PubMatic goes 'all in' on agentic AI for adtech

PubMatic's move into agentic AI is underpinned by its new AgenticOS platform and an Agentic AI Acceleration Program designed to move clients from testing to live workflows in Q1 2026. The company has already run a fully autonomous campaign for the beverage brand Clubtails on its Activate platform, demonstrating the system's ability to create an optimal media plan in seconds. This investment follows a strong Q4 2025 performance, where PubMatic surpassed revenue and earnings expectations, with its core business growing 18% year-over-year. The broader adtech industry is turning to agentic AI to address significant challenges like signal loss from cookie deprecation and increased privacy legislation. AI agents can autonomously handle complex, real-time decisions in media buying, such as optimizing bids and ensuring brand safety, which is crucial as 90% of ad buyers are shifting personalization tactics. This shift is driving budget allocation towards channels rich in first-party data, such as Connected TV (CTV), where PubMatic has seen over 50% revenue growth. For a CTO at a growth-stage SaaS company, the focus shifts from hands-on coding to strategic technology leadership. Key responsibilities include scaling the engineering organization, setting architectural direction without micromanaging, and aligning the technology roadmap with business objectives. This transition requires a deep understanding of business operations and the ability to make critical technology investment decisions. The UK tech startup ecosystem remains robust, attracting significant venture capital. In the first quarter of 2025, UK startups raised over $7 billion, with VCs creating 66 new funds worth $10.9 billion in 2024. London's fintech sector continues to lead, with companies like Stream, an employee finance platform, recently closing a £67 million Series D round. This active funding environment creates numerous opportunities for CTO roles within scaling companies. Agentic AI's value is projected to surge from $7.55 billion in 2025 to $199.05 billion by 2034, with over 60% of its enterprise value expected to come from marketing and sales applications. This technology moves beyond simple task automation to manage entire workflows, shifting marketing roles from execution to strategic oversight. Successful implementation, however, hinges on a unified data foundation and strong governance protocols to enable autonomous AI decision-making. PubMatic's primary competitors, including Magnite and Google Ad Manager, are also heavily investing in AI and CTV capabilities. Magnite, the largest independent sell-side platform, has a strong focus on CTV, while Google's broad ecosystem presents a formidable challenge. The competitive landscape is increasingly defined by the ability to leverage AI for ad optimization and navigate the privacy-first advertising environment. In Formula 1, teams are preparing for the 2026 season opener in Melbourne amidst rule changes that have sparked debate among drivers like Max Verstappen. Off the track, Netflix and Apple TV are reportedly joining forces to stream F1 in 2026, while Red Bull Racing has extended its partnership with Oracle. Meanwhile, the FIA is set to deploy an AI system to police track limits.