MadTech Daily: Nine, Paramount-Ten in Talks on Ad Sales Merger; Perplexity Halts Ad Signups; EU Reviews Kids’ Safety on Major Platforms

In this MadTech Podcast special, ExchangeWire COO Lindsay Rowntree is joined by Curt Larson, Chief Innovation Officer at Equativ, to talk about how AI is changing the way people search, click, and advertise. Following a survey by Equativ on the effects of AI from a consumer perspective, they discuss how the surge in LLMs has influenced consumer needs and behaviour, what this means for advertisers and publishers, and the opportunities it presents for the ad tech industry. See the infographic at: https://www.equativ.com/research/infographic-the-ai-effect-new-habits-fewer-clicks-and-a-changing-ad-landscape

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover OpenAI launching the ChatGPT Atlas browser, Omnicom’s revenue rising on ad strength, and Netflix expanding into interactive experiences as its shares fall on a Brazil tax hit.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Google abandoning Privacy Sandbox, Warner Bros. Discovery putting itself up for sale, and Apple striking a USD$700m deal for F1 rights. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Meta testing skippable ads on Instagram Reels, AI and social media disrupting Wikipedia traffic, and Meta tightening AI chatbot controls for kids.

In today’s Digest, we cover Meta pulling out of the MRC audit and forfeiting its brand safety seal, Havas eyeing Dentsu’s global assets, and TikTok’s algorithm licensing sparking concern in the US.

In this episode of the MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire head of marketing Grainne Reid is joined by co-founder & CEO Rachel Smith and Daniel Sichel, managing director at Webtopia. They look into Google’s strategic market status and the inclusion of AI search, TikTok’s plans to cut 439 content moderation jobs in London, and Sharb Farjami’s appointment at Reddit. They also discuss regulation in the ad tech ecosystem, the dangers of AI reliance in content moderation, and advertising opportunities in community-led environments.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss the ad industry unveiling the new AdCP standard for agentic AI, major publishers facing a wave of patent lawsuits, and Walmart teaming up with OpenAI for AI-first retail.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover WPP striking a USD$400m AI deal with Google, Spotify partnering with Netflix on video podcasts, and Google offering search fixes as an EU fine looms.

In today’s Digest, we cover Publicis raising its forecast again as AI fuels growth, California moving to govern AI chatbots, and the EU striking a compromise on sustainability reporting.

In today’s Digest, Nine and Paramount-Ten’s ad sales merger talks, Perplexity’s decision to pause new ad sign-ups, and the European Commission’s review of child safety on major platforms as UK MPs call to probe job cuts to TikTok’s content moderation team.