Microsoft partners Publicis Groupe to develop Marcel platform

Microsoft has partnered with Publicis Groupe to develop and roll out Marcel, a professional assistant platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, which will be launched in May this year.The company will build and connect Marcel to its deep technology and AI capabilities, leveraging Microsoft Azure AI and Office 365. Marcel will help the network identify relevant connections among its 80,000 employees, as well as leverage the insights and combined experiences of Publicis Groupe through collection, organisation and curation. The AI platform will also empower employees to participate and create more, the press statement read.This comes after the network decided to prohibit its agencies worldwide from participating in award shows, trade shows and industry events for approximately a year. Besides cutting cost, this will also help Publicis Groupe focus all its resources in developing Marcel.According to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Marcel embodies the belief that people no longer just work for companies, and companies need to work for their people. As a result, this makes the collaboration between Microsoft and Publicis Groupe "seamless" and "natural".“Marcel is a crucial step in Publicis Groupe’s commitment to radically change our industry, for the good of our clients and our people. Thanks to the dedication of Satya and his teams we’re accelerating on putting Marcel at the heart of the Groupe, to deliver big ideas that harness creativity in all of its forms," Arthur Sadoun (pictured), chairman and CEO, Publicis Groupe, said.