AI agents are generating a lot of buzz right now, but how close are we to fully autonomous AI? In this episode of The AI-Driven Marketer, host Dan Sanchez (Dances) cuts through the hype to break down the five stages of AI agents and what marketers need to do to stay ahead. From simple automation to full AI autonomy, Dan lays out a roadmap for how AI will evolve in the coming years and how marketers can start preparing now. Whether you're just getting started with AI automation or you're ready to build intelligent workflows, this episode is packed with actionable insights to future-proof your marketing strategy.

Resources Mentioned:

 * AI Fundamentals Course: https://danchez.com/courses/ai-fundamentals/
 * N8N (AI Automation Platform): https://n8n.io/

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: The AI Agent Hype

02:00 - What Is an AI Agent? Defining the Term

04:30 - The Five Levels of AI (From Chatbots to Full Autonomy)

07:45 - Where Are We Now? AI's Progress in 2024

10:15 - The 5 Stages of AI Agents

12:00 - Stage 1: Automation with AI (Simple AI-Powered Workflows)

14:45 - Stage 2: Intelligent Automation (AI Begins to Think for You)

17:30 - Stage 3: AI-Assisted Automation (AI Helps Build Campaigns)

20:15 - Stage 4: AI-Led Automation (AI Makes Key Decisions)

23:00 - Stage 5: Fully Autonomous AI Agents (The Future of AI in Marketing)

26:45 - Predictions: How Fast Will AI Agents Advance?

29:30 - Practical Steps to Prepare for AI Agents Today

32:00 - Why Most Marketers Are Still Behind (And How to Get Ahead)

34:45 - Closing Thoughts: The AI Learning Curve and Next Steps

Key Takeaways:

 * AI agents are not fully autonomous yet, but they are rapidly evolving.
 * Most "AI agents" today are actually just automated workflows with AI enhancements.
 * The transition from AI-assisted automation to AI-led automation will be a game-changer for marketers.
 * Marketers should start experimenting with AI-powered automation tools now to stay competitive.
 * Full AI autonomy is likely less than two years away—prepare by learning automation now.

Subscribe & Review:If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us bring more AI-driven marketing insights to you!

5 Stages of AI Agents & How Marketers Can Prepare Now

In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez [https://danchez.com/] dives into the intriguing concept of Moravec's Paradox, examining why AI can excel in complex tasks like advanced math yet fumble over simple tasks such as counting survey responses. He unpacks the paradox, revealing how marketers can navigate and leverage these peculiar strengths and weaknesses of AI. By understanding where AI struggles and succeeds, Dan provides insights on building systems that maximize AI's potential while mitigating its shortcomings. Tune in for strategic advice on staying ahead in the ever-evolving AI landscape and discover how to use Moravec's Paradox to your advantage as a savvy AI-driven marketer.

Resources Mentioned: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/smmworld

 * Social Media Marketing World: 

Timestamps:

00:00 AI's Uneven Skill Gaps

05:48 Leveraging AI's Strengths and Limitations

07:15 AI: Focus on Core Improvements

The AI Paradox: How to Make the Most of What AI Can & Can't Do

Are you a beginner, intermediate, or pro when it comes to AI marketing? In this episode, Dan Sanchez explores the five types of AI marketing and introduces a brand-new quiz to help you assess your skill set. Whether you’re an optimist who believes AI will create more jobs or a pessimist who fears AI will replace them, one thing is clear: mastering AI in marketing is no longer optional. Dan shares his journey of learning AI, the framework he developed to map out AI marketing applications, and why understanding where you stand is crucial for your growth.

Resources Mentioned:

 * Take the quiz here: https://danchez.com/quiz
 * 5 Types of AI Marketing Episode: https://danchez.com/5-types-of-ai-marketing-which-are-you-using/

Timestamps:

00:00 - Where do you stand in AI marketing?

02:00 - Why AI marketing skills are crucial for the future

04:30 - Dan’s journey in mastering AI 06:45 - The challenge of assessing AI skills

08:20 - The five types of AI marketing explained

14:10 - How the AI Marketing Skill Scorecard works

18:00 - Where marketers fall short in AI adoption

20:45 - Take the AI Marketing Quiz now!

22:00 - Connect with Dan on LinkedIn

How to Assess Your AI Marketing Skills (Take the Quiz!)

Most people don’t realize that ChatGPT can be customized in multiple ways to dramatically improve results. In this episode of The AI-Driven Marketer, Dan Sanchez walks through the four levels of personalization for ChatGPT and shares his approach to customizing AI for maximum efficiency. If you’ve ever wrestled with ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude—going back and forth to get the right response—this episode will show you how to eliminate that friction. Learn how to leverage custom instructions, memory, projects, and custom GPTs to get ChatGPT working smarter for you.

🔹 The Four Levels of ChatGPT Personalization: 

1️⃣ Base Model – The default AI personality and training.
2️⃣ Account Level – Custom instructions and memory settings.
3️⃣ Project Level – Using projects and custom GPTs for different areas of work.
4️⃣ Prompt Level – Optimizing individual interactions with AI.

Dan also shares a game-changing one-prompt hack to improve ChatGPT’s memory and efficiency, along with practical strategies for identifying repetitive tasks and automating them within ChatGPT.

Resources & Links:

 * AI Business Society – Social Media Examiner: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/aisociety/
 * Full Tutorial on CustomGPTs: https://danchez.com/advanced-guide-to-building-customgpts-for-chatgpt/
 * The One-Prompt Hack to 10X ChatGPT Outputs: https://danchez.com/one-prompt-to-10x-your-future-chatgpt-outputs/

Timestamps:

 * 00:00 - Intro: How ChatGPT Customization Can 10X Your Results 
 * 00:15 - Welcome to The AI-Driven Marketer
 * 00:31 - The Struggle of Wrestling with AI Models 01:14 - Why Personalizing ChatGPT is Critical 
 * 02:51 - The Four Levels of ChatGPT Personalization 
 * 03:12 - Level 1: Base Model - Understanding Pre-Trained AI Behavior 
 * 03:52 - Level 2: Account Level - Custom Instructions & Memory 
 * 06:09 - Setting Up Custom Instructions for Better AI Responses 
 * 08:24 - Optimizing ChatGPT’s Memory for Personal & Business Use 
 * 11:37 - Level 3: Project Level - Using Custom GPTs & Projects 
 * 12:32 - Managing Multiple Clients & Workflows with ChatGPT 
 * 14:09 - Brand Bots: Creating AI Assistants for Clients & Projects 
 * 15:20 - Layered Instructions: Making AI More Context-Aware 
 * 16:12 - Level 4: Prompt Level - Fine-Tuning AI Output 
 * 16:31 - The One-Prompt Hack for Better ChatGPT Personalization 
 * 17:41 - Identifying Repetitive AI Interactions & Automating Them 
 * 18:32 - Closing Thoughts & How to Get More from This Series

📩 Subscribe to the newsletter at aidrivenmarketer.com [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/]

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Customize ChatGPTs Instructions & Memory Now to 10x Your Work Later

In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/], Dan Sanchez and Travis Sanchez dive into the latest developments in AI, unpacking OpenAI's new tool "Operator" and its potential impact on marketing. They explore both the excitement and the limitations of having AI control a browser for tasks like buying airline tickets and managing CRM processes. The discussion also covers the notable launch of OpenAI's GPT-3 Mini and its implications for marketing automation, as well as the broader adoption curve of AI technologies among marketers. Tune in to hear their insights on navigating these rapid changes, the critical role of delegation skills in leveraging AI, and how marketers can lead the charge in integrating these new tools effectively into their organizations. Listen to this episode if you want to stay ahead of the curve and harness AI to its fullest potential in your marketing strategies.

Timestamps:

00:00 OpenAI Previews Browser Automation Tool

03:42 API Limitations in Marketing Automation

08:42 Director Role Complexity Increases

12:28 "Future Skills: Delegation and Understanding"

14:33 Innovation Adoption Insight

18:47 Second-Mover Advantage in Innovation

19:50 Shaping the Future with Early Adoption

24:31 Tech Resistance Across Generations

28:25 AI Troubleshooting: Future Tech Support

32:06 Marketing: Pioneering Organizational Change

34:46 Adapting to Automation in Leadership

36:19 Top AI Marketing Conference

OpenAI's Operator, o3 Mini, & the Need for Marketers to Lead

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com], Dan Sanchez [https://danchez.com/] dives into the fascinating process of cowriting a book with AI, sharing his journey of crafting a comprehensive book on the 5 types of AI marketing. Dan addresses the challenges and skepticism surrounding AI-authored content and details his method for combining his own insights with AI-generated text to create a book that is both informative and compelling. He illuminates the tools he’s using, such as ChatGPT and Google Notebook LM, and emphasizes the importance of feeding AI with quality raw material and iterative collaboration. Listen to this episode if you're curious about how AI can enhance your writing projects and provide innovative assistance in content creation.

Resources Mentioned:

 * AI Business Society by Social Media Examiner: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/aisociety/
 * Google Notebook LM: https://notebooklm.google.com [https://notebooklm.google.com/]
 * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digitalmarketingdan

Timestamps:

00:00 AI-book collaborations; quality concerns persist.

06:24 Organized research supports arguments and enhances understanding.

08:27 Defining AI marketing's five types aids understanding.

10:57 Collaborated with AI to organize book chapters.

15:58 ChatGPT asks detailed questions for compelling storytelling.

19:43 AI enhances book writing as a collaborative tool.

22:22 Publishing book on Amazon and podcast, free access.

I'm Cowriting a Book with AI – This is My Process

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode,  Dan Sanchez [https://danchez.com/] shares an enlightening interview with Brooks Lockett, diving deep into the transformative impact of AI on marketing strategies and practices. The conversation uncovers insights into Dan's role at Social Media Examiner, the significant potential of AI in content creation, and the evolving landscape of AI adoption among marketers. They also discuss practical use cases, holistic frameworks for AI marketing, and the immense leverage AI can provide in enhancing both speed and quality of work. Tune in to gain a fresh perspective on harnessing AI to revolutionize your marketing efforts.

Resources:

 * AI Copywriting Pro Newsletter: https://brookslockett.substack.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 AI still early; wide adoption expected soon.

04:26 I adopted ChatGPT Plus earlier than peers.

08:05 Video enhances and clarifies teaching complex concepts.

11:37 Teaching content helps you master the topic.

15:58 AI elevates marketing automation with personalization.

20:24 Funnels unify marketing strategies for holistic success.

21:04 Creating frameworks for AI marketing strategy development.

25:37 AI: Faster, better, smarter innovations unlock possibilities.

AI's Impact on Marketing: Faster, Better, & Smarter Strategies

In this AI Marketing Podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez [https://danchez.com/] and Travis Sanchez reunite to kick off the new year with bold predictions for AI in marketing. They revisit Dan’s 2023 predictions, examining wins, misses, and surprising trends. Together, they share insights on hyper-personalized marketing, AI agents, and the adoption curve of AI among marketers. Plus, Travis offers a unique perspective on the gap between AI's capabilities and user readiness. This engaging discussion is a must-listen for marketers navigating the rapid evolution of AI tools and techniques. Get ready to rethink how you approach your marketing strategy in 2025 and beyond!

Resources Mentioned

 * Take Dan’s free AI marketing course at aidrivenmarketer.com/course [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/course].
 * Connect with Dan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/digitalmarketingdan [http://linkedin.com/in/digitalmarketingdan].

Episode Timestamps:

 * 00:01:30 – Welcome Back to the Bot Bro Series: Turning AI hype into help.
 * 00:35:86 – Recap: 65 episodes, 25,000 downloads, and a new year of AI marketing.
 * 01:20:93 – Revisiting 2023 Predictions: Big bets, AI company failures, and missed automation case studies.
 * 03:42:67 – Integration Wins: HubSpot and big tech stepping up their AI game.
 * 05:16:68 – Generational AI Gaps: Who’s fooled by AI-generated content?
 * 07:06:32 – Surprise Advances: AI music and video tools changing creative processes.
 * 08:12:49 – 2025 Predictions Begin: From hyper-personalized marketing to AI agents.
 * 10:58:64 – Real-World Applications: Using AI for customized learning journeys.
 * 15:33:12 – Intelligent Automation vs. AI Agents: Where the lines blur.
 * 19:41:95 – Video Editing with AI: Why we’re not at Grade A yet—but it’s coming.
 * 22:41:63 – ChatGPT-5 Speculation: The anticipated breakthrough in AI reasoning.
 * 23:44:73 – Poll Results: How often marketers use AI and what holds some back.
 * 26:14:45 – Exploring the Anti-AI Sentiment: Why some resist the shift.
 * 27:48:80 – Viral Prompt Breakdown: The best question to ask ChatGPT for insights.



2025 Predictions, AI Market Penetration, & Agents

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez [https://danchez.com] discusses with cohost Travis Sanchez the transformative potential of attaching files like text documents and Excel sheets to projects, likening it to customizing GPTs for specific tasks. They delve into ChatGPT's expansion into document management, Google's recent Gemini update with new photo manipulation functions, and the fast-paced advancements making real-time art direction and voice/visual edits a reality. From managing projects and campaigns to speculating on upcoming AI releases, this episode sheds light on practical applications and the future landscape of AI in marketing. Tune in to explore how these innovations can enhance your marketing strategies and operations.

Timestamps:

03:34 Fine-tune models for customized developer solutions.

09:34 Gaining value by temporarily using unique services.

11:40 Custom GPT automates podcast transcript to blog post.

15:28 Project involves using Chat GPT while shopping.

19:24 Summarizing conversations for efficient project management.

21:13 Exploring project management and communication efficiencies.

24:25 Designers worry: advanced AI can replace them.

29:01 Vet sources, verify, Gemini developments, Google's ecosystem.

31:35 Founder returns to focus on AI initiative.

35:30 Sam Altman: Chatbots to AGI is a process.

38:35 Predictive conversations steer companies, could be awesome.

42:16 Real learning happens through practical experience.

45:28 WGU partners with Google, HubSpot for certifications.

47:46 Prefer ChatGPT; Claude clunky, reasoning weaker.

OpenAI's Shipmas, Gemini 2.0 Launch, and AI Education #BotBros

In this milestone episode of AI-Driven Marketer [https://aidrivenmarketer.com], Dan Sanchez [https://danchez.com] reflects on a year of hosting the podcast and reaching 1,000  subscribers. Dan shares his journey of discovering the potential of AI in marketing, the challenges of finding a niche, and his unique "30-30-30 Plan" for mastering a new topic. He also discusses his recent pivot to joining Social Media Examiner as a Senior AI Marketing Strategist, what this means for the future of the podcast, and the exciting developments in store for 2025.

Mentioned Resources:

 * AI Explored Podcast Episode with Danchez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luyVQyj6ohM

Episode Timestamps:

 * 00:00 - 02:00: Welcome and celebrating 1 year of the podcast.
 * 02:01 - 06:00: Reflections on the growth of AI-Driven Marketer and finding a niche.
 * 06:01 - 14:30: Introduction to the 30-30-30 Plan and how it helps marketers establish expertise.
 * 14:31 - 20:00: Why video podcasting is the most effective content channel.
 * 20:01 - 28:00: Learning in the light: The benefits of public transparency in expertise-building.
 * 28:01 - 35:30: Dan’s transition to Social Media Examiner and his new role.
 * 35:31 - 42:00: Future plans for the AI-Driven Marketer and what’s next in 2025.

1 Year of AI-Driven Marketer: What I Learned, What’s Next, and Why It Matters

What if you could run your entire marketing empire directly from your podcast? What if AI didn’t just support your show, but actually took the wheel? What if your cohost got a friendly punch in the face—metaphorically speaking, of course—for every missed marketing opportunity? Welcome to SMACK Talk.

Imagine a world where marketing solopreneurs, small team titans, and podcasting pioneers unleash the full potential of their voice. SMACK Talk dives headfirst into the chaos and creativity of using cutting-edge AI to revolutionize content distribution and podcast marketing. We’re not just pushing the envelope—we’re sending it through a shredder.

So, are you ready to think outside the box, kick convention to the curb, and maybe, just maybe, smack your cohost? Subscribe to SMACK Talk,and let’s make marketing mayhem together.

SMACK Talk - The Irreverent Podcast Marketing Show

I'm just a marketer on a mission to master AI in 2025 by interviewing AI tech founders, AI leaders, and marketing practitioners who are getting great results with AI today. 

Let's master this thing together. Follow this show to join me on the journey.

#danchez

AI-Driven Marketer: Master AI Marketing To Stand Out In 2025

Marketers, we're all told to learn how to use AI, but few are providing a path for what to learn and how to learn it. I'm documenting my learning journey by interviewing marketing leaders in the trenches doing the work and blazing a trail with the tools of the future. Let's learn together. 

Danchez

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