Show Me the Money: Terence Kawaja’s 10 Bold Bets on AI, Ads, and the Future of AdTech
Terence Kawaja, founder and CEO of LUMA Partners, took the stage live at Marketecture Live to break down the collision of AI and advertising with his signature mix of candor and sharp analysis. While acknowledging the uncertainty ahead, he made one thing clear: the industry is moving fast from AI hype to real, measurable impact, and the winners will be the ones who prove it in their numbers.
Takeaways
- Show me the money for AI in 2026
- Advertising will fuel LLMs
- Shift from CPM to performance-based models
- Intent data is the most valuable signal
- Rise of the LLM ad ecosystem
- AI-driven transparency in media buying
- Creative as a performance driver
- Ad tech consolidation
- Agility is the key skill set
- New entrants reshaping the industry
Chapters
00:00 Introduction from Marketecture Live
00:48 Why “No One Knows” What Happens Next in AI + Ads
02:11 Prediction #1: AI Hype vs. Real Financial Results
05:06 Prediction #2: Ads as the Core LLM Business Model
06:32 Prediction #3: The Shift to Performance & Intent Based Ads
09:46 Prediction #4: The LLM Ecosystem Opportunity
11:45 Prediction #5: Transparency vs. Agency Economics
13:23 Prediction #6: The Push for AI Standards
14:28 Prediction #7: Creative as the New Performance Lever
16:04 Prediction #8: Ad Tech Consolidation & Evolution
17:39 Prediction #9: Agility as the Ultimate Advantage
19:11 Prediction #10: New Entrants & M&A Wave
20:14 Bonus Prediction & Closing
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