Business automation in marketing: Is it feasible to eliminate human involvement in marketing strategies?
In the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize the industry. While AI can generate text, images, and videos, it's essential to remember that it doesn't create on its own - it merely recombines and retells what people have done before.
As we move towards the future, marketing is expected to shift towards highly automated production, managed by a limited number of highly qualified specialists. Humans will take on roles to create meaning, choose the best ideas, and manage marketing strategy. This collaboration between human creativity, empathy, and ethical judgment, and AI's speed, data processing, and automation, is set to be the cornerstone of the marketing industry.
AI will allow for more conscious, accurate, and effective spending of advertising budgets, creating more creative and customer-specific products. However, it's crucial to remember that creativity, a complex skill of the human brain, is based on intuition and synthesizing previous experience into something new and previously unknown.
New professions related to AI maintenance will emerge, and there will be tasks that humans perform better or cheaper than AI. The vast majority of marketing activity is craft and routine, performed daily by a large number of specialists, opening up potential for AI application.
However, AI is unable to empathize or emotionally understand humans. The role of humans in marketing remains crucial and complementary, delivering authentic, human-to-human interactions, nuanced communication, and relationship-building.
Recent surveys reveal that over 90% of marketers believe AI positively impacts their work, and most organizations already use AI tools in marketing workflows. Yet, many also recognize AI's limitations in nuances like sales conversations and authenticity. The emerging consensus is that marketing success lies not in choosing AI over humans but in integrating AI to augment human strengths and creativity, crafting human-centered campaigns amplified by AI-driven efficiency and insights.
John Wanamaker's quote, "I know that half of my advertising is wasted, but I don't know which half," will finally be addressed with the development of AI and changes in marketing. The future of marketing will be smarter, more creative, and more insightful, with the foundation of marketing remaining people's desire to take care of themselves, improve themselves, and buy something useful.
In summary, AI is transforming advertising by automating and scaling marketing operations and insights. However, the distinctly human skills - creativity, empathy, ethical reasoning, and strategic interpretation - remain irreplaceable and essential. The future is an AI-enabled marketing landscape where humans and machines collaborate to unlock new growth and deeper brand connections.
This transformation was discussed by Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, in an interview on May 1, 2025. The interview sparked discussion among global media and Russian experts, who interpreted Zuckerberg's words as a bet on total automation in advertising. However, it's clear that the future of marketing lies in the harmonious collaboration between AI and humans.
References:
- Stratechery website interview
- DK.RU findings
- The Luddite rebellion in early 19th-century England
- Impact on creative industry jobs
- Cost reduction in various marketing services
- In the coming years, the intersection of artificial intelligence, finance, and business will lead to more efficient and data-driven decision-making, allowing for targeted investments and increased profits.
- As the marketing industry continues to evolve, the integration of artificial intelligence and technology will greatly impact business strategies, enabling the creation of personalized customer experiences that cater to the unique needs of each individual, enhancing business performance and productivity.
