Publicis Groupe has announced its partnership with Microsoft Corp. to develop and roll out Marcel, its platform that it hopes will “radically change the way the group’s teams and clients connect, interact and work together”.

Through Publicis.Sapient, its technology and consulting arm, Publicis is defining the architecture and design of Marcel, and conceiving the user experience, notes a communique, adding:“Microsoft will build the platform, and connect it to its deep technology and AI capabilities, leveraging Microsoft Azure AI and Office 365.”

Said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft: “AI is one of the most transformative technologies of our time, but its real power lies in how it can be applied to amplify human ingenuity. And that’s the beauty of Marcel. At Microsoft, we believe that people no longer just work for companies – companies need to work for their people. Marcel embodies that belief. That’s what makes this collaboration so seamless and natural.”

Added Arthur Sadoun, Chairman & CEO, Publicis Groupe: “Marcel is a crucial step in Publicis Groupe’s commitment to radically change our industry, for the good of our clients and our people. It’s why we’re thrilled to be able to draw on Microsoft’s ground-breaking talent, capabilities and resources in artificial intelligence, to build the platform of the future, today. 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”.