Gut versus data in optimization

Is media buying dead or just evolving?

Cody Plofker, Connor MacDonald, and Connor Rolain unpack Meta’s integration of Manus AI into Ads Manager and explore what it signals for the future of paid growth. The hosts discuss whether AI-driven automation is making traditional media buying obsolete and what this shift could mean for ecommerce teams navigating an increasingly agent-led landscape.

The squad also covers how they’re already applying AI inside their brands, from campaign execution to CRO workflows + internal tooling — evolving growth roles, cross-channel decision-making, and how teams are rethinking structure in response to more capable AI systems. 

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Motion Creative Strategy Bootcamp 

https://motionapp.com/2026-creative-strategy-bootcamp-paid?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_campaign=marketing-operators&utm_content=creative-strategy-bootcamp-2026

Richpanel 

https://9ops.co/richpanel

Aftersell 

https://9ops.co/4i3bb5

Rivo 

https://www.rivo.io/operators

Prescient AI 

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Operators Newsletter 

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