Did Cloudflare Just Save the Internet?

Plus: Figma's big AI bet, the future of loyalty programs, and your AEO readiness quiz.

Jul 03, 2025

👋 Happy Thursday AI Marketers. Content delivery services like Cloudflare are the gatekeepers that could keep AI from ruining the internet. Also, Figma’s much anticipated IPO is fueled by major investment in AI. And HeyGen just made video campaigns (and slop) a lot easier. Let’s get you caught up…

Cloudflare’s Bold Move to Block AI Scrapers Might Just Save the Internet

Cloudflare, which handles content delivery and security for roughly 20% of all internet traffic, just made a move that could shape the future of the web. From now on, they’ll automatically stop AI companies from freely scraping websites without explicit permission.

Why’s this such a big deal? Because the more AI companies grab online content without paying or even asking, the less incentive brands and creators have to publish original material. Cloudflare’s CEO calls this an existential threat to the web itself. This first-of-its-kind action sets a major precedent, giving creators and publishers more control and maybe even preserving the future of online content.

New York Times →

Figma’s IPO Signals Big AI Plans

Figma, the collaborative design platform, is heading for an IPO after its $20 billion Adobe deal fell apart due to regulatory hurdles. Its filing reveals rapid revenue growth and ambitious plans to deepen investments in AI-driven design and marketing tools. With strong momentum behind it and AI at the center of its strategy, Figma is positioning itself as a creative powerhouse for the AI era.

The Verge →

The Biggest Misconceptions About AI Content Scraping

AI is giving brands heartburn. It trains on your proprietary content. It snatches your articles to intercept would-be visitors in AI search results. But all data scraping isn’t the same. Digiday explains the critical differences between one-time AI training scrapes and continuous, real-time "RAG" scrapes.

Digiday →

Will AI Completely Rewire Loyalty Programs?

AI is upgrading loyalty programs from simple segmentation to targeting with surgical precision. Instead of generic offers based on groups, brands like Starbucks now use AI to craft hyper-specific, real-time incentives based on customer behavior, not just on what the brand wants to push.

Marketing Dive →

Is Your Brand Ready for AEO? Take This Quiz to Find Out

Is your brand primed for visibility in AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google’s AI Overviews? This short quiz helps you pinpoint exactly where your AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) game stands, highlighting gaps you might not even know exist. If your SEO team isn't already thinking AEO, now’s a great time to start.

Ad Age →

🎥 I sifted through a billion YouTube videos. Here’s one for you:

HeyGen just launched AGENT, an AI-powered system turning raw ideas into fully produced video campaigns in minutes. Another leap forward, or another floodgate for AI slop? I’m impressed and fearful at the same time. Maybe less friction means more creativity, or maybe brands get lazier. Either way, it’s a clear peek into the future.

🎙️ My top 3 podcast episodes this week:

A16Z PODCAST

Marc Andreessen on Startup Timing

Marc Andreessen and Jonathan Lai argue the next four years mark a rare window for builders to launch startups. They examine timing, platform shifts, lessons from Steve Jobs and why AI’s rise makes now the pivotal moment to act.
Listen →

BIG TECHNOLOGY PODCAST

Is AI Really Taking Our Jobs?

Noah Smith joins Alex to challenge the myth of mass AI unemployment, arguing that generative AI boosts productivity rather than replaces workers. He warns businesses to reorganize before earnings improvements appear and to avoid assuming an AI jobs apocalypse.
Listen →

THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SHOW

Anthropic Wins Key Copyright Lawsuit & More

Mike and Paul dissect Anthropic’s fair use victory after a judge ruled training Claude on purchased books qualifies as transformative. They also explore the surge in AI-generated resumes disrupting recruitment and what this means for hiring trends.
Listen →

Have a favorite podcast to recommend? Shoot me the details.

🚨 AI-forward companies are looking for AI-forward marketers:

Director, Product Marketing, GenAI Brand Solution
Adobe
Lead go-to-market strategy and launches for Adobe's generative AI solution, helping brands automate personalized customer interactions at scale.
Details →

AI Program Manager, Marketing Strategy & Operations
Stripe
Build and roll out AI agents and automation to streamline campaign reviews, content personalization, email and ad optimization across global GTM workflows.
Details →

AI Marketing Guru
Curbio
Leverage AI across email, social, and content channels to generate 100% of estimate requests for a fast-growing home staging and renovation company.
Details →

Marketing Manager
Task Force Tips
Lead digital and traditional marketing with AI tools for personalization, predictive analytics and campaign automation while supporting sales and e‑commerce growth.
Details →

Product Marketing Manager
Prescient AI
Drive GTM strategy for an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform that blends statistical rigor with market mix modeling (MMM).
Details →