Michael Berkowitz, a longtime ad tech veteran with experience at Spiny, BERT, Lotomy, and MediaMath, joins AdTechGod to share his journey from journalism to ad tech leadership. He reflects on the industry’s transformation, the growing sophistication of publishers, and how innovation has shifted from the U.S. to Europe. Michael discusses the risks publishers face in adopting new technology, the overuse of AI in marketing, and his belief that meaningful solutions, not buzzwords, will drive the next phase of growth. He also introduces Ad Aid, his concept for a more purposeful ad experience that benefits users and supports charitable causes.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Michael Berkowitz 01:00 From Journalism to Ad Tech

03:30 Early Days at MediaMath and BERT

05:40 Identifying Promising Tech and Market Fit

08:13 Challenges Facing Publishers

11:20 Trust, Credibility, and the State of Local News

12:19 The Reality of AI in Ad Tech

16:30 The Problem with Buzzword Marketing

18:28 Optimism for the Sell Side

21:17 Experience and Longevity in the Industry

23:45 The Ad Aid Concept

27:47 Making Ads Meaningful for Users

30:27 Closing Thoughts and Hope for the Future

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