The MadTech Podcast

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Scope3 making a second round of layoffs, China fining companies for fake AI services, and Meta criticising EU action over WhatsApp AI rivals

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Meta saying scam ads may account for 3–4% of revenue, Google doubling down on AI with a USD$185bn spend plan, and Alibaba’s Qwen topping China’s App Store after a bubble tea campaign.

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire’s head of marketing, Grainne Reid, is joined by COO Lindsay Rowntree and John Still, head of content, to discuss three shifts across the AI, advertising, and digital media landscapes.  They look into Amazon Ads' Model Context Protocol, OpenAI's minimum spend for ChatGPT advertising, and Google shutting down an initiative comparing YouTube viewing with traditional TV and streaming.0:00 Introduction1:27 Amazon unveils MCP12:15 OpenAI testing ChatGPT ads21:39 Google halts Kantar & Barb initiative 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Google set to double AI spending to USD$185bn (£137bn) after strong earnings, Netflix reaching 61% of UK households, according to Barb, and Baidu unveiling its first dividend alongside a USD$5bn (£3.7bn) buyback.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the DOJ appealing the Google search monopoly ruling, WeChat blocking a Tencent AI chatbot giveaway, and Netflix and Warner Bros struggling over a potential merger.

In today’s Digest, we look at Amazon opening its ad stack to AI agents, Uber returning to Asia via Macau, and Publicis Groupe ending 2025 on a high.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover OpenAI setting a $200,000 minimum spend for ChatGPT advertising, Alibaba’s Qwen heating up the AI app race, and Sky research suggesting the UK could fully shift to internet TV in the 2030s.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the IAB forecasting 9.5% US ad spend growth in 2026 driven by digital and agentic AI, OpenAI eyeing USD$40bn (£29.6bn) in funding from Nvidia, Amazon, and Microsoft, as well as  Nine selling 2GB and 3AW to Arthur Laundy.

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire CEO Rachel Smith is joined by Mazen Mroueh, head of performance product & operations & retail media at Publicis Media in Dubai, to talk about the new phase of retail media.Their conversation looks into shifting consumer behaviours and the move from monetisation to orchestration, exploring how agencies and data collaboration are driving a more sophisticated retail media ecosystem in the MENA region.0:00 The new phase of retail media8:47 Role of the agency16:40 Data collaboration & advertising29:55 Retail media success in 2-3 years

On today’s MadTech Daily we cover Meta planning to nearly double its AI investment amidst Q4 revenue growth, Thailand moving to tighten advertiser verification, and OpenAI teaming with Booking.com for a new UK programme.