Marketers: Embrace AI or Fall Behind

In marketing today, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s an integral part of the toolkit that marketers must master to stay competitive. From content creation to customer segmentation, AI is driving a wave of transformation in how brands engage with their audiences, but many marketers have yet to fully tap into its potential.

The slow pace of adoption still leaves time to learn how you can apply AI to solve marketing challenges. Melinda Byerley, CEO of Fiddlehead Marketing describes this window of opportunity. “Most companies are still using AI to improve efficiency by about 10-20%, and they’re missing out on a lot of its potential,” she explains. Marketers who hold back usually do so based on brand protection and privacy concerns, which is fine unless your competition is outpacing you.

AI can already help transform routine marketing tasks—like editing, research, and data analysis—into streamlined processes that free up time for creativity and strategy. Byerley has seen these benefits in her own business, where AI allows her to generate client proposals in 90 minutes instead of days. “The proposals are better, more tightly scoped, and I close faster,” she says. This kind of efficiency is essential in a market where speed and precision are increasingly critical.

One of the clearest ways AI is making a difference is in its ability to personalize marketing efforts at scale. Kimberly Bryant, Founder of Ascend Ventures and the Black Innovation Lab, emphasizes that AI is being used not only to increase efficiency but also to enhance equity. AI tools allow her team to engage with underrepresented communities in a more meaningful way. “We’re using AI to personalize outreach and understand the needs of diverse groups,” she explains. This trend toward personalized, inclusive marketing is becoming more pronounced as brands realize the power of AI to foster deeper connections with overlooked audiences.

In retail, AI is also playing a pivotal role in optimizing customer experiences. Anya Cheng, CEO of Taelor.ai, an AI-styled fashion clothing rental startup, Taelor.ai, explains that AI is helping brands predict consumer behavior more accurately, allowing them to create more personalized shopping experiences while reducing environmental impact. “AI helps us predict what customers want, which enables us to reduce waste and offer more sustainable shopping options,” Cheng says. This trend toward sustainability, powered by AI, is only expected to grow as consumers demand more eco-friendly business practices.

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While AI can handle data-driven tasks, the creative and strategic aspects of marketing still require a human touch. AI, as Byerley puts it, is not replacing marketers—it’s making them better at what they do by handling the drudgery of data processing, allowing them to focus on more important tasks. “AI should be seen as an enabler that amplifies our abilities,” agrees Natalie Lambert, Founder of GenEdge Consulting. Marketers who embrace AI’s potential now will find themselves at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry.

As AI becomes more embedded in the tools marketers use every day, those who hesitate to adopt it may quickly find themselves left behind. The message is clear: AI is here, and it’s changing the marketing landscape. To stay relevant, marketers need to understand its capabilities and start experimenting with the technology now.

Get your tickets to our Humans in the Loop panel on October 22, 6-9 PM PDT at Reddit HQ to learn how AI is transforming marketing and what marketers need to know to stay ahead.

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About The Author

Peter leads marketing and growth for Silicon Valley startups. His work has contributed to acquisitions including Flurry (Yahoo), Acompli (Microsoft), and Digital Chocolate (Ubisoft). He is the VP of Marketing at RunLLM, which created the world’s first AI Support Engineer. Founded by professors and PhDs from UC Berkeley, RunLLM is funded by Redpoint Ventures.

Peter has managed top brands such as The Sims at Electronic Arts and held executive leadership roles at Yahoo, including leading growth and monetization for all Yahoo Media properties and as GM of Flurry Analytics, where he helped increase revenue from $300 million to $500 million.

Peter holds a BS in Marketing and Finance from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.