The Human Advantage: Mark Schaefer On Creativity In The Age Of AI

Oct 30, 2025

Mark W. Schaefer, Executive Director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions and bestselling author, dives into the interplay of AI and creativity. He argues that the future favors those who can leverage human traits rather than compete against machines. Mark shares insights from his book, Audacious, explaining how to reclaim authenticity in storytelling amidst AI noise. He warns of AI's potential pitfalls, including dependency and diminished curiosity, while emphasizing the importance of human input to fuel innovation.

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ANECDOTE

When AI Wrote His Voice

Mark Schaefer described testing ChatGPT by asking it to write an essay in his voice and it produced a near-perfect essay in three seconds.
That moment sparked deep reflection about his role and meaning as an author in an AI era.

ADVICE

Let AI Include Your Work

Schaefer recommends letting AI absorb your content so you're included in AI-driven discovery and presence.
Embrace AI ingestion to secure visibility and create new business opportunities from being discoverable.

ANECDOTE

He Launched A MarkBot

Schaefer built a custom MarkBot containing his books, blogs, speeches, and values to mentor users.
He launched it on his site, received positive feedback, and sees it as an experiment to expand his impact.

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In this episode, Mark W. Schaefer, Executive Director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions and a respected marketing futurist, joins us to discuss his new book, Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World.

As AI continues to transform business and creativity, Mark makes a bold claim: the future belongs not to those who outsmart machines, but to those who out-human them. Audacious is his call to arms for marketers, creators, and leaders eager to start a new era of imagination and courage in the face of automation.

Drawing from case studies, interviews, and more than 100 actionable insights, Mark reveals how to disrupt the three core pillars of brand storytelling to reclaim authenticity and creativity in a world drowning in AI-generated noise…

This conversation explores:

What prompted Mark to write Audacious.
How to find your meaning in an AI-driven world.
Why being human is the new competitive advantage in marketing.
How to implement audacity into your brand story

Mark is a globally recognized marketing strategist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of Marketing Rebellion, KNOWN, and Belonging to the Brand. To learn more about him and his work, visit BusinessesGrow.com and join the movement at #AudaciousBook.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

Keep up with Mark Schaefer socials here:

X: https://x.com/markwschaefer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markwschaefer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.schaefer3/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkSchaefer

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@markwschaefer

🛍️ Recommended Books from This Episode:

📖 KNOWN: The Handbook for Building and Unleashing Your Personal Brand in the Digital Age – A practical, step-by-step guide to becoming recognized as an authority in your field and turning your reputation into real-world success. 👉 Get it here

📘 Cumulative Advantage: How to Build Momentum for Your Ideas, Business, and Life Against All Odds – Discover how small, strategic moves can create unstoppable momentum and long-term success in business and life. 👉 Check it out

📙 Marketing Rebellion: The Most Human Company Wins – A game-changing book that challenges traditional marketing and shows why authenticity, empathy, and human connection are the keys to thriving in today's market. 👉 Explore it here

📗 Belonging to the Brand: Why Community Is the Last Great Marketing Strategy – Learn how building genuine communities around your brand creates loyalty, trust, and sustainable growth. 👉 View it here

📕 Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World – A forward-thinking guide on how creativity, emotion, and human connection can outshine automation and AI in modern marketing. 👉 Learn more

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