Podcast

AI And The Future Of Marketing With Mark Schaefer – TWMJ #1016

Welcome to episode #1016 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation).

At a moment when artificial intelligence is reshaping not just how markets operate but how people think, feel, decide and connect, understanding the human consequences of that shift has become essential. Mark Schaefer is a keynote speaker, educator, strategist, and a voice in modern marketing, with more than three decades of experience spanning global sales, public relations and brand strategy. He is a faculty member at Rutgers University. Mark’s latest book, How AI Changes Your Customers – The Marketing Guide To Humanity’s Next Chapter, extends his body of work by examining how AI is quietly rewiring consumer psychology, trust, agency, empathy, and belonging (be sure to check out his other books). Rather than focusing on algorithms or tools, Mark explores how customers are becoming more machine-assisted, less patient, more dependent on automation, and increasingly hungry for meaning and connection in a world optimized for efficiency. He argues that curiosity, art, and human connection are strategic advantages rather than soft ideals. Grounded in research, lived experience, and cultural observation, his work challenges marketers and leaders to rethink relevance, rethink loyalty, and rethink what it means to serve customers whose decisions are increasingly shaped by machines. At its core, Mark’s perspective reframes AI not as a threat to humanity, but as a force that exposes what only humans can still do well…if they choose to lean into it. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:06:07.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
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Here is my conversation with Mark Schaefer.
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How AI Changes Your Customers – The Marketing Guide To Humanity’s Next Chapter.
Check out his other books.
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Chapters:

(00:00) – Introduction to Mark Schaefer and AI’s Impact.
(03:00) – The Dual Nature of AI: Exciting and Terrifying.
(06:09) – Cultural Shifts and AI’s Influence on Humanity.
(08:53) – Curiosity and Learning in the Age of AI.
(12:08) – The Role of AI in Content Creation.
(14:57) – Art, Tools, and the Essence of Creativity.
(17:54) – The Illusion of Intimacy in AI.
(21:05) – Navigating the Attention vs. Intimacy Economy.
(23:54) – The Future of AI and Human Connection.
(37:13) – Cultural Perspectives on AI and Work.
(39:06) – AI Sovereignty and Global Implications.
(41:23) – The Human Element in AI and Marketing.
(43:42) – The Challenge of Authenticity in AI Content.
(45:52) – Navigating Trust in a Digital Age.
(49:20) – Generational Differences in Trust and Truth.
(53:02) – The Role of Curiosity in the Age of AI.
(56:46) – The Future of Trust and AI in Business.
(01:01:40) – The Impact of AI on Human Connection.
(01:03:59) – Embracing AI for Positive Change.

Download the Podcast here: #1016 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation).

Before you go… ThinkersOne gives you direct access to the experts shaping tomorrow’s conversations. Get their insights on leadership, AI, culture and innovation all delivered to your team before the rest of the world catches on. Ideal for your meetings, off-sites, and lunch & learns.

Mitch Joel

Mitch Joel lives at the intersection of technology, business transformation and consumer culture. He is the Executive Director of Next Era Institute, a strategic intelligence platform helping leaders understand the forces reshaping business, technology, culture and society. The Institute identifies which shifts matter, explores their wider significance and translates them into strategic direction and momentum. Mitch is also a globally recognized keynote speaker. He has delivered thousands of presentations across both B2B and B2C industries to organizations including Google, Walmart, LEGO, Shopify, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Strategy Magazine has called him “one of North America’s leading visionaries.” Mitch built his career by working directly inside the waves of change that reshaped modern business. He founded and built a digital marketing agency that worked with some of the world’s largest brands and was later acquired by WPP, where he served as President of a firm operating in 25 countries with almost 3,000 employees. Mitch is the bestselling author of Six Pixels of Separation and CTRL ALT Delete, and the host of Thinking With Mitch Joel, one of the longest-running business podcasts in the world. His writing and commentary appear in outlets including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and Inc. Magazine. He is a member of Dr. Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches and was named to the Thinkers50 Radar. Mitch also hosts Groove – The No Treble Podcast, documenting the oral history of electric bass players. Mitch is also Co-Founder of ThinkersOne, a platform that enables companies to bring personalized thought leadership from world-class experts into meetings, events and off-sites in focused 15-minute bursts.