Welcome to Cannes! The Robots Are Expecting You

Welcome to Cannes! 

The Festival of Creativity ended last year reeling from AI aftershocks. AI-generated case studies? We all leapt back in collective shock. But the ad industry—which runs on artistic inspiration, but is fundamentally bottom line driven—knows an opportunity when it sees one, and this year, Cannes Lions has fully embraced AI. 

Just as AI has embraced the ad industry.

Cannes 2025 was only eight months removed from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declaring, “I kind of think of ads as a last resort for us.” This year, the no-longer-a-nonprofit has sent a multitude of execs to make the rounds at panels, by land and by yacht.  

And yet, the embrace is, perhaps, reluctant—as our creativity editor Brittaney Kiefer reveals in our feature. We also talk to a handful of execs about coming to Cannes this year, for the first time ever, armed with AI productivity tools they’ve built themselves.

For a solid dose of authenticity amid all the artifice, you’ll have to read Trishla Ostwal’s cover feature about none other than Priyanka Chopra Jonas—Rolex’s newest global brand ambassador. 

It’s a deal that almost didn’t come to be because Chopra Jonas also represents Bulgari. But Trishla has some scoopy behind-the-scenes details that reveal why both Rolex and Bulgari absolutely needed to work with Chopra Jonas, who has become the ultimate multi-hyphenate: actress, singer, entrepreneur, investor. It’s the new EGOT, and probably way more lucrative.

Speaking of investment, we have one more thing to announce: ADWEEK Dealroom.

This is our exclusive new intelligence vertical, tracking M&A activity, venture rounds, and private equity moves driving consolidation across advertising, marketing, and media—built specifically for executives, investors, and operators who need to know what’s changing before they’re compelled to change themselves. It features rich, exclusive content about the deals reshaping the ad industry, powered by our launch partner Evros Group. Look for Dealroom stories starting June 16.

To kick things off, we will have a special Q&A with Sir Martin Sorrell, who used his mastery of the dealroom to build both WPP and S4. 

Sir Martin will be roaming the Croisette this week, but you can see him in air conditioned comfort at ADWEEK House on Tuesday, June 23. Be sure to stop by to hear his views on the future of the agency business. Plus, on Thursday, June 25, come by ADWEEK House to learn from Evros founder & CEO Andreas Roell about how to build an agency that’s sellable.