Business

This was the first week the network was known as MS NOW.Read More

Omnicom has closed its acquisition of IPG, and amid the C-suite reshuffling inevitable in a deal this large, several big leadership shakeups have taken place on the creative side. Tyler […]Read More

If you walk into the Parthenon or paddle at dawn on Joe Lake, it’s easy to feel a sense of wonder.

And waiting in a long line for an important flight can trigger frustration.

But much of the time, our state is automatic.

What’s your default? Satisfied, bitter, anxious, sad, curious, grateful, energized, disappointed, exhausted, eager, bored, hopeful, frustrated, overwhelmed, inspired or nostalgic…

If we can trigger one for six minutes, perhaps we can do it for an hour.

We’re more likely to perform what we rehearse.

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ADWEEK looks back on famous work from DDB, FCB, and MullenLowe as Omnicom sunsets the agenciesRead More

The counterintuitive strategy driving Thumbtack’s growth.Read More

When a new technology arrives, it appears unpolished, ill-formed and a bit wonky.

As it gains traction, existing industries and processes begin to be threatened, often before their replacements in the new technology are fully ready.

This is how Napster showed up for the music business, or email for faxes, or television for radio. Same with online shopping, smart phones and online learning.

The pointy part is the precipice–a shard where change is inevitable, but also feels fraught. The biggest gap between fear and hope. This is when foreboding in the existing industries begins to peak, and it’s not clear that the new tech is going to be able to absorb the energy, investment and attention of folks who can feel the old ways slipping away.

Right now, we’re seeing the beginning of that phase for AI.

People are either concerned about the future of their old ways, or in denial and ignoring what’s going on around them.

I’ve never seen a smooth handoff between technology regimes, and I’m not expecting one now. Not-smooth doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen, though.

Organizations and leaders can’t wait until the next steps are obvious and safe. At that point, it’s too late.

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Professionals use specs to invite others to participate in the work.

One kind of spec outlines the solution. In clear language, it defines the work to be done. A good solution spec defines an outcome with no room for error or variety. “It’s this. Not that, not that, but this. If it’s this, we’re done.”

The other kind of spec outlines the problem. It invites team members to innovate on the way to producing a solution. “If it solves this problem within these constraints, we’re done.”

Neither effective spec approach involves “I’ll know it when I see it.” A spec eliminates mindreading and guesswork.

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Consumers give tech giants the highest brand perception and purchase intent.Read More

As search traffic softens, commerce teams are turning to first-party audiences, tighter deal selection, and new distribution channels.Read More

Shoppers are increasingly turning to AI first, using ChatGPT and Perplexity to research, compare, and discover gifts before going to Google or Amazon.Read More