Jeromy, Bogdan and Lee discuss Google integrating AI more deeply into its ad campaign workflow while changing terms so advertisers are liable for AI-generated mistakes, arguing Google gains control without responsibility and predicting potential lawsuits and backlash, especially from professional advertisers. They explore why Google may be pushing this, including internal incentives to grow YouTube advertiser counts, and argue better measurement tools for incremental lift would drive adoption more sustainably. The conversation shifts to an Australian dock workers’ union demanding a 28-hour workweek as automation and AI increase productivity, questioning whether claimed gains are real and where they actually occur. They then cover a Texas Tribune investigation into Texas data centers using permitting tactics for turbines and diesel generators, noting emissions tied to gas plants serving data centers and debating hype versus reality of build-outs. Finally, they discuss Apple reportedly considering acquiring Prism ML to run a compressed 27B-parameter model locally on iPhones, emphasizing privacy and potential market shifts if Apple executes.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

01:08 Google Ads AI Liability

06:27 Why Google Pushes YouTube

09:20 Measuring CTV Lift Properly

12:09 Australia 28 Hour Workweek

13:14 AI Productivity Reality Check

21:28 Texas Data Centers Emissions

27:59 North Korea Linux Tangent

30:42 Apple Local AI Comeback

37:00 Wrap Up and Subscribe

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Ben Edelman on Phia’s Alleged Forced Clicks: How Shopping Plugins Commit Affiliate Fraud

In a Deeper Diligence guest episode, ad-fraud researcher Ben Edelman discusses his investigation into Phia and the Bloomberg coverage alleging affiliate fraud through “forced clicks” and standdown-rule violations. Edelman explains the three-step affiliate marketing bargain (show link, user clicks, user buys) and how forced clicks skip the user click by using Phia’s iOS plugin to open an invisible tab that loads an affiliate link and closes it, positioning Phia as “last click” for commission—often costing merchants, and sometimes other affiliates like review publishers. He also describes standdown rules requiring shopping plugins to stay out of the way when another affiliate referred the user, and says Phia tracked competitor affiliate links yet did not stand down. Edelman questions Phia’s claim this behavior was a bug, cites past cases including eBay prosecutions and Honey-related evidence, and argues enforcement can deter fraud.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:14 Ben Edelman Background

01:40 Why Phia Drew Attention

03:18 Cookie Stuffing vs Forced Clicks

04:14 Affiliate Marketing Basics

07:21 Networks and Incentives

09:40 Phia Forced Clicks Explained

12:34 Stand Down Rules Violations

14:31 Real World Harm Examples

17:09 Bug Claim and Intent

21:27 Past Major Fraud Cases

23:27 Honey Investigation Lessons

24:55 Stopping Fraud Systemically

27:02 Future Misconduct and Wrap Up

28:11 Closing Thanks and Contact

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