Will Ads Ruin AI? We’re About to Find Out.

Plus: Google Drive's brilliant video update, Meta's new ad machine, and why everybody suddenly hates AI.

Jun 03, 2025

👋 Happy Tuesday AI Marketers. Last week’s AI headlines sure had the airwaves buzzing. Predictions of massive job loss, a new Claude model that blackmails users, and endless chatter on the heels of the Sam Altman-Jony Ive bromance video announcing OpenAI’s forthcoming mystery gadget. Whew. This week, there’ll be a new wave of distractions. That’s why I’m here. Picking through the noise for the stories that matter to marketers. And tossing out the rest. Let’s get you caught up…

Will Ads Ruin AI? We’re About to Find Out.

This week's top read is a guest article on Big Technology by seasoned ad exec Joe Marchese. He argues that ads may be on their way to ChatGPT and other popular LLMs, but brands should contain their excitement. Why?

Targeting consumers as LLMs compile mountains of personal data during conversational chats is a dicey proposition. It’s not the same thing as ad targeting in the good old days of Google search.

The more consumers divulge to AI assistants, the easier it will be for sponsored results to subtly influence their behavior. And therein lies the problem. Will AI-driven ads be strictly labelled? Or will they be discretely woven into chats? Will users embrace them as useful personalization, or see them as manipulative intrusions?

Imagine casually asking your AI for dinner options, only to receive suggestions nudged by ad budgets rather than your tastes. AI ads won't just put consumer trust at risk, they could dramatically reshape commerce and product discovery. Whatever happens next, marketers need to be paying close attention.

Big Technology →

How Agentic AI is Supercharging Innovation and Marketing

Finally, a practical look at what agentic AI actually is, and how it’s delivering value to brands. Purpose-built agents are starting to replace generalized AI in enterprises as specialized, focused tools. Learn how marketing and product teams are benefitting from these AI agents, and how structured data allows teams to move from guesswork and gut instinct to genuinely data-driven insights.

Forbes →

Marketers Rejoice as AI-Powered Video Insights Are Coming to Google Drive.

If you've ever spent hours searching through long video recordings for that one important clip (and I definitely have), Google's latest Gemini AI update is great news. Soon you'll be able to skip playback entirely, as Drive automatically delivers concise summaries, key highlights, and even exact quotes. This is a major relief for marketers repurposing recordings of webinars, SME interviews, podcasts, and other video content. Rolling out now.

Tech Republic →

Meta Wants Brands to Create Ads Entirely with AI by End of 2026

Meta’s latest announcement hints at an enormous shift in how digital ads will get created. By 2026, the plan is for its AI tools to generate entire ad campaigns from a single image and budget. While appealing, especially for smaller teams, it raises big questions around creativity and authenticity. Will you be first in line to hand the keys over to Meta’s ad machine?

Adweek →

If AI Doesn’t Know Your Product, It’s Invisible

Whether traditional search is dead or not, one thing is clear: Brands need to start optimizing content for LLMs. And product details should be at the top of the list. Here’s some straightforward advice on structuring and feeding that product data to AI systems, ensuring your offerings are accurately represented and highly visible.

The Drum →

🎥 I sifted through a billion YouTube videos this week! This one is for you:

Everyone’s talking about the bloodbath headed for entry level white collar jobs. But as Hard Fork co-host Casey Newton eloquently reminds us about AI: “These things still suck in super important ways.” Fake legal citations are on the rise, major publications are printing false information, and marketers… are they even fact checking at all? This clip from the latest episode does a great job of poking at both sides of an issue that isn’t going away as fast as it might seem.

🎙️ My top 3 podcast picks:

Why Everybody Suddenly Hates AI

Dan Sanchez and his brother Travis explore the growing backlash against AI, examining fears from developers, creatives, and everyday users. They discuss job displacement, environmental concerns, and media narratives while offering strategies for marketers to remain hopeful and human-centered.

AI-Driven Marketer →

Mass AI-Driven Unemployment, NVIDIA Surges, CEOs' AI Avatars Unleashed

Alex Kantrowitz and Ranjan Roy discuss Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's prediction that AI could eliminate 50% of entry-level jobs. They also cover NVIDIA's growth, CEOs using AI avatars on earnings calls, and the broader implications of AI on employment and corporate communication.

Big Technology Podcast →

Can a redesign save Apple's software?

Nilay Patel and David Pierce analyze Apple's anticipated software redesigns ahead of WWDC, questioning whether aesthetic changes can address deeper issues (I’m not holding my breath). They also discuss AI's influence on web development, Google's AI initiatives, and other tech industry updates.

The Vergecast →

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

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

Lead Analyst, Marketing AI & Automation
Hard Rock Digital
Bridge marketing and data science to develop AI-driven tools like ROAS models and bid engines. You'll ensure these solutions address real business needs and are effectively adopted by marketing teams.
Details →

Product Marketing Manager, AI
Xero
Own the AI narrative, leading thought leadership and go-to-market plans that showcase how AI simplifies tasks and delivers insights for small businesses.
Details →

Marketing Data Scientist
TieTalent
Join Notability to transform how people learn by turning data into actionable insights. You'll analyze marketing performance, optimize campaigns, and develop predictive models to enhance user acquisition and retention.
Details →

Director, AI Strategy & Marketing Operations
Calvin Klein
Shape the AI roadmap for marketing and studio operations. You'll implement AI-powered solutions to streamline content workflows and enhance global delivery.
Details →

Digital Marketing Manager
Telix Pharmaceuticals
Lead digital campaigns across web, search, social, and email, integrating AI tools for personalization and performance optimization in the pharmaceutical sector.
Details →