Emerging Tech: AI, GenAI, and AR/VR

Ever feel like you’ve barely wrapped your head around one tech trend before a dozen more spring up overnight? Welcome to the modern marketing landscape, where everything from AI to AR/VR is reinventing how we work, play, and sell. Love it or hate it, these emerging tech tools aren’t just flashy buzzwords. They’re fast becoming the bedrock of any forward-thinking brand strategy. Buckle up, because we’re about to explore how these technologies are transforming marketing—and how you can harness them for success.

AI: Your New Best Frenemy?

Let’s kick things off with artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (gen AI). You’ve likely seen AI whip up a complete draft in seconds or crunch reams of consumer data like it’s no big deal. Impressive stuff, right? But with great power comes great responsibility—and a fair share of quirks.

AI Best Practices

Know the data your tool was trained on

Think of AI like a sous chef: It’s only as good as its ingredients. If it’s been fed dubious data (or simply doesn’t have enough data), don’t be surprised if your AI churns out questionable “insights”. Make sure you understand where its training data comes from, and keep an eye out for potential biases.

Understand that AI has its own set of limitations

AI can do a decent job of mimicking human emotions and human-like behavior, but it still struggles with emotional nuance, humor, and cultural references (not to mention the occasional copyright slip-up). By all means, let it guide you. Just don’t expect it to magically replace human experiences and creativity (at least, for now).

Check outputs thoroughly

No matter how slick the AI output looks, it’s not worth sacrificing quality or brand integrity. If it feels off—or if it’s riddled with errors—go old-school. Read, review, and rewrite if needed. Better to take the extra minute than to publish a half-baked AI draft.

Put AI to Work for Copywriting

Okay, so we’ve established that AI can be both brilliant and baffling. But used wisely, it can skyrocket your productivity. Whether you’re a marketing executive or a business leader, here are some tips on how to get started with crafting effective AI copy.

Brainstorm Like a Pro

Staring at a blinking cursor for hours, feeling like you’ve hit with writer’s block? Use Gen AI for copywriting by asking for topic ideas, outlines, or trending keywords. It’s like having a tireless brainstorming buddy on call 24/7.

Draft Faster

With AI tools, the more well-crafted our inputs are, the more specific and high-quality the outputs. Writers can make the most out of AI with skillful prompt engineering. Need to talk about the nuances of B2B SaaS marketing in under 500 words? Let AI do the heavy lifting, then refine until it feels unmistakably “you.”

Boost SEO

Keyword stuffing is no longer a viable SEO strategy. Using natural language that imparts information, rather than forcing in keywords, remains the way to go. And this transition has only been intensified, thanks to the rising importance of AI in SEO. Use AI to analyze keyword trends and suggest optimization strategies to improve search rankings.

Personalize Content

Your audience is anything but one-size-fits-all. Use AI to tap into user preferences and behaviors so you can tailor your message. Hyper-relevant content doesn’t just engage people—it makes them feel like you “get” them.

Map Out Your Strategy

Feeling stuck on the next steps? AI can size up your competitors, analyze your metrics, and offer a blueprint for your upcoming campaigns. Build your content strategy with AI using prompts like:

  • “What are my top-performing blog posts by engagement?”
  • “Which topics in [X category] have the highest search growth?”
  • “Compare my content gaps to competitor strategies and suggest missing angles.”

AI for Creative Assets

Writing isn’t the only place AI can shine. You can also use AI for creative work.

Images

Gone are the days of painstakingly cutting out backgrounds or fiddling with complicated layering techniques. AI design tools can handle these tasks in mere seconds. Use it to whip up mockups, mood boards, or quick visuals that might spark your next big design idea.

Check out:

  • Adobe Firefly
  • Getty Images’ Generative AI
  • Canva’s AI Photo Editor

Video

Got stage fright? AI video platforms can help you produce near-lifelike clips without ever stepping in front of a camera. Yes, some still stumble with details like hands and facial expressions, but they’re improving—fast. For now, keep tabs on developments in video AI because the marketing potential is huge.

Some platforms to peek at:

  • Sora
  • Pika Labs
  • Runway
  • Synthesia

Strategic Vision: AI as Your Planning Partner

These days, we’re not limited to churning out content; business leaders can also use AI for strategy work. This includes high-level planning and decision-making, as well as forecasting. Think of it as your behind-the-scenes advisor, scanning the horizon and plotting your next moves.

  1. Feed It the Right Data
    Supply AI with your performance metrics, market research, economic forecasts, and competitor analysis. The broader the buffet, the better the AI can map out what’s ahead.
  2. Spot the Key Variables
    Maybe your market is shifting because of emerging tech, remote work, or new entrants. AI helps you see these catalysts and weighs how each might play out in different scenarios.
  3. Generate Multiple Futures
    Just like humans, AI can’t predict the future perfectly—but it can lay out some pretty compelling possibilities. That allows you to stress-test different strategies before committing.
  4. Ask for a 360° Analysis
    From ROI projections to risk mitigation, AI can factor in all those finance and operations details. You get a thorough, data-backed roadmap.
  5. Stay Agile
    If there’s one constant in marketing, it’s change. Monitor real-time data, revisit AI insights often, and pivot when needed. AI can flag shifts quickly, but you still make the final call.

Marketing in Virtual Worlds: Metaverse and AR/VR

Ah, the metaverse—where gaming, social hangouts, and e-commerce converge to create truly immersive experiences. The metaverse isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a digital revolution. Some brands are throwing virtual product launches; others are building entire branded “worlds.” If you’re itching to stand out, the metaverse could be your blank canvas.

Rethinking Content in the Metaverse

A blog post might be fine on your website, but in a 3D virtual environment, people expect something…more. Think interactive experiences, holographic demos, or gamified challenges, interactive experiences, 3D storytelling, and gamified engagement are the future. If you’re early to this party, you can shape the conversation before everyone else dives in.

The Future Is Now—Don’t Get Left Behind

Emerging tech is more than a headline; it’s reshaping the marketing status quo. Whether you’re orchestrating an AI-driven content plan, building entire virtual worlds, or simply dabbling in AR-powered campaigns, staying curious is the key. Embrace the possibilities without losing that spark of human creativity that makes your brand, well, yours.

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