Mad Men goes AI in 2024
From a martech enthusiast and AI Advocate
Picture this: it’s 1960, the golden age of advertising. Mad Men rule the world of marketing, weaving magic with words, emotions, and sheer creativity.
Fast forward to 2024, and while the world has changed, the essence of marketing remains the same—it's still about connecting, storytelling, and, most importantly, understanding your audience. But now, we’ve got a new tool in our arsenal: AI.
I’ve always been fascinated by the art of advertising. The fascination of the Mad Men era, with its sharp suits, sharp minds, and even sharper wits, paints a picture of a time when marketing was as much about intuition as it was about persuasion. Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves at the crossroads of that timeless art and the cutting-edge technology of AI.
The HubSpot AI Trends Report 2024: A Snapshot of Today’s Mad Men
As a HubSpot and AI enthusiast, I was eagerly awaiting the release of the latest HubSpot AI Trends Report for 2024. I dove into the report, ready to uncover the latest insights, and let me tell you:
The HubSpot AI Trends Report for 2024 by Kipp Bodnar and his team is the modern marketer’s ai bible. It’s where the past meets the future, where Don Draper would be coding with one hand and sketching ad concepts with the other.
According to HubSpot, AI adoption among U.S. marketers has leaped from a modest 21% in 2022 to a staggering 74% in 2023. Imagine that—a world where the majority of our industry is powered by algorithms, machine learning, and data-driven insights. And it's not just about adoption—68% of U.S. marketers say that AI has directly boosted their career growth, and 75% are using AI to reduce manual task time, freeing up their creativity to craft campaigns that resonate on a deeper level.
However, the report also revealed some underlying fears—48% of marketers worry that AI could eventually replace their jobs. This sentiment echoes the fears of admen in the ’60s when television threatened to eclipse print. But as history shows, those who adapt will thrive. The key is to not just use AI but to master it.
US vs. Europe/Germany: The different beats of marketing evolution
Let’s not forget our friends across the pond. Europe, especially Germany, is moving to the AI beat at a slightly different pace. Where the U.S. has seen a massive leap to 74% in AI adoption among marketers, Europe is progressing at a slightly slower pace, with adoption rates trailing by about 10-15% according to McKinsey’s 2024 report.
In Germany, stringent data privacy regulations like GDPR are a significant factor, making businesses more cautious in their approach to AI.
The Lucidworks 2024 report highlights that only 63% of European companies plan to increase AI investments in 2024, down from 93% in 2023. Contrast this with the more aggressive AI expansion in the U.S., where the focus is on rapid adoption to gain a competitive edge. But while Europe might be slower to embrace AI, German companies are prioritizing upskilling their workforce, with nearly 74% planning to change their talent strategies to align with AI advancements.
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Key data points from around the globe
Important: When Not to Use AI
Adding a layer of complexity to the discussion, Gartner's recent report on generative AI emphasizes that while AI offers significant benefits, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Gartner advises against using AI in scenarios where data quality is poor, where creativity and human judgment are paramount, or where ethical and legal considerations come into play. It’s a reminder that while AI is a powerful tool, it must be used wisely. Even in this AI-driven world, the essence of marketing still requires a human touch.
Marketing goes AI
So here we are, standing at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Silicon Valley. The tools have changed, the platforms have evolved, but the essence of marketing remains. It’s still about the story, the connection, the magic. AI is just another brush in our creative palette, helping us paint more vivid pictures, reach more people, and tell better stories.
In this era, "marketing goes marketing" doesn’t just mean embracing the latest tech—it means knowing when to use it, when to trust your gut, and when to let the human touch shine through. Just as the Mad Men of the past revolutionized the industry with their creativity and innovation, we too have the opportunity to lead the charge, blending the old with the new, and taking marketing into a future that’s as bright and exciting as the past.
Let's raise our glasses to the future of marketing
To all my fellow marketers out there, whether you’re a die-hard Mad Men fan or a tech-savvy AI enthusiast, remember: the future of marketing is in your hands.
Let’s embrace it, shape it, and most importantly, let’s never forget the art behind the science.
Cheers to the future, where marketing meets AI, and the magic happens all over again.
P.S. If you’re curious about the stats and reports mentioned, check out these resources:
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