Subject: Ads, Algorithms, AI — Trust Me, Bro.

From	Check My Ads <[email protected]>
Subject	Ads, Algorithms, AI — Trust Me, Bro.
Date	February 6, 2026 5:04 PM

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Hey friends,

This week's update is a doozy. We are digging into how trust is being teste=
d, protected, and occasionally stretched thin =E2=80=94 let's get into it.
Hey Chad, get these ads off my feed

OpenAI has officially announced plans to introduce advertising in the comin=
g weeks across its free and lower-paid tiers. It's a massive move towards t=
raditional ad-supported monetization despite the fact that OpenAI once sugg=
ested it was an avenue that it would never pursue.

In the coming weeks, ads will appear only for logged-in folks over the age =
of 18 and won=E2=80=99t appear =E2=80=9Cnear sensitive or regulated topics =
like health, mental health or politics.=E2=80=9D OpenAI says that ads will =
not interfere with ChatGPT=E2=80=99s responses. They also claim that ads ge=
nerally will relate to the questions being asked, embedding the ad experien=
cing within a conversation to propel consumers to make a purchase decision.=
From the advertiser side of things, it's reported that OpenAI will charge =
a minimum spend of $200,000, meaning that this is only a realistic option f=
or a shortlist of enterprise companies with big budgets. This is why our CO=
O told Business Insider that while it=E2=80=99s great that OpenAI is hiring=
an ads integrity lead and thinking about advertiser know-your-customer (KY=
C) vetting from the jump, "the materiality of the risk of a large volume of=
scam ads in the early days is far lower," Garcia said.

The truth is that advertiser KYC is only one small part of ads integrity, a=
nd while the job listing says that the role will help determine where and h=
ow ads are shown, that's a pretty broad mandate, so it will be interesting =
to see how OpenAI will address advertiser expectations on transparency, sui=
tability, and measurement.

Still, beyond advertisers, there is a really delicate and unavoidable tensi=
on with this decision. Users have shared deeply personal information with C=
hatGPT, treating it like a confidante, forging a certain implicit level of =
trust that is not often awarded to tech companies, especially not adtech on=
es. OpenAI's foray into ads marks the beginning of the new era of digital a=
dvertising. OpenAI must now walk a fine line between generating revenue and=
protecting users' privacy. It's far from the only AI platform to to make t=
his foray into ad-supported monetization: Perplexity has already had ads in=
beta for some time.
Let's applaud for Claude=20

In a true role model move, Anthropic's Claude has stood 10 toes down on ref=
using a move to ad-supported monetization =E2=80=94 now and in the future. =
After running a private and user-anonymized internal analysis, Claude's tea=
m found that many conversations had with the chatbot are sensitive and pers=
onal in nature =E2=80=94 conversations that should never be sold, shared, o=
r stored.

As Anthropic puts it: When people use search engines or social media, they=
=E2=80=99ve come to expect a mixture of organic and sponsored content. Filt=
ering signal from noise is part of the interaction. Conversations with AI a=
ssistants are meaningfully different. The format is open-ended; users often=
share context and reveal more than they would in a search query. This open=
ness is part of what makes conversations with AI valuable, but it=E2=80=99s=
also what makes them susceptible to influence in ways that other digital p=
roducts are not.

Anthropic=E2=80=99s decision to keep their AI chatbot ad-free is applause w=
orthy! This is one big step towards protecting users and hopefully, Anthrop=
ic=E2=80=99s stance proves that trust is sustainable to other big players. =
Iesha White, Director of Intelligence, was quoted speaking to the Register =
regarding the newly public information, "Anthropic's recognition of the imp=
ortance of its role as a true agent of its users is both refreshing and inn=
ovative. It puts Anthropic's trust-centered approach in stark contrast to i=
ts peers and incumbents."

Nevertheless, there is a valid question here about whether a subscription-o=
nly model would deprive users not in a position to pay for these services i=
n a way that a freemium model with a free ad-supported tier would not.

We hope that Anthropic has a stronger resolve than OpenAI in this commitmen=
t to remain ads-free, and can prove out the benefits of differentiating on =
trust. Ultimately, though, we think there is room for both approaches, and =
if OpenAI wants to prove that they're committed to ad-based monetization th=
at is fair to brands, publishers, and people, we're here for it.

There's nothing better than a good race-to-the-top - especially on customer=
trust, and this is exactly why competition matters.
You can't put a Nespresso pod in a Keurig machine

Last week, we submitted comments to the IAB on version 1 of the Deals API (=
application programming interface). The goal of the Deals API is to streaml=
ine operations and reduce manual data entry =E2=80=94 areas where both inte=
ntional and unintentional inaccuracies often occur. We applaud the steps ta=
ken by the industry to simplify and create greater transparency in the real=
-time bidding process by soliciting feedback from industry stakeholders. We=
decided to weigh in to the open comment period to share our vision for how=
the Deals API could be a powerful tool for publishers and advertisers.

Our comments lay out areas for improvement and clarification between the th=
e buy side (advertisers and agencies) and sell side (supply side platforms =
and publishers) for future versions.

Our first point was a recommendation to clarify the notes given to buyers f=
or Deals API implementation. In the notes, buyers are cautioned have to mat=
ch and apply identical targeting in their platforms to mirror what a deal b=
roker has curated. This makes a lot of sense, where if a brand wanted to re=
ach users over 35, it makes sense to apply a segment targeting users over 3=
5 in the buying platform, but also for a supply side platform or publisher =
to apply a segment targeting users over 35 too.

However, in practice, mismatches are common because companies often have di=
fferent targeting sources =E2=80=94 it's like trying to use Nespresso pods =
in a Keurig machine. When mismatches occur, publishers and advertisers both=
lose, because the mismatch means that the bidding process can't move forwa=
rd. Publishers lose revenue and advertisers miss out on reaching their targ=
eting audience.

We also call for increasing transparency for publishers if they are include=
d in a third-party brokered deal, as the current setup offers publishers no=
visibility at all if they are not the deal broker. This is because the cur=
rent API configuration is limited to two-way communication.

Lastly, we highlight the importance of advertisers being made aware of when=
a deal's inventory may be updated or revised. In version 1 of the Deals AP=
I, advertisers wouldn't be necessarily aware when sites and apps are added =
on the backend to a deal. Including timestamps indicating when a deal is ed=
ited offers a solution that would alleviate confusion and promote transpare=
ncy.

You can read our full comment submitted in Github here!
The IAB UK has a hopeful solution

In other industry news, the IAB UK has launched a Measurement Advisory Boar=
d made up of senior leaders from major tech platforms, advertisers, agencie=
s, and publishers. The stated goal of this advisory board is to drive trans=
parency and consistency forward, at a time when the industry is struggling =
with opaque and often overinflated reporting. The companies represented as =
members of the board are in a tricky spot: do they play by the new rules, o=
r is this a new space for opacity, big tech capture, and friction?

While the expectation is never perfection, especially in this complex digit=
al advertising ecosystem, as head of insights at IAB UK, Elizabeth Lane sha=
res, =E2=80=9CBy bringing together market-leading companies through our new=
Measurement Advisory Board, we have the right players from across the indu=
stry to drive alignment, champion best practice and accelerate progress acr=
oss the ecosystem.=E2=80=9D

This point about progress and best practices raises many questions. Meta, w=
ho is on the Measurement Advisory Board, has been sued in the US for misrep=
resenting its metrics figures to advertisers. The elephant in the room is t=
his: how will organizations like the IAB provide the necessary checks and b=
alances on Big Tech=E2=80=99s input on and shaping of the standards that th=
ey=E2=80=99ll be held to - and ensure that standards are equally imposed? W=
e raised a similar point in our previous comments to the Media Rating Counc=
il on their Auction Transparency Standards. Further, if Google, Meta, or Am=
azon refuse to adopt what their compatriots on the Measurement Advisory Boa=
rd vote to implement, what consequences, if any, will be taken by the IAB?
In more Google news

Google may be in the business of deciding which price you see, meaning each=
individual consumer could see different prices.

Google=E2=80=99s very intimate access to you is about to get real alarming,=
real quick. In a recent announcement, Google shared that its AI chatbot, G=
emini, will soon tap into users Gmail, YouTube, Google Photos, and Google S=
earch data. On top of that, Google has cut a deal with Apple to incorporate=
Google=E2=80=99s Gemini into Apple products. And to tie it all together, G=
oogle is launching a Gemini-powered ad service that could use this data to =
set personalized prices.

The risk isn=E2=80=99t personalization =E2=80=94 it=E2=80=99s the opacity o=
f how pricing is being decided. If an intimate AI chatbot is setting prices=
and decides what shoppers see =E2=80=94 pricing stops being transparent. F=
riend of Fair Ads, Matt Stoller put it best =E2=80=94 =E2=80=9CGoogle may b=
e seeking to become our central planner and price setter.=E2=80=9D
Friends of Fair Ads

In their latest report, our friends over at the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Proj=
ect (CAMP) unpack the wild world of fraud across the digital advertising ec=
osystem.

Online scams, malvertising, and bot fraud aren=E2=80=99t an accident. They =
are enabled by ad systems built for profit, costing consumers, publishers, =
and advertisers tens of millions every year. But this report isn't just a d=
oom-and-gloom analysis - CAMP has plenty of recommendations on how to turn =
the tide, with great policy solutions on how stronger data protection, plat=
form accountability, and enforcement can help keep Canadians safe.

=20

See ya next time!=20

Iesha White, Director of Intelligence

=20

Check My Ads in the Wild =F0=9F=90=BE

=F0=9F=8E=A4 Arielle was on stage at STEP Network's #MediaSummit2026 in Cop=
enhagen! This conference, led by a leading Danish publisher network, brough=
t together advertisers, publishers, and independent adtech companies to sha=
pe the future of digital advertising. As Arielle said, in an industry where=
Google, Meta and Amazon are premier sponsors, driving the agenda of most o=
f these types of gatherings, this is so refreshing, and cause for optimism =
for local brands and local media companies alike.

In her keynote, Arielle breaks down the ad systems that quietly funnel mone=
y into low-quality AI-generated content, hurting advertisers, publishers, a=
nd the public. The risks are real: brands end up wasting their ad budgets o=
n AI slop while using fake data, all while legitimate publishers struggle t=
o survive. We shared our roadmap, and asked brands and publishers to join u=
s in creating a healthier digital advertising market that really works for =
the brands, publishers, and people that it exists to serve.

We also joined STEP Network and the Dansk Annonc=C3=B8rforening - the Danis=
h Advertisers Association - for a pre-conference dinner, where Arielle shar=
ed more fireside insight with an intimate group of CMOs and senior publishi=
ng executives. We LOVE to see an evening without middlemen!

=20

Fund the work

DONATE

=20

=20

Check My Ads Institute is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.=20
=E2=80=A8Tax ID/EIN: 87-1895699

Have any questions or comments? =E2=80=A8Reach out to us at Hello@CheckMyAd=
s.org

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<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last divider" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-ser=
if; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-h=
eight: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 24px;">
<div>
=20
<div class=3D"titan__email-divider" style=3D"mso-line-heigh=
t-rule: exactly; line-height: 1pt; height: 1px; border-top-width: 1px; bord=
er-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #013B5C; margin-top: 18px; margin-bo=
ttom: 18px;" data-color=3D"#013B5C" data-thicknessnum=3D"1" data-dividersty=
le=3D"solid" data-topnum=3D"18" data-bottomnum=3D"18" data-height=3D"1" dat=
a-lineheight=3D"1">
 
</div> 
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #FFFFFF;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-ser=
if; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-h=
eight: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 9px; padding-bottom: 9px;">
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">

<img class=3D"align-left break-text-around-image" style=3D"=
outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-=
width: 100%; clear: both; float: none; display: unset; text-align: left; ma=
rgin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 12px; height: auto; margin: 12px auto 12px 0=
;" src=3D"[link removed]
s/CMA_Logo_45_4x.png" alt=3D"A blue and red logo of dominoes falling with t=
he text Check My Ads" width=3D"146" align=3D"left" data-wrap-text-margin=3D=
"25" data-wrap-text=3D"Break text around image">
</figure></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-ser=
if; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-h=
eight: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 9px; padding-bottom: 9px;">
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">

</figure>=20
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">
=20
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;"=
></figure> 
</figure>=20
<div class=3D"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW174244998 BCX0">=20
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;"=
>
=20
<div class=3D"custom-insert-img align-center break-text-ar=
ound-image" style=3D"margin: 12px auto important; float: none; max-width: 5=
50px; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 12px; Margin: 12=
px auto;">
<img class=3D"align-center break-text-around-image" src=
=3D"[link removed]
al-2026-02-04-120736_002.png" alt width=3D"550" align=3D"center" data-wrap-=
text-margin=3D"25" data-wrap-text=3D"Break text around image" style=3D"outl=
ine: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-widt=
h: 100%; clear: both; display: block; margin: 0 auto; float: none; text-ali=
gn: center; width: 100%; height: auto; Margin: 12px auto;">
</div> 
</figure>=20
</div>=20
<div class=3D"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW174244998 BCX0">=20
<div class=3D"SCXW177053040 BCX0">=20
<div class=3D"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW177053040 BCX0">=20
<div class=3D"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW211069502 BCX0">=20
<p class=3D"Paragraph SCXW211069502 BCX0" style=3D"color=
: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0;=
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;=
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Hey friends,</p>=20
<p class=3D"Paragraph SCXW211069502 BCX0" style=3D"color=
: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0;=
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;=
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">This week's update is a doozy. =
We are digging into how trust is being tested, protected, and occasionally =
stretched thin =E2=80=94 let's get into it.</p>=20
<h2 class=3D"md-end-block md-p md-focus" style=3D"paddin=
g: 0; Margin: 0; word-wrap: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10p=
x; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y:=
0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: =
0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-stric=
tness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff=
; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #000=
0; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored=
: 0 0 #0000; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap=
; position: relative; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51);=
font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-var=
iant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: st=
art; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tex=
t-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration:=
none;"><span class=3D"md-plain md-expand" style=3D"box-sizing: border-box;=
--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; -=
-tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-sc=
ale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-rin=
g-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 =
130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #=
0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: rgb(1,=
59, 92);"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" style=3D"font-size: 16pt;" d=
ata-token-index=3D"0"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" data-token-index=
=3D"0"><span class=3D"discussion-id-26a085ab-68c9-80ea-8edd-001ce34bbd7e no=
tion-enable-hover" data-token-index=3D"0">Hey Chad, get these ads off my fe=
ed</span></span></span></span></h2>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">OpenAI has officially announced <a href=3D"[link removed]
emails/tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/o=
zU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvizITY0eTsetHqaADG1GjK4=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; tex=
t-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; lin=
e-height: 1.5;">plans to introduce advertising</a> in the coming weeks acro=
ss its free and lower-paid tiers. It's a massive move towards traditional a=
d-supported monetization despite the fact that OpenAI once suggested it was=
an avenue that <a href=3D"[link removed]
-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvo=
5JY4EPf1QIyBfduG0KRxA=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; f=
ont-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">it wo=
uld never pursue</a>.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">In the coming weeks, ads will appear only for logged-in folks over the=
age of 18 and won=E2=80=99t appear =E2=80=9C<a href=3D"[link removed]
ils.com/emails/tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs4=
4YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvmzrcWVJ4Y-QwOYlqrZEOUk=3D" style=3D"color: #007=
4d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: l=
eft; line-height: 1.5;">near sensitive or regulated topics like health, men=
tal health or politics.</a>=E2=80=9D OpenAI says that ads will not interfer=
e with ChatGPT=E2=80=99s responses. They also claim that ads generally will=
relate to the questions being asked, embedding the ad experiencing within =
a conversation to propel consumers to make a purchase decision. From the ad=
vertiser side of things, it's <a href=3D"[link removed]
tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJ=
gzLM9v_MKbWhvlifRT0CY945szEZIK4eDGw=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decor=
ation: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-heigh=
t: 1.5;">reported</a> that OpenAI will charge a minimum spend of $200,000, =
meaning that this is only a realistic option for a shortlist of enterprise =
companies with big budgets. This is why our COO told Business Insider that =
while it=E2=80=99s great that <a href=3D"[link removed]
tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJ=
gzLM9v_MKbWhvtOtnIPIjnka0YOwDV9OH64=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decor=
ation: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-heigh=
t: 1.5;">OpenAI is hiring an ads integrity lead</a> and thinking about adve=
rtiser know-your-customer (KYC) vetting from the jump, "the materiality of =
the risk of a large volume of scam ads in the early days is far lower," Gar=
cia said.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">The truth is that advertiser KYC is only one small part of ads integri=
ty, and while the <a href=3D"[link removed]
ck-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWh=
vpttV8G1igx5cws0hYt4jC8=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none;=
font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">job=
listing</a> says that the role will help determine where and how ads are s=
hown, that's a pretty broad mandate, so it will be interesting to see how O=
penAI will address advertiser expectations on transparency, suitability, an=
d measurement.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Still, beyond advertisers, there is a really delicate and unavoidable =
tension with this decision. Users have shared deeply personal information w=
ith ChatGPT, treating it like a confidante, forging a certain implicit leve=
l of trust that is not often awarded to tech companies, especially not adte=
ch ones. OpenAI's foray into ads marks the beginning of the new era of digi=
tal advertising. OpenAI must now walk a fine line between generating revenu=
e and protecting users' privacy. It's far from the only AI platform to to m=
ake this foray into ad-supported monetization: Perplexity has already had <=
a href=3D"[link removed]
58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvgVpScWDE0lBf10hCrS=
L71g=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inher=
it; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">ads in beta</a> for so=
me time.</p>=20
<h2 class=3D"md-end-block md-p md-focus" style=3D"paddin=
g: 0; Margin: 0; word-wrap: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10p=
x; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y:=
0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: =
0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-stric=
tness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff=
; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #000=
0; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored=
: 0 0 #0000; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap=
; position: relative; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51);=
font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-var=
iant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: st=
art; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tex=
t-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration:=
none;"><span class=3D"md-plain md-expand" style=3D"box-sizing: border-box;=
--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; -=
-tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-sc=
ale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-rin=
g-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 =
130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #=
0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: rgb(1,=
59, 92);"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" style=3D"font-size: 16pt;" d=
ata-token-index=3D"0"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" data-token-index=
=3D"0"><span class=3D"discussion-id-26a085ab-68c9-80ea-8edd-001ce34bbd7e no=
tion-enable-hover" data-token-index=3D"0">Let's applaud for Claude</span></=
span></span></span> </h2>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">In a true role model move, Anthropic's Claude has stood 10 toes down o=
n refusing a move to ad-supported monetization =E2=80=94 now and in the fut=
ure. After running a private and user-anonymized internal analysis, Claude'=
s team found that many conversations had with the chatbot are sensitive and=
personal in nature =E2=80=94 conversations that should never be sold, shar=
ed, or stored.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">As <a href=3D"[link removed]
Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvvalg6O383=
5p5nN3ARsj2P4=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weig=
ht: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Anthropic put=
s it</a>: When people use search engines or social media, they=E2=80=99ve c=
ome to expect a mixture of organic and sponsored content. Filtering signal =
from noise is part of the interaction. Conversations with AI assistants are=
meaningfully different. The format is open-ended; users often share contex=
t and reveal more than they would in a search query. This openness is part =
of what makes conversations with AI valuable, but it=E2=80=99s also what ma=
kes them susceptible to influence in ways that other digital products are n=
ot.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Anthropic=E2=80=99s decision to keep their AI chatbot ad-free is appla=
use worthy! This is one big step towards protecting users and hopefully, An=
thropic=E2=80=99s stance proves that trust is sustainable to other big play=
ers. <a title=3D"Iesha White" href=3D"[link removed]
cking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzL=
M9v_MKbWhvohSrcmkOfYN7v2kvdfMEtE=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" sty=
le=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding:=
0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Iesha White,</a> Director of =
Intelligence, was quoted speaking to the Register regarding the newly publi=
c information, "<a title=3D"Anthropic's recognition of the importance of it=
s role as a true agent of its users is both refreshing and innovative. It p=
uts Anthropic's trust-centered approach in stark contrast to its peers and =
incumbents." href=3D"[link removed]
y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvk07qKTj=
lQSgWE0T6fWrQYg=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #007=
4d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: l=
eft; line-height: 1.5;">Anthropic's recognition of the importance of its ro=
le as a true agent of its users is both refreshing and innovative. It puts =
Anthropic's trust-centered approach in stark contrast to its peers and incu=
mbents.</a>"</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Nevertheless, there is a valid question here about whether a subscript=
ion-only model would deprive users not in a position to pay for these servi=
ces in a way that a freemium model with a free ad-supported tier would not.=
</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">We hope that Anthropic has a stronger resolve than OpenAI in this comm=
itment to remain ads-free, and can prove out the benefits of differentiatin=
g on trust. Ultimately, though, we think there is room for both approaches,=
and if OpenAI wants to prove that they're committed to ad-based monetizati=
on that is fair to brands, publishers, and people, we're here for it.</p>=
=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">There's nothing better than a good race-to-the-top - especially on cus=
tomer trust, and this is exactly why competition matters.</p>=20
<h2 class=3D"md-end-block md-p md-focus" style=3D"paddin=
g: 0; Margin: 0; word-wrap: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10p=
x; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y:=
0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: =
0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-stric=
tness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff=
; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #000=
0; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored=
: 0 0 #0000; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap=
; position: relative; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51);=
font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-var=
iant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: st=
art; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tex=
t-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration:=
none;"><span class=3D"md-plain md-expand" style=3D"box-sizing: border-box;=
--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; -=
-tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-sc=
ale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-rin=
g-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 =
130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #=
0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: rgb(1,=
59, 92);"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" style=3D"font-size: 16pt;" d=
ata-token-index=3D"0"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" data-token-index=
=3D"0"><span class=3D"discussion-id-26a085ab-68c9-80ea-8edd-001ce34bbd7e no=
tion-enable-hover" data-token-index=3D"0">You can't put a Nespresso pod in =
a Keurig machine</span></span></span></span></h2>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Last week, we submitted comments to the <a href=3D"[link removed]
ils.com/emails/tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs4=
4YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvsvbPANRAB9-XZjeMfQayuE=3D" style=3D"color: #007=
4d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: l=
eft; line-height: 1.5;">IAB on version 1 of the Deals API</a> (application =
programming interface). The goal of the Deals API is to streamline operatio=
ns and reduce manual data entry =E2=80=94 areas where both intentional and =
unintentional inaccuracies often occur. We applaud the steps taken by the i=
ndustry to simplify and create greater transparency in the real-time biddin=
g process by soliciting feedback from industry stakeholders. We decided to =
weigh in to the open comment period to share our vision for how the Deals A=
PI could be a powerful tool for publishers and advertisers.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Our comments lay out areas for improvement and clarification between t=
he the buy side (advertisers and agencies) and sell side (supply side platf=
orms and publishers) for future versions.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Our first point was a recommendation to clarify the notes given to buy=
ers for Deals API implementation. In the notes, buyers are cautioned have t=
o match and apply identical targeting in their platforms to mirror what a d=
eal broker has curated. This makes a lot of sense, where if a brand wanted =
to reach users over 35, it makes sense to apply a segment targeting users o=
ver 35 in the buying platform, but also for a supply side platform or publi=
sher to apply a segment targeting users over 35 too.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">However, in practice, mismatches are common because companies often ha=
ve different targeting sources =E2=80=94 it's like trying to use Nespresso =
pods in a Keurig machine. When mismatches occur, publishers and advertisers=
both lose, because the mismatch means that the bidding process can't move =
forward. Publishers lose revenue and advertisers miss out on reaching their=
targeting audience.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">We also call for increasing transparency for publishers if they are in=
cluded in a third-party brokered deal, as the current setup offers publishe=
rs no visibility at all if they are not the deal broker. This is because th=
e current API configuration is limited to two-way communication.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Lastly, we highlight the importance of advertisers being made aware of=
when a deal's inventory may be updated or revised. In version 1 of the Dea=
ls API, advertisers wouldn't be necessarily aware when sites and apps are a=
dded on the backend to a deal. Including timestamps indicating when a deal =
is edited offers a solution that would alleviate confusion and promote tran=
sparency.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">You can read our full comment <a href=3D"[link removed]
ails/tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU=
5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvkO0Nb0AhJwbUvlk8Dnchis=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-=
decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-=
height: 1.5;">submitted in Github here</a>!</p>=20
<h2 class=3D"md-end-block md-p md-focus" style=3D"paddin=
g: 0; Margin: 0; word-wrap: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10p=
x; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y:=
0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: =
0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-stric=
tness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff=
; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #000=
0; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored=
: 0 0 #0000; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap=
; position: relative; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51);=
font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-var=
iant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: st=
art; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tex=
t-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration:=
none;"><span class=3D"md-plain md-expand" style=3D"box-sizing: border-box;=
--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; -=
-tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-sc=
ale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-rin=
g-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 =
130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #=
0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: rgb(1,=
59, 92);"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" style=3D"font-size: 16pt;" d=
ata-token-index=3D"0"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" data-token-index=
=3D"0"><span class=3D"discussion-id-26a085ab-68c9-80ea-8edd-001ce34bbd7e no=
tion-enable-hover" data-token-index=3D"0">The IAB UK has a hopeful solution=
</span></span></span></span></h2>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">In other industry news, the IAB UK has launched a Measurement Advisory=
Board made up of senior leaders from major tech platforms, advertisers, ag=
encies, and publishers. The stated goal of this advisory board is to drive =
transparency and consistency forward, at a time when the industry is strugg=
ling with opaque and often overinflated reporting. The companies represente=
d as members of the board are in a tricky spot: do they play by the new rul=
es, or is this a new space for opacity, big tech capture, and friction?</p>=
=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">While the expectation is never perfection, especially in this complex =
digital advertising ecosystem, as head of insights at IAB UK, Elizabeth Lan=
e shares, =E2=80=9C<a href=3D"[link removed]
ick-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbW=
hvmo_8lbXPLZKfqNFfrDOL5Q=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none=
; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">By=
bringing together market-leading companies through our new Measurement Adv=
isory Board, we have the right players from across the industry to drive al=
ignment, champion best practice and accelerate progress across the ecosyste=
m.=E2=80=9D</a></p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">This point about progress and best practices raises many questions. Me=
ta, who is on the Measurement Advisory Board, has been sued in the US for <=
a href=3D"[link removed]
58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvrMRz3ilXHlT_fTxRGb=
1hHA=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inher=
it; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">misrepresenting its me=
trics figures to advertisers</a>. The elephant in the room is this: how wil=
l organizations like the IAB provide the necessary checks and balances on B=
ig Tech=E2=80=99s input on and shaping of the standards that they=E2=80=99l=
l be held to - and ensure that standards are equally imposed? We raised a s=
imilar point in <a href=3D"[link removed]
-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvi=
YAbqot_psWWvDWlZUdDRg=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; f=
ont-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">our p=
revious comments</a> to the Media Rating Council on their Auction Transpare=
ncy Standards. Further, if Google, Meta, or Amazon refuse to adopt what the=
ir compatriots on the Measurement Advisory Board vote to implement, what co=
nsequences, if any, will be taken by the IAB?</p>=20
<h2 class=3D"md-end-block md-p md-focus" style=3D"paddin=
g: 0; Margin: 0; word-wrap: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10p=
x; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y:=
0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: =
0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-stric=
tness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff=
; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #000=
0; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored=
: 0 0 #0000; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap=
; position: relative; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51);=
font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-var=
iant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: st=
art; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tex=
t-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration:=
none;"><span class=3D"md-plain md-expand" style=3D"box-sizing: border-box;=
--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; -=
-tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-sc=
ale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-rin=
g-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 =
130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #=
0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: rgb(1,=
59, 92);"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" style=3D"font-size: 16pt;" d=
ata-token-index=3D"0"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" data-token-index=
=3D"0"><span class=3D"discussion-id-26a085ab-68c9-80ea-8edd-001ce34bbd7e no=
tion-enable-hover" data-token-index=3D"0">In more Google news</span></span>=
</span></span></h2>=20
</div>=20
<div class=3D"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW211069502 BCX0">=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Google may be in the business of deciding which price you see, meaning=
each individual consumer could see different prices.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Google=E2=80=99s very intimate access to you is about to get real alar=
ming, real quick. In a recent announcement, Google shared that its AI chatb=
ot, Gemini, will soon tap into users Gmail, YouTube, Google Photos, and Goo=
gle Search data. On top of that, Google has cut a deal with Apple to incorp=
orate Google=E2=80=99s Gemini into Apple products. And to tie it all togeth=
er, Google is launching a Gemini-powered ad service that could use this dat=
a to set personalized prices.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">The risk isn=E2=80=99t personalization =E2=80=94 it=E2=80=99s the opac=
ity of how pricing is being decided. If an intimate AI chatbot is setting p=
rices and decides what shoppers see =E2=80=94 pricing stops being transpare=
nt. Friend of Fair Ads, <a href=3D"[link removed]
ng/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v=
_MKbWhvrme0sL0WS-cRwG3V8_D0NA=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration:=
none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5=
;">Matt Stoller</a> put it best =E2=80=94 =E2=80=9C<a href=3D"[link removed]
eonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FW=
d9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvgnrm-cnDstp_uxvfoY9Nbs=3D" style=3D"color=
: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-al=
ign: left; line-height: 1.5;">Google may be seeking to become our central p=
lanner and price setter.</a>=E2=80=9D</p>=20
<h2 class=3D"md-end-block md-p md-focus" style=3D"paddin=
g: 0; Margin: 0; word-wrap: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10p=
x; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y:=
0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: =
0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-stric=
tness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff=
; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #000=
0; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored=
: 0 0 #0000; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.8em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap=
; position: relative; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51);=
font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-var=
iant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: st=
art; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tex=
t-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration:=
none;"><span class=3D"md-plain md-expand" style=3D"box-sizing: border-box;=
--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; -=
-tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-sc=
ale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-rin=
g-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 =
130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #=
0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: rgb(1,=
59, 92);"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" style=3D"font-size: 16pt;" d=
ata-token-index=3D"0"><span class=3D"notion-enable-hover" data-token-index=
=3D"0"><span class=3D"discussion-id-26a085ab-68c9-80ea-8edd-001ce34bbd7e no=
tion-enable-hover" data-token-index=3D"0">Friends of Fair Ads</span></span>=
</span></span></h2>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">In <a href=3D"[link removed]
Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvphZxoi0iH=
D9zY882AAetQI=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weig=
ht: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">their latest =
report</a>, our friends over at the <a href=3D"[link removed]
mails/tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/oz=
U5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvjMmQ5R0WiTYbW1DetJHN3w=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text=
-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line=
-height: 1.5;">Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project</a> (CAMP) unpack the wi=
ld world of fraud across the digital advertising ecosystem.</p>=20
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Online scams, malvertising, and bot fraud aren=E2=80=99t an accident. =
They are enabled by ad systems built for profit, costing consumers, publish=
ers, and advertisers tens of millions every year. But this report isn't jus=
t a doom-and-gloom analysis - CAMP has plenty of recommendations on how to =
turn the tide, with great policy solutions on how stronger data protection,=
platform accountability, and enforcement can help keep Canadians safe.</p>=
=20
<p class=3D"Paragraph SCXW211069502 BCX0" style=3D"color=
: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0;=
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;=
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"EOP SCXW21106950=
2 BCX0" data-ccp-props=3D"{"134233117":false,"134233118&quot=
;:false,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}"></span></p>=20
<p class=3D"Paragraph SCXW211069502 BCX0" style=3D"color=
: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0;=
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;=
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"> </p>=20
<p class=3D"Paragraph SCXW211069502 BCX0" style=3D"color=
: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0;=
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;=
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">See ya next time! </p>=20
<p class=3D"Paragraph SCXW211069502 BCX0" style=3D"color=
: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0;=
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;=
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><a title=3D"Iesha White" href=
=3D"[link removed]
g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvsG89jM3ZiBKuMeCa_K-v1M=
=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decor=
ation: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-heigh=
t: 1.5;">Iesha White</a>, Director of Intelligence</p>=20
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1re=
m;">
=20
<div class=3D"custom-insert-img align-left break-text-a=
round-image" style=3D"float: none; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 12px; m=
argin-top: 12px; max-width: 241px; margin: 12px auto 12px 0;">
<img class=3D"align-left break-text-around-image" src=
=3D"[link removed]
enshot%202025-05-02%20at%2010_45_46%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt=3D"Screenshot%20202=
5-05-02%20at%2010_45_46%E2%80%AFAM.png" width=3D"241" height=3D"97" align=
=3D"left" data-wrap-text-margin=3D"25" data-wrap-text=3D"Break text around =
image" style=3D"outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mod=
e: bicubic; max-width: 100%; clear: both; text-align: left; float: none; di=
splay: unset; width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 12px auto 12px 0;">
</div> 
</figure>=20
</div>=20
</div>=20
</div>=20
</div> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: l=
eft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom:=
10px;"></p> <p clas=
s=3D"md-end-block md-p md-focus" style=3D"padding: 0; Margin: 0; margin-bot=
tom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing=
-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; =
--tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale=
-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px;=
--tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw=
-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0=
0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; line-height: inherit; orphans: 4;=
margin: 0.8em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; position: relative; caret-color:=
rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Clear =
Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Segoe UI Emoji', sans-serif; fo=
nt-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: =
400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-tran=
sform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-=
color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none;"></p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last divider" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-ser=
if; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-h=
eight: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0;">
<div>
=20
<div class=3D"titan__email-divider" style=3D"mso-line-heigh=
t-rule: exactly; line-height: 1pt; height: 1px; border-top-width: 1px; bord=
er-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #013B5C; margin-top: 18px; margin-bo=
ttom: 18px;" data-color=3D"#013B5C" data-thicknessnum=3D"1" data-dividersty=
le=3D"solid" data-topnum=3D"18" data-bottomnum=3D"18" data-height=3D"1" dat=
a-lineheight=3D"1">
 
</div> 
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-ser=
if; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-h=
eight: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 9px; padding-bottom: 9px;"><h2 clas=
s=3D"md-end-block md-p md-focus" style=3D"padding: 0; Margin: 0; word-wrap:=
normal; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; box-sizing: border-box; =
--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --=
tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-sca=
le-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring=
-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 1=
30 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0=
000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; line-height: i=
nherit; margin: 0.8em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; position: relative; caret=
-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, seri=
f; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-wei=
ght: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text=
-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; backgr=
ound-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none;"><span class=3D"md-p=
lain md-expand" style=3D"box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; =
--tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-ro=
tate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; =
--tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-r=
ing-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-o=
ffset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #000=
0; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: rgb(1, 59, 92);"><span class=3D"n=
otion-enable-hover" style=3D"font-size: 16pt;" data-token-index=3D"0">Check=
My Ads in the Wild =F0=9F=90=BE</span></span></h2> <p style=3D"color: #3c4=
144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margi=
n: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margi=
n-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">=F0=9F=8E=A4 <a title=3D"Arielle" hre=
f=3D"[link removed]
3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvuQexcg2tYD6wGRkgHc58_Y=
=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decor=
ation: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-heigh=
t: 1.5;">Arielle</a> was on stage at STEP Network's #MediaSummit2026 i=
n Copenhagen! This conference, led by a leading Danish publisher network, b=
rought together advertisers, publishers, and independent adtech companies t=
o shape the future of digital advertising. As Arielle <a href=3D"[link removed]
i.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP=
-FWd9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvtlaxJJ0hCpm0ICufw_CEuU=3D" style=3D"co=
lor: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text=
-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">said</a>, in an industry where Google, Met=
a and Amazon are premier sponsors, driving the agenda of most of these type=
s of gatherings, this is so refreshing, and cause for optimism for local br=
ands and local media companies alike.</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-=
family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Marg=
in: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: =
10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">In her keynote, Arielle breaks down the ad syst=
ems that quietly funnel money into low-quality AI-generated content, hurtin=
g advertisers, publishers, and the public. The risks are real: brands end u=
p wasting their ad budgets on AI slop while using fake data, all while legi=
timate publishers struggle to survive. We shared our roadmap, and asked bra=
nds and publishers to join us in creating a healthier digital advertising m=
arket that <em>really works</em> for the brands, publishers, and people tha=
t it exists to serve.</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open San=
s,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-alig=
n: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bot=
tom: 10px;">We also joined STEP Network and the Dansk Annonc=C3=B8rforening=
- the Danish Advertisers Association - for a pre-conference dinner, where =
Arielle shared more fireside insight with an intimate group of CMOs and sen=
ior publishing executives. We <strong>LOVE</strong> to see an evening witho=
ut middlemen!</p>=20
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">
=20
<div class=3D"custom-insert-img align-center break-text-aro=
und-image" style=3D"margin: 12px auto important; float: none; max-width: 55=
0px; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 12px; Margin: 12p=
x auto;">
<img class=3D"align-center break-text-around-image" src=3D=
"[link removed]
hot%202026-02-05%20at%207_43_21%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt width=3D"594" align=3D"=
center" data-wrap-text-margin=3D"25" data-wrap-text=3D"Break text around im=
age" style=3D"outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode:=
bicubic; max-width: 100%; clear: both; display: block; margin: 0 auto; flo=
at: none; text-align: center; width: 100%; height: auto; Margin: 12px auto;=
">
</div> 
</figure> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans=
,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align=
: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bott=
om: 10px;"></p> <p s=
tyle=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400=
; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line=
-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-=
family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Marg=
in: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: =
10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"EOP SCXW226776808 BCX0" data-ccp=
-props=3D"{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"33=
5559738":240,"335559739":240}"></span></p>=20
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">

</figure>=20
<figure class style=3D"margin: 0 0 1rem; Margin: 0 0 1rem;">

</figure> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans=
,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align=
: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bott=
om: 10px;"></p> <p s=
tyle=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400=
; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line=
-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"></p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last divider" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-ser=
if; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-h=
eight: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0;">
<div>
=20
<div class=3D"titan__email-divider" style=3D"mso-line-heigh=
t-rule: exactly; line-height: 1pt; height: 1px; border-top-width: 1px; bord=
er-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #013B5C; margin-top: 18px; margin-bo=
ttom: 18px;" data-color=3D"#013B5C" data-thicknessnum=3D"1" data-dividersty=
le=3D"solid" data-topnum=3D"18" data-bottomnum=3D"18" data-height=3D"1" dat=
a-lineheight=3D"1">
 
</div> 
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-ser=
if; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-h=
eight: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 9px; padding-bottom: 9px;"><p class=
=3D"align-center" style=3D"font-weight: 400; Margin: 0; margin-bottom: 10px=
; Margin-bottom: 10px; background: #ffffff; padding: 10px 10px 20px; font-f=
amily: Georgia, serif; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 24pt; color: #fe483a; =
max-width: 480px; text-align: center; margin: auto;">Fund the work</p>=20
<table class=3D"button expanded email-button mceNonEditable"=
style=3D"border-spacing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; vertica=
l-align: top; text-align: left; Margin: 0; width: 100%; max-width: 480px; m=
argin: 0px auto;">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: =
left;">=20
<td style=3D"word-break: normal; overflow-wrap: break-wor=
d; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; =
font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-=
size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; border-collapse: collapse;">=20
<table class=3D"mceNonEditable" style=3D"border-spacing:=
0; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align:=
left; max-width: 100%; width: 100%;">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-ali=
gn: left;">=20
<td style=3D"word-break: normal; overflow-wrap: break=
-word; vertical-align: top; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; padding: 0; =
margin: 0; Margin: 0; background-color: #fe483a; color: #ffffff; border-col=
lapse: collapse; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 28px; text=
-align: center; border: 0 solid #fe483a;">
<center style=3D"width: 100%; min-width: 100%;">
<a class=3D"titan__email-button mceEditable" style=
=3D"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; text-decorat=
ion: none; display: inline-block; width: 100%; padding-left: 0; padding-rig=
ht: 0; border-radius: 0; color: #ffffff; line-height: 28px; text-align: cen=
ter; border: 0 solid #fe483a; font-weight: bold; padding: 20px 0px 20px; fo=
nt-size: 16pt;" title=3D"DONATE" draggable=3D"false" href=3D"[link removed]
onemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/y0Z8NCchX3s58VPi3g73X4dpjfeLwZP-FWd=
9eOs44YA=3D/ozU5D1jJgzLM9v_MKbWhvgoAnL0iqzXDZOBc3X1cJPg=3D" target=3D"_blan=
k" rel=3D"noopener" data-bgcolor=3D"#fe483a" data-bordercolor=3D"#282968" d=
ata-textcolor=3D"#FFFFFF" data-url=3D"[link removed]" da=
ta-text=3D"DONATE" data-borderradius=3D"0">DONATE</a>
</center></td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,=
sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-botto=
m: 10px;"> </p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last divider" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-ser=
if; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-h=
eight: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; =
border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0;">
<div>
=20
<div class=3D"titan__email-divider" style=3D"mso-line-heigh=
t-rule: exactly; line-height: 1pt; height: 1px; border-top-width: 1px; bord=
er-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #013B5C; margin-top: 18px; margin-bo=
ttom: 18px;" data-color=3D"#013B5C" data-thicknessnum=3D"1" data-dividersty=
le=3D"solid" data-topnum=3D"18" data-bottomnum=3D"18" data-height=3D"1" dat=
a-lineheight=3D"1">
 
</div> 
</div></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #FFFFFF;">=20
<th class=3D"columns large-6 small-12 first " style=3D"vertic=
al-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weig=
ht: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; m=
argin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break=
-word; width: 274px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 8px; border-collaps=
e: collapse; padding-top: 9px; padding-bottom: 9px;"><p style=3D"color: #3c=
4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; marg=
in: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; marg=
in-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style=3D"font-family: arial, h=
elvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(1, 59, 92); font-size: 10pt; line-height: =
14pt !important;">Check My Ads Institute is a non-profit 501(c)3 organizati=
on. <br>=E2=80=A8Tax ID/EIN: 87-1895699</span></p></th>=20
<th class=3D"columns large-6 small-12 last default" style=3D"=
vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; fon=
t-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: =
1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap:=
break-word; width: 274px; padding-right: 24px; padding-left: 8px; border-c=
ollapse: collapse; padding-top: 9px; padding-bottom: 9px;"><p style=3D"colo=
r: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0=
; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5=
; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style=3D"font-family: ar=
ial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(1, 59, 92); font-size: 10pt; line-he=
ight: 14pt !important;">Have any questions or comments? =E2=80=A8Reach out =
to us at [email protected]</span></p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row end-row-footer" style=3D"border-spacing: 0; =
border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: =
0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Margin: 0; b=
ackground-color: #FFFFFF; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns large-6 small-12 first right" style=3D"v=
ertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font=
-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1=
.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: =
break-word; width: 274px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 8px; border-co=
llapse: collapse; padding-top: 9px; padding-bottom: 24px;">
<table class=3D"editor-table align-left" style=3D"border-spa=
cing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; vertical-align: top; max-wi=
dth: 100%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; border: 0px rgb=
(255, 255, 255); text-align: left;" border=3D"1">
<colgroup>
<col style=3D"width: 16.791%;">
<col style=3D"width: 16.791%;">
<col style=3D"width: 16.791%;">
<col style=3D"width: 16.791%;">
<col style=3D"width: 16.791%;">
<col style=3D"width: 16.791%;">
</colgroup>=20
<tbody>=20
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: =
left;">=20
<td style=3D"word-break: normal; overflow-wrap: break-wor=
d; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; =
font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-=
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If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online, [link removed].
Hey friends,

This week's update is a doozy. We are digging into how trust is being tested, protected, and occasionally stretched thin — let's get into it.
Hey Chad, get these ads off my feed

OpenAI has officially announced plans to introduce advertising in the coming weeks across its free and lower-paid tiers. It's a massive move towards traditional ad-supported monetization despite the fact that OpenAI once suggested it was an avenue that it would never pursue.

In the coming weeks, ads will appear only for logged-in folks over the age of 18 and won’t appear “near sensitive or regulated topics like health, mental health or politics.” OpenAI says that ads will not interfere with ChatGPT’s responses. They also claim that ads generally will relate to the questions being asked, embedding the ad experiencing within a conversation to propel consumers to make a purchase decision. From the advertiser side of things, it's reported that OpenAI will charge a minimum spend of $200,000, meaning that this is only a realistic option for a shortlist of enterprise companies with big budgets. This is why our COO told Business Insider that while it’s great that OpenAI is hiring an ads integrity lead and thinking about advertiser know-your-customer (KYC) vetting from the jump, "the materiality of the risk of a large volume of scam ads in the early days is far lower," Garcia said.

The truth is that advertiser KYC is only one small part of ads integrity, and while the job listing says that the role will help determine where and how ads are shown, that's a pretty broad mandate, so it will be interesting to see how OpenAI will address advertiser expectations on transparency, suitability, and measurement.

Still, beyond advertisers, there is a really delicate and unavoidable tension with this decision. Users have shared deeply personal information with ChatGPT, treating it like a confidante, forging a certain implicit level of trust that is not often awarded to tech companies, especially not adtech ones. OpenAI's foray into ads marks the beginning of the new era of digital advertising. OpenAI must now walk a fine line between generating revenue and protecting users' privacy. It's far from the only AI platform to to make this foray into ad-supported monetization: Perplexity has already had ads in beta for some time.
Let's applaud for Claude

In a true role model move, Anthropic's Claude has stood 10 toes down on refusing a move to ad-supported monetization — now and in the future. After running a private and user-anonymized internal analysis, Claude's team found that many conversations had with the chatbot are sensitive and personal in nature — conversations that should never be sold, shared, or stored.

As Anthropic puts it: When people use search engines or social media, they’ve come to expect a mixture of organic and sponsored content. Filtering signal from noise is part of the interaction. Conversations with AI assistants are meaningfully different. The format is open-ended; users often share context and reveal more than they would in a search query. This openness is part of what makes conversations with AI valuable, but it’s also what makes them susceptible to influence in ways that other digital products are not.

Anthropic’s decision to keep their AI chatbot ad-free is applause worthy! This is one big step towards protecting users and hopefully, Anthropic’s stance proves that trust is sustainable to other big players. Iesha White, Director of Intelligence, was quoted speaking to the Register regarding the newly public information, "Anthropic's recognition of the importance of its role as a true agent of its users is both refreshing and innovative. It puts Anthropic's trust-centered approach in stark contrast to its peers and incumbents."

Nevertheless, there is a valid question here about whether a subscription-only model would deprive users not in a position to pay for these services in a way that a freemium model with a free ad-supported tier would not.

We hope that Anthropic has a stronger resolve than OpenAI in this commitment to remain ads-free, and can prove out the benefits of differentiating on trust. Ultimately, though, we think there is room for both approaches, and if OpenAI wants to prove that they're committed to ad-based monetization that is fair to brands, publishers, and people, we're here for it.

There's nothing better than a good race-to-the-top - especially on customer trust, and this is exactly why competition matters.
You can't put a Nespresso pod in a Keurig machine

Last week, we submitted comments to the IAB on version 1 of the Deals API (application programming interface). The goal of the Deals API is to streamline operations and reduce manual data entry — areas where both intentional and unintentional inaccuracies often occur. We applaud the steps taken by the industry to simplify and create greater transparency in the real-time bidding process by soliciting feedback from industry stakeholders. We decided to weigh in to the open comment period to share our vision for how the Deals API could be a powerful tool for publishers and advertisers.

Our comments lay out areas for improvement and clarification between the the buy side (advertisers and agencies) and sell side (supply side platforms and publishers) for future versions.

Our first point was a recommendation to clarify the notes given to buyers for Deals API implementation. In the notes, buyers are cautioned have to match and apply identical targeting in their platforms to mirror what a deal broker has curated. This makes a lot of sense, where if a brand wanted to reach users over 35, it makes sense to apply a segment targeting users over 35 in the buying platform, but also for a supply side platform or publisher to apply a segment targeting users over 35 too.

However, in practice, mismatches are common because companies often have different targeting sources — it's like trying to use Nespresso pods in a Keurig machine. When mismatches occur, publishers and advertisers both lose, because the mismatch means that the bidding process can't move forward. Publishers lose revenue and advertisers miss out on reaching their targeting audience.

We also call for increasing transparency for publishers if they are included in a third-party brokered deal, as the current setup offers publishers no visibility at all if they are not the deal broker. This is because the current API configuration is limited to two-way communication.

Lastly, we highlight the importance of advertisers being made aware of when a deal's inventory may be updated or revised. In version 1 of the Deals API, advertisers wouldn't be necessarily aware when sites and apps are added on the backend to a deal. Including timestamps indicating when a deal is edited offers a solution that would alleviate confusion and promote transparency.

You can read our full comment submitted in Github here!
The IAB UK has a hopeful solution

In other industry news, the IAB UK has launched a Measurement Advisory Board made up of senior leaders from major tech platforms, advertisers, agencies, and publishers. The stated goal of this advisory board is to drive transparency and consistency forward, at a time when the industry is struggling with opaque and often overinflated reporting. The companies represented as members of the board are in a tricky spot: do they play by the new rules, or is this a new space for opacity, big tech capture, and friction?

While the expectation is never perfection, especially in this complex digital advertising ecosystem, as head of insights at IAB UK, Elizabeth Lane shares, “By bringing together market-leading companies through our new Measurement Advisory Board, we have the right players from across the industry to drive alignment, champion best practice and accelerate progress across the ecosystem.”

This point about progress and best practices raises many questions. Meta, who is on the Measurement Advisory Board, has been sued in the US for misrepresenting its metrics figures to advertisers. The elephant in the room is this: how will organizations like the IAB provide the necessary checks and balances on Big Tech’s input on and shaping of the standards that they’ll be held to - and ensure that standards are equally imposed? We raised a similar point in our previous comments to the Media Rating Council on their Auction Transparency Standards. Further, if Google, Meta, or Amazon refuse to adopt what their compatriots on the Measurement Advisory Board vote to implement, what consequences, if any, will be taken by the IAB?
In more Google news

Google may be in the business of deciding which price you see, meaning each individual consumer could see different prices.

Google’s very intimate access to you is about to get real alarming, real quick. In a recent announcement, Google shared that its AI chatbot, Gemini, will soon tap into users Gmail, YouTube, Google Photos, and Google Search data. On top of that, Google has cut a deal with Apple to incorporate Google’s Gemini into Apple products. And to tie it all together, Google is launching a Gemini-powered ad service that could use this data to set personalized prices.

The risk isn’t personalization — it’s the opacity of how pricing is being decided. If an intimate AI chatbot is setting prices and decides what shoppers see — pricing stops being transparent. Friend of Fair Ads, Matt Stoller put it best — “Google may be seeking to become our central planner and price setter.”
Friends of Fair Ads

In their latest report, our friends over at the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project (CAMP) unpack the wild world of fraud across the digital advertising ecosystem.

Online scams, malvertising, and bot fraud aren’t an accident. They are enabled by ad systems built for profit, costing consumers, publishers, and advertisers tens of millions every year. But this report isn't just a doom-and-gloom analysis - CAMP has plenty of recommendations on how to turn the tide, with great policy solutions on how stronger data protection, platform accountability, and enforcement can help keep Canadians safe.

See ya next time!

Iesha White, Director of Intelligence

Check My Ads in the Wild 🐾

🎤 Arielle was on stage at STEP Network's #MediaSummit2026 in Copenhagen! This conference, led by a leading Danish publisher network, brought together advertisers, publishers, and independent adtech companies to shape the future of digital advertising. As Arielle said, in an industry where Google, Meta and Amazon are premier sponsors, driving the agenda of most of these types of gatherings, this is so refreshing, and cause for optimism for local brands and local media companies alike.

In her keynote, Arielle breaks down the ad systems that quietly funnel money into low-quality AI-generated content, hurting advertisers, publishers, and the public. The risks are real: brands end up wasting their ad budgets on AI slop while using fake data, all while legitimate publishers struggle to survive. We shared our roadmap, and asked brands and publishers to join us in creating a healthier digital advertising market that really works for the brands, publishers, and people that it exists to serve.

We also joined STEP Network and the Dansk Annoncørforening - the Danish Advertisers Association - for a pre-conference dinner, where Arielle shared more fireside insight with an intimate group of CMOs and senior publishing executives. We LOVE to see an evening without middlemen!

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