Observed Signal · Feb 2, 2026 · Program Launch · Source: AdExchanger · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
IAB Launches Project Eidos to Standardize Ad Measurement
The IAB unveiled Project Eidos, a program that consolidates and harmonizes the organization’s existing measurement initiatives under a single banner. The initiative aims to standardize definitions, taxonomies and data inputs used for campaign measurement, including retail media and inputs that feed media-mix modeling (MMM) and incrementality testing. Angelina Eng, VP of the IAB Measurement Center, framed the effort as a way to replace ad-hoc, inconsistent practices — which the IAB estimates cost the industry at least $9 billion annually — with shared standards. Project Eidos will begin work later this year on standardizing terms and MMM inputs while addressing classification ambiguities across video/CTV, audio and emerging formats.
IAB-led harmonization of measurement and identity/data standards can materially reduce cross-channel inconsistencies, improve attribution (MMM/incrementality) and lower manual normalization costs — changes that affect buyers, sellers and intermediaries across the ad ecosystem.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- The IAB publicly announced Project Eidos to centralize and harmonize its measurement initiatives.
- Angelina Eng, VP of the IAB Measurement Center, is a named spokesperson for the program.
- The IAB says inconsistent definitions and data inputs cost the industry at least $9 billion annually.
- Project Eidos incorporates existing efforts such as the retail media standardization initiative.
- Later in 2026 the program will start standardizing terms and data inputs used by media-mix modeling (MMM) products.
Connected Companies & Entities
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Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
IAB Launches Project Eidos to Reform Media Measurement
Industry trade group IAB has launched Project Eidos at its Annual Leadership Meeting to overhaul media measurement. The initiative aims to replace the patchwork of channel-by-channel standards with an interoperable, unified framework that harmonises measurement across channels, enabling consistent attribution and incrementality, with a particular focus on modernising Marketing Mix Modelling (MMM). The effort envisions a unified language and a method to connect exposures to outcomes across channels. The IAB’s State of Data 2026 report suggests buyers believe AI can materially improve advanced measurement in the near term, potentially unlocking about $32 billion in media investment over the next few years, though concerns remain around legal, security, accuracy, and data quality. Participating organizations include Amazon Ads, Google, Havas Media Network, Meta, NFL, Paramount, Pinterest, Publicis Media, The Trade Desk, TikTok, Unilever, and WPP Media. Angelina Eng emphasized tackling systemic, foundational issues in a multi-year, industry-wide collaboration guided by IAB centers of excellence.
IAB's Project Eidos: Campaign Taxonomy 1.0 Draft Due May
Project Eidos is an IAB-led industry initiative to create a common structure for campaign data and modernize advertising measurement. Since launching in February, a Measurement Advisory Committee (MAC) of about 85 members from roughly 50 companies has met bi-weekly to develop a draft taxonomy framework. The MAC’s Campaign Taxonomy 1.0 — covering standardized fields such as ad position (pre-, mid-, post-roll), pod placement, and format attributes — is slated for public comment in May. In parallel, Project Eidos will begin a workstream to produce Outcomes Measurement Reporting Standards focused on attribution and incrementality, specifying required reporting data and transparency standards to make results comparable across methodologies.
IAB 2026 Measurement Summit on AI-Driven Measurement
The 2026 IAB Measurement Leadership Summit convened industry leaders to examine how measurement must evolve as AI increasingly mediates consumer discovery and purchase decisions. Attendees identified eight priority areas, emphasizing the need to measure both human and machine channels, build decision-first measurement frameworks, improve incrementality testing transparency, invest in data/infrastructure/literacy, and cultivate a fail-forward culture. The summit highlighted new AI-era signals (e.g., AI inclusion rate, citation share, corpus presence) and proposed closer collaboration between the IAB Measurement Center and IAB Tech Lab to create standards, metadata, APIs, and workflows to support agentic measurement. A set of potential 2027 workstreams was proposed, including an Incrementality Buyer’s Standard, MMM interoperability, event/conversion metadata, privacy-compliant data sharing, and standards to distinguish malicious from legitimate non-human agents.
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