Publishing & Digital Media

Pasadena, Calif. – September 15, 2026 -- The share of U.S. consumers using AI tools for local business recommendations jumped to 45% in the past 12 months, up from 6% in 2025, according to new research cited by digital marketing agency Cybertegic.

Consumer trust in AI recommendations coexists with heavy verification habits

Among the 455 consumers surveyed who reported using AI for local recommendations, 63% said they trust AI-generated suggestions, while 88% said they still check the source or legitimacy of AI-presented information. The data comes from BrightLocal's Local Consumer Review Survey 2026, based on a representative SurveyMonkey panel of 1,002 U.S. adults, with AI-specific findings published March 10, 2026.

Boston – September 14, 2026 -- H.I.G. Capital has completed a significant investment in Click Here Digital, a Baton Rouge-based performance marketing agency serving the automotive, legal, and government sectors, through one of its affiliates.

H.I.G. Capital deploys capital from its $75 billion platform into digital marketing

H.I.G., a global alternative investment firm managing $75 billion in capital, backed Click Here as part of its middle-market equity strategy. The firm's equity funds typically target management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs across manufacturing and service businesses.

Vancouver, BC – September 14, 2026 -- Time Out and Rival Technologies have won a 2026 Esomar Award for Excellence in Global Research, announced at the Esomar Congress in Valencia, Spain.

Global City Survey engaged 18,500 people across nearly 60 countries

The award-winning project surveyed participants in 45 languages, generating approximately 1.6 million data points and an 86% completion rate. The research underpins Time Out's Best Cities ranking, a decade-long global editorial initiative built on resident feedback and Time Out's journalism.

Rival's conversational platform replaced traditional survey formats

Time Out partnered with Rival Technologies to shift the Global City Survey from a standard survey format to a mobile-first, chat-like research experience while preserving the scale needed for a global program spanning dozens of markets.