SPOS #997 – Adam Brotman On Being AI First

Welcome to episode #997 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.

What happens when nearly everything a marketer or strategist does today becomes instant, automatic… and nearly free? That’s the premise of AI First, the new book from Adam Brotman (my guest this week) and his co-author Andy Sack, which confronts the existential shift that AI is bringing to brand strategy, customer experience and creative work. Adam, the former Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks and co-founder of the strategic consultancy Forum3, brings firsthand experience building digital platforms that changed how global businesses operate. In this episode, we dive into what it really means to become an "AI First” organization, not just layering on tools, but redesigning your business from the ground up. You’ll hear why OpenAI’s Sam Altman believes 95% of current marketing agency work will be handled by AI, and what that means for leaders, teams and the future of creative differentiation. We explore the difference between being AI-aware and AI-native, how to run internal pilots that create momentum, and what the future holds for customer loyalty and personalization in a post-human-first creative landscape. For anyone wondering what practical transformation looks like in an AI-saturated world and how to build companies that still feel human, this conversation maps the next five years and beyond. Enjoy the conversation…

• Running time: 52:22.
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• Here is my conversation with Adam Brotman.
• AI First.
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Chapters:

(00:00) - The Journey of Digital Transformation.
(05:05) - AI First: Understanding the New Paradigm.
(10:00) - The Role of AI in Business Strategy.
(15:09) - Navigating the Future of Work with AI.
(19:50) - The Promise and Challenges of AGI.
(31:58) - The Rise of AI and Human Collaboration.
(34:07) - Navigating the AI Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities.
(37:27) - Intelligence vs. Imitation: Understanding AI's Capabilities.
(40:57) - Creativity in the Age of AI: A New Frontier.
(43:30) - The Role of Empathy in AI Interactions.
(46:41) - Paradigm Shifts: Embracing Change in Technology.
(49:01) - Responsible AI: Balancing Innovation and Ethics.
(52:44) - The Future of Work: Adapting to AI Transformations.