Engineers at Publicis Groupe plan to build an AI-powered virtual assistant named Marcel based on technology acquired from SapientNitro that will allow each agency group to match people with the
right skills and experiences to work on specific projects. The idea is to form the perfect teams.
The platform will launch in June 2018 at Viva Technology in Paris. The announcement was made
at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.
Companies have begun to move in-house the same type of artificial intelligence that powers consumer-brand interactions.
Marcel will be the
first-ever professional assistant platform powered by AI and machine learning that can search and connect 80,000 employees across 200 disciplines in 130 countries, according to the company.
"Marcel is another milestone in our ambition to become a platform at the service of our clients," stated Arthur Sadoun, Publicis chairman and CEO. "Make no mistake, it is an operational
transformation. We are one of the last industries that has yet to unleash the power of every individual thanks to technology."
The project is named after Marcel Bleustein Blanchet, the founder
of Publicis. A key feature will include the ability for employees to apply to work on projects worldwide.
To develop the platform, Publicis Groupe will shift its promotional budget from
industry events to focus its investment in the AI platform.