LATEST NEWS

Ad leaders weigh in on the need for setting industry standards for artificial intelligence. Over time and with the right structure in place, the AI landscape could become more ethically navigable, according to John Higgins, CEO and chief creative officer of OS Studios. “Film ratings guide our movie choices, and theme park height restrictions ensure safety; both demonstrate the importance of human intervention and judgment,” he said. “In marketing, as AI's influence grows, similar checks are vital. It's likely that soon, AI regulations will echo the familiar structures of copyright and industry ethics. In essence, merging advanced AI with core marketing ethics is the roadmap for the industry's future.”

This year, immersive brand journeys and multi-platform campaigns have become essential strategies for brands to tap into new markets and diverse audiences with innovative and unique offerings. Finalists for the 2023 Digiday Awards have also leaned on influencer marketing, brand collaborations and visual storytelling to foster deeper connections with their audiences. Praytell has been nominated for Best Use of Video for the "As Seen on EV" campaign with Electrify America.

ARGONAUT has been hired by Pernod Ricard USA as creative agency of record for Código 1530 Tequila in the U.S. market. Pernod Ricard USA took a majority stake investment in Código 1530 last year. ARGONAUT will collaborate with Código to develop the next phase of its brand story by working to drive awareness and differentiation in the agave category. “It was important to us to find a partner who could take the magic that already exists within the Código 1530 brand,” said Killian Lee, PRUSA brand director for Código. “ARGONAUT very obviously understood this and impressed us all with their strategic rigor and creative firepower from day one.”

Motive, a leading marketing and advertising agency and member of the Project Worldwide network, announced the hiring of industry veteran Matthew Boyer as Senior Vice President of Sports, Gaming and Entertainment. Boyer will lead the practice that includes strategy, campaign development, consulting, partner management, planning and activation. Motive works with a wide variety of clients including Pepsi, Mtn Dew, Gatorade, Ruffles, Los Angeles Clippers, INDYCAR, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

The Strong National Museum of Play, one of the nation’s leading museums for families and home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, is partnering with creative and media AOR Partners + Napier to delight travellers on the road from Toronto and across the Northeast with a billboard campaign that leads to the ultimate play destination.The 'Path to Play' campaign supports The Strong’s recently completed expansion project, which includes 90,000 square feet of immersive exhibit spaces for all ages, featuring the world’s largest playable Donkey Kong arcade game, electronic gaming areas where guests can create personalised avatars and embark on puzzle-solving quests, a larger-than-life Hasbro Game Park, and much more. The project also includes a whimsical parking garage designed to support the nearly one million annual visitors anticipated by 2026, up from a previous high of 600,000 pre-pandemic visitors.

Independent, employee-owned network of creative agencies, Project Worldwide, is promoting Judy Skiles Lavers, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, to the company’s Board of Directors.

The roar of cheering fans echoed across the Kia Forum on Saturday as singers took the stage beneath glimmering lights and flashes of flame to perform a dramatic opening act. But the thousands gathered in Inglewood over the weekend weren’t screaming for Sam Smith or Harry Styles — they were cheering for professional esports players. The Valorant Champions Tour grand final, which drew 11,500 people, was hosted by Los Angeles-based video game giant Riot Games and its agency OS Studios.

In honor of Disability Pride Month, Ad Age spotlights the brands championing disability inclusivity year-round. For Jake Lenze, strategist at Wondersauce, Apple has consistently put in the work to make inclusivity a reality in its products and offerings. “Apple is an example of a brand that has shown a year-round commitment to disability-inclusivity,” Lenze said. “By continuously building products that prioritize the disability community and sharing the stories that those products enable, the brand has put inclusivity into action in a meaningful way.”

George P. Johnson (GPJ), the world's leading event and experience marketing agency and a member of the Project Worldwide network, takes a major step forward in its sustainability initiatives by opening a state-of-the-art fabrication warehouse in Las Vegas. The new facility will enable large scale material recycling and limiting the carbon footprint for a wide variety of events and conferences that are held every year in one of the nation's busiest conference hubs.