No Brainer - An AI Podcast for Business

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

OpenAI has been a recurring character in this podcast series, but we've resisted the urge to devote a full episode to the company and their blockbuster ChatGPT tool and GPT algorithms.Well folks, the time has finally come! But it might not be what you were waiting for. Instead, we're looking at claims that ChatGPT and GPT-4 might be suffering from degraded performance, at a time when OpenAI is being battered with a litany of lawsuits, and competitive LLMs are gaining steam.Is OpenAI losing its lead in the race for generative AI domination? Hear the evidence and find out what we think in today's No Brainer.What to Listen For00:00 Intro00:00 We really didn't want to talk about OpenAI, but...00:00 How OpenAI took the lead in GenAI00:00 Performance problems for ChatGPT and GPT-4?00:00 Legal woes for OpenAI32:42 Claude, LLaMa, and the new competitive landscape37:08 Is OpenAI doomed? No, but DALL-E might be00:00 Competition and the need to pick your GenAI partners wisely00:00 This episode's Brainer and No BrainerFor the full show notes, including links to the stories we discussed in today's episode, visit https://nobrainerpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The marketing conversation about AI seems to be stuck in the land of "tools and tactics." And more often than not, the tool is ChatGPT and the tactic is cranking out content. But there's so much more to generative AI. And there's an entire world of "traditional" predictive AI beyond today's generative darlings. But to get the most out of AI for your organization, you need to start thinking in terms of well-defined, strategic use cases that address real business or marketing needs -- and deliver real, measurable outcomes.In today's episode of No Brainer, Greg and Geoff get into some real talk about use cases. What are they? How are they different from mere "usage?" How do you identify the AI use cases that matter for you? And what are some examples of smart, strategic AI use cases from leading brands?What to Listen For00:00 Start03:05 Setting up today's topic: Marketing AI Use Cases04:48 There's more to AI than ChatGPT09:06 Don't let the technology tools set your AI agenda11:10 Are you stuck in a 'tactics trap'?12:17 The difference between "use" and a "use case"17:09 Strategic AI projects start with a clearly defined outcome26:33 Getting past the "play" stage29:29 Three key use case categories31:35 Using AI to solve a common sales enablement challenge37:53 Cross-functional decision-making for marketing AI technology choices42:05 Integrating AI into the tech stack, ChatSpot.ai (HubSpot) example46:39 Use Case: Cyber Inc. scales multilingual video48:35 Use Case: Volkswagen Improves Marketing Performance with Predictive AI Analytics53:44 Use Cases: Coca-Cola lands and expands through strategic AI projects59:36 Brainer and No Brainer TakeawaysVisit https://nobrainerpodcast.com/use-cases for complete show notes including links to resources and examples mentioned during this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Geoff and Greg zoom in on the rapidly evolving AI video space.The Black Mirror kicked off its sixth season with an episode called "Joan is Awful" which presented a dystopian view of a world of deep fakes, AI-generated content, and personalized entertainment taken to an extreme. Meanwhile, right here in the real world, marketers are already experimenting with the first generation of generative AI video tools. So, if you're looking to wrap your head around what's happening, how to get started, and why use cases aren't nearly as dystopian as the Black Mirror would have you believe, dive into this episode all about AI-powered video.What to Listen For00:00:00 Start00:06:24 Black Mirror, Joan Is Awful00:12:30 AI Can Be Your Video Production Co-Pilot00:15:00 Some Practical AI Video Use Cases00:17:00 Actors Licensing their Likeness and Voice to AI Companies00:20:18 Video Rules the Web, Will AI Rule Video?00:24:35 The Democratization of Video00:30:28 Coca-Cola Masterpiece and AI Video for Pros00:44:25 How We're Using Video AI at No Brainer00:49:15 A Sampling of AI-Powered Video Production Tools00:56:00 Why Every Marketer Needs to Get Hands-On00:59:04 Even More AI Video Tools01:07:53 Today's Brainer and No BrainerAs always, you can find the complete show notes, including lots of links to the stories, resources, and -- most importantly -- all the AI video tools we mention in today's episodes at https://nobrainer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know! We know! We know! You're getting tired of hearing about the existential threat of AI. We are too. But when hundreds of tech company executives and independent AI experts sign yet another open letter tying the advance of AI to the end of humanity, it's a topic too big to ignore. That's not to say we believe there's an imminent threat of mass annihilation. But we do think it's crucial for marketers to understand what's really going on with the "risk and regulation" narrative Sam Altman and others are spinning because its driving FUD, FOMO, conversation, and confusion among both companies and consumers.So, bear with us as we get all this talk of an A.I.pocalypse out of our systems -- and get into a conversation about some of the things brands can do to go from AI doom to boom.What to Listen For00:00 Start05:08 Adobe Rolls Out Firefly and It's, Eh, OK09:25 A Military AI Drone Killed Its Human Operator - Except It Didn't16:18 Tech Bros Go All-In on AI Doomerism18:18 The White House Enters the Conversation19:25 Is ChatGPT Turning Writers into Dog Walkers?25:02 Why the A.I.pocalypse and Regulation Roadshow Are Just Marketing Hype39:39 How Brands Can Survive the A.I.pocalypse Hype Cycle53:44 Brainer and No Brainer (Our Key Takeaways)Be sure to visit https://nobrainerpodcast.com/ai-pocalypse for the full show notes, including links to the articles and resources we discussed during today's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geoff Livingston and Greg Verdino are back for lucky Episode 7 -- and it's almost like two episodes in one.For today's big topic, the guys delve into some must-know essentials for marketers who want to go beyond the hype and get real about implementing artificial intelligence inside their organization. They talk about objectives and strategy, use cases and governance, human agency, and why trust sits at the center of any successful AI implementation. This alone is worth the price of admission.But there's so much happening in AI that before they even get to the main topic, Geoff and Greg sprint through Sam Altman's so-called plea for regulation, Buzzfeed's plans for content automation, the growing "content farm" crisis, DragGAN, IBM's WatsonX, ServiceNow's move to embed LLMs in the IT department, and more.So, if you're looking to get up to speed on the latest AI news, you can listen from the top. If you've heard it all and are ready to roll up your sleeves, start around the 40-minute mark. And as always, you can use the chapter markers to bounce around and find whatever you're looking for.What to Listen For00:00:00 Start00:05:29 Mr. Altman Goes to Washington00:10:35 Buzzfeed and the New Content Wild West00:17:19 NewsGuard Identifies 125+ AI-Generated "Content Farms"00:25:00 DragGAN and the Tyranny of the Perfect Picture00:31:25 Buddhists and Businesses Make Strange Bedfellows00:41:22 Enterprise AI Implementation Challenges00:46:00 IBM Puts Governance at the Center of Watsonx00:49:04 ServiceNow Introduces LLMs for IT Support00:50:50 Smart AI Solutions Start with Strategy00:52:49 Defining Use Cases: Automation and Innovation00:56:18 Getting Into Data Governance01:09:57 Trust is Central to AI Implementations01:11:58 Brainer: What's Your Use Case?01:13:21 No Brainer: Get Ready for the Crap Content TsunamiBe sure to visit https://nobrainerpodcast.com/implementing-ai for the full show notes including links to all the articles and resources mentioned in today's episode. Have a question or suggestion? Drop us a note at hello@nobrainerpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While "The Godfather of Artificial Intelligence" turned AI doomer, Geoffrey Hinton, is on the media circuit warning that some future super-intelligence may eradicate humankind, Geoff and Greg set their sights on a near-term risk that's on every marketer's mind: Is generative AI coming for our jobs?In this "ripped from the headlines" episode, Greg and Geoff consider forecasts about AI's impact on the future of work. They take a look at some of the ways AI is stripping value from companies, factoring into hiring freezes, and sending writers to the picket line. And they go deep into a debate about the ultimate effect of AI on knowledge workers in general and marketers in particular. Should you be polishing your resume or flexing your marketing muscles? It may not be so black-and-white.What to Listen For00:00:00 Intro00:02:45 Geoffrey Hinton quits Google to warn us about AI00:09:01 Rapid change and dystopian fears00:14:23 80% of jobs will be impacted by AI00:17:14 Workers 'replaceable' by generative AI00:26:40 Change demands an agile approach00:31:08 Chegg sheds market value in the face of AI00:33:41 Hollywood writers strike00:37:38 True creativity and the limits of AI art00:51:34 Outlier thinkers and creatives have an advantage in the age of AI00:55:50 Greg argues that AI will take marketing jobs (point)00:57:54 Geoff argues that the future is up to you (counterpoint)Visit https://nobrainerpodcast.com for the complete show notes, including links to the resources and articles we mention during this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices