Greetings, earthlings, and welcome to the AI issue of Inc!
I'm beaming this message to you from the trifecta of my existence: as a human (50-yr old embracing AI), a Chief Marketing Officer (the gray hair confirms this), and a founder of Podium Life (the bags under my eyes are a tell tale sign). The common denominator? The need to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI). It's like a never-ending heatwave; I've embraced it, bought a kiddie pool, and I'm ready to share some chill-out tips.
But first, a little scene-setting: I'm penning this from Cleveland, OH, a city that's home to the world's largest outdoor chandelier. I'm here for The Marketing AI Conference, and I'm loving every minute of it, even the ones that involve deciphering tech jargon.
I've dabbled in generative AI image creation and flirted with ChatGPT. Let's see how this ties back to my three alter egos.
As a Human: I've used ChatGPT to create bucket list items (my list of race events), craft travel itineraries, answer general questions, conduct research, and indulge in random explorations.
As a CMO: I've outsourced a chunk of writing tasks to AI. It's like having a ghostwriter and you get to play editor. For the record, you always need to edit AI-generated copy.
As a Podium Life Founder: AI has been my sidekick for transcription, SEO strategy, and content authoring or rewriting. It's like having a personal assistant who never sleeps or asks for a raise.
In all these scenarios, AI has been a time-saving superhero, but it hasn't replaced me. If anything, it has allowed me to ensure Podium Life continues to be a great motorsports destination while thinking more about the future, growth and strategy. It’s allowed me to save time as both a human and CMO. Time is money they say.
The point is that a human + AI can be a better human. I believe it creates a world where we can focus on more important things: time with loved ones, therapy, exercise and obviously watching South Korean TV shows.
The AI revolution is here, and most people are completely unprepared. Whether you're a human, an employee, or a founder, it's time to draft your own Marketing AI Roadmap. Think of it as your personal guide to integrating AI into your life, like a cookbook for tech recipes.
In the marketing world, the future will see the birth of AI departments. I predict they'll be the nerdy cousin of Marketing Operations, overseeing the strategy, governance, and tools being used. All workers will need to understand how AI can augment their roles.
There are three types of entities evolving in this brave new world:
AI Native: These are the cool companies, built from the ground up with AI in their DNA.
AI Emergent: The late bloomers, existing entities undergoing an AI transformation.
AI Analog: Stubborn rebels, entities that are anti-AI.
This also applies to humans.
There's no one-size-fits-all blueprint for this journey. You can follow an existing roadmap, but be ready to tweak it to fit your unique needs, challenges, and expectations. It's like following a recipe but you know it can taste better - so you improvise.
"Big tech is betting the future on AI," says Paul Roetzer. This is a wake-up call for us to pay attention. Big Tech follows the money, which means AI will infiltrate all aspects of our lives (like when White Lotus drops a new season). This is a heads up so we can be ready.
Greg Brockman, President & Co-Founder of OpenAI, had this to say, "Most amazing fact about AI is that even though it's starting to feel impressive, a year from now we'll look back fondly on the AI that exists today as quaint and antiquated." It’s moving faster that we can fully comprehend, but that doesn’t mean you can’t adapt.
This is our time to evolve in to an AI-friendly life. A human + AI is greater than a human. This isn't a commentary on your worth as a wonderful, kind human. It's advice on how to prepare for the future, like stocking up on bread/milk/toilet paper before a snowstorm. It’s also future-proofing yourself.
My personal goal is to one day live a simple life with a dumb phone, no social media, some land, animals, and a bunch of books. But until that day, I'm playing this game and I’m going to use it to my advantage.
I am just beginning my AI journey, so I recommend the amazing resources at the Marketing AI Institute as a starting point. I’m learning that exploring, learning and testing is how most people are figuring this out.
There is plenty of time to catch up. The images in this issue speak to that.
For this post, I had ChatGPT analyze my previous newsletters and turn my AI notes into this piece. A few edits later, and voila! It's like baking a cake, but without the mess.
But I’d rather have a cake.
Consumption
TV/Movies
John Mulaney: Baby J. MUST WATCH. So good at using humor to approach addiction and rehab. And funny.
Logan Lucky. Great cast and a fun movie.
Mean Girls. I hadn’t seen this in forever. Classic.
The Out-Siders. Big fan of Adam Levine.
Alone, Season 9. I love this show because I am not that.
Excited for Squid Game, Season 2.
Rewatching Band of Brothers with Ollie.
The Days. Japanese Nuclear Disaster? Yes please.
The Meg. A giant shark and submarines.
Links
OtoSet|FDA-Cleared Ear Wax Removal Device
Ken's Gold Watches in the 'Barbie' Movie: Everything You Need to Know
The Greatest Men’s Style Icons Of The 20th Century
What’s the Difference Between Ice Cream and Gelato?
Every Christopher Nolan movie, ranked
Everything to know about ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ — release date, cast and plot of the biopic
Blinkist
The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammed
Islam: A Short History.
Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most
A History of God: The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.
The Rise of Hitler: The Power of Propaganda.
Tao Te Ching: Taoist Philosophy for Peace, Contentment & Balance in Life.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces: Understanding the Hero’s Journey Through Psychology and Mythology.
Outliers: The Story of Success.
The Power of Discipline: How to Use Self Control and Mental Toughness to Achieve Your Goals.
Superhuman by Habit: A Guide to Becoming the Best Possible Version of Yourself, One Tiny Habit at a Time.
That’s a wrap everyone. Reach out if I can help out in any way.
Much love, Daniel