Why the Best Agencies Won't Be Replaced by AI...They'll Be Rebuilt Around It with Simon Billington, Part 1
About this episode
In this episode, Simon Billington discusses how agencies can adapt to the challenges posed by generative AI.
How do you punch above your weight when a technological revolution threatens your entire industry? In this episode, I sit down with Simon Billington, Global Executive Creative Director at Team Lewis, for the first in a trilogy of episodes. Simon takes us back to early 2023, when agencies everywhere rushed to experiment with generative AI, and explains why he chose a radically different path. Instead of feeding public models, his team decided to build something private, secure, and future-facing. We explore this bold decision to invest heavily before outcomes were guaranteed, and why running toward disruption can be smarter than hiding from it. We talk about how data is the new oil, protecting institutional knowledge, and how AI should elevate talent rather than erase it. Simon demonstrates that the agencies that think widest, not deepest, might just shape what comes next. Topics covered during this episode include: How generative AI first appeared as a major agency disruptor in 2023. Why external AI models raise concerns around data and value. How private historical knowledge becomes a protected competitive advantage. Why AI needs to learn and grow, much like a child. How…
People in this episode
Host: Mike Lander
Guest: Simon Billington
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Team Lewis
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