Demand Is Outpacing Supply For Perplexity's Ad Business.
Plus: AI isn't killing agencies, bots begin buying, and artificial influencers are a hit with Gen Z.
👋 Happy Thursday AI Marketers. Perplexity dipped its toe in the ad business just 6 months ago, but marketers are already itching for more. Meanwhile, agencies are leveraging AI to win deals, despite Sam Altman’s prediction they’ll be replaced in short order. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for today’s most interesting news at the intersection of AI and marketing. Let’s get you caught up…
Perplexity Has Offered Ads for Half a Year. Marketers Already Want to Scale it.
Perplexity’s AI-powered search ads have piqued interest from brands like Whole Foods and Indeed, but limited inventory is holding back budgets. Advertisers want more than awareness plays—they’re waiting for scale, ROI proof, and broader access. With just 22 million users compared to ChatGPT’s 400 million, Perplexity’s ad ambitions are still in beta. For now, it’s a promising but cautious watchlist item for media buyers.
Q2 Brought Calm, But Not Confidence As CMOs Spend With Caution
Ad budgets aren’t shrinking, but they’re on a tighter leash. CMOs are shortening planning cycles, shifting dollars to flexible channels like social, and bracing for tariff shocks. Some sectors, like retail and CPG, are holding steady, while others are pausing or trimming. The vibe? Spend smart, stay nimble, and keep one hand on the brake.
Sam Altman Said AI Would Replace 95% Of Ad Agency Work. 3 Top Creative Directors Say AI Has Won Them Lucrative Business.
AI isn’t killing agencies, it’s helping them pitch faster, cheaper, and smarter. BBDO, BETC, and TBWA are using tools like Midjourney and AI voiceovers to win big accounts and compress timelines. The catch? Junior talent pipelines are thinning, and billing models are shifting. Still, for agencies willing to adapt, AI is more rocket fuel than wrecking ball.
Most SEOs Are Scared About Google AI Mode
Google’s AI Mode is live, and SEOs are sweating. A poll shows nearly half are “scared out of their minds” about AI summaries replacing traditional search results. With fewer clicks and limited tracking, the old playbook is crumbling. If your traffic depends on Google, it’s time to rethink what visibility means.
Brands Need To Stand Out As Bots Begin Buying
AI agents are starting to shop for us, and they don’t care about your brand story. Bots prioritize specs, structured data, and clean markup over emotional appeal. If your product info isn’t machine-readable and optimized for AI parsing, you may never make the shortlist. It’s a new kind of SEO. Less storytelling, more schema.
5 Ways To Make Your ChatGPT-Generated Content Undetectable
Want your AI-written content to pass as human? This guide walks through techniques like prompt engineering, tone variation, and strategic editing to avoid detection. It’s a must-read for content marketers navigating the fine line between efficiency and authenticity.
AI Influencers Are Shaping Gen Z’s Shopping Habits
AI-generated influencers, curated to perfection, are officially influencing buying decisions with younger audiences. According to Sprout Social’s 2024 Influencer Marketing Report, only 35% of Gen Z respondents said they valued an influencer’s authenticity. Take that, humans.
AI Shopping Race Means a New Talent War Is Brewing
AI is ready to disrupt the $1.2 trillion U.S. e-commerce industry. And ad giants, retailers and payment companies are bringing in reinforcements. The Information tracked 14 executives leading key products and partnerships at the center of an AI-driven shift in how people shop for and buy goods.
🎙️ The latest podcast episodes for AI-first marketers. Hand-picked every day.
The Media Revolution Has Arrived. Are You Prepared for the Next Wave?
Jack Myers joins CMO Confidential to outline how generative AI is reshaping media, urging leaders to adapt to new models of creativity, workforce integration, and organizational structure.
AI on the Org Chart
Geoff Livingston and Greg Verdino dissect AI's impact on employment, exploring economic pressures, leadership adaptation, and the necessity of reimagining work structures.
No Brainer - An AI Podcast for Business
Voice Mode, AI in Jobs, and Reed Hastings' Role in Anthropic
This episode covers Claude's new Voice Mode, Dario Amodei’s insights on AI and employment, and Reed Hastings joining Anthropic's board to guide ethical AI development.
WordPress Forms an AI Team, YouTube Passes Disney & Netflix
WordPress introduces a dedicated AI team to enhance content creation and improve website management through generative AI. And, YouTube has surpassed Disney and Netflix in US TV viewership.
Google Veo 3: Is AI Video Finally Good Enough?
Google's Veo 3 generates realistic 8-second videos with audio from text prompts, impressing with cinematic quality but facing challenges in complex scene generation and user interface.
Have a favorite podcast we should be following? Shoot me the details!
📅 AI marketers are gathering across the country and around the world for conferences, summits, and industry events. Here’s where to join them.
ANA Masters of B2B Marketing Conference
Naples, FL, June 2–4
Marketing Analytics Summit
Phoenix, AZ, June 2–5
Digital Summit Denver
Denver, CO, June 2–3
Techspo Kansas City
Kansas City, MO, June 2–3
DigiMarCon Kansas City
Kansas City, MO, June 2–3
Gartner Marketing Symposium/Xpo
Denver, CO, June 2–4
Email Innovations World
Phoenix, AZ, June 3–4
Machine Learning Week
Phoenix, AZ, June 3–4
AI & Big Data Expo
Santa Clara, CA, June 4–5
Product Marketing Summit
Atlanta, GA, June 4–5
Savant eCommerce NYC
New York City, NY, June 4
DigiMarCon Dallas
Dallas, TX, June 5–6
Have an event we should list? Shoot me the details!
🚨 AI-forward companies are looking for AI-forward marketers! Here are a few opportunities worth checking out today.
Senior AI Product Marketing Manager
Oracle
Lead go-to-market strategy for NetSuite’s AI offerings, crafting messaging that resonates with sales teams, customers, and prospects. Ideal for marketers with a strong grasp of cloud-based AI tools and enterprise software.
Details →
Senior Manager, GenAI Marketing Product Management
American Express
Drive GenAI initiatives to streamline marketing workflows, focusing on creative development and brand compliance. Perfect for those skilled in aligning user needs with technical solutions.
Details →
Head of Marketing
CozmoX AI (YC W22)
Shape the brand narrative for voice-native AI enterprise workflows, leading bold campaigns that define a new category. Seeking a creative leader ready to make a significant impact.
Details →
Marketing Director
AI Collaborator, Inc.
Spearhead growth marketing strategies for an AI-native company, enhancing brand awareness and driving B2B customer engagement. Ideal for storytellers with a knack for simplifying complex concepts.
Details →
Marketing Lead, AI Startup
Fastino
As the first marketing hire, build and scale Fastino’s marketing function, driving awareness and growth through digital channels and events. A unique opportunity to define the voice of a cutting-edge AI company.
Details →