The MadTech Podcast

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire CEO Rachel Smith is joined by Abdelnabi Alaedinne, regional director for digital & partnerships at UM MENAT, to discuss the evolving media and advertising landscape in MENA. Their conversation delves into emerging trends in the region, critical skills for media planners and strategists to effectively utilise AI, and balancing AI-driv...

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 viewi...

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...

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.

Today’s MadTech Daily covers the UK pressuring Google over AI Overview opt-outs for websites, Google axing YouTube vs TV viewing comparisons, and UK advertising hitting £12.5bn in Q3, up 11.4%.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Meta testing premium subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp as well as Google agreeing to a USD$68m settlement over voice assistant privacy claims, while it receives guidance from the EU about how to help search rivals. We also cover YouTubers suing Snap over AI-related copyright infringement.

On today's MadTech Daily, we cover ICE seeking ad tech and big data tools for investigations. We also look at major Meta news, including Threads rolling out global ads and Meta banning teens from AI bots amid a youth addiction trial, as well as WPP retiring Hogarth and launching WPP Production.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we look at TikTok splitting its US app from its global business, YouTube CTV ads enabling shopping, and Netflix doubling ad revenue while eyeing growth in 2026.

“If you think about GAM’s stranglehold, it’s over the open web, and the open web is in decline, so they can make the argument that [they’re] not really a monopoly.” In this episode of the MadTech podcast, ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín is joined by co-founder & advisor Ciaran O’Kane and head of content John Still to discuss the TV and video landscape, shifting consumer mindsets in e-co...

On today's MadTech Daily we cover TikTok using Pixels to track performance beyond its platform, Amazon launching Prebid Adapter Beta to connect ad demand, and UK Lords backing social media ban for under-16s.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the BBC Group and YouTube striking a strategic UK partnership, the FTC moving to appeal a Meta antitrust ruling, and the IPA launching the IPAi Forum focused on generative AI.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Temu catching up to Amazon in global cross-border e-commerce, the UK Gambling Commission accusing Meta of ignoring illegal gambling ads, and ByteDance challenging Alibaba with an AI-powered cloud push.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover five US publishers suing Google over alleged ad tech manipulation as well as Google appealing a landmark antitrust verdict over its search monopoly. We also cover 60 plus MPs urging Starmer to act on an under-16s social media ban and Threads surpassing X in daily mobile users. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at the new ChatGPT ads, BBC teaming with YouTube, and Singapore changing laws to ease data sharing.

In this episode of the MadTech podcast, ExchangeWire’s head of marketing Grainne Reid is joined by head of content John Still and COO Lindsay Rowntree to discuss three major stories surrounding AI, consumer tech, and media power dynamics. They look into Google’s new protocol for AI-driven commerce, Apple’s decision to tap Google’s Gemini for Siri, and Paramount’s lawsuit following Warner Bros’ rej...

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Wikimedia expanding AI partnerships across tech giants, Alibaba’s Qwen app topping 100m users, and Freely surpassing 1m weekly users.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Dentsu’s bid to sell a global unit nearing collapse, the UK seeking a copyright reset between AI firms and creators, and Netflix eyeing a cash deal for Warner Bros. and HBO Max.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Apple tapping Google Gemini to power AI Siri, Paramount Skydance taking Warner Bros. Discovery to court, and a study revealing publishers’ grim outlook for search.