State of the Digital Media Industry: How Do We Evolve in the Age of Privacy and AI?

The digital media economy is undergoing a profound transformation. Rising global expectations for consumer privacy, declining signals from browsers, and the rapid emergence of AI are reshaping the foundation of how media and advertising operate. These shifts bring real challenges: from sustaining publisher revenue on the open internet to maintaining consumer trust and ensuring regulatory compliance across markets.

Yet, with disruption comes opportunity. AI has the potential to unlock new efficiencies and creative possibilities, while privacy-first frameworks can strengthen consumer relationships and build durable models for long-term growth. Publishers, brands, and platforms alike have a chance to redefine how digital value is created, measured, and exchanged.

The IAB Tech Lab will explore how the industry can seize this moment to strengthen the digital media economy, and how the Tech Lab’s global standardization work is driving growth, creating efficiencies, and mitigating risk in this brave new world.