AI, Privacy, and the Future of Advertising: Rio Longacre on Navigating Disruption in Ad Tech

What if the biggest forces shaping advertising today weren’t just creative ideas, but regulations, algorithms, and AI-driven disruption?In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf sits down with Rio Longacre, Partner at Cordera (part of Omnicom), to explore how data privacy, artificial intelligence, and shifting ad models are rewriting the playbook for brands, publishers, and agencies alike.Rio shares his journey from media planner to management consultant to ad tech strategist, where he’s worked with global brands, startups, and platforms like AWS to pioneer privacy-first data collaboration and clean room solutions. Along the way, he’s had a front-row seat to how AI and regulation are reshaping the business of advertising.What You’ll Learn:How GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA are forcing companies to rethink data collection and complianceWhy AI is transforming ad operations from trafficking and placements to brand safety and verificationThe downstream effects of AI-driven brand safety on journalism and publisher revenueHow AI-powered search engines disrupt referral traffic and threaten traditional advertising modelsWhy real-time, AI-driven decision-making is replacing slow marketing mix modelsThe impact of automation on junior ad ops roles—and why senior leaders benefit from AI accelerationHow new jobs and industries will emerge as others disappear, just as UX/UI design did in the digital ageWhy great technology isn’t enough for healthcare startups—go-to-market strategy is critical💡 Golden Nugget: “AI isn’t just automating advertising—it’s redefining the economics of media, data, and work itself.”Connect with Rio Longacre LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/riolongacre Fast Company: board.fastcompany.com/profile/Rio-Longacre-Managing-Director-Slalom-Consulting Medium: medium.com/@rio.longacre Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/0E3peWr2JsFkw5B5q2uW6HConnect with the Show:LinkedInWebsiteSpotifyAmazon MusiciHeartSubscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone passionate about healthcare marketing, startup growth, or innovative product launches, and don’t forget to leave us a review. New episodes drop weekly!