Episode 181: Alex Kantrowitz on OpenAI and Big Tech's Latest Approach to Advertising

**Jeremy Bloom** (0:00)
Oh, hello, I'm Jeremy Bloom, co-founder and CEO of Marketecture Media. And boy, do I have news for you. Marketecture Live is back. And if you've been watching from a distance thinking, that looks phenomenal, but a trip to New York is just a bridge, or several, too far. We've got great news for you. We're bringing Marketecture Live to the beating heart of AdLand. That's right. On September 23rd, 2026, Marketecture Live is coming to Chicago. We're going to be bringing the same sold out energy, sharp insights, and industry defining conversations to the center of advertising's biggest transformations, from media and commerce, to AI, tech, and modern marketing. This is where the people shaping what's next for the ad industry will be, want to be, and need to be. Early registration is live now.
So lock in your ticket at chicago.marketexturalive.com.
Again, lock in your ticket at chicago.marketexturalive.com.
Disclaimer, I live in Chicago. It's not Chicago, it's Chicago.

**Ari Paparo** (1:26)
Welcome to the Marketecture Podcast. This is Ari Paparo. I'm here with Eric Franchi, and our guest today is Alex Kantrowitz from the host of the Big Technology Podcast, longtime reporter in our sector. He was at Adweek, he's been in many places. I've been on his podcast multiple times. So we're really excited to hear from him, his perspective on big technology. Like, what are the big guys doing? We're just an advertising podcast, but he covers everything going on with Google and Meta and all those companies, so we'll find out what's going on.
Eric, you've known Alex for a long time, right?

**Eric Franchi** (1:59)
I've known Alex for what feels like 10, 15 years, we're probably figured out on this pod. He went from being an ad tech beat reporter at, I think it was ad age, to writing books, interviewing the top CEOs, covering this in a unique way. He's a one-man media company, so it's fantastic. He is in the rooms at some of these big technology companies. I think he's going to give us some surreal insight into what they're doing, what they're thinking about, relates to our little world of advertising.

**Ari Paparo** (2:29)
Absolutely. I'm excited for the conversation. Quick reminder, we have Marketecture Live Chicago is coming up in September. The early bird tickets end on July 14th, that's next week. If you want the early bird discount, go to chicago.marketecturelive.com.
After that, we'll be announcing a lot of our speakers. We have some very exciting speakers lined up, and the tickets will go back to their full price. So that's your option right there. And as usual, don't email me asking for free tickets. I barely work here. I can't help you in any way. With that, let's just jump in and get to the conversation with Alex. We'll be back in a second.
Alex, thanks for being here.

**Alex Kantrowitz** (3:12)
Thanks for having me. Great to see you both.

**Ari Paparo** (3:13)
Yeah, great seeing you. I've been on your podcast a couple of times. Is this the second time you've been on this one? I'm trying to remember. You were on a couple years ago.

**Alex Kantrowitz** (3:21)
Oh, I have been on this podcast. Maybe it's the second time. I can't remember. We did a show together. I just remember you being on mine. I know you've been on three or four of my shows. You've been on Land of the Giants with me when I was doing that with Vox. You were on the This Week in Tech News when I was the guest host. I know you were on Big Tech War Stories. I'm pretty sure you've come on the main Big Technology podcast.
So Ari, I might have had you on four different podcasts. I think that is a record.

**Ari Paparo** (3:47)
Well, Ozzy, it's time for you to give back or me to give back. I'm not sure which way.

**Alex Kantrowitz** (3:52)
Face the heat.

**Eric Franchi** (3:53)
I have props. I have props. I have props. Look what I got in my office.

**Alex Kantrowitz** (3:59)
All right.

**Eric Franchi** (3:59)
Copies of both of y'all books. And they're not autographed because I bought them myself retail on Amazon.

**Ari Paparo** (4:06)
For those on the audio, what is the book from Alex and workingly buy it?

**Eric Franchi** (4:12)
Always Day One, How the Tech Titans Plan to Stay on Top Forever. Awesome book.
And then I have this other one called Yield by some dude.

**Ari Paparo** (4:21)
That's a good one. I read your book about Walmart. What was that called again?

**Alex Kantrowitz** (4:24)
Walmart.

**Ari Paparo** (4:25)
Didn't you write a book about retail media? No.

**Alex Kantrowitz** (4:27)