Smarter Advertising Decisions, Not Just Automation: With John Hoctor of Newton Research
33 min
John Hoctor, CEO and Co-Founder of Newton Research, joined AdTechGod to explore how agentic AI is transforming media buying, analytics, and advertising decision-making. From AI-powered data scientists to partnerships with dentsu, NBCUniversal, FreeWheel, and RPA, John shares why smarter analytics, not just automation, will shape the future of advertising and why human expertise remains essential. Takeaways Beyond AI Automation: Why agentic AI's real value lies in smarter analytics and better media decisions, not simply automating existing workflows. The Virtual Data Scientist: How Newton Research uses AI agents to address the industry's shortage of data science talent and unlock deeper insights. Real-World Agentic AI: How partnerships with dentsu, NBCUniversal, FreeWheel, and RPA are advancing AI-powered media buying and optimization. The Future of Agencies: Why agencies must rethink workflows, connect data across teams, and embrace AI to deliver stronger client outcomes. Humans Still Matter: Why John remains bullish on human expertise, relationships, and strategic thinking in an increasingly AI-driven advertising industry. Chapters00:00 Introduction00:13 Meet John Hoctor, CEO and Co-Founder of Newton Research01:26 John's Journey Through Ad Tech and Major Acquisitions06:19 The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Risk, Opportunity, and Success09:05 Why John Founded Newton Research10:40 The Vision Behind AI-Powered Virtual Data Scientists13:09 Why AI Is Transforming Media Analytics15:41 How Newton Research Goes Beyond Basic AI Automation18:09 Rethinking Workflows for the Agentic AI Era20:09 The Future of Advertising Agencies22:31 Agentic AI Partnerships with dentsu, NBCUniversal, FreeWheel, and RPA26:32 Will AI Agents Transform the Ad Tech Stack?28:01 Why Human Expertise Still Matters in Media Buying30:10 Bullish or Bearish: AI, Humans, and the Future of Advertising32:32 Newton Research's Growth and Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...