Paid media isn’t dead—but the old playbook is. In 2025, third-party cookies are basically gone, AI filters are reshaping user journeys, and customer acquisition costs have never been higher. If you're still relying on the same retargeting tactics and lookalike audiences from five years ago, you're probably seeing diminishing returns. Customer acquisition costs are up across the board. Brands are paying more to get in front of people, but getting fewer clicks in return. AI-dri