Stacie de Armas of Nielsen: “The Audience Can Detect Inauthenticity in Milliseconds”

Artificial intelligence can accelerate creativity, but it cannot replace human judgment, according to Stacie de Armas, Chief Content Officer and Vice President of Diverse Insights & Intelligence at Nielsen. Speaking during a panel on AI at Latino US Day during Cannes Lions 2026, de Armas encouraged marketers to embrace emerging technology without losing the human perspective behind great storytelling.

“My biggest takeaway is to be brave, be curious—but also let things cook,” she said. “Always make sure there’s a human layer over everything you’re creating.”

For de Armas, one of the greatest challenges facing advertisers is maintaining authenticity as AI becomes more deeply integrated into creative workflows.

“Younger generations can spot something artificial almost instantly,” she said. “That’s why it’s imperative that our industry takes the time to get it right.”

She argued that nuance, cultural understanding and emotional intelligence remain qualities that technology alone cannot replicate.

Beyond the conversations around AI, de Armas praised Latino US Day for creating a dedicated platform for Latino voices within Cannes Lions.

“It’s incredibly important that we continue to have a space for Latino stories and Latino-led conversations at Cannes,” she said, thanking PRODU and the event’s partners for bringing the community together.

Although AI dominated many discussions throughout the festival, de Armas said the moments that left the greatest impression happened away from the stage.

“The most powerful conversations I’ve had this week have been in real life,” she said. “Those human connections are still what matter most.”