‘We should own it’: Hershey’s programmatic chief on AI agents and media mix modeling

AI media buying agents steal the headlines, but some of the highest-impact applications of agentic technology by brand advertisers has been in the form of media mix modeling (MMM), systems that monitor the impact of ad investments and help to divine a marketer’s next move.

Related Insights


Hershey’s has been working with companies like Mutinex and Tracer.tech to speed up media measurement reporting and, in turn, their media investment decisions. The confectioner spent a year developing a system of several AI agents that provide media modeling for campaigns over the course of weeks, not months.

Vinny Rinaldi, vp of media and marketing technology at Hershey’s, said the new approach has enabled the company to prioritize “relevance over reach,” elevate planning and strategic objectives above the cheap thrill of a low CPM, and link media strategy closer to business strategy. It’s also helped steer investment decisions, such as a recent lean into Reddit, and will be informing the advertiser’s approach to the current TV upfront season.

Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.

,Read More

By the numbers: Ad tech’s quarter of mixed fortunes

The latest quarterly earnings calls for the ad tech sector are largely over for the latest reporting period, with bluster over yet more senior departures at The Trade Desk, and AppLovin’s continued rise (generating nearly $2 billion in Q1) dominating Q1 headlines.

Related Insights


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?

Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.

,Read More