MadTech Daily: Albertsons Opens AI Search Ads via Criteo; Forbes Bets on Creator-Led Growth; Cannes Day Three

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Sony’s plan to end PlayStation disc production in 2028, and Google being ordered to pay Klarna USD$1.5bn (£1.19bn).

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of content, John Still, and COO Lindsay Rowntree discuss Walmart acquiring Vibe.co, AppFlyer's $1B raise, and John's takeaways from Cannes.The first story this week is Walmart's acquisition of Vibe.co to expand access to connected TV advertising. Their conversation looks into the convergence of CTV and retail media, leading up to the retail media panel Lindsay will be moderating at ATS Singapore next Wednesday. The second covers AppFlyer's $1B raise from advertising and technology leaders Moloco, Google, Meta, and Unity.Finally, fresh from sunny Cannes, John shares his anecdotes, insights, and takeaways from the hot conversations that took place on La Croisette...

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Apple and the EU holding talks over Siri’s AI rollout, DeepSeek introducing peak-hour API pricing amid China’s AI price war, and Amazon reporting that AI-referred purchases have doubled. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Shopee and Meta teaming up on Instagram affiliates, the UK regulator targeting Apple and Google’s app store payment rules, and TAG demonetising World Cup pirate sites.

In today’s Digest, we discuss Sky agreeing to ITV Broadcast Acquisition, a study finding that YouTube creator content is shaping AI assistant answers, and Carat being named Media Network of the Year amid the industry’s AI-driven shift

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the BBC expanding its YouTube strategy with 24-hour news streaming tests, DeepSeek expanding hiring as China’s AI talent race intensifies, and Asda teaming up with Amazon in a UK-first retail media and ad tech partnership.

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, Terry Kane, managing director at The Trade Desk, joins ExchangeWire CEO Rachel Smith in Cannes to discuss ad tech in the MENA region.MENA’s ad tech ecosystem is ascending in maturity. The region’s cultural cycles and consumption patterns provide unique growth vectors, with strong momentum in open internet channels, CTV, retail data, telco-enabled identity, and DOOH. Education and local presence are needed to unlock value and shift budgets from walled gardens, while fragmented regulations make identity solutions a priority. Agentic AI is poised to help the region leapfrog stages of digital evolution, redefining discoverability, performance, and the advertising value chain. Over the next 3-5 years, agents will drive omnichannel planning and enable regional brands’ global expansion. As consumer discovery shifts to LLMs, prompting becomes a core marketing lever, while backend AI will redefine scale and profitability in programmatic. •••We're delighted to be heading to MENA for our first ever ATS Dubai event in November. If you're interested in commercial opportunities at the event, contact [email protected].•••0:00 Introduction1:09 MENA ad tech growth & maturity 3:09 Challenges and driving issues in MENA market5:54 MENA cultural approaches and fragmentation9:00 Opportunities for growth across the open internet12:54 MENA activations vs. other regions15:55 Future of MENA advertising & ad tech 20:21 LLMs and changing consumer behaviour

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Albertsons introducing advertising within its AI shopping experience, Forbes testing a creator-led strategy to expand its reach, plus the biggest announcements, deals, and talking points emerging from Cannes.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover AppsFlyer raising USD$1bn with backing from major advertising industry players, plus the biggest announcements, deals, and talking points emerging from Cannes.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the Latest from Cannes 2026, the podcast industry being worth more than previously estimated, and Channel 4 adding new partners to its ad tech stack.