Autonomous Advertising: Where Programmatic Meets Intelligence

Let’s face it: “AI” is the new “synergy.” Everyone’s talking about it, few are actually doing it. But at Viant, we’re not just talking — we’re building. Our Chief Product Officer, Dustin Kwan, recently shared on LinkedIn our vision for what’s next in programmatic advertising: an autonomous, AI-powered future that transforms how campaigns are planned, executed and measured.

This isn’t some futuristic fantasy cooked up in a whiteboard session. It’s already here — and it’s called ViantAI.

First, What Is Autonomous Advertising?

Imagine inputting your campaign goals, budget and creative — and your DSP just gets it. Like a self-driving car, it plans the most efficient route (ahem, media mix), handles the execution, avoids fraud potholes and even reroutes mid-campaign to dodge inefficiencies.

That’s the promise of autonomous advertising.

As Viant CTO Fabrizio Blanco put it in Forbes, “Programmatic platforms must go beyond solving isolated problems and start functioning like an interconnected machine — one that can drive itself, but still lets the marketer ride shotgun.”

Translation: You’re still in control, but now you’ve got a super-intelligent co-pilot.

Introducing ViantAI: The Brain Behind the Machine

Let’s break it down. ViantAI is our suite of AI-powered tools designed to streamline every stage of the campaign lifecycle. From planning to bidding to measurement, here’s how it’s changing the game:

AI Planning – Smarter Media Strategies in Seconds

ViantAI ingests massive amounts of data to instantly recommend custom omnichannel plans. It’s like having a media strategist who never sleeps, skips the guesswork and always shows their work.

AI Bidding – Lower eCPMs, Higher ROI

Think of it as high-frequency trading for your ads. Real-time auction strategies get optimized on the fly to reduce costs and boost performance. One campaign saw a 36% CPM reduction using AI Bidding. That’s real money back in your pocket.

AI Decisioning – Dynamic Adjustments at Scale

Coming soon: Need to reallocate budgets, discover new audiences or optimize creative placements mid-flight? ViantAI can do that—automatically. No more logging into 17 dashboards to tweak dayparting. Just set your goals and let the system adjust in real time.

AI Measurement – Insights Without the Spreadsheets

Also coming soon: a chat-based interface that gives you performance insights without needing a PhD in pivot tables. Ask a question, get an answer. Simple, smart and fast.

Why Now?

Let’s be honest: programmatic advertising is more complex than ever. We’re talking billions of impression opportunities, dozens of formats and a fraud landscape that changes faster than your kid’s TikTok feed. No human can manage all of that efficiently — and they shouldn’t have to.

That’s where advertising intelligence comes in. It’s not just automation — it’s optimization. It’s not just data — it’s decisions. And it’s not the future — it’s ViantAI, right now.

The Road Ahead: From Cruise Control to Full Autonomy

Just like the auto industry didn’t jump from stick shifts to Teslas overnight, ad tech is evolving in stages:

• Yesterday: Basic ML models for fraud detection and bid shading
  
• Today: AI-powered planning, execution and reporting tools that save time and improve performance
  
• Tomorrow: A fully autonomous platform that plans, buys and measures against real-world outcomes — automatically
  

And don’t worry — we’re not taking the wheel away. Every advertiser has different goals. ViantAI gives you the tools to drive when you want to and let the system take over when you need it.

Final Thought: Why Settle for Smart When You Can Be Autonomous?

AI isn’t a feature. It’s the foundation of the next era of programmatic advertising — and Viant is paving the road forward with advertising intelligence that’s real, ready and driving results.

So go ahead — set your campaign destination. ViantAI will get you there, efficiently and intelligently.

Want to learn more about how ViantAI can elevate your advertising strategy? Let’s talk.