Home The Big Story The Human Cannes

The Human Cannes

SHARE:
The Big Story: Cannes Lions 2025

With its sunny skies and vacation-y atmosphere, the Cannes Lions is a place of optimism, where the industry sees its woes through rose-colored glasses.

Which means the uncertain global economic climate and the political landscape back in les États-Unis haven’t been emphasized. But discussions about AI – which is disrupting ad agencies, ad tech and consumer behavior – are at the forefront.

While generative AI dominated conversations in 2024, agentic AI is the topic of 2025.

Our editorial team gathered at our Hôtel Martinez recording studio inside Nielsen’s space on Wednesday morning to discuss how AI showed up in our conversations during the week.

AdExchanger community lead and AdMonsters content director Lynne d Johnson makes her first podcast appearance alongside our managing editor, Allison Schiff.

We discuss how the industry is forming a consensus on some areas of AI, while many more questions about process, equity, job structure and the future of creativity remain unanswered.

Must Read

PubMatic Is All In On Agentic AI

PubMatic says adoption of its AgenticOS, combined with strong CTV and mobile demand, set the stage for double digit growth in the second half of this year.

Comic: Always Be Paddling

The Trade Desk Faces Headwinds As Investors Reconsider The Thesis Of Objective Indie Ad Tech

The Trade Desk, once a Wall Street darling, now faces the challenge of rebuilding goodwill across the investor community and the ad tech industry.

Other Than Buying Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Skydance’s Priority Is Streaming Revenue Growth

While the outcome of Paramount Skydance’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery hangs in the balance, Paramount is laser-focused on driving streaming growth.

Privacy! Commerce! Connected TV! Read all about it. Subscribe to AdExchanger Newsletters

TV Media Buyers Want Outcomes – So Nielsen Is Introducing More Advanced Audiences

On Wednesday, and in time for the upfronts, Nielsen added more than 200 advanced audience segments in Nielsen ONE, its cross-platform analytics dashboard.

Why Dow Jones Prioritizes Direct Deals To Protect Its Audience Value

In pursuit of ad revenue, Dow Jones is betting on a tried-and-true strategy: direct relationships, first‑party audiences and a disciplined approach to using data to enrich ad campaigns.

Comic: Shopper Marketing Data

Infillion Strikes Again, This Time Buying The Retail Purchase Data Company Catalina

Infillion, an ad tech business built on M&A, is back with another acquisition. This time it’s Catalina, a century-old market research and shopper marketing company with roots in physical cash register machines.