AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks defended an executive order titled "Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence" that aims to centralize AI regulation at the federal level. The order seeks to preempt what the administration views as burdensome state-level rules, while critics in Congress and state governments warn it could undercut consumer protections and state authority. Sacks argues that a unified national standard would reduce compliance costs and help the U.S. maintain its AI edge over China.

AI-driven shopping assistants are projected to influence $263 billion in global online holiday sales, representing 21% of seasonal e-commerce. Retailers including Walmart, Target and Etsy are enabling purchases via ChatGPT, while AI-referred traffic in the U.S. shows higher conversion, longer browsing, and greater revenue per visit.

Over the week, Oracle’s share price fell around 10% after its Q2 2026 earnings, as quarterly revenue of $16.06 billion came in below the $16.21 billion forecast. Yet the company’s remaining performance obligations climbed to $523 billion and high-margin cloud services expanded rapidly, while Larry Ellison’s influence in political and defense circles underpins expectations for future AI and government contracts. These factors suggest the pullback in ORCL may reflect timing of revenue conversion more than a broad AI bubble reversal.