Mark Jablonowski’s Post

Will AI search kill campaign websites? Kill is probably a strong word, but, as I told Colin Delany at Campaigns & Elections, AI has no ear for political nuance. At least not yet. There are plenty of examples of AI "hallucinating" facts, and even if AI search gets most of the fact correct, it's really just a statistics engine drawing on the breadth of information online. AI is just not ready to understand the subtleties of a candidate's position, and it could easily distort the messaging a campaign has carefully crafted. We can't afford to let voters be misinformed on such critical messaging -- the stakes are too high. Read the full article on this issue here: https://lnkd.in/gJejQ9Px #PoliticalCampaigns #AI #AISearch

Happy Fourth of July! Today, as we celebrate the birth of our nation, let's also take a moment to reflect on the values that define us as Americans: freedom, equality, and democracy. Us DSPeople believe that these values are more than just words. They are the guiding principles behind everything we do. From the campaigns we support to the technology we build, our mission is to empower more people to participate in the democratic process and make their voices heard. The work of building a more perfect union is never finished. As we celebrate our independence, let's also recommit ourselves to the ongoing struggle for justice, equity, and opportunity for all. That means continuing to fight for a democracy that is inclusive, transparent, and accountable. It means standing up against efforts to suppress votes or spread disinformation. And it means working every day to ensure that our government reflects the diversity and values of the people it serves. So as you enjoy the barbecues, parades, and fireworks today, take a moment to also appreciate the hard-won freedoms we enjoy as Americans! And let's all pledge to do our part to protect and strengthen our democracy in the year ahead. From all of us at DSPolitical, we wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July! #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay #Democracy #FreedomForAll

Our very first tagline at DSPolitical was 'the home of the political cookie,' but we've been ready for the death of the cookie since 2017. Back in the day, we even gave out free cookies with our logo at events. But we recognized early on that targeting would evolve, and cookies alone wouldn't suffice. So in early 2017, we changed our tagline to 'Digital Targeting Perfected' to reflect our commitment to staying ahead of the curve. While cookies are still part of the mix - Google even recently pushed back their death for the 3rd time - we've expanded our toolkit to include: - Mobile advertising IDs - Authenticated IP addresses - Persistent user sessions - Hyperlocal geofencing - Hashed email onboarding - ID syncs with major supply vendors - Emerging ID solutions This diversification ensures we maintain the accuracy and precision needed to target at scale, regardless of the available targeting identifiers. As cookies and mobile advertising IDs become less effective and signal quality deteriorates across the supply ecosystem, our alternate identifiers solution hub, the Optimal Identity Lab, is designed to find the most accurate and efficient ways to reach individual constituents online. The digital landscape is constantly changing, that's no secret. But with that, comes the need to continuously explore and develop new targeting solutions. #DSPolitical #DigitalTargetingPerfected #PostCookieWorld

A few thoughts from my first Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity... I can categorically say it was worth the long flights, nonstop meetings, and lack of sleep. Everyone I spoke to was fascinating - so many intriguing lines of work and engaging conversations. As a technologist, the high-level meetings with vendor and partner C-suite execs were incredibly valuable. We provided direct feedback and gained insights into new products and roadmaps, allowing us to continuously enhance our partner network, push the boundaries of innovation, and deliver even better solutions for our clients. I've already set up great follow-ups with experts from across the industry, and even connected with a few fellow Portlanders. Beyond that, the connections and insights I gained will carry through to events like Advertising Week NY, CES, and even Cannes 2025. The inspiration at Cannes was endless - from meetings with DSPolitical partners like Beeswax (Acquired by Comcast) and Yahoo, to an interview with The Current (TTD), to hearing Andre 3000 and the American Express CMO share their perspectives. I even attended a political panel, where Mark Penn summed it up best: "this election is about policy, not personality." Another highlight was the event Optimal co-hosted at the Saturnalia Chateau, which brought together leaders from across the creative industries to reimagine the future. The diverse perspectives were super energizing. And of course, the McLaren F1 experience and Chainsmokers performance were just icing on the cake... not to mention my cameo in Terence Kawaja's legendary parody vid. Last but certainly not least, it was awesome catching up with friends like Michael Bassik, Xander Kotsatos, Dallas Lawrence, Leeann Leahy, Perdy Mullins, Scott Stedman, Lizzie Serber, Brad Audet, Ross Siegel, Grace Briscoe, and Jennifer Helm -- especially in such an idyllic setting away from the day-to-day grind. I left Cannes feeling invigorated about what's to come, both for our organization and the industry. Would love to hear about your Cannes experiences. #CannesLions #CreativeIndustries #Innovation #Election2024

Rite of passage unlocked: cameo in a Terry Kawaja parody at Cannes! #CannesLions #CannesLions2024 #FestivalofCreativity

It's one thing to win an award. But it's another to get that award presented to you by one of your former interns! Talk about small world. I had the privilege of accepting a Polaris Award on behalf of our team at DSPolitical and was pleasantly surprised when Selin Ozkan took the stage to announce the award. She was a rockstar intern at DSPolitical 8 years ago (time flies!) -- I was delighted to share the stage with her and see how far she's come in the world of political media. For another small world moment, I also shared the stage with Professor Rachel Gibson, who interviewed me last year for her research on digital campaigning. This time, we both got interviewed, participating on a panel discussion about the trends shaping digital campaigns. I guess I just had to cross the Atlantic just to meet up with old friends and colleagues! Congratulations to everyone at DSPolitical who contributed to this achievement. I'm looking forward to what we'll accomplish next! #DSPolitical #Polaris24

Tomorrow I'll be speaking on a panel at the Polaris Leadership Summit in London, alongside Rachel Gibson and CT Group’s Director David Canzini, two brilliant folks in the political space. The panel, Campaigns in Motion: The Trends Shaping Digital Campaigns, is scheduled for 09:50 AM GMT tomorrow. If you'll be in London for the conference, I'd love to connect! Drop a comment below or send me a message. A huge thanks to the organizers for putting together what is sure to be a great panel. #PolarisAwards #PoliticalTech #DSPolitical #Innovation

As I type this, I'm en route to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Despite my decades in advertising technology, surprisingly this is my inaugural Cannes experience! I'd love to hear all your advice for a first-timer. What are the must-attend events? The best spots for networking? Must-see locations? Best place to watch the Olympic Torch Relay go by? Throughout the week, Optimal will be participating in meetings, dinners, and hosting two invite-only events, but I want to hear about what events/spots/attractions I should make some room for! Let me know in the comments! #CannesLions2024 #Optimal #DigitalCreativity

What a great weekend to be a Celtics fan! I got to see Game 1 live at the Garden last week, and man, what a game. It was so good! AND to top it off, we won game 2 yesterday. On to the next! Let's go C's!