AI Summit

 Last week’s AI Summit at Javits Center was an amazing gathering of both large and small players in AI.  Google, Dell, IBM , Microsoft and other big guys were on the panels and had the key speakers on the main stage . But, the real action was in the labyrinth of conference rooms that featured panel discussions.  MongoDB, Encido, Ikigai, UIPath , ABBY, Boston Dynamics and many others were in the house . My fav was Furhat Robotics, which featured a humanoid robot that was almost lifelike. 

Omnicom Merger

 The recent merger between Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group (IPG) is poised to significantly impact the public relations (PR) industry. This all-stock deal, valued between $13 billion and $14 billion, will create the world’s largest advertising company, surpassing current leader WPP, with combined net revenues exceeding $20 billion based on 2023 figures.

Implications for the PR Industry:

1. Consolidation of PR Agencies: Both Omnicom and IPG own prominent PR firms. Omnicom’s portfolio includes FleishmanHillard and Ketchum, while IPG owns Weber Shandwick and Golin. The merger will bring these agencies under one corporate umbrella, potentially leading to operational consolidations and streamlined services.

2. Enhanced Service Offerings: The combined resources and expertise are expected to provide clients with more comprehensive and integrated PR solutions, leveraging advanced technologies, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to enhance campaign effectiveness.

3. Market Influence and Competition: The merger will create a PR powerhouse with significant market influence, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics. Rival firms may need to adapt strategies to compete with the enhanced capabilities and reach of the new entity.

4. Client Relationships and Conflicts: The consolidation may lead to client conflicts, especially if competing brands are represented within the merged entity. This could result in client realignments or the establishment of independent operating units to manage conflicts.

5. Regulatory Scrutiny: Given the substantial market share of the combined company, the merger is expected to face regulatory scrutiny to ensure fair competition within the industry.

In summary, the Omnicom-IPG merger is set to create a dominant force in the PR industry, offering expanded capabilities and services. However, it also presents challenges related to client management and regulatory compliance, which will need to be navigated carefully to realize the merger’s full potential.

Harris For President

 Bruni PR endorses Kamala Harris for President.  

New York & AI Industry / WSJ report

New York City-based generative AI companies raised $2.7 billion since the start of 2021, according to PitchBook Data. So far this year, investors have put $200 million through 27 deals into generative AI startups in New York City, compared with $400 million through 35 deals in the category in San Francisco, the data provider said.

Cybersecurity

2023 has seen its fair share of cyber attacks, however there's one attack vector that proves to be more prominent than others - non-human access. With 11 high-profile attacks in 13 months and an ever-growing ungoverned attack surface, non-human identities are the new perimeter, and 2023 is only the beginning.

People always look for the easiest way to get what they want, and this goes for cybercrime as well. Threat actors look for the path of least resistance, and it seems that in 2023 this path was non-user access credentials (API keys, tokens, service accounts and secrets).

CyberArk’s acquisition run got the media attention this week . CEO Matt Cohen told CNBC that machine identity is the new frontier in cybersecurity.  

It’s not the only Israeli player in this field. Oasis Security has developed a veritable Iron Dome of Non Human Identity Management. It has raised $75 m in funding and is poised for major growth.

President Biden

 President Biden is too old to be President? You don’t have to look any further than the Public Relations industry to see many examples of famous PR pros who worked into their 80s.  Harold Burson, David Finn, Herb Rowland and a few other men who taught me the PR business are them . I’m 68 and will continue to “do PR”until I’m no longer able to type. ( or dictate to ChatGPT !

As for Biden - he’ll beat that wannabe dictator and serve a second term . The economy is booming, the market is rising and inflation is abating. American 🇺🇸 voters are starting to feel confident about the economy.  And, this matters more than far right ideologies.