How Ming Pao Magazines redefines the agency model with ‘Dream Button’

For the past year, the conversation surrounding artificial intelligence in the marketing world has been dominated by novelty. But as we move further into 2026, the narrative is shifting from "what is possible" to "what is profitable."

With the generative AI market projected to surge from $341.7 million in 2023 to over $17.82 billion by 2030, the question for CMOs and agency heads is no longer whether to adopt the technology, but how to operationalise it without losing their brand’s soul.

Entering this complex landscape is Dream Button, a new strategic alliance that pairs the storytelling heritage of Ming Pao Magazines with leading technology innovators. By launching this AI-driven creative agency, Ming Pao is signaling a major shift: moving beyond traditional publishing to become a tech-enabled strategic partner for brands.

The efficiency imperative

The modern marketer faces a paradox: the demand for content is infinite, but resources are not. Gartner predicts that by 2025, over 10% of all data will be generated by AI. Dream Button was developed to address this specific volume-velocity challenge, positioning itself not merely as a tool provider, but as an end-to-end creative ecosystem.

The agency’s model is built on the premise of "agile creativity." By integrating AI into the production pipeline, Dream Button allows brands to bypass the traditional bottlenecks of campaign creation. This includes AI video production that transforms concepts into social-ready assets at a fraction of historical costs , and AI-powered copywriting and design that enables rapid A/B testing of visuals and messaging.

However, the goal isn't just speed; it is consistency. The service extends to holistic branding and web development, ensuring that even as content scales up, the brand identity—from logos to color palettes—remains cohesive.

The new face of influence: Virtual artists

Perhaps the most disruptive aspect of Dream Button’s offering lies in its talent roster. In an era where influencer marketing is plagued by rising costs and unpredictability, Dream Button has introduced a management arm for virtual artists.

The agency currently manages a diverse roster of six hyper-realistic virtual influencers. For brands, these digital ambassadors offer a compelling alternative to human talent: they are available 24/7, fully controllable, and immune to the PR risks often associated with human influencers.

This allows for a new level of narrative control. Brands can craft deep, authentic stories with characters that are custom-fit to their demographic, ensuring resonance without the volatility of the gig economy.

A strategic pivot

The launch of Dream Button represents a broader trend in the media industry: the convergence of content, data, and technology.

By combining Ming Pao Magazines’ established media prowess with state-of-the-art AI, the venture aims to offer marketers a competitive edge—the ability to create more and test faster, while maximising ROI.

As the advertising landscape shifts fundamentally towards a data-driven future, Dream Button stands as a case study in how legacy media expertise can evolve to meet the demands of the AI age.

See more on: https://dreambutton.ai/

This article is done in collaboration with Ming Pao Magazines.