36. Lions & Lambos: AI Bits & Baubles From Across the Pond.

AI and mayo. Not together. Yet.

Jun 26, 2025

6/25/25 - Here’s a replay from Cannes two years ago. Have we aged well?

The Next Chapter: Havas's "Converged" Plan Prepares for Possible Vivendi Spinoff

CANNES, France 7/18/24 Tues. -- This morning at Cannes Creativity 2024, Havas Chairman-CEO Yannick Bolloré revealed a new strategic plan focused on a client-centric approach, promising to deliver highly tailored solutions for their clients' needs.

Source: MediaPost (love the text bubble)

Per MediaPost and other outlets, the strategic plan, known as "Converged," outlines a new operating system for the entire holding company. This system emphasizes a significant investment of $430 million over the next four years in data, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Per Ad Age:

The announcement comes as Havas’ parent company Vivendi contemplates a potential spinoff of some of its assets, including Havas. The decision is expected by next year, Bolloré confirmed.
A potential spinoff of Havas could also open it up to mergers and acquisitions discussions. The industry has been swirling with rumors that one of the big six holding companies could make a major acquisition over the next few years.

Havas's new model, "Converged," expands upon the successful "Village" approach introduced in 2014, according to Bolloré. The aim is to revolutionize the company's structure, fostering a more streamlined and interconnected organization.

Cannes Canines: AI-Powered Campaign Shows the Heart of Pedigree's Brand

CANNES, France 7/17/24 Mon.

Per AdWeek, a groundbreaking AI-powered campaign won a prestigious Outdoor Grand Prix on the first day of the festival. Pedigree's "Adoptable," developed by New Zealand agency Colenso BBDO and Nexus Studios, utilized machine learning to seamlessly integrate real dogs from local shelters into Pedigree's out-of-home advertising.

The AI technology, trained to recognize thousands of dog breeds, transformed amateur shelter photos into professional-quality images by mapping the animals' features onto a digital skeleton. These enhanced images were then incorporated into Pedigree's outdoor ads, effectively promoting both the brand and dog adoption, resulting in numerous successful adoptions.

AI was judged as a tool in the process versus it being the process. Thus, not an AI-centric award. Seriously, was there debate by the jury on this? Just curious. I’m sure the category selected affects that decision a bit, n’est-ce pas?

… and over at VML, SNL’s Kenan Thompson talked Hellmann's,

And I’ll leave you with this.

From Ad Age
Parting shot
Cannes has a well-earned reputation for free-flowing alcohol, especially rosé, of course. But festival-goers could not get enough of free cans of Liquid Death water passed out at the brand’s packed panel at the Palais. (The Carlton, where there is no shortage of booze, was plenty packed, too.)