Ep. 113 Mediaocean, LG Ads, and Jackwell Partners on AI Hype and AdTech Trends for 2026

In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, guests Aaron Goldman (Mediaocean), Tony Marlow (LG Ads), and Jackelyn Keller (Jackwell Partners) reflect on the past year in advertising, the impact of AI, and the trends shaping the future. The conversation covers everything from weird meetings in 2025 to the overhyped nature of AI and retail media. The guests share insights on the importance of understanding data, the challenges of attribution, and the need for creativity in marketing. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire round of questions, revealing personal opinions and humorous takes on the industry.

Takeaways

• AI has significantly influenced all industries, not just advertising.
• Naming and branding can lead to intense discussions in meetings.
• AI-powered solutions are often overhyped in the industry.
• Retail media networks may struggle to survive without scale.
• Attribution methods in advertising are complex and often debated.
• Predictions in the industry can be unnecessary and overdone.
• Creative optimization is essential for effective marketing campaigns.
• Understanding data is crucial for marketers to make informed decisions.
• The future of advertising may involve more interactive and engaging ad formats.
• The importance of chilling out about industry drama and focusing on collaboration.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and ugly sweaters

03:40 50 Cent and NewFront prep

06:20 AI hype vs reality

08:45 Curation and other buzzwords

12:10 AdCP and why it is hard

14:30 Creative optimization A/B to A-Z

17:45 Ads inside AI chat experiences

18:45 Regifting trends, retail media, and clean rooms

22:10 Agentic commerce debate

25:40 What the industry should chill about

29:30 Rapid-fire questions

36:00 Wrap-up and holiday sign-off

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