Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
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Ipsos will invest €1.2 billion in AI and acquisitions over five years to enhance growth, focusing on commercial research and expanding its data science team.
Jan 22 - French market research firm Ipsos plans to invest 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) over five years in artificial intelligence and acquisitions as it seeks to reverse sluggish growth, its CEO Jean-Laurent Poitou said in an interview.
The investment plan will be split between acquisitions, targeting specific technologies, and improving its internal capabilities, he said.
"We will increase the proportion of data scientists and artificial intelligence engineers among Ipsos' talent pool in the coming years. This is one of the reasons why we will be investing," Poitou said. Ipsos currently employs over 1,000 data scientists and AI engineers.
The company intends to focus its AI efforts on commercial research, which constitutes the bulk of its revenue, rather than political polling, a smaller service line.
Ipsos plans to develop or acquire most of its core technologies though it remains open to partnerships if they accelerate progress or align better with financial objectives.
The firm primarily uses data it owns, such as that from syndicated studies sold to multiple clients, for training its AI models. Proprietary studies commissioned by clients involve contractual agreements that determine data ownership, Poitou said.
($1 = 0.8546 euros)
(Reporting by Leo Marchandon in Gdansk; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn like humans. AI can perform tasks such as problem-solving, understanding language, and recognizing patterns.
Strategic acquisitions involve purchasing another company to enhance the buyer's strategic objectives, such as expanding market reach, acquiring new technologies, or increasing operational efficiencies.
Commercial research involves systematic investigation and analysis aimed at understanding market trends, consumer behavior, and business strategies to drive profitability and growth.
A data scientist is a professional who uses statistical methods, algorithms, and programming skills to analyze and interpret complex data, helping organizations make informed decisions.
An investment plan is a strategy outlining how an individual or organization intends to allocate resources to achieve specific financial goals, such as growth, income, or capital preservation.
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