The Rise of AI Advertising: How Algorithms Are Outsmarting Human Analysts

Lon Harris
Lon Harris is a contributor to dot.LA. His work has also appeared on ScreenJunkies, RottenTomatoes and Inside Streaming.
The Rise of AI Advertising: How Algorithms Are Outsmarting Human Analysts
Evan Xie

This is the web version of dot.LA’s weekly newsletter. Sign up to get the latest news on Southern California’s tech, startup and venture capital scene.


AI-enabled technology continued creeping into every aspect of our daily lives this week. A viral TED Talk features an early prototype for a wearable AI assistant. Alphabet merged its internal “Google Brain” team with DeepMind, the company it acquired in 2014, to significantly accelerate progress on AI research. Meanwhile, Elon Musk took some time away from having the WORST. 4/20. EVER. to talk up his latest AI project, a bot called TruthGPT that will investigate the meaning of life.


Nonetheless, Google still somehow managed to find a new way to generate a few headlines with yet another new integration for AI technology. According to a report from The Financial Times, Alphabet plans to use generative AI to create new kinds of original advertising across all of its various platforms. The same Large Language Model (LLM) that powers the Bard chatbot, along with some of the AI features available in Gmail and Google Workspace, will now develop ads and even whole ad campaigns for the company’s various platforms, including YouTube, Maps, Gmail, and even search result pages.

We’re not talking text-to-video here, exactly. Alphabet won’t just be writing simple prompts and letting the software design an entire campaign from there. Instead, sponsors and clients will supply Google with “chunks” of content related to their product offering, including images, video clips, and written copy. The bot will then “remix” all of these materials into an original ad, customized and fine-tuned around various Alphabet platforms and services.

The new AI ads will be integrated into a mysterious Google beta program known as “Performance Max.” First introduced in late 2020, Performance Max is designed to maximize ad efficiency and reach across all Google platforms, and treats the company’s entire suite of products and services holistically, as a single advertising channel.

That means sponsors don’t decide whether they want their ads to appear on Google search pages or within Google Maps results or even ahead of YouTube videos. They just sign up, provide sales and CRM data, upload creative assets, lay out their budgets and the type of conversions they’re looking for, and allow Performance Max to do the rest. It’s something of a black box, focused on results but giving advertisers less granular control over their campaigns.

As Google executive Sean Downey explained to Digiday this week, Performance Max remains focused on “outcome and optimization,” giving advertisers fewer options because “too many constraints around their campaigns can actually hinder that goal.” Nonetheless, the addition of AI bots – which also work in mysteriously inexplicable ways behind the scenes – to an already obscured system is a bit like putting a black box inside another black box. Google is falling back on years of built-up trust from brands here.

AI and AI-like systems have long been employed by the advertising industry, which relies on a large amount of number-crunching to guess at what kinds of messaging are going to reach the most receptive audiences across various platforms. It’s nearly impossible for human analysts to compete with software when it comes to comparing so many variables – from audience to device to time of day, context, performance, and so on – across so many different platforms. AI-enabled systems are also more dynamic, and can respond to shifts in user behavior or traffic in real time, making them particularly useful for launching and maintaining ad campaigns and maximizing their effectiveness. So it’s perhaps unsurprising that companies like Alphabet plan to expand their integration behind-the-scenes.

The notable shift is in making this AI output public-facing. Rather than relying on bots to design and run ad campaigns written and planned out by humans, Google will now have the bots actually writing the copy and producing the finished videos themselves. It’s sure to save the sponsors money, down the road, and perhaps also increase efficiency, while likely also costing some human copywriters and marketing executives their jobs.

Google’s not alone, either, in exploring the various ways AI software can assist its advertising business. Earlier this month, Meta announced plans to use generative AI to create new kinds of advertising for its various platforms. Microsoft also has plans to utilize technology developed by its in-house division, ChatGPT creators OpenAI, to improve and fine-tune its ad business. The company has been testing ads embedded in Bing AI chatbot responses since February, though it has declined to report how many users have actually seen or interacted with the ads. (These links aren’t marked as ads within the Bing AI chat conversations, though an ad icon appears if a user hovers over the link.) Microsoft is also playing around with photo and video ads for Bing chats.

California startup Creative.ai is trying to bring a similar kind of system to independent video game designers. Founder and CEO Athar Zia explained to Forbes last week that, once a video game developer identifies an ad type that works well to promote their game, they then must invest a lot of their time producing “endless imitations and iterations” of that ad for various platforms and app stores. The company’s technology, on the other hand, analyzes successful gaming ads and then replicates them automatically for new products.

Whether there will be room in the AI-enabled advertising world for up-and-comers remains to be seen. Regardless, farming out some – if not all – of the work involved in mounting a campaign to digital ad managers seems all but inevitable at this point. The apps can keep an eye on progress across multiple platforms, 24 hours a day, and they go through a lot fewer bottles of whiskey and orders of Clams Casino than the Mad Men.

Subscribe to our newsletter to catch every headline.

Big Wins: Dodgers Take the Title ⚾, ChatGPT Levels Up🚀

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday, LA! It’s been a week of big wins, on and off the field. 🎉

⚾️ First up, let’s talk Dodgers. With a thrilling 7-6 comeback victory over the Yankees in Game 5, the Dodgers clinched their eighth World Series title, their first since 2020. The city is buzzing, and fans are ready to celebrate! A parade kicks off this morning at 11 a.m., starting at City Hall and winding down to Flower Street, with a ticketed celebration at Dodger Stadium for those wanting to keep the festivities going.

Image Source: Dodgers

💻 Meanwhile, in the tech, OpenAI just rolled out a game-changing update for ChatGPT. Plus and Enterprise users can now access real-time internet search, powered by Microsoft Bing, bringing ChatGPT's responses fully up-to-date. This means users can now ask about the latest news, hotspots, or recent LA startup announcements, and ChatGPT will pull in fresh, relevant answers directly from the web. Previously limited to information up to 2021, ChatGPT’s new browsing capabilities make it a valuable digital assistant for anyone needing real-time insights in fast-paced industries like tech and entertainment.

Image Source: ChatGPT

🔍 The real-time search feature also includes “Browse with Bing,” allowing ChatGPT to source information from multiple sites for detailed answers to complex questions. Whether you’re exploring the latest venture capital trends in LA or curious about the best local spots, ChatGPT’s new browsing power helps you stay ahead with the latest info. This leap forward in AI functionality makes ChatGPT even more versatile and powerful for everyone, from business owners to everyday users.

From the Dodgers’ World Series win to OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT update, there’s a lot to celebrate in LA this week. Here’s to champions, innovation, and a city that’s always pushing boundaries. 🌆✨


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Final Boss Sour, a Los Angeles-based gaming-themed snack company specializing in healthier sour snacks, has raised a $3M Seed funding round led by Science Inc. to expand its product offerings and operational capabilities. - learn more
LA Venture Funds
  • Smash Capital led a $50M Series B round for Read AI, a productivity-focused AI company, bringing its total funding to $81M. The company offers a platform that enhances meeting efficiency through features like note-taking, summarization, and transcription. Additionally, Read AI introduced "Read AI for Gmail," a free Chrome extension that integrates information from various applications, reducing the need to switch between apps. The funds will be used to increase the company's headcount in engineering, data science, and business teams. - learn more
  • Distributed Global participated in a $25M funding round for Nillion, a company that provides decentralized privacy solutions designed to secure sensitive data using advanced technologies like secure multi-party computation. - learn more
  • Act One Ventures participated in a $5M Seed funding round for Latii, a construction materials supply chain startup, to enhance its platform that connects contractors with suppliers, aiming to streamline procurement processes and reduce costs in the construction industry. - learn more
  • SmartGateVC participated in a pre-seed funding round for Ritual Dental, a company revolutionizing dental care by integrating advanced technology and microbiome science to provide personalized, preventive treatments. - learn more

      Download the dot.LA App

      Billion-Dollar Milestones and Snapchat’s New Features

      🔦 Spotlight

      Happy Friday Los Angeles!

      This week’s spotlight showcases LA’s thriving tech scene, featuring Snapchat’s latest feature updates and two local startups Liquid Death and Altruist, making TechCrunch’s Unicorn List for 2024.

      Image Source: Snap

      Snapchat’s recent fall updates bring fresh features, including a new iPhone camera shortcut for instant snaps, Halloween-inspired AI-powered Lenses, and Bitmoji costumes inspired by Mean Girls and Yellowstone. Bitmoji stickers now reflect trending Gen-Z expressions like “slay” and heart symbols for added flair in chats. Plus, the “Footsteps” feature on Snap Map allows users to track their past adventures privately, adding a nostalgic touch.

      Image Source: Liquid Death

      ICYMI, two LA startups joined the Unicorn Club—achieving valuations over $1 billion. Liquid Death, based in Santa Monica, is a canned water company with edgy branding and a humorous sustainability focus. Known for viral marketing and brand partnerships, it redefines bottled water as a lifestyle brand and environmental statement. In March, Liquid Death closed $67 million in strategic financing, raising its total funding to over $267 million and valuing it at $1.4 billion.

      Image Source: Altruist

      Altruist, a Culver City-based fintech platform, offers financial advisors streamlined tools to better serve their clients. With a user-friendly investment and account management platform, Altruist has gained strong traction in the finance world. In May, it announced a $169 million Series E funding round, bringing its total funding to over $449 million and earning a valuation of $1.5 billion.

      Together, Liquid Death and Altruist exemplify LA’s capacity for innovation across diverse sectors, from lifestyle branding to fintech. Whether reshaping financial tools or redefining sustainable branding, these companies showcase LA’s unique entrepreneurial spirit. Go LA!

      Check out TechCrunch’s 2024 Unicorn List here. And don’t miss Snapchat’s latest features—perfect for adding some fun, connection and maybe a few selfies this weekend!


      🤝 Venture Deals

      LA Companies

      • Freeform, a company bringing AI to metal 3D printing, raised $14M in funding from NVIDIA’s NVentures and AE Ventures to further develop its AI-powered 3D printing technology for industrial-scale production. - learn more
      LA Venture Funds
      • Anthos Capital participated in a $70M Series D round for Carbon Robotics, which develops AI-powered robotics for precision agriculture, and the funding will be used to accelerate the growth of its autonomous weeding technology. - learn more
      • Anthos Capital participated in a $3.5M seed round for Plasma Network, aimed at expanding access to USDT stablecoins on the Bitcoin network, with the investment supporting the network’s growth and efforts to enhance stablecoin accessibility through the Lightning Network. - learn more

      LA Exits


          Download the dot.LA App

          ⚖️FTC’s "Click to Cancel" Rule and Its Ripple Effect on Tech

          🔦 Spotlight

          Happy Friday Los Angeles,

          The FTC’s new “Click to Cancel” rule is shaking up subscription-based tech. Now, instead of navigating a maze of cancellation hurdles, users can cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up—with a single click. This shift is a wake-up call for SaaS, streaming, and app-based companies, where once-hidden exit options often kept users around simply because canceling was a hassle.

          The rule also requires businesses to send regular renewal reminders, ensuring customers stay informed about upcoming charges. It's more than a cancellation button—it’s about transparency and giving users control over their decisions.

          For startups, the impact goes deeper than UX adjustments. Many have relied on "dark patterns," which subtly discourage cancellations by hiding the exit. Now, companies must shift toward building genuine loyalty by delivering real value, not by complicating exits.

          While this might affect retention rates initially, it could lead to more sustainable business models that rely on satisfaction-driven loyalty. Investors may start prioritizing companies that emphasize transparent, long-term engagement over those that depend on dark patterns to maintain retention metrics.

          The rule opens the door to more ethical UX design and a truly user-centered approach across the tech industry. It may even set a precedent against manipulative design in other areas, such as privacy settings or payment methods.

          Ultimately, the “Click to Cancel” rule presents an opportunity for the tech industry to foster trust and build stronger customer relationships. Startups and established companies that embrace transparency will likely stand out as leaders in a new era of customer-centric tech, where trust—not tricky design—is what retains users.

          As the tech landscape continues to evolve, LA Tech Week 2024 offers a chance to explore these shifts in real-time. Check out the upcoming event lineups to stay informed and make the most of your time:

          For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.


          🤝 Venture Deals

          LA Companies

          • Ghost, a company supporting top brands and retailers with streamlined logistics and fulfillment solutions, raised a $40M Series C funding round led by L Catterton to fuel its continued growth and innovation. - learn more

          LA Venture Funds
          • Assembly Ventures participated in a $27M Series A round for Monogoto, a provider of software-defined connectivity solutions that enable secure, cloud-based IoT and cellular network management on a global scale. - learn more
          • Angeleno Group participated in a $32M Series C round for REsurety, a company that recently launched an innovative clean energy marketplace aimed at providing better financial and operational insights to support renewable energy transactions. - learn more

            Download the dot.LA App

            RELATEDEDITOR'S PICKS
            LA TECH JOBS
            interchangeLA
            Trending