Havas Unveils AVA: A Global AI Portal to Elevate Advertising Creativity at CES 2026

Havas Unveils AVA: A Revolutionary AI Portal at CES 2026

At the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Havas announced an innovative leap in the advertising technology landscape with the introduction of AVA—a global artificial intelligence portal. This cutting-edge platform aims to provide Havas employees and clients secure access to some of the most advanced large language models available, including OpenAI’s GPT-5 and Google’s Gemini 3. As advertising agencies increasingly strive to integrate generative AI into their core operations, AVA positions Havas at the forefront of this technological evolution.

The Vision Behind AVA

Set to roll out this spring, AVA is designed to be a centralized gateway connecting Havas teams worldwide to leading AI systems. The primary goal? Streamlining the creative process and accelerating the transition from brief to execution—all while ensuring compliance with global client standards. By harnessing the power of AI, Havas aims to enhance productivity without compromising the quality and integrity of creative outputs.

Executives at Havas explain that AVA builds upon the company’s established "Village" model, which unifies creative, media, data, and technology teams under a single operational framework in major markets. AVA serves as an extension of this approach, standardizing AI usage across the organization while retaining human oversight in creative decision-making.

A Commitment to AI Literacy

In alignment with its broader investment in Converged.AI—an initiative launched in 2024 that aims to align data, tools, and capabilities—Havas is committing nearly €1 billion to this strategy. This investment includes about €600 million over the past decade and an additional €400 million earmarked through 2027. Such financial backing signifies the company’s intent to modernize its technology infrastructure in response to growing competition from consulting firms and in-house brand teams.

During his keynote address at CES, Havas Chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré emphasized the transformational potential of generative AI. Rather than viewing it as just another efficiency tool, he framed it as an organizational shift that amplifies human creativity, judgment, and cultural understanding. The promise of AVA lies in its ability to augment human capabilities rather than replace them—an essential perspective that underscores Havas’s commitment to preserving the human touch in advertising.

Training for the Future

As part of this initiative, Havas plans to train and certify employees globally in the responsible use of AI technology. The goal is to make AI literacy a fundamental requirement across the organization, not merely a specialized skill. “Technology should amplify human creativity, not substitute for it,” Bolloré remarked, highlighting the mission behind AVA to offer a secure environment for teams to utilize multiple AI models effectively without compromising client data or intellectual property.

Havas at CES: A Hub for Innovation

Havas has notably expanded its on-site presence at CES, hosting clients and partners at the ARIA resort while also participating in mainstage programming. Their exclusive space within the conference’s Storyteller environment positions Havas at the intersection of creativity, media, and technology, highlighting their ambition to lead in these domains.

During the conference, Havas showcased applied uses of artificial intelligence in various sectors, such as research and health. Partnerships with companies like Akkio to develop agent-based capabilities within Converged.AI demonstrate practical applications of AI in marketing. Furthermore, the introduction of Vermeer—an AI platform that combines generative capabilities with human oversight for safe creative production—illustrates Havas’s commitment to innovation while addressing regulatory and privacy needs with their investment in Vurvey, an AI-driven research firm.

Conclusion

Havas’s unveiling of AVA at CES 2026 marks a significant milestone in the integration of artificial intelligence within the advertising landscape. As the industry races to modernize and adapt, Havas is not just keeping pace; it is setting the standard for how technology and human creativity can coexist harmoniously. By committing to responsible AI practices and investing heavily in employee training, Havas ensures its teams are equipped to navigate this transformative era. As we look toward a future of possibilities, AVA represents a pivotal advancement in redefining the creative process in advertising.