AdExchanger

No brand safety? No problem. The Onion's CMO Leila Brillson shares how the iconic satire site is expanding beyond pithy headlines into documentaries and also helping other brands find their snark – all while staying far, far away from generative AI.

Ryan McConville, Chief Product Officer at NBCUniversal, dives into the fascinating blend of traditional TV and streaming in today's advertising landscape. He shares how the pandemic accelerated NBCU's digital transformation and details the creation of their One Platform for cross-device audience engagement. McConville discusses innovations like Live Total Impact for retargeting live-event viewers, the push for multi-currency measurement, and the exciting potential of shoppable TV. He also expresses curiosity about AI innovations shaping the future of advertising.

As brand safety standards evolve and oversight shifts from platforms to third-party vendors, Brittany Scott, SVP of global partnerships at Zefr, explains what the rise of generative AI – and Meta's decision to step away from MRC brand safety audits – means for the future of media quality.

Think you know Snapchat's audience? Think again, says Ajit Mohan, Snap's chief business officer. Mohan gets real and busts myths, including the idea that Snap is just for kids and its youngest users aren't big spenders.

Jay Richman, VP of Product and Technology at Amazon, discusses how AI can revolutionize advertising without becoming bland. He explains the creative transformation at Amazon, emphasizing the importance of human oversight in generative media. Richman highlights the growing adoption of AI in both small and large brands and addresses the backlash seen with AI-generated campaigns like Coca-Cola's. He also shares insights on how AI can democratize TV advertising, enabling smaller brands to create high-quality, personalized ads.

Nada Arnott, EVP of Marketing at The Economist, brings a wealth of experience from her background in policy and media. She discusses the publication's unique strategy in navigating the AI landscape, opting for partnerships like Anthropic’s Claude, rather than pursuing licensing deals. Nada emphasizes the importance of accountable brand marketing and engaging subscribers through varied formats like podcasts and live events. She also shares insights on the resurgence of physical formats and the need for media trust amid changing digital dynamics.

Ikkjin Ahn, CEO and co-founder of Moloco, shares insights on leveraging AI at scale in ad tech. He discusses his journey from Korea to Silicon Valley, highlighting his experience at YouTube. Ikkjin emphasizes moving beyond hype to actual results in AI, detailing how Moloco drives global user acquisition and retail media success. He explores the challenges smaller retailers face and the role of first-party data. Additionally, he reflects on corporate social responsibility initiatives and the potential of Gen AI in automating campaign efforts.

In this engaging discussion, Tracy Morrissey, SVP of Media and Performance at Innocean USA, shares her journey from diverse roles in tech and advertising to leading Gen AI initiatives. She dives into how brands can shape their presence with large-language models, while emphasizing data strategies and low-risk testing. Tracy also addresses the challenges of tool fragmentation in AI, the importance of evolving content for LLMs, and how the landscape of media roles is shifting towards more integration with Gen AI, maintaining the need for human insight.

There are billions of mobile gamers in this world – mostly adult women with serious spending power – but advertisers are still lagging. It's time for brands to catch up with gaming audiences, says Gabrielle Heyman, Zynga's head of global brand sales and partnerships.

Jeff Cohen, former principal evangelist at Amazon Ads and now chief business development officer at Skai, discusses the dynamic state of retail media and AI. He shares insights on how brands are rethinking strategies for the AI era, emphasizing the importance of data integration. Jeff also delves into the concept of agentic commerce and the balance marketers need between current operations and future innovations. He highlights retail media growth trends and the significance of upper-funnel investments in driving holistic brand impact.