Media network to launch its latest book at its annual conference

Dubai, October 5, 2015: Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly significant role in our daily lives, transforming industries and lifestyles as time goes by. This is why this year's BrainScape, PHD's annual thought-leadership conference in the MENA region, will explore the future of AI and its implications on the marketing industry. The event, which takes place on October 12 at the Armani Hotel Dubai, aims to stimulate a reflection about the forthcoming AI-driven reality among over 200 marketing professionals.

With the rise of virtual personal assistants (VPAs) and the increasing role technology plays in enhancing our lives, the way brands communicate with consumers and influence purchase decisions is undergoing drastic changes. Since AI applications will be largely ad-supported, marketing is naturally one of the first disciplines to be disrupted by AI, leading businesses to undertake a radical reorganization of their communication practices. This year's edition of BrainScape will construct a comprehensive look at the future of intelligence, including some of the products we will be using and the advertising and data models that will support them. Among the key speakers will be Kevin Slavin, assistant professor of media arts and sciences at MIT Media Lab, renowned for his talks on how algorithms will shape our world.

"This is an incredibly exciting time to work in marketing as we undergo a revolutionary transformation of what we are capable of achieving, thanks to developments in AI", said Elda Choucair, managing director of PHD UAE. "This year's BrainScape will invigorate marketers and inspire them on how to capitalize on the upcoming technology and take the marketing discipline to new heights."

The conference will also mark the regional launch of the global media network's latest book, Sentience: The Coming AI Revolution and the Implications for Marketing. The book features contributions by Choucair as well as PHD's director of digital data solutions, Haroon Syed.

PHD's BrainScape conference is produced with Choueiri Group's dedicated digital media representation arm, Digital Media Services (DMS), as strategic partner. DMS handles a premium portfolio of international and regional platforms delivering highly-engaging brand experiences to over 120 M unique browsers globally.

"It's very encouraging to see how well BrainScape was received last year. The future really does belong to those who can seize it before it appears," Michel Malkoun, the COO of DMS, said commenting on his company's association with PHD's BrainScape conference. "A great deal of what we do at DMS is centered on delivering exactly the sort of "innovation" which the conference focuses on. From embracing state-of-the-art ad tech and bold new ideas to developing ground-breaking partnerships, digital media is definitely all about looking ahead and beyond tomorrow."

About PHD:
PHD Worldwide is known globally as an innovator in communications planning and buying across broadcast, print, digital, mobile, social and emerging media. Built on a culture of thought leadership, PHD's philosophy is "Finding a Better Way." PHD is one of the world's fastest growing and most awarded media and communication agencies, with over 3,000 staff working in over 80 offices worldwide.

In the Middle East, it first opened in Dubai in 2005, creating a team for Abu Dhabi in 2008 and opening an office in Riyadh in 2010.  At the end of 2012, PHD was awarded 20 'Agency of the Year' accolades including Adweek's 'Global Media Agency of the Year', while the Cristal Festival named it Media Network of the Year in 2013. Not only has its philosophy of "Finding a Better Way" proved effective for its clients, which include Arla, Bentley, Hyatt, National Food Products Company, Unilever, Pizza Hut, Mashreq Bank, Porsche and SC Johnson, it has also contributed to PHD being named a Great Place to Work in the UAE four years in a row, ranking third in both 2014 and 2015. Along with the rest of the Omnicom Media Group MENA, PHD's sustainability practices are being reported in accordance with the GRI G4 Guidelines and the accuracy of its GRI G4 Content Index has been confirmed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). PHD is part of the Omnicom Media Group (www.omnicommediagroup.com), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).

www.phdmedia.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ms Rachel Maher     
Marketing Director, PHD UAE
T: +971 4 457 4507
E: rachel.maher@phdmedia.com

© Press Release 2015