Mobile Dev Memo Podcast
Mobile Dev Memo Podcast
MobileDevMemo
Season 7, Episode 23: Building ad tech for the chatbot era (with Tal Shoham)
48 minutes Posted Jul 8, 2026 at 1:33 pm.
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Show notes

We discuss the transition of AI-native applications toward ad-supported monetization models. Among other things, we cover:

  • Whether AI-native apps will follow the mobile gaming trajectory by adopting hybrid monetization models to reach massive global audiences
  • How the high operational costs of AI inference necessitate a move toward ad-supported tiers to maintain sustainable profit margins
  • Why the granular intent signals captured in LLM conversations offer a superior alternative to traditional search-based advertising targeting mechanisms
  • What new native ad formats will emerge to integrate seamlessly into AI workflows without disrupting the core user experience
  • When the venture capital funding environment will demand more disciplined monetization strategies from AI startups over pure user growth
  • How established ad-tech infrastructure from the mobile gaming era can be adapted to serve the unique needs of AI developers

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