A year! That's right -- it's been a full year since ChatGPT came onto the scene and sent the world into a tizzy over generative AI. To celebrate the occasion and because 2023 is winding down, Greg Verdino and Geoff Livingston taking a look back at the "Year of AI." What trends, tech, big news, and boo-boos caught and kept our attention during a year that was (shall we say) eventful? Listen or watch this pipin' hot episode of No Brainer to find out.As a bonus, you'll also find out why Geoff regrets buying a fancy new webcam!What to Watch For00:00 Start05:50 Geoff's Trend 1: AI Euphoria – Business communities were abound with excitement during the first half of the year.07:10 Greg's Trend 1: AI Hype Cycle — From Euphoria to existential risk, and everything in between.15:05 Greg's Trend 2: The Generative AI Horse Race — Open AI has opened the door, and it is a dynamic market with many competitors, including Claude and Google.18:40 Geoff's Trend 2: Fake AI — From shrink-wrapped GPT solutions masquerading as new solutions to bolt-ons, we saw a lot of masquerades.24:20 Geoff's Trend 3: The Struggle for Ethical AI — From data sourcing and public figures to government regulation and Open AI’s board scrap, ethical AI is a constant discussion point.31:20 Greg's #3: Coca-Cola's Bain and OpenAI Partnership — Coke has paved the way for corporate marketing AI innovation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Around mid-day on Friday, November 17, Sam Altman -- the high-profile CEO of OpenAI -- was fired without notice by the organization's non-profit b0ard. CTO Mira Murati was elevated to interim CEO, president Greg Brockman lost his own board seat and subsequently quit, and several senior AI researchers resigned too. Word on the street is co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever was the man behind the moves and put the debate between speed vs safety, profit vs purpose at the heart of the decision. Or was it rumors that Altman was planning a new AI company and hadn't been forthright with the board about what he's working on?But by Saturday, the company's blindsided investors (including Microsoft) were jockeying to reinstate Altman and demanding that the board resign instead. Will Altman return? Maybe. Maybe not.Is this a battle for the soul of generative AI? What does this mean for ChatGPT and all the tech startups that built their solutions on top of OpenAI's large langauge models? And what -- if anything -- should marketers make of the shakeup?In this "emergency edition" of No Brainer, Geoff Livingston and Greg Verdino summarize the unfolding drama (as of Sunday, 11/19 at 9am Eastern), and share their takes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At their first-ever DevDay, OpenAI announced GPT-4 Turbo with a massive new context window, training data through April 2023, and more cost effective API calls. But the news that most marketers latched onto was the launch of GPTs – a new way for anyone to create a tailored version of ChatGPT to be more helpful in their daily life, at specific tasks, at work, or at home. And then share that creation with others on ChatGPT paid plans (and eventually through a GPT store).With a week or so of thinking and tinkering, Greg and Geoff offer up their take on whether GPTs live up to the hype, what it’s like to build them, where they fit into the larger AI story, and what they mean for marketers.What to Listen For:00:00 Start10:40 What are GPTs? And why should we care?20:41 Is this Open AI’s App Store moment?36:43 The Low-Code, No-Code Future49:01 The End of Shrink-Wrapped Apps?54:17 Brainer/No BrainerGet the full show notes, including links to resources and articles mentioned during the show: https://nobrainerpodcast.com/openai-gpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This one's for the photographers, the artists, the agency creative directors, the designers, and anyone who likes to dabble with visual creativity.We go deep into the rapidly evolving world of AI image generation. What might have seemed like a two-horse race between Midjourney and Stable Diffusion is now a four-horse (or more!) race in which major players like Adobe and OpenAI are betting on easy access and massive distribution to compete against quality. Listen (or watch) as we run down some of the latest news and developments in AI image generation, and discuss (even debate) what all of this means for marketers and the creative people that work in marketing.If that's not enough for ya, we take a look at what artists are doing to protect their work from being incorporated into Big AI's training data without permission or compensation. It's a battle for the soul of the artist -- and it's just getting started.What to Listen For(Time stamps are approximate.)0:00:00 Intro0:08:29 - Midjourney and Stable Diffusion are AI image generators to beat 0:15:21 - Adobe and OpenAI make some big moves with Firefly (better quality, now available in all Adobe Creative Cloud apps) and Dall-E 3 (integrated into a more powerful, multimodal ChatGPT for Plus and Enterprise customers), but are the moves big enough to catch up or leap ahead? 0:34:30 - Amazon launches an AI image-maker for Marketplace advertisers in a smart vertical play. What does this mean for Amazon advertisers and the agencies that service them?0:54:00 - A new tool called Nightshade offers artists a 'poison pill' that can infect generative AI models that scrape their work without permission, but how likely is it to do the trick?0:64:03: Brainer and No Brainer image generator takeaways for marketers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, Geoff Livingston interviews Forum3 co-CEOs Adam Brotman, of Starbucks and JCrew fame, and Andy Sack, a Satya Nadella advisor about their new AI crowdsourcing platform Hive3. Hive3 aims to let brands run ‘creator content’ contests to source creative for marketing campaigns. AI-powered creators are encouraged to enter contests with AI works for brands.It’s a fun concept. The three dive into how it works for brands, why brands might be motivated to experiment here with AI first, some of the cool things creators have already done on the beta platform, and much more. Then they turn their eye to the larger AI marketing world and the changes technology is making on the sector.A bonus segment features a top 5 listing of the greatest AI ghouls for Halloween as ranked by Bard, Claude, ChatGPT, and human-in-the- loop Geoff Livingston. What to Listen For:00:00 Start02:50 Introducing Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, Forum304:10 How Forum3’s Hive3 AI-powered creator community works11:32 Why brands should consider working with AI creators22:32 How Hive3 Uses AI29:20 How AI has subsumed Web3 and the Metaverse49:40 Halloween Special: AI Villains Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every week offers a whirlwind of AI announcements fueling the hype wave. And last week was no different: from ChatGPT's multimodal features to Amazon's billion-dollar bet on Anthropic and everything in between. But let's pump the brakes for a second.In today's No Brainer, Greg Verdino and Geoff Livingston digest some of last week's big announcements -- and warn marketers (and AI enthusiasts in general), let's not forget to question the narrative. How much of what Big AI announces is real innovation, and how much is just hype amplified by media and influencers? It's like a flashback to the dot-com era, where every press release was treated like the gospel.And here's the kicker: We're in uncharted waters. Journalism has taken a hit, and influencers are filling the void with quick takes and retweets that only amplify press releases. The result? A public that's easier to sway and a hype cycle that's even wilder than before. This podcast analyzes this trend using the bigger stories from last week to explore the line between noise and signal in the AI hype cycle.What to Listen For00:00 Intro08:45 On the AI Hype Cycle27:16 OpenAI says ChatGPT can now "see, hear, and speak," but can it?41:03 Seed round superstar Mistral AI releases its first open model47:29 Amazon’s strategic "not $4B" investment in Anthropic.54:28 Meta drafts AI for play, not productivity, with GenAI social chatbotsFor complete show notes, including links to the stories discussed in this episode, visit https://nobrainerpodcast.com/ai-fact-fiction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 15 looks at the U.S. government’s efforts to regulate the AI industry. Marketing professionals may want to closely monitor the rapidly evolving landscape of AI regulation.Greg and Geoff begin by discussing last week’s U.S. Senate hearings that garnered plenty of media attention but resulted in no concrete action.Despite the White House's anticipated executive order on AI and voluntary commitments from 15 companies to uphold safety and security standards, there is a general perception that legislative efforts are lagging due to concerns over stifling AI development. Meanwhile, the European Union has made substantial strides in AI regulation with the Digital Services Act and the forthcoming Digital Markets Act, which impose stringent requirements on data usage and platform behavior.Various government agencies, such as the SEC and IRS, are already utilizing AI for tasks like fraud detection, indicating that the impact of these technologies is immediate and wide-ranging.For marketers, the implications are clear: Regulatory environments are fluid and could either restrict or facilitate AI-driven initiatives. If enacted, it does appear regulations will favor larger companies like the Big Tech incumbents. And if enacted, marketers will need to ensure that their own decisions about building, buying, and deploying AI follow the new rules.What to Listen For00:00 Start06:00 Big AI players come to Washington and meet with the Senate15:15 What does regulation look like? Geoff’s crystal ball.34:10 Individual government agencies adopt AI53:30 Brainer and No Brainer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this hard-hitting episode of No Brainer, Greg Verdino and Geoff Livingston talk about 10 common barriers to marketing AI adoption. They analyze why these issues crop up, their causes, and how they become big problems. Where possible, the two offer their thoughts on possible actions marketing leaders can take to overcome these obstacles and find success with AI.What to Listen For: the 10 Barriers 00:00:00 Start00:06:00 #1 Tactical Thinking - A lack of strategy and/or failing to tie AI to that core marketing or business strategy to achieve enterprise goals hurts adoption.00:08:30 #2 Leadership Deficit - Lack of leadership vision, commitment, and support to implement AI internally – from responsibility hand-offs to a failure to sponsor AI as a necessary technological evolution at all levels – stymies adoption.00:11:30 #3 Employee Resistance - Well-discussed fears of widespread job loss have had their impact, with internal mid-level managers openly and passively resisting adoption.00:22:40 #4 General Market Confusion - Marketing leaders are confused by nonstop vendor hype and false promises, with some advocating for all-encompassing point solutions while others emphasize intelligent integration within the martech stack.00:32:35 #5 The Data Problem - Marketing organizations struggle with data quality, quantity, access, etc. and often balk at the cost of getting their data house in order.00:39:00 #6 The High Cost of AI - The high cost to deploy and maintain enterprise-grade solutions/use cases shocks many inexperienced marketing organizations who see the low cost of consumer point solutions as the accurate cost of AI.00:46:50 #7 Quality Vendors/Tech Partners - The AI landscape is complex, making it challenging to differentiate genuine capabilities and select the right solution among numerous alternatives, including point solutions versus existing cloud services.00:57:40 #8 Lack of Governance and Workflows - Marketing leaders often overlook the need to control AI systems and manage AI usage in their organizations, neglecting implications for risks. As a result, their departments lack end user guidelines and fail to consider how AI affects workflows.01:02:18 #9 Talent Deficit - There's a significant talent deficit in AI, with organizations struggling to hire and afford data scientists. Left to develop talent internally, leaders often neglect investing in the necessary training for their teams to use AI tools effectively and creatively.01:10:50 #10 Lack of Named Case Studies - The AI industry lacks named case studies that provide tangible, measurable results (beyond the PR hit). Even if you acknowledge that it's still early days (and that innovators may not want to share their secrets), this absence of results raises concerns about transparency and credibility.As always, you can find the full show notes, including links to articles mentioned and other helpful resources at https://nobrainerpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before we dive in, we’re thrilled to announce that No Brainer has landed in the #6 spot on Feedspot’s list of the Top 15 AI Marketing Podcasts. Thanks to everyone for your support!On to lucky Episode 13. This one’s for the Content Crusaders.Generative AI continues to impact the content marketing profession at all levels. This week’s episode looks at two larger dynamic trends: 1) How OpenAI’s recent web crawling move and plugin marketplace speak to the value of content; and 2) Content Marketing Institute’s recent state of the industry survey which reveals how marketers are or aren't adopting AI.In the first half of the show, Geoff and Greg discuss Open AI’s GPTbot, a web crawler that collects public site data to train its algorithms. This move is significant for content providers, as it represents a shift in how content is valued as data, but what does it mean for marketers?Then Greg and Geoff discuss ChatGPT plugins, which offer a way for brands to integrate their content and even e-commerce platforms directly into the chatbox, enhancing the user experience and putting your brand (and its valuable content) at consumers’ fingertips.Finally, Greg and Geoff talk through a recent state-of-the-industry study by the Content Marketing Institute (CMI) that highlights the growing influence of Gen AI on content marketing. The report reveals that a significant number of content marketers are using AI tools for brainstorming, keyword research, and even content creation. However, there's also a palpable concern among these professionals about AI's impact on their careers.What to Listen For00:00:00 Start00:03:40 What’s up with OpenAI’s GPTbot?00:15:45 The good: Some brands may see GPTbot training as an opportunity00:21:50 The bad: GPTbot steals content and kills content business models00:30:50 The ugly: GPT further muddying internet content00:34:00 ChatGPT plugins: Are you missing out on a key content opportunity?00:41:45 Digging into Content Marketing Institute’s 2024 Career & Salary Outlook00:48:45 Content marketers wrestle with AI’s impact01:00:30 Brainer and No Brainer episode takeawaysVisit https://nobrainerpodcast.com for complete show notes, including links to the stories and resources we discuss in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone who follows the marketing AI scene knows MAICON -- the Marketing AI Conference, hosted by Paul Roetzer's Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institute. So, this year, Geoff decided to visit Cleveland, Ohio to check it out. In today's episode, Geoff shares his perspectives on the event, the speakers, his key takeaways, and (of course) the snacks. Even better, he brought a friend onboard: Our first guest co-host evah, Silicon Valley marketing maven Melinda Byerley to share her thoughts too. Her presence alone exponentially upped the No Brainer (erm) brainpower. Her take on MAICON and the current and future states of marketing AI in general? Chef's kiss.If you stayed home (like Greg did), this show is for you. And if you attended MAICON and want to relive it through the eyes of two seasoned pros, this show is for you too! We'd call that a win/win. So, what's the verdict? Did MAII team rise to the occasion? Did MAICON match the energy of our current generative AI zeitgeist? Listen or watch, and find out!But first...Meet Melinda ByerleyMelinda Byerley is the CEO and founding partner of Fiddlehead Marketing, a virtual data-driven consultancy based in San Francisco. A seasoned Silicon Valley veteran, she has led teams at companies like eBay, PayPal, and CheckPoint Software. Melinda is a pioneer in marketing analytics and an influencer in data privacy and ethics. In 2022, she refocused her career on AI for Marketing Analytics, inspired by her personal triumph over breast cancer. A contributing writer, guest lecturer, and host of the podcast "Stayin Alive in Tech," Melinda blends finance acumen with storytelling flair. When not charting the course of marketing's future, she's exploring bridge and snorkeling or engaging with ChatGPT.What to Listen For(Time stamps based on the audio program; the exact timings for the video show may vary) 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:01 Meet Melinda Byerley 00:05:05 First impressions from MAICON 00:15:10 Keynotes and key takeaways 00:38:14 The best of the breakouts 00:53:25 Vendor bender? 00:59:55 Food, social events, and logistics 01:05:00 Final takes For full show notes, including links to resources mentioned and all the places you can connect with Melinda, visit https://nobrainerpodcast.com/maicon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices