I did a mental double-take when I once listened to a friend in ad tech describe his business. To refer to people who used ad-rich apps, he used the word “inventory”. This inventory is what they were selling to their customers, the advertisers.

I’m sure this is old news to a lot of people, but the use of that specific word neatly and fully betrays the shift in perspective that is natural and necessary in ad tech.

I feel fortunate that I can comfortably choose to never work at an ad-supported business.