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Retail media grows at Myer and Pacvue, and a wave of AI ad tools ships from OpenAI, Omneky and more
Myer and Pacvue expand retail media, and the AI desk covers six launches: OpenAI's GPT-5.6 and Codex Micro, Omneky's ad-creative API, ActiveCampaign's Google Ads connector, Zappi's Amplify AI, and Amazon's Alexa+ Agentic Ads.
This edition runs across two desks. In retail media: a new in-house network at Myer and the integration of Ace Hardware's RedVest Media into Pacvue. In AI launches: OpenAI's GPT-5.6 and its Codex Micro device, ad-creative tools from Omneky and ActiveCampaign, predictive ad testing from Zappi, and Amazon's conversational ad format, each with a note on what it means for marketers.
The complete edition
8 stories, clearly separated
News Story 1 of 8
Myer launches an in-house retail media network with Mirakl Ads
What happened
Myer launched an in-house retail media network called Myer Media Network. The network runs on data from the MYER one loyalty program and serves sponsored product ads across myer.com.au. It is built on Mirakl Ads, an AI-native retail media platform.
Confirmed details
Myer appointed Michael Sharlassian as general manager of retail media to lead the network. He previously worked at Coles 360. The launch follows the debut of the Mirakl marketplace on myer.com.au the previous month, which added more than 25,000 new products.
News Story 2 of 8
Pacvue integrates Ace Hardware's RedVest Media into its commerce platform
What happened
Pacvue and Ace Hardware announced a partnership that brings RedVest Media, Ace Hardware's retail media network, into Pacvue's commerce operating system. Brands can manage RedVest Media campaigns from the same platform they use for other retailers.
Confirmed details
The integration adds RedVest Media alongside networks such as Amazon and Walmart, with cross-retailer reporting and rules-based controls for bid management and budget pacing. Ace Hardware operates more than 5,200 stores in the United States and counts over 70 million lifetime Ace Rewards members.
AI Tools Story 3 of 8
OpenAI makes GPT-5.6 generally available across its model family
What happened
OpenAI launched its GPT-5.6 model family into general availability on 9 July 2026. The release covers three variants: Sol, described as the company's strongest model to date, Terra for everyday use, and Luna, its lowest cost model.
Confirmed details
OpenAI positions Terra as delivering performance close to GPT-5.5 at about half the cost. Listed API pricing is 5 dollars per million input tokens and 30 dollars per million output tokens for Sol, 2.50 and 15 dollars for Terra, and 1 and 6 dollars for Luna.
AI Tools Story 4 of 8
OpenAI releases Codex Micro, a hardware controller for its coding agents
What happened
OpenAI released Codex Micro on 15 July 2026, its first branded hardware, a compact macro pad built with keyboard maker Work Louder. It is priced at 230 dollars and is a hardware controller for Codex, not a new model or AI capability.
Confirmed details
The device has 13 mechanical keys, a joystick, and a dial that sets the reasoning level used by the coding agents. Keys display color-coded status for live Codex threads, and all controls are configured through the ChatGPT desktop app. OpenAI aimed it at its Codex power users.
AI Tools Story 5 of 8
Omneky opens its ad-creative engine through a public API and MCP server
What happened
Omneky launched a public API and a Model Context Protocol server on 10 July 2026, opening its ad-creative generation engine to developers, commerce platforms, and AI agents. Omneky said a developer can pass a single product URL and get back finished, ready-to-launch creative.
Confirmed details
Omneky said the API reads a brand's positioning, colors, and fonts, writes the headline and call to action, and renders ads in aspect ratios including 1:1, 4:5, 9:16, and 16:9, with multi-variant and short-form video output. The MCP server exposes these tools to AI agents that speak the protocol, including Claude.
AI Tools Story 6 of 8
ActiveCampaign adds a Google Ads connector to its Active Intelligence engine
What happened
ActiveCampaign launched a Google Ads connector for Active Intelligence, its AI engine, on 8 July 2026. ActiveCampaign said marketers can launch Google Performance Max campaigns from inside ActiveCampaign using conversational prompts, without switching platforms.
Confirmed details
ActiveCampaign said the integration includes Google's generative AI asset builder in beta for generating campaign images, or marketers can use assets from the ActiveCampaign Content Manager. It said campaigns reach Google Search, YouTube, Gmail, Maps, Display, and Discover, and that the connector is available on Plus plans and above.
AI Tools Story 7 of 8
Zappi launches Amplify AI for predictive testing of high-volume ads
What happened
Zappi launched Amplify AI on 7 July 2026, a predictive ad testing tool aimed at the high volume of social video ads that usually ship untested. Zappi said it predicts consumer response to creative so marketers can screen ads before and during campaigns.
Confirmed details
Zappi said Amplify AI is trained on millions of consumer survey responses and combines machine learning with synthetic respondents. It said that across hundreds of advertising studies the tool matched human survey results 84 percent of the time. Zappi said Amplify AI is available in the United States and United Kingdom, with more markets planned in 2026.
AI Tools Story 8 of 8
Amazon Ads launches Alexa+ Agentic Ads that complete a purchase inside the ad
What happened
Amazon Ads launched Alexa+ Agentic Ads, a conversational ad format that lets a customer complete a purchase within the ad. Amazon Ads describes it as its first format that carries a shopper from seeing an ad to buying without leaving the conversation. It runs on Echo Show.
Confirmed details
Amazon Ads said the format is built to close the gap between intent and action, so a shopper can move from curiosity to a completed purchase in a single conversation. It launched with Papa Johns for food ordering and with the artists Beck, Jill Scott, and Omar Courtz selling concert tickets through Ticketmaster.