AdTechGod Pod Ep. 100 The Future of Ad Tech & Agencies: AI, Giving Back, Walled Gardens & People-First Innovation
4 snips
Oct 2, 2025 
In a captivating discussion, Ari Paparo, an ad tech entrepreneur, and Terence Kawaja, an industry veteran, explore how AI and consolidation are reshaping the advertising landscape. Tom Deerlein shares the inspiring story of the TD Foundation, emphasizing the impact of rapid crisis aid for veterans. Agency leaders Lauren Wetzel and Sam Bloom delve into the evolving role of agencies, the importance of data autonomy, and fostering people-first cultures in AI-driven environments. Tune in for insights on authenticity, live advertising, and the future of the industry!
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Episode notes
AI Momentum Lives In Walled Gardens
- AI adoption in ad tech lags behind big walled gardens like Google and Meta, where the biggest AI impacts are happening.
- Incumbent ad tech firms show limited AI progress while closed platforms leverage AI to improve ad effectiveness.
Closed-Loop Advantage Drives Consolidation
- Endgame consolidation favors platforms that control both demand and supply, creating closed-loop advantages.
- AI and unified stacks will accelerate consolidation and reshape business models across the programmatic ad stack.
Publishers Must Reclaim Their Audiences
- Publishers face structural declines in referral traffic as users shift to mobile, social, and AI-driven search answers.
- Publishers must own audiences via podcasts, newsletters, CTV, commerce and other controlled channels to survive.