The First AI-Driven Anticipatory Design System for Publishers

In a media and publishing landscape saturated with data, readers often find polling and election insights challenging to interpret, especially in isolation. With two decades of heritage transforming newsrooms, Stagwell's Code and Theory recognized that empowering readers with context could turn data points into compelling narratives.

ContextLens addresses this by using generative AI to identify the story behind the numbers, guiding users to more meaningful insights. Code and Theory conceived, built, and launched this tool in the lead-up to the 2024 election cycle in partnership with Real Clear Politics, where understanding trends and shifts is essential for grasping the bigger picture of public opinion.

ContextLens is a groundbreaking anticipatory design system built by Code and Theory, leveraging generative AI to transform how readers interact with data on news sites. Unlike typical AI tools, ContextLens doesn't just respond to commands - it understands the content users are viewing and intuitively generates contextual visualizations. This approach brings data-driven insights directly to the user's screen, streamlining the information-gathering process and making digital news experiences more responsive, informative, and visually engaging.

For RealClearPolitics' RealClearPolling site, ContextLens is a game-changer. Instead of navigating multiple pages or manually searching for related content, users now have contextual insights instantly available. If a user is viewing polling data, ContextLens suggests relevant visuals - such as recent polling shifts or battleground state insights - tailored to their immediate interests. This provides RealClearPolitics with a tangible advantage, offering readers a richer, more interactive experience while positioning the site as a leader in digital political analysis.

Beyond enhancing user experience, ContextLens opens up new revenue streams, allowing publishers to monetize through non-disruptive, contextual advertising embedded within the tool. For media companies, this is an opportunity to leverage AI to both engage audiences and drive revenue. ContextLens goes beyond traditional news delivery by shifting from one-dimensional, static news to a visually rich experience where AI enhances understanding, making real-time, data-driven journalism more accessible.

• Built and launched Context Lens, an anticipatory design system leveraging generative AI to transform how readers interact with data on news sites.
• Instead of navigating multiple pages or manually searching for related content, users now have contextual insights instantly available, powered by AI.
• Less than 3 months from concept and design to build, testing and launch.