The publishing industry is going through one of its most defining transformations. Attention is fragmented, competition is fierce, and artificial intelligence is reshaping how publishers create, distribute, and monetize content. Yet, amid all this disruption, one constant remains: the most successful publishers are the ones who understand their audience best.
In this episode of The Pub Way Podcast, Mike Villalobos and I spoke with Dan Benyamin, founder and CEO of Ion, about how AI is reshaping publishing, the impact of the creator economy, and what it really means to build a sustainable business model around attention.
- A Changing Landscape for Publishers
- Competing for Attention in a Fragmented Landscape
- Turning AI into a Monetization Engine
- Collaboration in the Creator Economy
- Trust, Transparency, and the Rise of AI-Generated Influencers
- Build or Buy
- Practical Ways to Apply AI
- Why AI Matters for Publishers
- Listen to the Full Conversation
What Matters Most — AI for publishers highlights
- Audiences still come first and publishers build a sustainable business model around attention.
- Smarter yield optimization, contextual and emotional intelligence, and predictive insights drive monetization.
- Automated video creation turns written stories into short-form videos and new ad inventory.
- The creator economy can be both competition and opportunity and repurposing long-form journalism into short videos helps publishers stay relevant.
- Build or buy combines specialized AI platforms with creative control and data ownership, and transparency is essential.
A Changing Landscape for Publishers
Dan’s career tells the story of modern adtech. As a four-time entrepreneur and former VP of Data Products at Condé Nast, he has seen the digital industry evolve from simple banner placements to data-driven ecosystems powered by artificial intelligence.
His takeaway is simple but powerful: audiences still come first. Everything else, from data pipelines to monetization tools, should revolve around creating meaningful experiences for readers. Publishers who lose sight of that connection risk being left behind, no matter how advanced their technology stack is.
Competing for Attention in a Fragmented Landscape
Publishers now find themselves in the middle of a new attention economy. On one side are the major social platforms that dominate reach. On the other, a generation of independent creators has become powerful competitors, building loyal audiences with minimal resources.
For traditional publishers, this shift can feel like a threat, but it also opens new doors. AI allows them to move faster, personalize experiences, and compete on equal terms with the creators who set the tone of online culture.
By analyzing what readers care about and how they behave, publishers can turn insights into action, adapting both content and monetization strategies in real time.
Turning AI into a Monetization Engine
Artificial intelligence is helping publishers grow revenue in ways that were unthinkable just a few years ago. Instead of relying solely on historical performance data, AI models identify trends, forecast demand, and optimize yield before opportunities are lost.
Here are some of the most impactful ways publishers are using AI to drive monetization:
Smarter yield optimization
AI analyzes traffic and engagement patterns to recommend pricing adjustments and increase the value of underperforming inventory.
Contextual and emotional intelligence
AI understands not just what a story is about but how it makes readers feel. This helps match ads that align with the emotional tone of the content, improving both performance and user experience.
Automated video creation
Platforms like Ion transform written stories or photo features into short-form videos, creating new ad inventory and sponsorship opportunities.
Predictive insights
Machine learning anticipates which readers are most likely to subscribe, engage, or leave, enabling faster and more personalized responses.
Through these applications, AI does not replace human creativity but amplifies it. The result is a smarter, more efficient monetization ecosystem built around audience understanding.
Learn more about AI for publishers & Monetization
- AI in Publishing: How Publishers Can Unlock Growth Through Audience-Centered Innovation
- Digital Marketing Musts for Publishers: Locking in Monetization with Brand Safety
- How Publishers Can Future-Proof Brand Safety and Revenue with the Right Advertising Supply Side Platform
Collaboration in the Creator Economy
The creator economy has redefined what it means to be a publisher. Individual creators now function as media brands, often capturing the cultural pulse faster than traditional outlets. For established publishers, this can be both competition and opportunity.
Dan believes collaboration is the key. Publishers already have trusted brands, strong editorial voices, and access to advertisers. Creators bring authenticity, community, and agility. AI can bridge the two worlds by making it easier to produce, adapt, and distribute content at scale.
Repurposing long-form journalism into short videos or co-branded pieces helps publishers stay relevant across formats while giving creators access to higher-quality storytelling. When powered by AI, this type of partnership can unlock entirely new revenue models.
Trust, Transparency, and the Rise of AI-Generated Influencers
As AI becomes part of the creative process, questions around authenticity naturally arise. We’re already seeing the emergence of AI-generated influencers, digital personalities capable of producing endless content. While these tools can be efficient, they also challenge the foundations of trust that publishers have built with their audiences.
Dan’s view is clear: transparency is essential. Audiences appreciate honesty about how technology is used. Publishers who clearly disclose AI-generated elements preserve credibility and maintain control over how their brands are perceived.
AI should enhance creativity, not disguise it. It should amplify human talent, not replace it.
Build or Buy: AI for publishers
As AI becomes more integrated into publishing, many organizations are asking whether to build their own solutions or partner with external providers. Dan’s answer is pragmatic.
Publishers are not technology companies; their true strength lies in culture, storytelling, and audience relationships. Building everything from scratch can distract from that mission. Partnering with specialized AI platforms allows teams to focus on what they do best while gaining access to innovation and scale.
The smartest approach often combines both: outsourcing infrastructure and automation while maintaining creative control and data ownership. This balance lets publishers innovate without losing their identity.
Practical Ways to Apply AI
Adopting AI does not have to mean overhauling every workflow. Many publishers start with small, high-impact projects that deliver quick results.
Some of the most effective examples include:
- Automated content tagging to improve ad targeting and user experience
- Personalized recommendations that increase engagement and session time
- Dynamic ad creatives that adapt to context and audience mood
- Predictive analytics that help forecast trends and performance
- Automated video summaries that repurpose existing assets for social media
Why AI Matters for Publishers
AI is transforming how content is produced, delivered, and monetized. But beyond efficiency, it’s redefining how publishers connect with their readers and partners.
It enables privacy-first monetization models that respect user data while maximizing ad performance. It replaces manual reporting with predictive insights, helping teams anticipate trends instead of reacting to them. And it empowers publishers to offer advertisers something invaluable—relevance rooted in context rather than personal identifiers.
In a world where attention is scarce, understanding audience emotion and intent in real time has become a competitive advantage. AI gives publishers the ability to act on that understanding at scale.
As Dan summed up in our conversation, “It’s a battle for attention. You have a thousand companies fighting for a few minutes of someone’s day. Make sure you know what you’re fighting for.”
Listen to the Full Conversation
Artificial intelligence is redefining how publishers grow, compete, and connect with audiences. But technology alone is not the answer. The winners will be those who combine data, creativity, and authenticity to build stronger relationships with readers and advertisers alike.
Listen to the full episode ofThe Pub Way featuring Dan Benyamin, founder and CEO of Ion, to learn how publishers can use AI to improve monetization and stay ahead in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
