In the midst of a global crisis when everyone’s eyes are focused on one thing, should marketers turn off their media, scale back or stay the course? What role does morality play? And, did Marketers forget to use their toolbox?
If marketing in 2025 feels like trying to defuse a bomb while riding a unicycle in a hurricane—you’re not alone. Let’s unpack the chaos, comedy, and constant recalibration.
Cannes Lions 2025 didn’t whisper about the future—it roared. From AI-fueled ideation to purpose-led storytelling and the rise of retail media as a creative frontier, this year’s summit delivered a clear message: the playbook has changed. If your campaigns aren’t co-created, culturally relevant, and emotionally intelligent—you’re already behind. Here’s what you need to rethink now, straight from the Croisette.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how attention works. Not just in a theoretical sense, but in the very practical, boots-on-the-ground way that drives whether someone clicks or scrolls, watches or bounces. YouTube is one of the clearest microcosms of that battle - and lately, it’s been undergoing a transformation that too many brands and creators haven’t caught up with.
Apparently, teaching marketers how to work smarter is controversial now. My last post about building Custom GPTs caused a stir — and not the fun, cocktail kind. Some folks called it “cheating.” Others clutched their pearls like I’d suggested outsourcing soul.
Spoiler: I’m not sorry.
If AI can help you scale your voice, save your brain cells, and dodge burnout? I’ll take “cheating” all the way to the bank. This is my response — and my unapologetic argument for why future-forward marketers should be using AI like it’s 2026 already.