What a delight it was to join Nitzan Kravitz on the Mayple podcast, Host the Pro. Mayple’s vision resonates with me - they're crafting a future where distributed work reigns supreme. A world where every business can swiftly assemble the talent they need, ensuring no company fades into the shadows. It's music to my ears.
To put it simply, they are an online marketing talent hub, and their BIG IDEAS align closely with my own, especially those I discussed in my new book, INTELLIGENCE — The Fifth Industrial Revolution.
For instance, they believe, “Traditional marketing services are archaic,” which echoes my own sentiment and prompted me to launch the AI Marketing course. They're confident that freelancing is the future of work — a topic I cover extensively in my book and frequently discuss as a keynote speaker. They also understand that talent evaluation has become more challenging than ever. That’s why I invested in Your FLOCK, a platform that aids leaders in making value-based hiring decisions. But why would they invite me (Dan Sodergren) to their Host the Pro podcast?
Isn’t the show all about marketing?
In fact, one of the final modules of the AI Marketing course delves deep into AI marketing and influencer marketing, emphasizing the potential of creating digital clones and brand personalities for our marketing initiatives. The AI Marketing Course, launched half a year ago, has seen a surge in AI influencers. This phenomenon has led to my appearance on BBC Radio to discuss their emergence…
It's an exciting era.
AI influencers… the future?
Influencer marketing has evolved into a potent tool for brands to engage with their target audiences. But what if I told you the influencers of tomorrow might not be humans at all? Yes, the dawn of AI influencers is here.
It might be a tad eerie for digital dinosaurs like me, but the reality is, these AI influencers are here to stay. Be on the lookout for them in your favourite car ads and brand campaigns. The boundary between real and AI is becoming increasingly blurred, showing the impressive influence these virtual personalities can exert.
The Ascent of AI Influencers and the Future of Video and AI
Video content has been trending in recent years, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts reigning supreme. But what can we anticipate in 2024? In my opinion, video will continue to be a major trend, but with an AI twist. Artificial intelligence is set to play a pivotal role in shaping video content's future.
Armed with AI, creators will be able to generate professional-quality videos with ease and speed. This suggests an imminent deluge of video content flooding our screens. Brace yourself for the wonders AI can create!
On the AI Marketing Course, we discuss a variety of AI-based video platforms, including InVideo and Opus Pro.
The Influence of AI and Technology on Marketing
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology are revolutionising work and marketing is not exempted. It's both intriguing and mildly terrifying to consider how these advancements will alter our jobs and marketing's future. One significant change we can foresee is the automation of social media content creation. Picture this: a world where your tweets, social media posts, and even podcasts are machine-generated. It might seem straight out of a sci-fi flick, but it's closer to reality than you'd think. In fact, it's what we teach at The AI Marketing Course.
Today, we can take this a notch higher and create complete personas using our own images and voice clones. Or create virtually anyone doing almost anything… This can be incredibly exciting for marketers, as it uncovers new opportunities for efficiency and reach. However, it also raises ethical questions about authenticity and the human touch in marketing especially for those who make money from their personal brand and image. However, people like AI influencers…
But it’s not just about the people you’d instantly think of…
What's more, AI influencers are exceptionally effective at generating income and leads… And they have been for several months, as seen in this thought piece published before the AI Marketing Course launch…
Returning to the future of marketing, video has been a marketing staple for years and with AI advancements, its impact is only expected to amplify. The intriguing part will be the ability to create videos without requiring human actors or even the product being present.
As always, this is both thrilling and unsettling. I’ve always been a staunch advocate for video's potential and its power to communicate messages effectively. And now, with AI technology, we can even create training videos without the need for a human present.
This is a tad frightening for someone who makes a living training people in person.
While it might seem bewildering, it also underscores the power of AI in democratising marketing. It no longer matters if you have years of experience or extensive marketing knowledge. With AI, anyone can become a data scientist and create effective marketing strategies, which is what we teach at the AI Marketing Course. However, it’s crucial to remember that AI still requires a human touch to truly excel, and marketers will continue to play a vital role in crafting successful campaigns.
However, AI influencers are raking in millions of dollars… And with increasingly sophisticated AI, featuring enhanced emotional capabilities and predictive analysis — who knows what the future holds?
In the rapidly evolving landscape of work, the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) has taken centre stage. That’s why I, like many other experts, believe that we are in the midst of The Fifth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 5.0.
A Time of INTELLIGENCE — the title of my new book…
This revolution is all about harnessing intelligence to drive productivity and innovation. Within this revolution, AI is expected to play a significant role alongside emotional intelligence.
AI influencers are the convergence of both these facts…
The future of work will undoubtedly be influenced by artificial intelligence… But we will also need emotional, independent and organisational intelligence as well.
In the corporate world, the integration of AI is expected to bring about both positive and negative changes. On the positive side, AI will make processes more efficient, leading to increased productivity. Studies have shown that even the smallest implementation of AI can result in a 40% improvement in job performance, with some industries seeing up to a 400% increase. This implies that employees will be able to focus more on meaningful marketing strategies and contribute more value to their organisations.
The Evolution of Freelancers and the Gig Economy.
For freelancers and those in the gig economy, the rise of AI presents both challenges and opportunities. On one hand, there may be concerns about job security as AI becomes capable of producing a large volume of content, such as blogs, at a much faster rate. However, this also opens up avenues for freelancers to expand their areas of expertise. By leveraging AI and technology, freelancers can access a wider range of tools and resources, allowing them to take on more work and deliver higher quality results.
The future of work in the age of AI is a complex and multifaceted topic. While machines and AI will undoubtedly play a crucial role in driving productivity and efficiency, it is the uniquely human qualities of adaptability, creativity, and dynamic thinking that will become even more valuable. Both in corporate roles and in the world of freelancers, the integration of AI opens up new possibilities for growth and success. Embracing these changes and finding ways to work alongside AI will be essential for staying ahead in this rapidly evolving landscape.
And yes, that includes creating — or becoming friends with AI Influencers…
References for the piece:
AI influencers and the ability to use them for your own for marketing is something we talk about in Module 6 of the AI Marketing Course.
About The Author
Keynote speaker, professional speaker, Ted X talker, serial tech startup founder, ex marketing agency owner, digital trainer, and now media spokesperson Dan Sodergren’s main area of interest is the future of work, technology, AI and data. And those tech startups helping the world become a better place to live and work.
He was co-founder of www.YourFLOCK.co.uk — the employee feedback platform using machine learning and has just started www.aimarketingcourse.co.uk using artificial intelligence.
In his spare time, as well as being a dad, Dan is a digital marketing and technology expert for TV shows and the BBC. Occasionally donning the cape of consumer champion on shows like BBC WatchDog, the One Show and RipOffBritain and being a marketing tech specialist for SuperShoppers and RealFakeAndUnknown and BBC Breakfast.
He is also a host and guest on podcasts and webinars speaking as a tech futurist. As well as being a guest on countless radio shows. And a remote reporter / content creator for tech companies at tech events and shows.
His main interest is in the future. Be that the future of marketing, or the future or work or how technology will change the world for the better under the #Tech4Good and #Tech4All movement.
Find out more about him over on bit.ly/DanSodergren
And his new book.
And he is very much real…. For now…
