The Future of AI and Marketing: What’s Coming and How to Prepare

In this episode of AI Explored, host Michael Stelzner welcomes Jeremiah Oying, an AI analyst and partner at Blitzscaling Ventures. Oying shares his journey from Web3 collapse to founding the Llama Lounge event series, illustrating how generative AI quickly moved from experimental chat tools to actionable agents integrated with Google apps and enterprise platforms. The conversation underscores why marketers must shift from curiosity to implementation, emphasizing that AI adoption is no longer a speculative trend but a competitive imperative for businesses of every size.

The discussion then maps the evolving cultural landscape of AI adoption. Oying identifies five distinct mindsets: AI Resistor, AI Follower, AI Forward, AI First, and AI Native. He explains that many firms are still in the “resistor” or “follower” phases, wary of compliance and ROI, while forward‑thinking companies are beginning to embed AI into daily workflows. The guests also debunk two common misconceptions: that AI is the sole cause of layoffs and that a bubble is unexpected. According to Oying, we are exiting the peak of the hype cycle and approaching the trough, where a significant culling of the roughly 42,000 AI startups will occur, leaving only the most sustainable players.

For marketers, the practical takeaway is clear: AI agents can act as 24/7 virtual staff, handling up to 11% of tasks today and scaling dramatically over the next few years. Oying highlights early adopters like Please AI, Crew AI, and HubSpot’s Agent.ai marketplace, which already automate content creation, CRM updates, and scheduling. He advises a three‑step “AI‑first” approach—search for off‑the‑shelf solutions, build custom tools if needed, then involve human talent. The episode closes with a plug for AI Business World 2026, a conference designed to help marketers master these emerging capabilities and stay ahead of the AI curve.