The State of AI in Marketing and Advertising
Between late January and early March 2026, we surveyed the industry to find out how organizations are adopting AI and where their efforts are paying off.
Survey results suggest that our industry is shifting from speculative experimentation to early operational reality. While we think most would agree that 2025 was defined by "curiosity testing,” survey responses show that core functions like content creation and ideation are now firmly embedded in daily workflows. More than any other benefit, AI is making our jobs more efficient, and AI’s impact is most frequently being measured as time saved.
That said, this transition from experimentation is not uniform. We are seeing a somewhat surprising divergence based on organization type and size.
No Traffic, No Moat
We are at the beginning of the end of "Destination Publishing."
As long as there's been digital content, this has been the go-to business model for digital content creators. Publishers produce engaging news, sports and entertainment content, they build sites, apps and channels to attract audiences, and they monetize the visits. Revenue offsets costs, and the economics make for a viable publishing business.
But AI is fundamentally breaking these age old assumptions.
Privacy as a Competitive Advantage
We’re entering a period where embracing responsible data practices translates directly into customer trust, loyalty, and ultimately, sustained market leadership. For digital advertisers and publishers, the benefits are transformative. Privacy-forward performance solutions enable them to deliver personalized, highly effective content and advertising experiences without sacrificing trust. High-quality consumer insights directly translate into measurable business outcomes.
Data is the new gold. Privacy is the next competitive advantage.
Are Advertisers Giving Away Their Most Valuable Data Assets?
For years, the advertising industry has been trapped in a cycle, reacting to shifting regulations, privacy changes, and platform policies rather than proactively shaping its own future.
In this Not just ADZ video Podcast, we explore why advertisers and publishers face a critical decision: continue relying on legacy tracking methods that are slowly disappearing or invest in privacy-first strategies that protect data while driving real performance.
Privacy and the Tale of the Slowly Boiling Frog
Are we all going to be frogs in boiling water?
The gradual increase in privacy regulations coupled with the progressive deprecation of third-party digital IDs are slowly tearing at the foundation that supports $600 billion in digital marketing, media and advertising spend. The question I have as we kick off 2024 is whether Google’s pulling the plug on one percent of Chrome cookies turns up the heat fast enough for all of us to finally jump.
In Pursuit of Truth
There is an environmental crisis in the professional news media business. So-called “reliable” news sources are slowly becoming extinct. Preserving the future of reputable news outlets is the shared responsibility of both media and advertisers.