AI in Marketing

A quick spotlight on a tool that Stan — the voice behind this newsletter and podcast — has recently added to his daily workflow. It’s called Granola, and it’s become his go-to app for meeting notes. Granola is an AI notepad designed for professionals with back-to-back calls. What makes it stand out? Unlike most tools that rely on bots joining your meetings, Granola captures audio directly from your device. No bots, no interruptions, no privacy concerns. Just seamless note-taking across Zoom, Meet, Teams, or whatever platform you’re using. Once the meeting ends, Granola gets to work. It generates polished summaries, follow-up emails, action items, even lists of objections — all through customizable templates powered by top-tier AI. For someone like Stan — managing multiple clients and campaigns — Granola has become an essential part of his tech stack.

From Granola's AI tools to the White House's AI policy pause

The White House has paused a draft executive order aimed at overriding state laws on artificial intelligence, according to sources. This order, which was expected to face strong opposition from states, highlights President Donald Trump's commitment to aiding AI companies by addressing the complex web of state regulations they claim hinder progress. The draft proposed creating an "AI Litigation Task Force" under Attorney General Pam Bondi to challenge state AI laws, arguing they might unlawfully regulate interstate commerce or conflict with federal regulations. The White House has not commented on the decision to halt the order. This move reflects ongoing tensions between federal and state authorities over the regulation of emerging technologies like AI.

Turning to AI breakthroughs, Runway's Gen 4.5 outshines tech giants

Runway's Gen 4.5 model has outperformed tech giants Google and OpenAI in the AI video generation arena, according to CNBC. The startup's model topped the Video Arena benchmark, surpassing Google's Veo 3 and OpenAI's Sora 2 Pro. Runway, with just 100 employees, has achieved what seemed improbable against trillion-dollar competitors. Gen 4.5 excels in transforming text prompts into high-definition videos, showcasing advanced understanding of physics, motion, and camera dynamics. This breakthrough highlights the potential of focused research and efficient teams over sheer computational power. Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela emphasized the significance of this achievement, noting the importance of preventing AI monopolization by a few large companies. The model's success suggests that the AI race remains open, with innovation speed and research efficiency proving crucial. Gen 4.5 will be available to all Runway customers by the end of the week, marking the first of several major releases planned by the company. This development underscores the ongoing competition in AI's most critical battlegrounds, where startup agility continues to challenge established tech giants.

From Runway's innovation to Itani's personal AI reflections

Soulaiman Itani, an A.I. developer and single father, reflects on raising his four-year-old son, Omie, in a world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence. Itani, who has worked on projects like Google’s LaMDA, acknowledges the potential benefits of A.I. in solving problems efficiently but also shares concerns about its impact on critical thinking and creativity in children. He worries that tools like ChatGPT might provide easy answers, discouraging problem-solving and perseverance. Despite these concerns, Itani plans to introduce Omie to A.I. tools, teaching him to fact-check and understand the limitations of machine learning. He emphasizes fostering creativity and critical thinking through play, encouraging Omie to create imaginative scenarios and solve complex challenges. Itani also advocates for parental involvement in shaping A.I. regulations, calling for mandatory parental controls and data privacy measures. He envisions a future where A.I. complements human creativity, allowing children to tell their own stories while valuing human-made art. Through this approach, Itani hopes to prepare Omie for a world where A.I. and human ingenuity coexist, ensuring that future generations appreciate both automated and handcrafted creations.

In educational trends, AI majors surge alongside Itani's concerns

The New York Times reports that artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a popular college major, with institutions like M.I.T. and the University of South Florida seeing significant enrollment in new A.I. programs. M.I.T.'s "artificial intelligence and decision-making" major is now the second-most-popular undergraduate choice, with nearly 330 students enrolled. This surge in interest is fueled by the widespread adoption of A.I. technologies like ChatGPT and the substantial investments from tech giants such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. These companies are not only advancing A.I. technology but also launching initiatives to train millions in A.I. skills. Universities across the U.S. are responding by establishing new A.I. departments and courses, aiming to meet the growing demand from students eager to explore the field's potential. At the University of California, San Diego, a new A.I. major has attracted 150 first-year students, while the State University of New York at Buffalo has introduced interdisciplinary degrees in "A.I. and policy analysis." Despite a decline in general computer science enrollments, specialized A.I. programs are thriving, reflecting a shift towards more focused computing degrees.

From AI education to teens' media skepticism and news literacy

A recent survey highlights a growing disconnect between teenagers and the news media, revealing that many young people view journalism with skepticism and distrust. Conducted by the News Literacy Project, the study found that 84% of teens described the news media negatively, using words like "biased," "fake," and "boring." Many believe journalists often give advertisers special treatment, fabricate details, or take content out of context. This perception is partly influenced by the political climate and the prevalence of "fake news" rhetoric. Experts suggest that teens' attitudes mirror those of their parents, who may also harbor distrust toward the media. Despite these challenges, some young aspiring journalists, like Cat Murphy and Lily Ogburn, remain committed to the profession, hoping to restore trust through reliable reporting. News literacy programs in schools, though rare, show promise in changing perceptions by teaching students to critically evaluate sources and understand journalism's role in society. However, the news industry faces hurdles, including financial struggles and a failure to adapt to new media platforms. To engage younger audiences, experts argue that journalism must evolve, meeting people where they are and embracing social media. The path forward requires effort to rebuild credibility and connect with the next generation of news consumers.

Turning to marketing, organic search's value parallels media challenges

In 2025, valuing organic search efforts accurately is crucial for businesses to understand its true impact. Unlike paid campaigns that stop when the budget runs out, organic search continues to deliver returns through persistent rankings and evergreen content. Marketers often overlook its complexity, which involves content strategy, technical infrastructure, design, analytics, and AI-driven optimization. Organic search should be seen as a capital asset, appreciating in value over time, rather than just a media channel. Metrics like conversion rates, revenue per visitor, and long-term ROI are essential for demonstrating its economic value. Organic traffic generally converts more efficiently, with a 14.6% average conversion rate compared to 10% for paid search. To calculate SEO ROI, businesses must consider all costs, including human resources, platforms, services, and infrastructure. Structured data plays a vital role in maximizing visibility and click-through rates. Additionally, repurposing SEO content across various channels can significantly boost ROI. Communicating these benefits to executives is key, framing organic search as a revenue engine rather than a cost. By understanding its full value, companies can secure strategic funding and maintain a competitive edge, ensuring sustained growth and resilience in the digital landscape.

From organic search strategies to DeepSeek's AI model innovations

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has launched two new models, DeepSeek-V3.2 and DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale, claiming they rival OpenAI's GPT-5 and Google's Gemini-3.0-Pro. These models, released under an open-source MIT license, are freely available, potentially disrupting the AI market dominated by American tech giants. DeepSeek-V3.2 serves as a general reasoning assistant, while the Speciale variant excels in elite competitions, achieving gold-medal status in events like the International Mathematical Olympiad. A key innovation, DeepSeek Sparse Attention, reduces computational costs significantly, making it efficient for processing long documents. The models support 128,000-token context windows, suitable for analyzing extensive texts. Benchmark tests show DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale performing on par with leading models in mathematics and coding tasks. The models introduce "thinking in tool-use," allowing them to reason while using external tools. Despite regulatory challenges in Europe and the U.S., DeepSeek's open-source approach challenges the business models of competitors like OpenAI. The release underscores China's growing AI capabilities, raising questions about the future of AI competition between China and the U.S.

In marketing insights, Stanislas Berteloot explores AI's role in campaigns

On December 3 in Princeton, marketing strategist Stanislas Berteloot will speak at Venture X, delivering a fast, practical session titled “AI as Your Marketing Engine.” Berteloot will explain how founders and growth teams can use AI to sharpen their value propositions, accelerate go-to-market plans, and convert insights into pipeline. He will also highlight how human judgment, segment understanding, and lightweight automation combine to create a repeatable B2B campaign engine.

Berteloot will continue the conversation during a LinkedIn Live event on December 11, where he will demonstrate how AI speeds research, segmentation, message testing, and multiformat content production while preserving brand quality. Across both events, attendees will learn actionable methods for integrating AI into daily marketing execution.