Keynote Spotlight: "Think Like a Buyer: The ROI Roadmap for 2025." Step into the buyer's mindset with Stefani Estes, Chief Media Officer at Goodway Group, as she unpacks the playbook for thriving in a privacy-first, AI-driven, and transparency-focused ad ecosystem.
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Of course, it’s not just influencers who are losing customers. Numerous brands and newsrooms relied on the platform to build their audiences. While some still hope the ban will ultimately be overturned by the incoming administration, now is the time to implement a new gameplan. As of now, President Trump has paused the ban, but there's still some uncertainty about whether the ban will go into full effect. The pendulum could swing either way. – SS
AI Slop Sites Are Hijacking Ad Dollars—and Publishers Are Fighting Back
Next time you scan sports news for trade rumors or game highlights, look closer at that URL. Sites like BBCSportss (no, that extra “s” isn’t a typo) are multiplying across the web, churning out AI-generated sports “news” that’s either stolen, garbled, or just plain nonsense. And the worst part? Big-name advertisers are funding this mess—unknowingly, of course.
A new DoubleVerify report exposes a network called “Synthetic Echo,” a ring of over 200 AI-powered sites mimicking ESPN, NBC, and CBS to siphon ad dollars away from legitimate publishers. Some are straight-up plagiarizing (hello, NBCSportz!), while others are using AI to pump out clickbait that games programmatic ad systems.
The result? A flood of junk content pollutes the internet—and advertisers waste spending on sites no human actually reads. And while NewsGuard has tracked AI-generated “news” sites ballooning from 725 to 1,150 in under a year, new ones keep popping up faster than they can be blacklisted. This surge in low-quality, AI-generated content directly attacks publishers striving to maintain audience trust.
Publishers are already fighting battles on multiple fronts—against platform algorithms, shifting referral traffic, third-party cookie deprecation, and now, AI-generated copycats. That’s why, at AdMonsters PubForum Scottsdale, media leaders zeroed in on owning their audience relationships, reducing reliance on platforms, and keeping AI in check. One publisher summed it up: “It’s about securing direct connections with our audience—so we’re not at the mercy of platforms or fraudsters.”
So while AI slop sites are busy cloning legitimate publishers and siphoning off ad revenue, real media companies are making moves—doubling down on email, subscriptions, and direct reader relationships. AI can’t replicate trust. And in a world where credibility is currency, the publishers steering their ships—not letting AI slop dilute their brands—keep ad dollars where they belong. – LdJ
Is Amazon's Ad Tech Expansion a Benefit or Threat to Retailers?
Large players like Google and Amazon have had their hats in the ad tech ring for quite some time. While many pubs and smaller players have benefitted from them, there have also been many complaints about their tactics and use of power to leverage revenue and data. Google has faced global legal battles because of alleged shady practices. Now, people are questioning Amazon's latest move.
Amazon is offering its advertising tech to other retailers despite already gobbling up 75% of retail media spend. While on the surface, retailers' access to Amazon's data could be advantageous, some wonder if a more devious ploy is afoot. Amazon's offering is tempting: access to a massive pool of advertisers and a battle-tested tech stack that's turned them into a $50 billion advertising behemoth.
But is the juice worth the squeeze? Some retailers might take the bait, especially the smaller fish in the pond looking to make a splash in retail media.
Some industry bigwigs are warning that Amazon might "weaponize the data." Retailers must decide if they will go all-in with Amazon holding the deck. For smaller players, it might be their best shot at hitting the retail media jackpot. For the big players? They might fold and stick to their own game. As the dust settles, one thing's certain: Amazon's bold move will shake up retail media. – AB
OpenAI Will Fund Four Axios Local Newsrooms
This past Wednesday, OpenAI announced it will fund four new Axios Local newsrooms in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Boulder, and Huntsville, AL. The OpenAI and Axios initiative is part of a three-year deal to expand local news coverage while exploring how AI can support journalism.
ChatGPT will use Axios content to answer user queries as part of the deal. Responses will include attributed summaries, quotes, and links to Axios stories. Axios, in turn, can use OpenAI to build new products.
According to Axios CEO Jim VandeHei, AI will play a key role in helping the company scale its local footprint to 100 or more cities. While Axios won't use AI to report stories, the company intends to use it to build "a system for creation, distribution, and monetization of our journalism."
Honest question for Ad tech Twitter, when you attend literally every single event that takes place, which is way too many, when do people actually get work done. An honest ? because I just can’t see how everyone is able to be everywhere but also do the work they’re talking about.
Dissecting the Vistar-TMobile and Sincera-TTD Deals
Eric and Ari are joined by DOOH expert Tim Rowe who helps them dissect the $600 million acquisition of Vistar by T-Mobile. They also discuss the surprise Sincera acquisition by The Trade Desk.
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