The council will focus on AI training, industry research, responsible adoption and policy engagement to help Indian advertising agencies integrate artificial intelligence into their operations.
The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) has constituted a Council for Artificial Intelligence (AI), appointing Prasad Shejale, Founder and Group CEO of LS Digital, as its Chair. The initiative aims to strengthen the advertising industry's participation in AI adoption, governance and policy discussions.
Announced on November 12, 2026, the council forms part of AAAI's agenda for 2026-27, which seeks to expand specialist participation within the association and provide member agencies with greater representation in discussions shaping the future of advertising.
The council will focus on helping advertising agencies develop AI capabilities while establishing a collective industry position on the technology's use across marketing, creative, media and data operations.
Its mandate includes engaging with brands, technology providers, digital platforms, regulators and government bodies on matters relating to AI development, deployment and governance.
The council will work across five areas: capability development, research, industry standards, policy engagement and practical implementation.
Under capability development, AAAI plans to introduce training programmes to improve AI understanding among agency leadership and employees working across strategy, creative, media and data functions.
The research component will involve publishing reports and benchmarks examining AI adoption across India's advertising industry. These findings are expected to inform discussions around emerging technologies, operational changes and future industry requirements.
The council will also develop guidance on responsible AI adoption, covering disclosure practices, intellectual property considerations and client-agency relationships. This work will be aligned with guidelines issued by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and applicable IT Rules.
Additionally, AAAI intends to consolidate industry perspectives for discussions with policymakers, regulators, advertisers and technology companies.
To support implementation, the council will develop practical playbooks and use cases aimed at helping agencies integrate AI into existing business processes.
Membership will draw from large advertising networks, independent and regional agencies, and organisations specialising in data and technology.
Commenting on his appointment, Shejale said, "AI is the biggest shift our industry has faced, and advertising should not be a spectator to its own transformation."
He added that the council would focus on training professionals, publishing research and developing evidence-based positions on AI-related issues.
Dr Sandeep Goyal, President of AAAI, said Shejale's experience in technology and business development would support the association's efforts to strengthen AI capabilities among member agencies.
The council is also expected to participate in national and international discussions concerning AI's implications for advertising.
AAAI has not announced a timeline for the rollout of its training programmes, research publications or implementation guidelines.
The initiative establishes a formal industry platform for addressing AI-related developments in advertising, with an emphasis on professional training, responsible deployment and coordinated representation in policy discussions.