At IBC2025, the Dalet IBC TV Studio sat down with Saleha Williams, the new CEO of IABM, an authoritative voice of the broadcast and media technology supply industry.

With more than 400 member companies worldwide, the IABM contributes to the ecosystem through market intelligence, standards reporting, executive networking, skills development, and global events such as IBC. Williams brings a rare blend of newsroom and technology experience, having worked with major broadcasters worldwide, as well as at Google.

A member-first mandate in volatile times

For Williams, IABM’s value is clearest when conditions are toughest. Economic and geopolitical shifts are reshaping plans by the week; IABM’s job is to help members navigate change with credible research, practical standards insight, and opportunities to connect and trade. “We’re at the center of the industry,” she notes, and that position comes with responsibility.

AI everywhere, if it serves outcomes

Asked about the most disruptive forces, Williams points to AI and security, plus the broader democratization of media. But the imperative isn’t to “do AI” for its own sake; it’s to fit the right capabilities into real workflows with short and long-term ROI. Some wins are immediate, like translation and localization to expand reach. Others are transformational: in sports, for example, AI can assemble highlight packages in hours, not weeks, and tailor edits to elite fans and newcomers across platforms.

Guardrails that keep trust

Williams is frank about the risks of algorithmic filter bubbles. The antidote is as old as the craft: editorial integrity and storytelling. She urges creators and platforms to surface diverse sources and voices, and to communicate clearly about how content is made, especially as generative tools scale.

The industry also needs to keep pushing toward workable answers on rights, attribution, and ownership of AI-generated content; solutions won’t be one-size-fits-all, given regional differences in law and culture, but multi-country working groups can move the conversation forward.

On privacy and consent, she sees an opportunity to modernize well-understood practices (like filming permissions) with AI-driven consent flows that protect individuals without slowing production.

Talent, skills, and new mindsets

One of Williams’ favorite topics is the next generation. IABM funds student participation at key events, and she’s energized by how quickly young creators combine high-quality craft with new technology. Her advice to newcomers: decide whether you’re drawn more to the creative side (story, editing, producing) or the technology and distribution side (platforms, monetization), then double down on your strengths.

The path isn’t binary; hybrids are welcome, and industry programs can help students discover where they’ll thrive.

Where Dalet connects

The Dalet IBC TV Studio exists to bring these important industry conversations into focus. By hosting leaders like Saleha Williams, Dalet spotlights the practical center of gravity in media today: use AI to serve audiences and outcomes, protect trust through integrity and standards, and work together: vendors, creators, educators, and associations. Together, we can turn volatility into progress.

As Williams puts it, the way forward is clear: collaboration, innovation, creativity, and partnership. That’s how suppliers, platforms, and storytellers will not only endure but thrive.