Episode 139: Lisa Utzschneider on carbon, attention, AI, and why being the CEO is fun!

In this episode, Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi talk with Lisa Utzschneider, CEO of Integral Ad Science (IAS), about the latest shifts in digital advertising. They explore how the industry is moving from simple verification toward performance, why metrics like attention and carbon are getting more attention, what AI is doing behind the scenes, and how retail media and streaming are changing the game. Along the way, they dig into trust, complexity, and what brands really care most about today. Takeaways IAS has moved beyond verification, focusing on performance and transparency.  Attention and carbon are part of the metrics mix, not replacements for existing standards.  AI powers classification and validation at scale, speeding up processing and accuracy.  Retail media and CTV are rapidly growing areas with unique challenges.  Brands still prioritize simple goals: reach consumers, protect reputation, and drive outcomes. Chapters01:00 Open Web vs. Walled Gardens04:40 From Verification to Optimization07:30 Carbon as a Metric09:00 Attention Metrics12:00 Cutting through the Complexity12:40 AI in Practice16:15 Startups, Scale, and Data19:00 Retail Media’s Rise21:00 Trust and Perception Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Ari Paparo interviews Ajit Thupil, Chief Product Officer of Bombora, discussing the unique challenges and strategies in B2B marketing. They explore how Bombora leverages data to enhance sales and marketing efforts, the importance of audience targeting, and the evolving role of AI in the industry. Ajit shares insights on the competitive landscape and the significance of understanding the distinct nature of B2B compared to B2C marketing. Takeaways Bombora focuses on the P2P space, serving sales and marketing needs. B2B marketing involves long and complex sales cycles. Data is crucial for targeting the right accounts in B2B. Activation of data is available through major DSPs and social channels. Granularity in audience targeting helps overcome company size disparities. AI's role in B2B marketing is evolving but remains data-dependent. Understanding customer behavior is key to effective targeting. Frequency capping at the account level is essential for B2B campaigns. Bombora's partnerships with publishers enhance data quality. Specialization in B2B marketing differentiates Bombora from larger platforms. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Bombora and Its Mission 03:07 Understanding B2B Marketing Dynamics 06:09 Data Utilization in B2B Marketing 08:47 Targeting Strategies and Audience Granularity 11:50 The Role of AI in B2B Marketing 14:58 Competitive Landscape and Challenges 18:01 Lightning Round and Fun Insights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Marketecture Podcast, hosts Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi discuss the recent Google search remedies and their implications for the market. They delve into the antitrust issues surrounding Google, the upcoming ad tech trial, and the complexities of Epsilon's SSP. The conversation also touches on Perplexity's struggles in advertising, OpenAI's strategic acquisition, and emerging trends in ad tech and AI. Additionally, they explore insights from the CTV landscape, including Roku's growth and the NFL Red Zone's new commercial strategy, concluding with a discussion on Paramount's potential acquisition of The Free Press. Takeaways Chapters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this emergency episode of the Market Texture Podcast, Ari Paparo and Alan Chapell discuss the recent ruling by Judge Metta regarding Google's monopoly status. They analyze the implications of the ruling, including the decision not to divest Chrome or Android, the impact of distribution deals, and the challenges of data sharing. The conversation also touches on the missed opportunity for choice screens, the future of Google's search monopoly, and the DOJ's approach to antitrust cases. The episode concludes with thoughts on potential settlements and the global implications of the ruling. Takeaways Judge Metta's ruling largely favored Google's proposals. Chrome and Android were not deemed necessary for divestment. Distribution deals remain intact, benefiting Google. Data sharing is complicated by privacy concerns. Choice screens were dismissed as ineffective by the judge. The ruling does not reduce Google's search monopoly. AI's rise may challenge Google's dominance in the future. The DOJ's commitment to antitrust cases is uncertain. Future antitrust cases may focus on AI and other areas. Global implications of the ruling may affect future legislation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Emergency Episode 01:08 Judge Metta's Ruling Overview 02:02 Chrome and Android: The Monopoly Debate 05:37 Distribution Deals and Their Implications 09:13 Data Sharing and Its Challenges 14:41 Choice Screens: A Missed Opportunity 15:31 The Future of Google's Search Monopoly 19:42 Natural Monopoly vs. Competition 21:13 DOJ's Approach and Future Antitrust Cases 22:55 Next Steps for Google and Potential Settlements 26:36 Global Implications and Future Legislation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Ari Paparo moderates a debate about the role of transaction IDs in the ad tech industry with Mike O’Sullivan, co-founder of Sincera and now part of The Trade Desk, and Chris Kane, founder of Jounce Media. The conversation covers the benefits and drawbacks of transaction IDs, publisher concerns about revenue and data privacy, and the influence of the Trade Desk. The episode also looks into the complexities of auction duplication and the need for transparency and standardization in digital advertising. In The Refresh, Ari and Eric Franchi discuss related topics, including CTV pause ads, AI payment models, and Amazon’s decision to block AI bots from scraping data. Takeaways Transaction IDs help harmonize ad requests and improve auction processes. Publishers express concerns about potential revenue loss and data privacy. The Trade Desk's influence is a point of concern for many publishers. Request duplication presents a significant challenge in ad tech. Engaging with buyers is crucial for publishers to understand market needs. Recent pre-bid changes have limited publishers' strategic options. Cleaner auctions can benefit both buyers and sellers. Transparency is vital for fair competition in the ad market. Publishers should seek clarity on how their inventory is presented. Standardization is needed for better performance in the ad tech ecosystem. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Transaction IDs 02:15 Understanding Transaction IDs and Their Controversy 05:15 Publisher Concerns and Revenue Implications 09:01 The Impact of Request Duplication 14:35 Practical Uses of Transaction IDs for DSPs 18:46 The Future of Transaction IDs in Ad Tech 19:22 The Pre-Bid Controversy 20:53 Skepticism in the Market 25:11 Fear of Trade Desk's Power 30:12 Navigating Publisher Concerns 35:03 Advice for Publishers Moving Forward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Roberts is the Chief Innovation Officer for the newly renamed People, Inc. He and Ari talk about how publishers are licensing content and keeping away the bots, as well as how AI optimization is playing out. Eric and Ari then review the news, including the LG Ads IPO, whistleblower allegations against Facebook, local TV consolidation, and more. Takeaways AI is becoming integral to various aspects of business. Human-created journalism remains essential despite AI advancements. Content quality is paramount; average content is not acceptable. AI can assist in research, but should not replace human creativity. Licensing agreements are crucial for protecting content from unauthorized use. The information economy needs to incentivize content creation. AI's role in search engines is changing the way information is accessed. Marketers must adapt to the new AI-driven landscape. Understanding user needs is critical for effective marketing. The future of journalism will involve collaboration between AI and human creators. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to People, Inc. 02:57 AI's Role in Content Creation 06:00 Navigating AI Licensing and Content Protection 08:49 The Future of the Information Economy 11:58 AI and Search Engine Dynamics 14:57 The Impact of AI on Marketing Strategies 17:57 Conclusion and Future Outlook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi sit down with Scott Howe, CEO of LiveRamp, for an open conversation about how the ad tech world is changing. They talk about LiveRamp’s shift from simply “data onboarding” to helping companies work together securely, how AI gets a real boost when you feed it the right kind of data, and what’s actually happening now that cookies are fading away. Scott also shares real-world stories, from loyalty programs to connected TV, that show why smart collaboration might be the best way to stand out against the biggest players. Takeaways LiveRamp has moved from moving data around to helping partners actually use it together AI works best when powered by private, permissioned data instead of just public information Cookies are losing importance, and direct, authenticated connections are taking the lead Mid-sized players with unique data can compete more effectively with walled gardens The industry needs clear, open standards for sharing data to avoid repeating past mistakes Chapters 00:00 – Catching Up and News of the Week: Streaming deals, TTD updates, and AI chatter 02:34 – What LiveRamp Is Now: From onboarding to true collaboration 03:40 – AI’s Data Diet: Why proprietary signals matter most 05:20 – Clean Rooms in Action: A snack brand, a retailer, and a social platform walk into a campaign 06:55 – Life After Cookies: Authenticated reach is already ahead 09:26 – Hedged Gardens: Where smaller but mighty players fit in 13:31 – The UCP Idea: Building shared rules for sharing data Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next in Media chatted with Rich Bloom, GM, Creator Programs & EVP, Business Development at Tubi, about the Fox-owned streamers new creator program, which has quickly expanded for five to 50 participants. Bloom also talked about Tubi's overall growth, Gen Z misconceptions, and whether TV needs to adopt more YouTube-like qualities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Wieser, CEO of Madison and Wall, sits down with Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to talk about the current state of advertising and media agencies. They cover recent earnings, the role of AI, and strategic shifts at companies like WPP and Publicis. Brian also shares his views on the economic climate and its effects on the industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Casey Saran, CEO of Spaceback, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to talk about how brands are approaching creative in a landscape shaped by social platforms, AI tools, and evolving media formats. The conversation covers the use of organic and creator content in paid campaigns, the growing volume of creative assets, and how some brands are adapting their internal processes. They also touch on platform updates from Meta, TikTok, Spotify, and more in the context of recent earnings and product changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices