Friday, October 13, 2023

16411: 3Q WTF BS.

 

MediaPost reported Publicis Groupe exceeded expectations with 5.3% organic growth in Q3, mostly coming from its media units and data dumpster Epsilon.

 

“Looking at our growth journey since the pandemic, the acceleration of our growth amid persistent macroeconomic challenges is clearly visible,” gushed CEO Arthur Sadoun, noting that Q3 was up 22% versus Q3 in 2019, just before the COVID-19 crisis. “For the rest of the year, we intend to lead what we believe to be the two major priorities for our industry today: Bringing our teams back together in person, and accelerating the AI-ification of our operations.”

 

Sadoun’s 3Q nonsense warrants critical examination.

 

First, “persistent macroeconomic challenges” allowed Publicis to avoid dealing with micro concerns such as DEI heat shields. Black Lives Matter did not threaten Publicis’ goal to stay in the black. The $50 million patronizing pledge for progress was likely a tax write-off, meaning it probably presented zero adverse effects to the bottom line. BTW, the White holding company has utterly failed to meet equality expectations—which, incidentally, were undoubtedly set very low.

 

Second, to declare that “bringing our teams back together in person” is a major priority for the industry today is utter hypocrisy. After all, this is the company that bragged about its ability to pull together teams from global locations by utilizing a $30 million AI doodad and connective technology.

 

Third, vowing to accelerate the AI-ification of its operations really translates to reducing the number of humans that will be forced to return to revenue-eating rental spaces within a 50-mile radius of their home offices.

 

In short, Sadoun’s forecast is nothing more than dodgy performative PR vomited on piles of bullshit. The man is not a trailblazer in AI; rather, he’s an analog A-hole.

No comments:

Post a Comment