Publicis has boosted its 2025 growth forecast following strong third-quarter results driven by soaring client demand for its artificial intelligence (AI) and data-powered advertising services. This marks the second time the French advertising giant has raised its guidance for the year.
Key highlights from Publicis’ Q3 2025 earnings:
Strong performance: The company reported 5.7% organic revenue growth in the third quarter, which exceeded analyst expectations. Net revenue for the quarter totaled €3.53 billion.
AI-driven revenue: Over 73% of the company’s Q3 revenue was classified as “AI-powered work”. Publicis’ CEO Arthur Sadoun noted “booming demand for AI-led capabilities”.
Segment growth: Performance was strong across multiple business areas:
Connected Media (60% of revenue): Saw high single-digit growth fueled by its data capabilities and AI infrastructure.
Intelligent Creativity (25% of revenue): Experienced mid-single-digit growth, with significant gains in AI-led production.
Technology (15% of revenue): Returned to positive growth despite a soft market for IT consulting.
Upgraded outlook: Based on the strong results and sustained demand, Publicis has once again raised its full-year 2025 organic growth forecast to a range of 5.0% to 5.5%.
Strategic emphasis on AI and data
Publicis has been aggressively investing in and leveraging its data and AI capabilities to pull ahead of competitors.
CoreAI: In early 2024, the company announced a €300 million investment in its proprietary AI platform, CoreAI. The system is used by over 100,000 employees for functions like planning, production, and creative execution.
Acquisitions: Publicis has used mergers and acquisitions to accelerate its AI and data strategy. In 2025 alone, the company acquired influencer platform Captiv8, data management platform Lotame, and Canadian AI firm Moov AI to bolster its offerings.
Data and identity infrastructure: The company’s acquisition of Epsilon in 2019 gave it an extensive first-party data set. By combining this with Lotame’s data, Publicis can now reach over 90% of global adult internet users, allowing clients to advertise effectively without relying on third-party cookies.
Competitive advantage: CEO Arthur Sadoun has dismissed threats from large platforms like Meta, emphasizing that clients prefer independent performance measurement and are wary of placing all their data within a single, closed system. Publicis’ platform approach positions it as a differentiated