
AppLovin Backs Velocity As The AI Industry Looks Beyond Subscriptions For Growth
THE SO WHAT
Adtech money flowing into AI monetization plays is a tell — the default business model for many AI apps may tilt toward performance marketing, not SaaS. If you're building AI products, you should be explicit this week about whether you're a tool, a media surface, or a marketplace, because the revenue mechanics and data strategy diverge quickly.
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