CES 2026: For Monks, AI-Powered Personalization Is Key
For the team at Monks, one of the biggest takeaways from CES this year is that AI’s place in marketing is starting to feel more practical than hypothetical.
Topic
Agencies
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OPINION: Data-Driven ThinkingSelf-Driving Advertising Is A Myth: Why Automation Can’t Replace Creative Judgment
Generative AI is the new ad land obsession: a shiny promise of a fully autonomous world of self-driving advertising. But behind the hype lies the costly delusion that automation can replace judgment and more content somehow means better marketing. We’ve entered the age of machine-made abundance, where content can be generated faster than it can […]
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PODCAST: The Big StoryThe Shifting Dollars Flowing Through Programmatic Pipes
Inside Omnicom’s shift in spend from The Trade Desk DSP to Amazon DSP.
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Omnicom Allegedly Pivoted A Chunk Of Its Q3 Spend From The Trade Desk To Amazon
Two sources at ad tech platforms that observe programmatic bidding patterns said they’ve seen Omnicom agencies shifting spend from The Trade Desk to Amazon DSP in Q3. The Trade Desk denies any such shift.
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Isn’t It Gross; API, A Pain In …
Omnicom revamps its revenue reporting; Amazon will now charge for access to its Selling Partner API; and brands seek sponsorship deals with all sorts of social creators.
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A Kick In The Back Over Kickbacks; The New Jolta Media
A former exec sues WPP over an alleged retaliatory firing; Jolt acquires Volta Media from Shell; and AI defamation litigation is on the rise.
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Hold On, Holdcos; Rags To Riches
Dentsu is for sale; Associated Press is scraping its own archives; and AI is infiltrating newsrooms.
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The Meta Fraud Tithe; AI Is Out-Negotiating SaaS
Meta is profiting from fraudulent ads; LLMs are taking advantage of SaaS pricing policies; and agencies aren’t going under… yet.
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Wire And Plastic Products Gets Back To Basics; MeTube TV
WPP aims to turn around faster; YouTube TV tips the carriage deal market; and Roblox takes its time on video ads.
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When Buyers And Sellers Actually Talk To Each Other, Campaigns Run Better (Who Would've Thought?)
A DSP, an SSP, an agency and a publisher walk into a room. Believe it or not, that isn’t the lead-in to a bad joke. It’s the model used by Medialive, a new AI startup that brings media buyers, sellers and vendors together to collaborate directly in a shared (digital) space. Joe Prusz, former CRO […]
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The DIY Agency; YouTube’s Dynamic Change
WPP puts AI tools in the hands of brands; YouTube’s dynamic sponsored segments could redefine creator monetization; and Hollywood is getting into “microdramas.”
Must Read
CES 2026: What’s Real – And What’s BS – When It Comes To AI
Ad industry experts call out trends to watch in 2026 and separate the real AI use cases having an impact today from the AI hype they heard at CES.
New Startup Pinch AI Tackles The Growing Problem Of Ecommerce Return Scams
Fraud is eating into retail profits. A new startup called Pinch AI just launched with $5 million in funding to fight back.
CPG Data Seller SPINS Moves Into Media With MikMak Acquisition
On Wednesday, retail and CPG data company SPINS added a new piece with its acquisition of MikMak, a click-to-buy ad tech and analytics startup that helps optimize their commerce media.
How Valvoline Shifted Marketing Gears When It Became A Pure-Play Retail Brand
Believe it or not, car oil change service company Valvoline is in the midst of a fascinating retail marketing transformation.
PODCAST: The Big Story
The Big Story: Live From CES 2026
Agents, streamers and robots, oh my! Live from the C-Space campus at the Aria Casino in Las Vegas, our team breaks down the most interesting ad tech trends we saw at CES this year.
2025: The Year Google Lost In Court And Won Anyway
From afar, it looks like Google had a rough year in antitrust court. But zoom in a bit and it becomes clear that the past year went about as well as Google could have hoped for.