Opus Intelligence and Sundial Media & Technology Group Forge AI Partnership to Redefine Marketing
Opus Intelligence, founded by Omar Johnson—former CMO of Beats by Dre and Apple marketing leader—and Sundial Media & Technology Group, the parent company of ESSENCE, Refinery29, and AFROPUNK, have announced a strategic partnership set to transform how brands engage with audiences through culture-driven AI.
This collaboration brings together Sundial’s century-plus expertise in community insights and cultural influence with Opus’s Tribal Knowledge AI platform, creating an unprecedented engine for cultural intelligence. The goal is to provide brands with deep, actionable insights that enable authentic, scalable consumer engagement.
A New Standard for Culturally Relevant AI
"We combine Sundial’s rich cultural relevance with the world’s first culturally-focused AI platform," said Omar Johnson, Opus CEO. "Opus is trained by executives, artists, and creatives who understand how to connect ideas, consumers, and products based on Tribal Knowledge of successful campaigns."
This approach captures cultural cues that generic AI often misses, marking a significant advancement for both media and marketing industries.
Leveraging Deep Community Connections
Kirk McDonald, CEO of Sundial Media & Technology Group, emphasizes Sundial’s history as a trusted source for understanding the communities that drive conversation and commerce. The partnership merges this proprietary intelligence with AI precision, enabling brands to act in real time with relevance grounded in authenticity.
Centering Women as Chief Influence Officers
The partnership places particular focus on women, who influence over 85% of consumer purchasing decisions across categories like home, healthcare, travel, business, and lifestyle. Despite this, women remain underserved in marketing investments. By centering women’s lived experiences and cultural context, Sundial and Opus address a major gap overlooked by generic AI solutions.
From Broad Impressions to Real-Time Resonance
This collaboration aims to help brands optimize media spend in a fragmented landscape by shifting from general impressions to dynamic, community-focused activation. By combining emotional fluency with data-driven accuracy, the partnership offers actionable insights into consumer mindsets, values, and behaviors—not just demographics.
The result is a faster, smarter way to connect with the consumers shaping today’s economy, replacing guesswork with precision and cultural relevance.
About Opus Intelligence
Opus Intelligence is the first AI-native Tribal Knowledge Marketing platform. Founded by Omar Johnson—named Adweek Brand Genius and Business Insider's "Most Innovative CMO"—the company powers campaigns for Fortune 100 brands and major sports franchises. By blending machine learning with cultural expertise, Opus redefines how tribal knowledge informs marketing automation.
For more information, visit www.opusintelligence.com.
About Sundial Media & Technology Group
Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG) specializes in connecting culture and community through technology. With over 100 years of combined community knowledge, SMTG elevates the influence of women—the Chief Influence Officers—and activates their economic power. Its portfolio includes iconic brands such as ESSENCE, Refinery29, AFROPUNK, Beautycon™, and the Global Black Economic Forum.
SMTG uses proprietary intelligence and AI to create a platform that reshapes media, commerce, and community engagement based on authentic cultural connections.
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