IAB Tech Lab Summit 2025: Rethinking the Digital Ad Ecosystem in the Age of AI and Privacy
As digital advertising confronts a future reshaped by AI, privacy regulations, and the collapse of legacy identity systems, the IAB Tech Lab Summit 2025 will lead the conversation “Through the Looking Glass.” The event, taking place on June 4 at Convene (1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York City), gathers the brightest minds in technology, product, and policy to lay the technical foundations for the next era of digital media.
“The way things have worked for the past twenty-five years is not how they will work for the next twenty-five,” said Anthony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab. “Privacy is real, advertising signals are disappearing, streaming TV continues on its growth curve, and AI is generating both code and content. This summit is about rethinking how digital advertising evolves — technically, commercially, and sustainably.”
Key Highlights of IAB Tech Lab Summit 2025
🔥 Spotlight Conversation: Peter Zeihan on Global Disruption
One of the most anticipated moments will be a fireside chat with Peter Zeihan, renowned geopolitical strategist and best-selling author. In discussion with Anthony Katsur, Zeihan will unpack the global trends reshaping innovation, AI development, supply chains, and consumer dynamics.
Deep Dives: AI, Identity & Innovation
This year’s agenda emphasizes how AI is transforming digital infrastructure, contextual understanding, and identity management:
- Unlocking Innovation: From Word Models to World Models
Nikhila Ravi, Research Lead at Meta’s FAIR, explores the evolution of AI from text-based to agentic models that improve reasoning, planning, and marketing collaboration. - Reimagining Context with AI
Jonah Goodhart, CEO of Mobian, presents how AI is decoding real-time emotional and sentiment data to create more nuanced contextual advertising. - AI-Driven Identity Infrastructure
A panel featuring leaders from LiveRamp, Optable, and ID5 dives into the development of adaptive identity frameworks designed to unify user identity across CTV, mobile, and desktop while upholding compliance and privacy standards.
Voices Shaping the Future
The Summit will feature top executives and policymakers, offering a diverse lens on industry transformation:
- Thomas Huynh, from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, brings regulatory clarity to a critical discussion on state-level privacy laws, enforcement, and digital consent frameworks.
- Industry leaders from The Trade Desk, OpenX, LiveRamp, Optable, ID5, VideoStorm, and Didomi will present key strategies for aligning technical innovation with legal and commercial realities.
The IAB Tech Lab Summit 2025 stands at the intersection of technological evolution and regulatory transformation. With a forward-looking agenda and powerhouse speakers, the event will challenge the industry to not only adapt but to lead—through standards, infrastructure, and innovation that prioritize performance, transparency, and trust.
