AI in Marketing

In 2026, the AI industry is shifting focus from OpenAI's GPT-5 to Qwen, a large language model developed by Alibaba. Qwen, known as Tōngyì Qiānwèn in Chinese, is gaining traction despite not being the top performer on AI benchmarks compared to models like GPT-5, Google's Gemini 3, and Anthropic's Claude. Its appeal lies in its accessibility and adaptability, making it popular among developers and companies. Chinese models, including Qwen, have seen increased downloads, surpassing US models on platforms like HuggingFace. Qwen's rise coincides with the underwhelming performance of American models like Meta's Llama 4 and OpenAI's GPT-5, which have not met expectations. The openness of Chinese AI companies, which frequently publish research and engineering advancements, contrasts with the more secretive approach of US firms. This openness has led to widespread use of Qwen in various applications, from smart glasses by Rokid to integration in BYD's EV dashboards. US companies like Airbnb, Perplexity, and Nvidia are also adopting Qwen. The model's success suggests that practical application and widespread use are becoming key measures of an AI model's value, beyond just its performance on benchmarks. This shift highlights the growing influence of Chinese open-weight models in the global AI arena.

Despite models' popularity, automation threatens workers' jobs

Sal Khan, CEO of Khan Academy, discusses the potential job displacement caused by artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. He highlights a conversation with a friend whose venture capital firm invested in a Filipino call center that recently deployed AI agents, replacing 80% of its workforce. This situation reflects a broader trend where AI could rapidly displace workers in various industries, including transportation and logistics, as seen with the rise of self-driving cars. Khan suggests that companies benefiting from automation should allocate 1% of their profits to retrain displaced workers. This initiative would not only help workers transition to new roles but also prevent potential backlash against companies profiting from automation. Khan envisions a centralized skill training platform funded by this 1% profit allocation, which could offer online learning, skill verification, apprenticeships, and mentorship. He emphasizes the need for flexible, free educational pathways starting in high school and extending through life, allowing individuals to demonstrate skills and readiness for new job opportunities. Khan notes that while AI poses a job crisis, it also presents an education challenge, requiring systems to help people continue learning and adapt to changing job markets. He identifies growing fields like healthcare, construction, and hospitality as areas with significant job openings, highlighting the need for pathways into these sectors.

From khan to social media

Kaaviya Sambasivam and Gigi represent two different types of social media influencers. Sambasivam is a traditional human influencer who spends significant time and resources creating content, while Gigi is an AI-generated influencer created by Simone Mckenzie, a student at the University of Illinois. Mckenzie uses AI tools like Google Veo 3 to produce videos quickly and inexpensively, allowing her to post multiple times a day and earn substantial income through platforms like TikTok. This new genre of AI-generated content, sometimes called "AI slop," is gaining popularity and poses a challenge to traditional influencers. Experts suggest that AI's ability to produce content rapidly and without the constraints of reality could disrupt the influencer economy. While some view AI as a threat to the authenticity of social media, others see it as a way to democratize fame by lowering barriers to entry. The rise of AI influencers raises concerns about misinformation and the ability of audiences, particularly young ones, to discern reality from AI-generated content. Despite these challenges, AI-generated videos continue to captivate audiences with their exaggerated and sometimes surreal nature, blurring the line between reality and fiction in the digital landscape.

social media meets artificial intelligence

US Senator Bernie Sanders criticized artificial intelligence (AI) on CNN's State of the Union, expressing concerns about its impact on economic security and employment. He described AI as a transformative technology driven by the financial ambitions of wealthy individuals like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, questioning their concern for working people. Sanders highlighted the lack of congressional discussion on AI's potential to eliminate jobs and the resulting economic implications. He also raised concerns about AI chatbots replacing human interaction, affecting mental health. Separately, Republican Senator Katie Britt proposed the Guardianship Over Artificial Intelligence Relationships (Guard) Act, aiming to protect minors from AI companions. The legislation seeks to ban AI companions for minors and establish criminal liability for companies if AI chatbots expose minors to harmful content. Britt emphasized the need for AI companies to implement safeguards and clearly disclose the non-human nature of AI companions. Both Sanders and Britt called for a thorough examination of AI's societal impact, with Sanders suggesting a moratorium on new AI datacenters to address these concerns.

artificial intelligence connects directly to automated email

HubSpot discusses the importance of automated email segmentation for improving targeting in marketing campaigns. Automated segmentation involves categorizing email subscribers based on specific criteria, allowing marketers to send more personalized and relevant content. This process can enhance engagement rates and improve overall campaign performance. Key factors for effective segmentation include demographic information, past purchase behavior, and engagement history. By utilizing these data points, marketers can create tailored messages that resonate with different audience segments. Automation tools can streamline this process, saving time and reducing the potential for human error. Implementing automated segmentation requires a clear understanding of the target audience and the goals of the marketing campaign. It is essential to continuously analyze and adjust segmentation strategies based on performance metrics and changing consumer behaviors. This approach not only increases the likelihood of conversion but also fosters stronger relationships with customers by delivering content that meets their specific needs and interests. Ultimately, automated email segmentation is a valuable strategy for marketers seeking to enhance the effectiveness of their email campaigns and achieve better results.

automated email sets the stage for porsche

The 2025 Porsche Christmas ad has garnered attention for reportedly being created without AI, a detail that many find refreshing given the backlash against AI-generated content, such as a poorly received McDonald's ad. The ad features a blend of hand-drawn and CGI elements, offering a classic 2D animated feel. It showcases changing seasons, a car in motion, and subtle nods to Porsche's history, appealing to brand enthusiasts. The ad's perceived AI-free creation has been praised, with viewers expressing appreciation for non-AI content. While Porsche and Parallel Studio have not confirmed the absence of AI, the ad's reception suggests a growing interest in traditional advertising methods. This trend may influence how brands approach future campaigns, particularly during the holiday season.

porsche connects directly to university missouri

Research from the University of Missouri suggests that AI could reduce wait times for autism evaluations. Long waits for autism diagnosis are common in the U.S., with Missouri families often waiting nearly a year. Kristin Sohl and her team collaborated with Cognoa, Inc. to test CanvasDx, an FDA-approved device that uses AI to predict autism diagnoses based on patient data. If uncertain, it provides an "indeterminate" result. The study involved 80 children, with the device offering determinate results for 52% without false positives or negatives. This tool could help rural families access care sooner, saving travel time and costs. Sohl emphasizes the importance of timely, local autism care and the role of AI in supporting clinicians. She is a pediatrician and professor at the University of Missouri, leading the ECHO Autism program. The research is published in JMIR Formative Research.

university missouri leads us naturally to email

Optimove has launched an advanced Email Marketing Solution, enhancing marketers' creative capabilities with AI and a robust data foundation. This solution offers personalized, dynamic, and scalable messaging, doubling average sales per customer through AI-driven real-time personalization. It reduces reliance on external agencies, speeding up email creation and launch to under a week. The platform consolidates multiple emails into a single template, easing management of multi-language campaigns. New features include flexible data ingestion, AI content recommendation agents, real-time triggered emails, and kinetic email widgets. These enhancements follow a successful holiday season, with significant growth in email, SMS, and mobile interactions. Optimove aims to provide marketers with tools for true personalization at scale.