Publisher Reset: Rethinking Monetisation in the Age of AI with Freestar's Kurt Donnell

<p>In this episode of Life in Digital, host Daniel Bolter is joined by Kurt Donnell, CEO of Freestar, to explore the changing landscape for digital publishers and what it will take to build a healthier publisher ecosystem in the age of AI. Kurt reflects on Freestar&#39;s journey over the past decade and how its publisher-first approach has evolved as the industry has become increasingly complex.</p><p>The conversation dives into pubOS, Freestar&#39;s new publisher operating system, and the challenge of bringing fragmented monetisation tools together. Daniel and Kurt also unpack what real value looks like from a monetisation partner, the industry&#39;s growing flight to quality, and whether advertisers are being too cautious when it comes to brand safety and premium inventory.</p><p>AI is another major focus, from the danger of accelerating inefficient processes to the impact AI-driven discovery is having on publisher traffic. Kurt shares what he believes publishers are getting wrong about the current shift, how Freestar is helping partners navigate it, and what a healthy publishing ecosystem could look like over the next year.</p><p>🎧 Tune in for a conversation on publisher monetisation, AI, quality media and what comes next for the open web.</p><p></p>