Artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword in digital advertising—it’s fast becoming the backbone of how campaigns are managed and measured. That’s the message from DoubleVerify’s (DV) newly released 2025 Global Insights Report, which takes a close look at how AI is reshaping the advertising ecosystem.
The report, based on survey responses from nearly 2,000 marketers worldwide and DV’s own campaign analytics, paints a clear picture: marketing teams are bogged down by repetitive, manual tasks. Campaign managers spend more than 10 hours a week tweaking bid modifiers, shifting budgets, and resetting performance thresholds. In North America alone, that translates to over $17,000 a year per employee spent on labor-intensive optimizations instead of strategic planning.
“Campaign managers are often trapped in reactive workflows, acting more like hands-on campaign facilitators than strategists,” said DV chief executive Mark Zagorski. The company argues that AI-driven tools can automate these decisions, freeing teams to focus on higher-order thinking—whether that’s refining creative strategies or experimenting with new channels.
The data shows marketers are listening. Adoption of AI in campaign activation jumped 32% from last year, the highest growth among workflows measured. AI-assisted bidding and mid-flight optimization grew by 12%, while applications like summarizing briefs and dynamic creative optimization also recorded steady increases. An overwhelming 91% of marketers now say they are either using or planning to use third-party AI tools outside their demand-side platforms (DSPs) to improve campaign outcomes.
This shift isn’t just about saving time. As media buying becomes more fragmented and complex, marketers are turning to automation as a way to reclaim control. With AI handling the mechanics of optimization, teams can better evaluate whether campaigns are achieving their real purpose—driving return on investment.
For DoubleVerify, the push toward AI has also led to product development. The company recently rolled out DV Authentic AdVantage, a solution designed to enhance campaign performance even in so-called “walled gardens,” or closed advertising ecosystems like social media platforms.
The takeaway for advertisers is clear—it’s that AI is moving from a nice-to-have to a must-have. What used to be hours spent on budget reallocations and performance tweaks can now be redirected toward bigger questions—how to connect with audiences, how to craft messages that resonate, and ultimately, how to turn campaigns into business results.
