Last week, I shared some thoughts about what it would mean to reinvent the Cannes Lions while acknowledging that there’s still value in the current version thanks to its role in recognizing creativity, closing deals, cross-pollinating ideas, and sparking global relationships.
Now, it’s AI’s turn.
First though, I did have the pleasure this week of emceeing Mediaocean’s Cannes recap where I got to present some favorite takeaways from our event with more than 50 industry leaders. The recording is available now, and you can catch my talk there, along with thoughts from LinkedIn’s Melissa D’Arienzo, CIMM’s Jon Watts, my colleague Rachel Lyall, and some surprise guests discussing the news of VideoAmp integrating with Mediaocean.
Also, I need to give credit to my colleague Morgan Alfrejd for that presentation design. I’ve never worked with a presentation design team like Mediaocean’s, and I love the thematic work they do. It’s refreshing when a company puts this much thought and effort into its corporate presence and not just its client work.
Anyway, on to the robot overlords…
I’ve been playing around with OpenAI, which has become best known as the originator of DALL-E 2 which creates realistic images with minimal text input.
What’s often overlooked is how well its text generator works. I have access to the Playground, and if you enter simple prompts or questions, the answers are revealing.
Sometimes, it’s refreshingly literal. Below are exchanges where I supplied the prompt, and OpenAI answered it. OpenAI’s answers are unedited; there are zero edits for clarity, grammar, or anything else.
Me: What would an event that’s the opposite of the Cannes Lions look like?
OpenAI: The Cannes Lions is an annual event that celebrates the best in advertising and marketing. The opposite of the Cannes Lions would be an event that celebrates the worst in advertising and marketing.
Makes sense.
Other times, it’s very specific.
Me: What are ways the Cannes Lions be improved?
OpenAI:
1. Increase transparency around the judging process
2. Make the festival more affordable for smaller companies and startups
3. Increase the focus on creativity and innovation
4. Make the festival more accessible to a wider range of people and cultures
5. Encourage more collaboration and networking between attendees What about the future?
Me: What will be different about the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in 2025?
OpenAI: In 2025, Cannes Lions will be a much more diverse and inclusive event than it is today. There will be a greater focus on creativity and innovation, with a wider range of voices represented. The festival will also be more sustainable, with a commitment to reducing its environmental impact.
Wow, so it gets the need for more diversity, and also the carbon footprint. Sir Martin Sorrell (a name that came up frequently in my exchanges with OpenAI) talked about the environmental impact at Mediaocean’s retreat, so I was surprised to see OpenAI pick up on that too.
Not all responses were so insightful. Some were coherent but predictable.
Me: What was the most important topic discussed at this year’s Cannes Lions?
OpenAI: There was no one specific topic that was discussed more than others at this year’s Cannes Lions. However, some of the more popular topics included the role of technology in advertising, the importance of creativity, and the future of the advertising industry.
But other answers were more surprising.
Me: What’s the craziest thing that ever happened at the Cannes Lions?
OpenAI: There’s no one answer to this question as the craziest thing that ever happened at the Cannes Lions is likely different for everyone. However, some of the craziest things that have been reported include a model being bitten by a shark while on a photo shoot, a man driving a tank down the Croisette, and a woman streaking on stage during a presentation.
I had to look this up.
It turns out the shark incident was a widely-documented 2018 story about a model in the Bahamas. No Cannes connection.
The tank event does not seem to have happened in Cannes; there are lots of other references online to people driving tanks where they shouldn’t.
As for a streaking woman, there was a disrobing female protester at this year’s Cannes film festival, but I’m not aware of this happening during Cannes Lions presentations. If it happens next year though, I’ll have to write about precognition and free will.
Speaking of which, I had to ask…
Me: Who will win the top prize at next year’s Cannes Lions?
OpenAI: There is no way to predict who will win the top prize at the Cannes Lions next year.
Damn.
I have to close on two tangents to the Cannes Lions — the first because they revealed the most surprisingly deep answers, and the second because I like closing on a happier note.
I got spiritual for a moment and asked what certain religious figures would say about the ad industry:
Me: What would Jesus say about the ad industry?
OpenAI: The ad industry would probably not fare well under Jesus’ scrutiny. He was not a fan of materialism or greed, and the ad industry is very much built around those things.
Whoa.
Granted, I checked several times, and I received a number of responses that were at odds with each other. OpenAI’s perspective can change as soon as you hit the refresh button.
Here’s another take:
Me: What would Jesus say about the ad industry?
OpenAI: There is no definitive answer to this question, as Jesus’ views on advertising could potentially fall anywhere on the spectrum from complete acceptance to complete rejection. However, it is worth noting that Jesus was a master storyteller and often used parables to communicate his message, which suggests that he would likely be open to the idea of using advertising as a tool for spreading his message.
There we go! I think Jesus would be into Pinterest ads where he could promote inspirational quotes.
There was an obvious follow-up:
Me: What would Moses say about the ad industry?
OpenAI: Moses would say that the ad industry is full of false idols and that people should be careful not to worship them.
Okay…
I needed a little pick-me-up after all that.
Me: What is the best thing about working in the ad industry?
OpenAI: There are many things that make working in the ad industry great, but one of the best things is the people. The people in the ad industry are some of the most creative, passionate, and driven people you will ever meet.
Amen, AI.
On that note, happy 4th of July to all my American readers and friends celebrating.
I hope to see some of you in person on the happy 6th of July at First Wednesday next week; I’ll take a beer with human friends over AI conversations every single time.
David
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WHAT TO READ:
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Recent content shared by Serial Marketers and friends:
- Netflix To Advertising Experts: “Help!” by Alan Wolk, Co-Founder/Lead Analyst of TVREV
- Defining Purpose: Voices from Cannes Lions in 2022 by Beet.TV
- Growing a Community Organically [Interview With David Berkowitz] by Sofia Terlesky
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JOBS
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Keep checking out the #jobs channel in Serial Marketers for more. Better yet, subscribe to get updates from our job listing board. Here are some great opportunities shared in these places or sent to me directly.
SALIENTMG
Director, Video & Content Strategy
United States
Via Mack in the community
“We’re looking for a Director of Video & Content Strategy to join our growing team. You’ll apply your expertise and relationship to startups and tech companies across various sectors, including Martech, Edtech, Fintech, Retailtech, eCommerce, digital marketplaces, and emerging technologies like drones and Web 3.0. You’ll build out video, visual and long-form content strategies and manage the end-to-end process. The Director of Video & Content Strategy reports to the Senior Vice President of Brand, Creative and Content and works closely with other SMG teammates and contractors.”
Apply
INDIE CONSULTING
Digital Marketing Operations Specialist
Remote
Via Molly in the community
“Indie Consulting is a boutique consulting firm with a fully remote team that services clients across the globe within the CPG, eCommerce, Travel and Wellness industries, providing digitally led marketing services. As an Indie employee, you’ll tackle unique and challenging problems alongside a team of committed and talented coworkers. The Digital Marketing Operations Specialist oversees all aspects of digital initiatives to ensure projects are completed on time and within scope. In this role, you will help the client’s marketing organization by shaping and delivering digital priorities, roadmaps and key work streams in partnership with digital hub lead.”
Apply
IMPERATIVE
Sales Development Representative
“Imperative is seeking a Sales Development Representative to join our fast-growing team. This individual will be responsible for qualifying inbound leads, generating outbound contacts via prospecting and supporting our executives in the sales process. We’re looking for team members with successful track records hunting B2B leads for a business software product, appointment setting, and managing inbound requests for information. In some cases, you will be giving online presentations about Imperative. You will be working with colleagues across our team and have direct input into our go-to-market strategy and how we improve our solutions.”.
Apply
LUNO
Head of Marketing – US
USA
Via Carolina in the community
“This is a critical role responsible for shaping and executing our go to market strategy in the US. The US team operates as an autonomous hyper growth startup powered by Luno’s far reaching global expertise and the vast network and resources of crypto powerhouse DCG. We are looking for an experienced Marketing professional to build and lead the US marketing team as well as the structures and processes to leverage existing and evolving global marketing functions.”
Apply
Also, check out the Serial Marketers job board.
Other job resources (see a full list here):
- Beeler.Tech: Job listings for ad operations, programmatic account management, sales operations, and more.
- Braintrust: A freelance platform where you are the owner and where freelance talent keeps 100% of the bill rate.
- Built in NYC: Jobs at a range of levels and functions, as long as you’re okay working in this quaint, backwater hamlet.
- Candidate: Featured marketing and sales jobs
- Creative Women of Color: List yourself in the database and find talent, via Women Who Create
- ExecThread: Senior roles spanning a range of verticals and cities; membership is free but fully vetted (this uses my referral ID to get you in faster)
- Gently Ventures: Helps scale businesses by finding the right talent
- Growth Collective: Apply to join this network of notable freelance marketers
- Hearty: Get recommended by peers and be discovered
- Hue: Amplifying voices of people in color working in marketing
- Lunch Club: Match 1:1 around predetermined goals with accomplished professionals (free)
- NYC Ad Jobs & Networking: A popular Facebook group
- #OpenToWork: There’s a channel in Serial Marketers where you can share what you’re looking for
- Pocit: A platform connecting people of color with jobs in the tech industry
- Questions to Ask for a Marketing Role: What questions should you ask when starting a new marketing role or job?
- Serial Marketers Job Board: Post regular and featured listings and subscribe for updates.
- VC Job Boards: Aleph, Eniac Ventures, Pear, Sequoia, Union Square Ventures
- Venwise: Submit your job interests here and get in front of their roster of hiring leads; select “Serial Marketers” under “How did you find us”
Do you run or enjoy other job listing sites? Let me know, and I’ll share them.
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