The big blue arrow in the image is showing us a massive leap. It’s a leap in how we think about and use AI.

On the left, we have ChatGPT answering basic prompts like “Explain superconductors” or “Pick an outfit to look good on camera.” It’s easy to see AI as just a tool to answer questions or solve simple problems.

But the right side shows AI’s real potential in developing our AI search strategy to helping us optimize upsell and cross-sell campaigns.

That leap from AI as a fancy search engine to AI as a business partner isn’t just about learning new tech. It’s a mindset and behavioral shift. It’s about integrating it into how we work, think, and grow. It’s making AI part of our process, not just a tool.

It’s not always easy. When we don’t get the results we want from AI or the learning curve feels steep, it’s tempting to give up. But that’s exactly when we need to keep going. We can’t give up on shaping the future we want with AI.

If it feels overwhelming, that’s normal. This is uncharted territory for all of us. The AI we’re using today is the least capable it will ever be. It’s only going to get more powerful, and your efforts now will pay off in the long run.

Where are you on your AI journey? No matter where you are, give yourself grace, ask for help, and let’s learn together.

#AILiteracy #ChangeManagement #BehaviorShift #ContinuousLearning #AIinMarketing GrowthPath Partners

Sales Enablement: Two AIs Role-Playing, One Human Guiding

We just explored an innovative approach to sales enablement using two AI assistants (ChatGPT and Claude) role playing customer-salesperson interactions, with human guidance throughout. While promising, this method is still in early testing phases.

Here are some of the potential benefits:

• ► Assists in sharpening objection handling for various scenarios (e.g., skeptical prospects, a dissatisfied trial user, and a prospect considering a specific competitor)

• ► Helps with refining messaging and value propositions

• ► Supports sales training and onboarding

• ► Identifies new insights from AI conversations

You can feed AI with customer reviews, call transcripts, case studies, go-to-market strategies, and messaging and persona docs. Always protect customer privacy by redacting or anonymizing sensitive data.

The diagram below shows an overview of the process, with ChatGPT as the customer and Claude as the sales rep, including the crucial step where both AIs provide analysis and recommendations.

It’s important to recognize AI’s limitations. AI can’t fully replicate human nuance in sales interactions. Ethical use is important. We must guard against biases and be transparent about AI’s role.

We’re now working on a Sales Conversation Evaluator custom GPT. This AI tool will analyze call transcripts and provide feedback to sales reps, further enhancing our training capabilities.

What are your thoughts on this AI teamwork approach for sales enablement? If you’ve used AI for the same or similar use case, I’d love to hear about your experience and key learnings. How else might you apply this collaborative AI method to enhance your sales and marketing strategies?

#SalesEnablement #SalesTraining #AIinSales #HumanAICollaboration #ChatGPT #Claude GrowthPath Partners Tahnee Perry Daniel O’Neill

Last week at #MAICON2024 (Marketing AI Conference), I led a session on “Practical Use Cases for Insight-Driven Content, Ideation, Analytics, and Personalization”. I was energized by a packed ballroom with a mix of familiar faces and new connections.

Many were folks I’ve learned from, chatted with on podcasts, and swapped ideas with online. Others were newcomers, bringing fresh perspectives.

It hit me how far we’ve all come in this AI journey together, and how my career path has influenced my approach.

Early in life, I realized I’m a slow reader and it took deep concentration to understand what I read. But as an engineer turned B2B marketing exec many years ago, I learned to solve problems by leveraging my strengths. I figured out that I learn best by listening, talking things through, and writing down my thoughts.

• I absorb info through listening and discussing, whether it’s podcasts, Youtube videos, or collaborative chats (with humans and AI).

• I process and share ideas through writing and speaking, from online posts and articles, to interactive workshops and conferences.

• I visualize concepts by drawing frameworks, breaking down big problems into bite-sized chucks, helping me (and others) grasp the bigger picture.

Reading is often my last resort, but now AI can summarize and read reports out loud to me. (Yes!)

At MAICON, I did all that in covering three strategic marketing AI applications:

• Choosing top target segments and aligning teams, https://lnkd.in/gv74JHvb

• Making your brand relevant in AI search, https://lnkd.in/gAAT3ZMf

• Ideating for compelling content topics with confidence, https://lnkd.in/gA-8F-Tq and https://lnkd.in/gkzwy_un

For each use case, I provided specific AI prompts, conversations, and outputs. I also discussed a practical three-step approach to drive AI adoption, https://lnkd.in/geh5PinH

These insights come from my experience working alongside marketing teams, executives, and the collective wisdom of AI-forward strategists and practitioners like Andy Crestodina, Christopher Penn, Tahnee Perry, Paul Roetzer, Isar Meitis, Rachel Woods, Jim Sterne, Jessica Hreha, Jason Cormier, Gary Survis, Saima Rashid, and many others who’ve inspired me along the way.

To those who attended, thank you for your enthusiasm and feedback. If you missed it, the Marketing AI Institute is offering access to session decks and select recordings.

By the way, many say Paul Roetzer is taller than he sounds, while I’m apparently smaller! I guess in AI marketing, expertise comes in different packages. 😉

How have you adapted to the AI era in your own work? How are you applying your unique background in AI marketing?

#AIMarketing #MarketingInnovation #AppliedAI #AIUseCases #ResponsibleAI GrowthPath Partners

MAICON to Mainstream: Oprah Grills Sam Altman on AI’s Future

Yesterday was a whirlwind of a day in AI! It started with an amazing panel at #MAICON2024 moderated by Paul Roetzer, where Adam Brotman (former Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks) and Andy Sack (former advisor to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella) shared insights from their book “AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand”

These tech veterans interviewed AI leaders like Sam Altman, Bill Gates, Reid Hoffman, and Mustafa Suleyman, giving us a glimpse into the future of AI. Then, on my flight back to Denver, I watched Oprah’s “AI and the Future of Us” special featuring Sam, Bill, and more.

As if that wasn’t enough, OpenAI launched yesterday their new o1 series of “reasoning” models, yet another leap in AI. (+ Apple iPhone AI feature announcements earlier this week)

Talk about bookends – and milestones! In just one year, the contrast is striking:

Adam and Andy described their interviews as “Oh $hit moments” from last year:

• Sam Altman focusing on AGI, predicting 95% of marketing tasks handled by AI
• Bill Gates being impressed when ChatGPT passed a biology AP exam (here’s a video clip: https://lnkd.in/gWQxW3V3)
• Reid Hoffman envisioning AI co-pilots for every human
• Mustafa Suleyman warning about the rise of virtual influencers

Now, AI is going mainstream, and Oprah didn’t pull any punches. She challenged Sam Altman with pointed questions:

• “The industry is dominated by a lot of people who look like you, male and white, and very few who look like me. Are there any thoughts on how to address that?”
• “If you were in charge of regulations, what kinds of regulations should be put in place?”
• “Your own board said ‘we don’t trust you’ and you got yourself another board. How do we know we can trust you?”
• “I saw a headline that you were the most powerful and dangerous man on the planet. And I’m wondering how that sits with you?”

While a 1-hour TV special can’t cover everything, it sparks curiosity and invites diverse voices to the table. It almost doesn’t matter what the responses were – what matters is that now, people from all walks of life are part of this crucial conversation.

Oprah’s closing words stuck with me:

AI is still beyond our control and understanding, but it is here. We’re going to live with a tech that can be our ally as well as our rival. It is something that no other generation has ever experienced

This moment requires a different level of alertness, awareness about who we are and where we’re going. What’s AI and what’s human wisdom, authentic intelligence earned through study and experience

We are this planet’s most adaptable creatures. We will adapt again. But keep your eyes on what’s real. The stakes for all of us could not be higher.

Our AI understanding and voices matter in steering AI towards a future that benefits all. Your thoughts?

More to come on insights and learnings from MAICON!

#AI #FutureOfWork #ResponsibleAI #Humanity