"Such numbers pale in comparison to the AI-fueled earnings increases of Big Tech, arguably the top tier of the media jungle, but upon initial inspection, the majority of this 12-strong cohort of companies, all of which issued their earnings over the last 14 days, posted increases. However, three posted annual revenue declines - see chart below - with executives' effusive soundings on the prospects of making their businesses agentic, equally prompting queries about whether AI will erode the stickiness of their company's platform?"
"Evidently, Teads continues to experience a rocky start a year after its leadership publicly aired its investment thesis of pairing Outbrain's performance-driven wares with Teads' premium potential. However, after disclosing a 7% year-over-year revenue decline, analysts questioned whether AI would erode the historical separation between upper- and lower-funnel media."
"Meanwhile, Criteo's leadership forecast a return to growth by the close of the year after it saw a lag in retail media spend, resulting in a 6% slump in revenues for the period, with analysts questioning whether self-serve AI workflows reduce agencies' operational dependence on - a key consideration for Criteo."
"Such queries were directed toward the leadership of all firms, with Magnite and Criteo executives quizzed on whether it would compress their take-rates. However, predictably, executives elsewhere were able to give a glass-half-full appraisal of AI-driven labor displacement, with Criteo's leadership trumpeting its integration with ChatGPT. Other examples of greenfield opportunities include: PubMatic boasting 1,000-plus AI-powered deals, Viant's autonomous outcomes efforts, Taboola's AI Answer engine, and Doubl"
Ad tech quarterly earnings calls largely concluded, with The Trade Desk facing renewed senior-departure talk and AppLovin continuing strong growth, generating nearly $2 billion in Q1. Compared with Big Tech’s AI-driven earnings gains, most of a 12-company cohort reported increases, but three posted annual revenue declines. Teads reported a 7% year-over-year revenue decline after earlier plans to combine Outbrain’s performance tools with Teads’ premium inventory, prompting concerns about whether AI will blur the separation between upper- and lower-funnel media. Criteo forecast a return to growth after a 6% revenue slump tied to lagging retail media spend, while analysts questioned whether self-serve AI workflows reduce agency dependence. Questions also targeted whether AI would compress take-rates, while some firms highlighted AI integrations and new deal opportunities.
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