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London-based media and marketing group WPP plans to invest 250 million euros a year in new technology, including artificial intelligence.

'These are investments in proprietary technology that support the AI and data strategy,' explained top executive Mark Read.

What that specifically means remained vague at this morning's announcement. Read talks about "organic investments in AI" and "deep relationships" with Adobe, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI. All of which should lead to "better results for customers. However, he does not address the how.

Competitor Publicis Group of France was more adamant last week. That is also investing hundreds of millions of euros in AI technology. Its goal: to automate human work in media planning, buying and production. In short, make hands unnecessary.

Investors like WPP's story just fine. Indeed, the group also told them, a reorganization will yield £125 million in savings in the current and partly next year. Several separate agency labels have been merged into the six main brands AKQA, Ogilvy, VML, Hogarth, GroupM and Burson. Lower costs, happy investors, share price up 1 percent.

Presentations at Capital Markets Day take place this afternoon.

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