Santa Cruz Software Labs
The Santa Cruz Software Labs Podcast explores the future of ethical AI in marketing and creative technology through conversations with industry experts, innovators, and researchers. Each episode breaks down emerging trends, real-world challenges, and practical strategies to help brands adopt transparent, responsible, and human-centered AI tools.
Santa Cruz Software Labs
Episode 2 - DAM Trends in 2026: How Should You Prepare?
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It's 2026, and Digital Asset Management is heading into a defining year. In this episode of the Santa Cruz Software Labs Podcast, an international panel breaks down what’s changing for DAM in 2026—from deeper integrations and evolving standards to AI-powered workflows and rising expectations around authenticity and provenance.
AI is part of the story, but the real differentiator will be fundamentals: metadata, governance, and DAM as the source of truth for creative tools and automation.
Speakers:
- Frédéric Sanuy – CEO & Co-Founder, Activo
- John Horodyski – Managing Director, AVP
- Ralph Windsor – Publisher, DAM News
- Mark Hilton – CEO & Co-Founder, Santa Cruz Software
In this episode, we discuss:
- Integrations, interoperability, and connected workflows
- Metadata standards and controlled vocabularies (including IPTC)
- Provenance, authenticity, and emerging regulation
- Practical AI use cases: tagging, localization, agentic assistants
- The “AI gap,” governance, and operational readiness
Listen to the full conversation to understand what’s coming in 2026—and what your team can do now to stay ahead.