Designed specifically for advertising professionals, AskMaud transforms AdForum’s extensive database into an interactive research assistant capable of analysing trends, benchmarking competitors, identifying creative strategies and uncovering campaign precedents through simple natural language conversations.
The launch reflects a growing demand for industry-specific artificial intelligence tools that can deliver reliable, context-rich insights beyond the capabilities of general-purpose AI platforms.
Powered by more than 25 years of curated advertising data, AskMaud draws from an archive containing over 250,000 campaigns, 50,000 agencies and thousands of award-winning creative works from markets around the world. The platform allows users to ask detailed questions and receive evidence-based responses backed by verified industry records.
Unlike many AI systems that rely on broad internet data and often struggle with attribution or source verification, AskMaud grounds every answer in AdForum's proprietary archive. Users can trace responses directly to campaign case studies, agency credits, award recognitions and historical records, providing a level of transparency that is increasingly important in professional research environments.
Explaining the rationale behind the platform, AdForum Chief Executive Officer, Philippe Paget, said the company recognised an opportunity to turn decades of accumulated industry knowledge into a more accessible and actionable resource.
“Everyone now has access to AI, but most AI systems know very little about advertising,” Paget said.
“We realised our greatest asset wasn’t simply the archive itself, but the knowledge embedded inside it. AskMaud literally allows users to have a conversation with 25 years of advertising intelligence.”
The platform arrives at a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping how agencies and brands conduct research, develop strategies and evaluate market opportunities. However, concerns have persisted about the accuracy, reliability and sourcing of information generated by generic AI models, particularly in specialised industries where historical context and detailed attribution matter.
AdForum believes AskMaud addresses those concerns by combining the speed and convenience of AI with the credibility of a professionally maintained advertising database.
Users can engage the system with strategic questions such as which challenger brands have successfully disrupted established categories, how companies have communicated sustainability messages to Generation Z audiences, or what creative approaches are currently driving success in automotive marketing.
Rather than providing generic responses, AskMaud delivers answers supported by campaign examples, agency information, market data, timelines and documented case studies.
For advertising agencies, the platform has the potential to significantly reduce the time spent on new business research, competitive analysis and strategic planning. Creative teams can quickly identify relevant precedents, examine successful campaigns from different markets and explore emerging trends without manually searching through thousands of industry records.
The tool is also expected to support creative development by helping teams discover ideas, understand category conventions and evaluate how brands have historically approached similar challenges.
Brands and marketing leaders stand to benefit as well. AskMaud offers companies a streamlined way to assess agency performance, monitor competitive activity and identify successful marketing initiatives across industries and geographic regions.
The launch further highlights the value of AdForum’s editorial work over the past two decades. The company’s team has systematically catalogued and organised advertising campaigns from around the globe, creating a structured archive that spans more than 100 international and regional award programmes.
One of the platform’s distinguishing features is its emphasis on attribution. Every campaign within the database is connected to the agencies, creative professionals, directors and production companies responsible for the work. This provides users with clear visibility into the people and organisations behind successful campaigns—an area where many AI-generated research tools often fall short.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into marketing and communications, industry observers see specialised platforms like AskMaud as the next evolution of professional research tools. By combining trusted data, verified sources and conversational AI capabilities, AdForum is positioning the platform as a valuable resource for decision-makers seeking faster access to meaningful advertising intelligence.
With agencies and brands under growing pressure to make data-driven decisions in a rapidly changing marketplace, AskMaud may offer a glimpse into how industry knowledge will be accessed, analysed and applied in the years ahead.