In this week’s Week In Review: WPP makes a major AI play with the acquisition of InfoSum and a global partnership with Heineken, Adobe and Reuters roll out new AI-powered tools for creatives, Stagwell names its first Chief AI Officer, and more.
Brands and Agency
WPP Acquires InfoSum
WPP acquired data collaboration platform InfoSum, to integrate InfoSum’s AI technology into their subsidiary GroupM’s marketing solutions. The company is investing more in AI to streamline marketing processes. This allows for WPP and its clients to access a wide breadth of protected data. This is useful for training AI models and improving audience targeting.
InfoSum utilises cross-cloud technology, which means that WPP and clients can gather data from various sources while still protecting their data. This data collaboration allows for users to generate audience insights. Utilising InfoSum’s data sets, clients can also build and train AI models. These models operate on the accessible data to deliver insights and consistently optimise and improve campaigns. The technology will be integrated into WPP’s intelligent marketing operating system, WPP Open.
Heineken Taps WPP as Global Marketing and Commerce Partner
Heineken has selected global agency WPP as its worldwide partner for shopper marketing, commerce, and brand experiences across Heineken, Heineken 0.0, and Heineken Silver. The work will be led by VML Netherlands and powered by WPP Open, the company’s AI platform, to enhance creative efforts in bars, retail, and e-commerce, as well as around major sponsorships like Formula 1 and the UEFA Champions League. Heineken praised WPP’s expertise in shopper marketing and AI-driven efficiency. The team will operate from WPP’s Amsterdam Campus, building on prior collaborations in markets like Spain, Brazil, and Mexico. WPP expressed excitement about expanding the partnership and leveraging AI to boost brand impact and sales.
Media
Authors Urge UK Government to Hold Meta Accountable for AI Copyright Breach
UK authors including Richard Osman and Kazuo Ishiguro have signed an open letter urging the UK government to investigate tech giant Meta’s alleged use of copyrighted books to train its AI models without permission. Addressed to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, the letter called for Meta executives to appear before parliament, accusing the tech giant of “clear infringement” of UK copyright law.
The letter follows reports that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg approved the use of LibGen, a shadow library with over 7.5 million books, to train AI. Many authors included in LibGen, including some from Australia, have called out against the use of their works to train models. Authors argue they are powerless to fight such breaches due to the high cost of legal action against tech giants.
News Outlets Battle Rising News Avoidance
Facing a sharp rise in “news avoidance,” media outlets are turning to AI to help re-engage audiences – especially younger ones – through personalised, less overwhelming content. A new UK poll from Opinium shows only 47 percent regularly watch TV news, with trust in media and negative, high-volume coverage cited as major turnoffs. In response, newsrooms are testing formats like “ethics boxes,” explainers, and concise updates to rebuild trust.
The BBC is exploring AI-driven personalisation as part of its strategy to reconnect with disillusioned audiences, having recently announced an AI department. However, public support remains low – only 13 percent back AI use in tailoring BBC content, while 46 percent oppose it, reflecting broader concerns about automation in journalism.
Adobe Adds AI Editing Tools to Premiere Pro
Adobe has launched a suite of AI features in Premiere Pro 25.2, including a new Generative Extend tool that uses Firefly AI to extend video and ambient audio clips by up to two seconds – eliminating the need for re-shoots or re-recordings.
The update also includes Media Intelligence, an AI search tool that identifies clips based on visual content and camera angles, and an AI-powered translation feature supporting captions in 27 languages. Adobe says the new tools aim to streamline editing and unlock more creative freedom. The update is free for now but will eventually require a Creative Cloud subscription.
Reuters Launches AI Suite for Video Production
Reuters has unveiled the Reuters AI Suite, a set of in-house AI tools designed to enhance video production for media and sports clients. The suite offers features like advanced transcription and translation, integrated directly into workflows via the Reuters API or the Imagen platform.
The AI Suite helps clients save time by enabling instant subtitle creation and bolstering video metadata for multilingual search. Reuters says the tools will improve efficiency and make it easier to extract value from existing video content.
“Our goal is to support media and sports customers at every stage of content development, from planning and deployment to packaging and distribution to monetisation and IP protection,” said Alphonse Hardel, head of Reuters News Agency. “This AI suite underscores Reuters commitment to leveraging technology to improve customers’ workflows and transform the media landscape. The Reuters AI Suite is designed to provide seamless integration and a superior user experience with tools approved and vetted according to Reuters high standards, ensuring our customers can produce high-quality content quickly and efficiently. This launch is just the start of an exciting roadmap for the AI Suite.
Tech
Chord Raises $5.5M to Expand AI-Powered Marketing Platform
Chord Commerce has raised $5.5 million to scale its AI-driven marketing and data platform designed specifically for e-commerce brands. The funding round was led by M13, with support from Act One Ventures and GR0 Capital.
Chord’s platform uses AI to deliver real-time insights, automate campaign execution, and eliminate the need for multiple tools or manual data analysis. Brands using the platform, like Sonos and Ruggable, have reported up to 20% higher ROI and twice the campaign speed. The platform reduces time-to-insight from weeks to minutes and is positioned as the only commerce-focused customer data platform (CDP) that turns first-party data into immediate marketing actions.
Stagwell Appoints Former Microsoft Exec as First Chief AI Officer
Stagwell has named John Kahan as its first-ever Chief AI Officer, signaling a major push to integrate AI across its global marketing network. Kahan brings nearly 40 years of AI and data expertise from leadership roles at Microsoft and IBM, where he helped develop advanced AI platforms and led socially driven AI initiatives. At Stagwell, Kahan will oversee AI strategy and innovation, including the Stagwell Marketing Cloud, an AI-powered suite launched in 2022 to enhance research, media, and communications.
Number of the Week
10 percent. That’s the charge on UK imports to the US. President Donald Trump has announced sweeping global tariffs and much higher rates on countries like Vietnam (46 percent) and China (34 percent). The move has stirred confusion over the tariff formula and caused economic turbulence.
The timing is critical: the US recently unveiled Stargate, a $500 billion AI infrastructure push with OpenAI and SoftBank. Meanwhile, China, the UK, and France are rolling out their own major AI investments, intensifying the global AI race. With governments pouring billions into AI innovation, industry leaders now fear the tariffs could disrupt supply chains, stall infrastructure growth, and deter cross-border collaboration, slowing momentum in the fast-evolving AI sector.
