What Happens when Brands AI Clone Their Talent?
In this Digiday episode, hosts Kamiko McCoy and Tim Peterson explore the rise of AI‑generated digital twins and "AI clones" of talent, using Coca‑Cola's recent project with football coach José Mourinho as a case study. They discuss how brands capture a celebrity’s likeness, voice, and communication patterns to create generative AI versions that can produce endless content, while emphasizing the extensive human approval process required to protect brand safety and talent reputation. Guest Patrick Callanan (T‑Mobile Advertising) and Unity’s Lee London weigh in on mobile monetization and the value of streamlined app‑install experiences, contrasting the promise of rapid, cost‑effective AI content with the practical challenges of rights, consent, and ongoing oversight.
Inside The Trade Desk's Programmatic Power Struggle
In this episode, Digiday’s Kamiko McCoy and Tim Peterson dissect the escalating power struggle between The Trade Desk and major ad agencies. They explore agencies’ pullback on spending via OpenPath, citing concerns over hidden fees and loss of control, while...
Why The Guardian’s First Reader-Facing AI Product Isn’t a Chatbot
In this Digiday episode, Chris Moran, Head of Editorial Innovation at The Guardian, explains why the outlet’s first reader‑facing AI tool, called “Storylines,” is not a chatbot but a narrative‑driven related‑content module. He outlines the three guiding principles the Guardian...
After WPP Reckoning: The Case for and Against Principal Media
In this Digiday episode, hosts Kamika McCoy and Tim Peterson dissect the contentious practice of principal media buying, using recent WPP whistleblower revelations and a high‑profile lawsuit to illustrate how agencies pocket rebates from platforms like Google, Meta, Amazon, and...
TikTok After the Legal Fight: Why It’s Coming for Meta’s Ad Dollars
In this episode, Digiday’s Kamiko McCoy and Tim Peterson sit down with TikTok US platform reporter Crystal Scanlan to unpack TikTok’s post‑legal‑battle strategy. With the U.S. ban threat lifted, TikTok is shifting from defensive mode to aggressively courting ad dollars,...
OpenAI's Ad Push Begins, and The Knot Is Co-Piloting
In this Digiday episode, hosts Kamiko McCoy and Tim Peterson discuss OpenAI's recent moves, including a controversial Pentagon partnership and the launch of its first ad‑tech deal with Criteo, signaling the start of ads on ChatGPT's free tier. They interview...
Why some Creators Are Now Back Auditing Their Brand Deals
In this episode, Digiday hosts Tamika Baziel, a B2B creator, who explains why she audited and ultimately severed her partnership with Hootsuite after learning of its collaboration with ICE and concerns about surveillance culture. She details her systematic audit process—using...
Digiday Ranks the Best and Worst Super Bowl Ads of 2026
In this episode, Tim Peterson and Kimeko McCoy dissect the 60+ Super Bowl 2026 commercials, highlighting standout ads like Anthropic’s witty jab at OpenAI and the nostalgic Backstreet Boys‑powered spots from T‑Mobile and Coinbase. They also critique the misfires, pointing...