Technology

Pinterest is undergoing a significant strategic reset, marked by its largest acquisition since 2022 – tvScientific – and a renewed focus on artificial intelligence to enhance user experience and drive commerce. The moves come as the visual discovery platform navigates a challenging period for its stock, with shares facing substantial declines over the past year. This pivot aims to capitalize on the growing connected TV (CTV) advertising market and leverage AI-powered personalization to convert its substantial user base into revenue.

The acquisition of tvScientific signals Pinterest’s intent to compete directly in the performance advertising space for CTV, a rapidly expanding segment where companies like Meta, Alphabet, and TikTok are also vying for market share. Simultaneously, Pinterest is bolstering its leadership with the addition of Kecia Steelman, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ulta Beauty, to its Board of Directors, effective February 16, 2026. This board refresh is designed to bring retail expertise to the forefront as Pinterest increasingly focuses on shopping features and advertising solutions.

But, this transformation unfolds against a backdrop of financial pressure. As of February 2026, Pinterest’s stock has fallen 57.7% over the past year and 80.5% over five years, closing recently at $16.38 after declines of 14.2% in the past week and 36.8% in the past month. The company’s 2025 sales reached $4,221.77 million, an increase from $3,646.17 million the previous year, but net income decreased to $416.86 million from $1,862.11 million, with diluted earnings per share at $0.61 versus $2.67. These figures highlight the execution risk Pinterest faces as it invests in new technologies and restructures its business.

Expanding into Connected TV Advertising

The acquisition of tvScientific is central to Pinterest’s strategy to tap into the growing CTV advertising market. The deal will allow Pinterest to offer outcome-based, performance-driven advertising solutions on connected TV platforms, providing advertisers with a new channel to reach its highly engaged audience. This move is particularly significant given the increasing shift of viewers from traditional television to streaming services.

AI-Powered Personalization and Shopping

Alongside the CTV expansion, Pinterest is heavily investing in AI to reshape the user experience. These AI-powered tools are designed to enhance personalization and improve shopping features, making the platform more actionable for both brands and users. The goal is to deepen engagement and support more diversified revenue streams through visual search and improved ad targeting.

New Board Member Brings Retail Expertise

The appointment of Kecia Steelman to the Board of Directors is a strategic move to strengthen Pinterest’s commerce capabilities. Steelman, a seasoned executive with decades of experience in retail, currently serves as the President and CEO of Ulta Beauty. Her expertise is expected to guide Pinterest’s advertising and commerce initiatives, particularly as the platform aims to attract and retain retail advertisers. She will also serve on the Talent Development and Compensation Committee, as noted in an SEC filing.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Despite these strategic moves, Pinterest faces ongoing challenges. Advertising demand from large retailers has been sensitive to economic factors like tariffs and margin pressures, potentially impacting revenue and earnings guidance. The company’s ability to successfully integrate tvScientific and demonstrate a meaningful contribution from CTV campaigns will be crucial. Tracking trends in net income and adjusted EBITDA as AI and CTV investments mature will be key indicators of the company’s progress.

Looking ahead, investors will be closely watching Pinterest’s first quarter 2026 revenue, which the company has guided to be between $951 million and $971 million, benefiting from a 3-point foreign exchange tailwind. The successful execution of its new strategy, coupled with a favorable economic environment, will be essential for Pinterest to regain investor confidence and drive sustainable growth.

What are your thoughts on Pinterest’s strategic shift? Share your insights in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This article provides informational content only and should not be considered financial advice. Consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

A breathtaking image released by NASA captures the exhaust plume of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in a way rarely seen, resembling a distant nebula rather than the trail of a human-made machine. The photograph, taken by John Kraus during the launch of the Crew-12 mission on February 13, 2026, offers a unique perspective on the power and beauty of spaceflight. The stunning visual has quickly captivated space enthusiasts and highlights the artistry inherent in rocket propulsion.

The Crew-12 mission successfully launched from the Space Force Station at Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission is the twelfth operational NASA Commercial Crew Program flight and the 20th crewed orbital flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft, restoring full operational capacity to the ISS after a temporary reduction in crew size. The launch was a critical step in maintaining continuous human presence in low Earth orbit for scientific research and technological development.

The image showcases the nine Merlin engines of the Falcon 9’s first stage consuming a mixture of liquid oxygen and kerosene to generate approximately 770,000 kilograms of thrust – the force needed to overcome Earth’s gravity. The superheated gases, water vapor, and soot expelled during this process expand violently into the atmosphere. Still, the low pressure and fluid dynamics sculpt the incandescent mass into delicate, symmetrical patterns, illuminated from behind by the engine itself. This creates a structure reminiscent of a blossoming flower or the filaments of gas left by a supernova explosion, a reminder that precision engineering is underpinned by raw physical power.

Credit: NASA

Crew-12 Restores Full ISS Capacity

The Crew-12 mission, which launched on February 13, 2026, transported NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (commander) and Jack Hathaway (pilot), ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev to the ISS. After a flight of approximately 28 hours, the Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the Harmony module of the ISS on February 14, 2026, according to SpaceX Crew-12 documentation. The arrival of the crew was urgently needed, as the station had been operating with a reduced crew of three since January 8, 2026, following the medical evacuation of a crew member from the previous mission, Crew-11.

With the integration of Crew-12, Expedition 74 now has a full complement of seven members, resuming the normal pace of scientific research and maintenance of the orbital laboratory. The new occupants are prepared for an eight-month stay aboard the ISS, providing ample opportunity to observe further “nebulas” created by the rockets that brought them to space. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, utilizing SpaceX’s capabilities to transport astronauts to and from the ISS, as detailed on NASA’s Crew-12 mission page.

Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon Details

The Falcon 9 rocket used for the Crew-12 mission utilized a Falcon 9 Block 5 booster (B1101.2). The Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, is designed to carry up to seven astronauts. The mission duration was 4 days, 17 hours, and 50 minutes, as of the time of this report, according to Wikipedia. The launch occurred at 10:15:55 UTC (5:15:56 am EST) from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40).

The successful launch and docking of Crew-12 underscore the continued success of the partnership between NASA and SpaceX in advancing human space exploration. The mission not only restores full operational capacity to the ISS but also demonstrates the reliability and efficiency of the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon systems. The stunning imagery captured during the launch serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty and wonder of space travel.

As the Crew-12 astronauts settle into their six-month stay aboard the ISS, their work will contribute to a wide range of scientific experiments and technological advancements. Future missions will continue to build upon this success, paving the way for even more ambitious endeavors in space exploration. The ongoing collaboration between international partners will be crucial in pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and expanding our presence beyond Earth.

What are your thoughts on the stunning imagery captured during the Crew-12 launch? Share your comments below and let us recognize what excites you most about the future of space exploration.