The Big Story

With its PubDesk wrapper, The Trade Desk is putting roots into ad tech’s sell side. But publishers are wary.

Live from New York at Programmatic IO, the AdExchanger editorial team debriefs what ad tech’s brightest minds are saying and doing around AI and measurement.

Will Google need to spin off its ad exchange and ad server? Court is in session in Virgina, with the DOJ and Google advocating for completely different remedies to Google’s sell-side ad tech monopoly.

Advertising using AI-doctored images could spark legal issues if the images are misleading. Plus: the commerce reckoning.

From a $637 million PE acquisition of healthcare of a DSP to acquisitions of freshly minted startups, there’s been a flurry of ad tech deals this month. And they have one thing in common: AI.

Google is running a search monopoly, but the remedies are light. How will this decision affect advertisers and competitors? Plus, Google Ad Manager is acting like a standalone SSP, a move that appears connected to the looming remedies phase of Google’s second antitrust case.

Pause ads are going programmatic, as connected TV ad buying becomes more automated. Plus: how publishers are proposing to be compensated by AI companies – and the odds that they’ll receive what they are asking for.

Alison Schiff, Managing Editor at AdExchanger, dives into the intricacies of the impending Google antitrust trial. She discusses the critical witness line-up and highlights the Department of Justice's proposed remedies to dismantle Google's advertising monopoly. Schiff unpacks strategies for promoting fairness and transparency in ad tech, as well as the complexities of enforcing changes. The conversation also takes a creative turn, comparing tech project codenames to superhero stories, adding a splash of intrigue to the legal discourse.

Laura Martin, a seasoned internet and media analyst at Needham & Company, dives into the complexities of the ad tech landscape. She discusses The Trade Desk's recent Q2 performance and the threats from tech giants like Amazon. The conversation reveals how generative AI and shifts in ad spending are reshaping competition in the sector. Martin emphasizes the rise of connected television and the critical role of first-party data in the future of advertising, showcasing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

A major lawsuit is brewing as OpenX takes on Google, accusing it of harmful monopolistic practices in digital advertising. Meanwhile, Hyphometrics scores a legal win against Nielsen, igniting talks about the impact on marketing analytics technology. The complexities of patent disputes in ad tech are examined, revealing how these legal battles can stifle innovation for smaller companies. The discussion even takes a humorous turn, speculating on casting choices for a fictionalized version of these courtroom dramas.