
Marketing in the Age of AI: CMOs Separating the Hype from What’s Real
The Dave Gerhardt Show (from Exit Five)
Using AI to Make Brand Teams More Data-Driven
Sara describes using ChatGPT to analyze reports and teach brand teams to think in growth metrics.
#288 AI in Marketing | In this episode, Dave is joined by three B2B marketing leaders: Sara Ajemian, Head of Brand & Communications at SOCi, Jennifer Delevante-Moulen, CMO at Knak, and Tara Robertson, CMO at Bitly. Together they share real-world perspectives on how AI is actually shaping marketing teams today—what’s working, what’s not, and how leaders are adapting.
Dave and the panel cover:
- The most overhyped AI use cases in B2B marketing (and where human nuance still wins)
- Real success stories, including building an AI-powered content research engine, scaling global localization, and using AI to make creative teams more data-driven
- How CMOs are personally using AI as a strategic thought partner for board prep, customer insights, and team coaching
Whether you’re experimenting with new tools or figuring out how to bring AI into your strategy, this conversation gives a grounded look at what B2B marketing leaders are really doing today.
Timestamps
- (00:00) - – Intro
- (03:21) - – Meet the panel: SOCi, Knak, Bitly
- (07:21) - – Has AI met or missed expectations?
- (12:06) - – The most overhyped AI use cases
- (15:21) - – Why human nuance still matters in personalization
- (20:21) - – The imposter syndrome of AI adoption
- (23:21) - – The power of AI with memory
- (26:01) - – Best AI use cases from the panel
- (31:59) - – Scaling global localization with AI
- (34:59) - – Training brand teams to be more data-driven
- (38:59) - – How CMOs personally use AI in their workflow
- (42:59) - – Using AI as a strategic thought partner
- (46:59) - – Coaching teams with AI feedback loops
- (48:59) - – The frustrations of iteration and tool updates
- (52:59) - – Is leadership pushing AI adoption?
- (56:59) - – Budgeting and building a modern AI-enabled tech stack
- (59:59) - – Final takeaways and closing
Join 50,0000 people who get Dave's Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletter
Learn more about Exit Five's private marketing community: https://www.exitfive.com/
***
Brought to you by:
Knak - A no-code, campaign creation platform that lets you go from idea to on-brand email and landing pages in minutes, using AI where it actually matters. Learn more at knak.com/exitfive.
Optimizely - An AI platform where autonomous agents execute marketing work across webpages, email, SEO, and campaigns. Get a free, personalized 45-minute AI workshop to help you identify the best AI use cases for your marketing team and map out where agents can save you time at optimizely.com/exitfive (PS - you'll get a FREE pair of Meta Ray Bans if you do).
Customer.io - An AI powered customer engagement platform that help marketers turn first-party data into engaging customer experiences across email, SMS, and push. Learn more at customer.io/exitfive.
***
Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.
- They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.
- Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.
- Visit hatch.fm to learn more


