IPAi Forum

April 2026 edition: Turning AI enthusiasm into effective, governed practice

The latest on AI’s creative shift, ethical guardrails, trustworthy workflows and the human craft that still leads it all.

Welcome to the second edition of the IPAi Forum

Our aim with the IPAi Forum is simple: to help agencies separate momentum from mythology as AI moves from novelty to necessity. This isn’t about worshipping the machine; it’s about putting it to work in the service of stronger ideas, sharper execution and better outcomes for our clients.

In truth, little has changed and everything has. Little, because the fundamentals endure: originality, taste, judgment, responsibility, the insistence on work that is legal, decent, honest and truthful. Everything, because the tools now let us explore more paths, pressure‑test thinking and bring ideas to life at a pace none of us could have imagined. All that being said, the creative leap is still human.

Inside this latest issue, we look past the chatter about Agentic AI and get into the detail of how agencies are using it. We investigate how AI is reworking client-agency relationships and expectations, and we explore how AI is impacting search. And if you’re curious as to whether the AI bubble shows any signs of bursting, check out our tracker.

Thank you to the contributors who have shared their experience so candidly in this issue. If we stay curious, share openly and apply common sense, we will make AI a partner to our creativity, not a substitute for it.

Paul Bainsfair – Director General IPA 

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AI Trends

Future of the Industry

Applied AI

Explore issue 1: AI as a creative collaborator - From hype to hands-on

Quick Reads

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The Gen AI Bubble Watch

We’re tracking the Nasdaq 100 P/E ratio to see just how high AI hype has soared - and whether the bubble might be about to pop.

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Complete guide to every AI tool featured in the IPAi Forum

A clear overview of every AI tool mentioned, helping you explore the ecosystem, compare capabilities and understand where each tool sits in the evolving landscape.

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AI is providing a creative renaissance

Jon Williams, co-founder and CEO of The Liberty Guild, believes AI provides a once-in-a-generation chance to retool and reengineer.

Explore issue 1: AI as a creative collaborator - From hype to hands-on

Explore issue 1: AI as a creative collaborator - From hype to hands-on

Let's work together

We would love to work with you on one of the next issues of the IPAi Forum magazine. What topics, issues and stories would you like to read about? Would you like to feature in a future issue with your AI experience or story?

Please get in touch.

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