Havas CEO and Vivendi Chairman Unveil Bold Vision for Human-AI Creativity at CES 2026 Keynote

Introduction: Redefining Creativity in the AI Era

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, creativity met computation in a powerful new way. Havas CEO Yannick Bolloré and Vivendi Chairman Arnaud de Puyfontaine took the stage to unveil a forward-looking vision for “Human-AI Creativity” — a philosophy that reimagines the relationship between human imagination and artificial intelligence.

Their keynote, which drew global attention from tech leaders, creators, and marketers, emphasized that the future of content and communication will depend not on machines replacing humans, but on machines empowering human potential at unprecedented scale.

Human + Machine: The Creative Partnership of the Future

Central to their message was the idea that AI should be seen as a co-creator, not a competitor. Bolloré described how AI tools are revolutionizing the creative process — from ideation to execution — by amplifying human insight rather than automating it.

“AI doesn’t replace the artist; it expands their canvas,” he remarked, underscoring Havas’ belief in “intelligent creativity” — a fusion of emotional storytelling and data-driven precision.

Vivendi’s Chairman echoed this sentiment, highlighting the group’s investments in AI to enhance media production, content personalization, and audience engagement.

He shared examples of how Vivendi’s media arms are leveraging generative AI to produce hyper-relevant, culturally resonant narratives while maintaining human oversight and editorial integrity.

The Havas-Vivendi Ecosystem: Building a Human-AI Creative Infrastructure

Both executives unveiled details of a new initiative aimed at building an integrated Human-AI Creative Ecosystem across the Vivendi and Havas networks.

This ecosystem is designed to connect data science, media, and storytelling under one unified creative intelligence framework.

By combining AI-powered insights with human emotional depth, the companies aim to deliver brand experiences that are not only personalized but also purposeful.

The initiative will focus on three core pillars:

1. AI-Augmented Creativity: Leveraging generative AI to assist creative teams in ideation, design, and campaign development.

2. Ethical and Transparent AI: Ensuring that every AI system deployed adheres to strict ethical guidelines and creative authenticity.

3. Empowering Human Talent: Using AI to automate repetitive tasks, allowing creative professionals to focus on innovation, strategy, and storytelling.

A Responsible Approach to AI in Media and Marketing

Bolloré and de Puyfontaine emphasized the responsibility of global media conglomerates in shaping how AI interacts with human expression.

They warned against “algorithmic homogeneity” — a state where creativity becomes formulaic due to over-reliance on machine patterns. Instead, they advocated for AI that learns from human diversity and amplifies originality.

The leaders also announced plans to launch The Havas AI Academy, a global training platform to upskill creatives, strategists, and media professionals in AI literacy.

The academy aims to ensure that the creative industry remains at the forefront of ethical innovation.

CES 2026: Where Imagination Meets Intelligence

The keynote at CES 2026 resonated far beyond the conference halls.

It symbolized a broader movement in the creative industry — one that acknowledges AI’s transformative potential while preserving the human spirit that drives originality and emotion.

Havas and Vivendi’s collaborative vision represents a blueprint for an industry evolving beyond automation into a new age of augmented imagination.

Conclusion: A New Age of Human-AI Harmony

As AI becomes a creative partner rather than a disruptor, the message from CES 2026 was clear: the future belongs to those who can blend technology with humanity.

For Havas and Vivendi, this isn’t just a business strategy — it’s a manifesto for a new creative renaissance where innovation and empathy coexist.