MAM
Karima Zmerli is Edelman’s new global head – performance & predictive intelligence
NEW DELHI: Communications firm Edelman has tapped Karima Zmerli as global head of performance and predictive intelligence for its data and intelligence unit (DxI).
In the new role, Zmerli will lead performance and predictive intelligence globally and oversee media buying and marketing strategies for clients. She will be based in New York and report to Edelman DxI global chief data & analytics officer Yannis Kotziagkiaouridis.
The hire is part of Edelman’s effort to grow its media, data and technology capabilities as clients adapt to digital transformation and major changes to the media ecosystem, such as the loss of Apple’s IDFA mobile identifier and third-party cookies phasing out.
Zmerli joins Edelman from the media agency world, as chief data sciences officer at GroupM’s Wavemaker since 2016, where she helped generate over $1 billion in new business. She joined Edelman to help clients adapt to new use cases for data and technology as privacy becomes top of mind.
“We have to open our horizons and think about the consumer relationship with the brand differently than in a transactional way,” Zmerli said. “Edelman is in a very unique position to understand consumer trust in corporations and brands, a fundamental element to brand strategy and communication.”
Zmerli is Edelman’s latest hire in a bid to bolster its research and data capabilities, with talent across data science, engineering, software development and performance marketing. Most recently, the firm hired David Bartram Shaw as SVP and global head of data science; Anjuli Bedi as global head of behavioural science and psychometrics; Tim Hwang as global head of product; Jacob Loban as EVP and US head of performance intelligence; and Matt Sato as EVP
Digital
The human edge: Why creativity beats AI in communication, Starstuff Labs report
As AI floods content, human insight and originality remain irreplaceable
NEW DELHI: Artificial intelligence is cheaper, faster, and more accessible than ever, yet creativity and human judgement remain the secret sauce that machines cannot replicate.
What started as a tool for efficiency is now shaping how messages are crafted, audiences are reached, and decisions are made. But as AI-generated content multiplies, questions about quality, trust, and originality are multiplying too.
Ahead of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Starstuff Labs has weighed in with The Human Edge: AI, Creativity, and the Future of Communication. The report examines how organisations are embracing AI in creative workflows, while highlighting why judgement, originality, and accountability remain distinctly human.
“Even as AI boosts speed and scale, it struggles with nuance, empathy, and cultural context. Human oversight is essential to keep content authentic,” said Starstuff Labs director Raghu Kalra. “This study explores how creatives can prepare for a future flooded by AI-generated material.”
The research draws insights from creative, psychological, corporate, and developmental professionals across the globe. One clear trend stands out: while being AI-enabled is now expected, safeguarding a unique voice and ethical judgement sets organisations apart.
With teams layering AI onto existing workflows without rethinking authorship, differentiation no longer comes from technology alone. The ability to interpret context, question outputs, and decide what is appropriate is what gives humans the edge.
Designed to be accessible for visually impaired readers, the report signals a turning point for the creative industry: in a world awash with AI, it’s not the tool but the human touch that will truly stand out.
