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- Adtech’s House of Cards: AI Illusions, Merger Mania, and the Return of the Walking (Brand) Dead
Adtech’s House of Cards: AI Illusions, Merger Mania, and the Return of the Walking (Brand) Dead
Advertisers Return to X: Toxic Relationships Are Hard to Quit
Pesach Lattin (ADOTAT)
February 28, 2025
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AppLovin’s AI controversy, DoubleVerify’s shopping spree, and Google’s privacy dance—oh my! It’s like the adtech world decided to throw a scandal-themed party, and everyone showed up wearing their finest ethical gray area. From accusations of AI puffery that would make a Hollywood screenwriter blush to DoubleVerify’s quest for narrative control and Google’s creepy targeting shenanigans, this week’s lineup reads like a binge-worthy drama series. Popcorn, anyone?
Meanwhile, advertisers are crawling back to X like ex-lovers who can’t quit the toxicity, and programmatic audio ads are whispering personalized nothings in your earholes. Publicis is trying to keep a straight face with slower growth predictions, while ShopMy is banking on influencers selling authenticity like it’s a limited-edition sneaker drop. And let’s not forget the adtech merger mania—where buying relevance is the new innovation. Grab your seat; this industry rollercoaster isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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🚨 AppLovin’s AI Smoke and Mirrors—Fraud or Just Really Creative Marketing?
🔍 The Accusation:
AppLovin is facing a public relations dumpster fire after short sellers Culper Research and Fuzzy Panda Research accused the adtech giant of cooking up more fiction than a Netflix series. The allegations? Overstating its AI capabilities, engaging in ad fraud, and—here's the kicker—secretly installing apps on user devices like some sort of digital Santa Claus, but creepier.
📜 The Evidence:
According to the short sellers, AppLovin's AI magic is about as real as unicorns, allegedly inflating performance metrics to keep investors smiling. Shares tumbled 23%, proving once again that Wall Street's love affair with AI is about as stable as a TikTok trend.
⚠️ The Catch:
CEO Adam Foroughi came out swinging, calling the allegations “false and misleading,” which is exactly what you’d expect someone accused of misleading investors to say. Meanwhile, AppLovin’s revenue reports show strong growth, but if your profits come from selling snake oil, are they really profits?
🔥 The Big Question:
Is this a targeted takedown by short sellers looking to make a quick buck, or did AppLovin get a little too creative with its marketing spin?
🎤 Industry Response:
The adtech world is quietly watching from the sidelines, popcorn in hand. If these allegations stick, expect a ripple effect across the industry, with investors giving the side-eye to every AI startup claiming to have cracked the code on digital ads.