As I put the finishing touches on my presentation for the Marketing AI Institute’s Marketing AI Conference (MAICON) in Cleveland next week, it’s hard to describe how much I’m looking forward to this event.

While I’m eager for the keynotes, breakout sessions, and AI demos, what excites me most is finally meeting so many from this incredible AI community in person.

Over the past year, we’ve shared ideas, solved problems, and supported each other online. We’ve built connections across industries and countries. Now, we’ll have the chance to have real conversations face-to-face, beyond Slack, LinkedIn, Zoom, and email.

It’s funny that at an AI conference, what I’m most excited about is the human connection. I call it the “Digital Hunger Paradox”: the more we engage online, the more we crave in-person interactions. Humans are meant to connect.

MAICON is about more than just learning AI; it’s about bringing together a community that’s been mostly digital. Those usernames and profile photos will come to life during meetups, breaks, meals, and happy hours!

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Cleveland—especially those I haven’t met in person yet: Andy Crestodina, Jim Sterne, Itir Eraslan, Karl Yeh, Sandy Carter, Tim Hayden, Jessica Hreha, Katie Robbert, Tamra Moroski, David Pittman, Jillyn Johnson, Aby Varma, Dale Bertrand, Pam Boiros, Isar Meitis, Tracy Lewis, Anne Gotay, Tessa Burg, Jennifer Jones, Gwyn C., Lauren Morgenstein Schiavone, and so many more.

I don’t know who all will be there. If you’re going, let me know so I can look for you or look for me. 😊

For more information about MAICON, see link in the comments.

#MAICON2024 #AICommunity #HumanConnection #AI GrowthPath Partners

I’m looking forward to an insightful conversation with Sean Whiteley, CEO of Qualified, at Piperfest on September 10.

We’ll explore how AI can be leveraged not just for improving productivity, but also for making better strategic decisions, achieving higher quality work, and driving innovation while preserving core human values.

In this AI era, marketers are uniquely positioned to make a significant impact on business growth. The key is to think big, start now, and move forward responsibly.

Learn more about Piperfest at https://bit.ly/4csLCsq.

AI is going mainstream. On September 12, Oprah Winfrey is talking with Sam Altman, Bill Gates, and other AI leaders on her ABC special called “AI and the Future of Us.”

Now lots of different people can learn about AI on TV like the person mowing the park across the street, the nanny pushing a stroller and walking a dog, my kids in school, and my brother in the Philippines.

Understanding AI is really important. It’s arguably going to change how we work and live in big ways.

No matter how we feel about AI, knowing more about it helps us make better choices for ourselves, our families, our careers, our businesses, and society. If we don’t understand it, other people might make decisions for us, and they might not care about the same things we do.

I think this show is a must-watch. I thought it was a big deal when the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked about AI on the Hard Fork podcast. But Oprah discussing AI along with AI experts is next level awareness and visibility. I’m eager to hear what they’ll tell everyone about AI.

But we also need to be realistic: I don’t believe any 1-hr special on AI will answer everyone’s questions. What I like about this is that it will create awareness and elevate the conversation across a much broader and diverse audience.

I would love critics and people with different perspectives to voice their opinions. I would love people of all walks of life, races, cultures, genders, ages, etc to weigh in. It’s important in helping ensure that AI benefits all of humanity and not just a select few.

Are you planning to watch (live or recorded)? Let’s think twice before we say no.

UPDATE: Here’s my take after I saw the special, https://lnkd.in/gSZaDUgn

#MainstreamAI #AI #OpenAI #OprahWinfrey #Microsoft GrowthPath Partners

Mohammed Qahtani, the 2015 world champion of public speaking who overcame stuttering, gave a famous speech called “The Power of Words” (see link in comments). It got me thinking about AI.

I noted some parallels below:

• Making things up confidently – Qahtani said, “The leading cause of lung cancer is not actually a cigarette. It’s your DNA.” He made it up, but his friends believed him. AI can also sound very sure when hallucinating.

• Positivity bias – Qahtani showed how positive words change behavior: “Sweetie, come here. Don’t do that, you’re a big boy now”. AI often tries to be nice and encouraging, which can be powerful but might not always reflect reality or be critical enough.

• Trusting without questioning – Qahtani warned, “If you’re someone who is looked up to, who is admired, anything you say… can be considered as truth”. Many people treat AI the same way, believing what it says without checking.

• Making it personal – Qahtani shared how his friend’s life changed after his father said, “You’re a loser”. AI adapts its responses to each user, which could deeply affect people.

• Two sides of the coin – Qahtani ended by saying, “Your mouth can spit venom or it can mend a broken soul”. AI can also spread harmful misinformation or give helpful insights.

As AI becomes more common, we need to think carefully about what it tells us, just like we do with people. With great power comes great responsibility. How can we use AI safely? What are some rules that you’ve put in place?

For your reference, here are 10 ways to doublecheck AI’s work: https://lnkd.in/gMN2Em_G

#AI #CriticalThinking #PoweOfWords #AIEthics #AIHallucinations GrowthPath Partners

Know Labor Day trivia? Take this AI-generated quiz (link in the comments). It’s trickier than you’d think!

I used Claude, Anthropic’s AI assistant, to create an interactive 5-question quiz that mixes Labor Day history with AI’s impact on work.

• Test your knowledge on labor’s past and AI’s future

• Learn surprising facts about work in the AI era

• See if you can outsmart an AI-crafted quiz

Enjoy your well-deserved break, and to all my American and Canadian friends, Happy Labor Day!

#LaborDay2024 #FutureOfWork #Claude #ClaudeArtifacts GrowthPath Partners