The Agent Wars: How Ad Tech is Battling for the Future of Programmatic Media (Virtual Only)

AI is reshaping programmatic media faster than the industry can align on what it means in practice. Leaders from IAB Tech Lab, Kimberly-Clark, and Fiducia cut through the noise, sharing what AI is delivering in media planning and buying today, how marketers are testing and scaling it in the real world, and how to maintain transparency and accountability as agents take on more of the buying process. The program culminates in an Ad Tech Vendor Showcase, featuring Amazon, Google, PubMatic, The Trade Desk, and Viant, each sharing how their platforms are advancing AI-driven media planning, buying, and measurement. Join ANA members for a practical, unfiltered look at where programmatic is heading — and what marketers should do next.

when

Start: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 11:00am

End: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 1:00pm

WHERE

Virtual Event (Eastern Time)

Registration Pricing

	Client-Side Tier	Platinum Tier	Gold Tier	Silver Tier	Nonmember
Registration
Virtual Registration	Client-Side Tier $0	Platinum Tier $0	Gold Tier $149	Silver Tier $199	Nonmember N/A

For issues processing your registration or to ask further questions about this event, please contact [email protected]

Agenda

TIME	EVENT DETAILS	LOCATION
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
11:00am - 11:10am	WELCOME REMARKS Julie Weitzner SVP, Media Practice ANA
11:10am - 11:30am	SETTING THE STAGE AI is rapidly reshaping the foundations of ad tech and programmatic media, but not always in the ways the industry headlines suggest. In this session, IAB Tech Lab CEO Anthony Katsur separates signal from noise, outlining where AI is already delivering real impact across media planning, discovery, and buying, and where expectations are getting ahead of reality. He’ll explore the rise of agentic AI, its implications for SSPs and DSPs, and the current state of industry standards, providing a clear view of how programmatic trading is evolving—and what marketers should realistically expect over the next 3–5 years. Anthony Katsur CEO IAB Tech Lab
11:30am - 11:45am	THE MARKETER'S PERSPECTIVE A best-in-class marketer shares real-world experience testing and scaling agentic AI in programmatic, including how new tools are accelerating this work. Mairi Fogle Performance Media Lead Kimberly-Clark Corporation
11:45am - 11:55am	WHO WATCHES THE AGENTS? Agentic buying is here—but each platform’s agent grades its own performance. So who ensures accountability? Tim Brown explores why independent benchmarking is more critical than ever, the risks of fragmented measurement, and how brands can maintain transparency and control in an agent-driven landscape. Tim Brown CEO Fiducia
11:55am - 12:45pm	AD TECH VENDOR SHOWCASE Each of the following vendors will share how their platform is advancing AI-driven media planning, buying, and measurement.
11:55am - 12:05pm	Amazon DSP Showcase Robert Manly Senior Manager, Product Analytics Amazon
12:05pm - 12:15pm	Google Showcase Kelly McCabe Head of Display & Video 360 Global Product Solutions Google
12:15pm - 12:25pm	The Trade Desk Showcase Eric Bosco VP of Product Management The Trade Desk
12:25pm - 12:35pm	PUBMATIC SHOWCASE Oz Lang Senior Director, Product Management, Buyer Solutions PubMatic
12:35pm - 12:45pm	Viant Showcase Jon Schulz Chief Marketing Officer Viant
12:45pm - 1:00pm	OPEN FORUM FOR Q&A

Cancellation Policy and Notes

No refunds will be granted for any cancellations or for 'no shows.' Unused registrations/applications have no monetary value and cannot be credited to future years or events. ANA will not issue refunds or credits due to failure to redeem a discount coupon during the registration process. You may transfer your registration to a colleague at no additional cost.