The Hidden Benefit of AI at Work

This Week

Slingshot reveals AI isn’t just boosting productivity—it’s freeing up time for what matters most. And if you’re drowning in information, Google’s NotebookLM makes things interesting by turning your content into a customized podcast experience.

Greg Isenberg’s AI-powered SEO tips show how to climb search rankings without sacrificing quality. Top CMOs focus on smart integration, ethics, and team upskilling to stay ahead of the curve, and Nicole Greene shares her framework for cutting your tech stack clutter.

Read on.

The Hidden Benefit of AI? More Personal Time

AI tools are giving employees back precious hours, but what they do with that time might surprise their employers.

Adopting AI is high on the agenda for companies eager to boost productivity and streamline workflows. But there’s still a gap between what these tools can do and how they’re being utilized. 

Slingshot’s 2024 Digital Work Trends Report surveyed 250 U.S. employees and managers, shedding light on key areas like training, productivity, and data readiness.

Training Gaps

Only 23% of employees feel fully equipped to use AI. Employers are more optimistic, with 72% believing their teams are well-trained, but just 53% of employees agree.

There's a noticeable gender gap: 66% of male employees report adequate training, compared to 44% of female employees.

Productivity Impact

AI is a time-saver for most, with 79% of employees cutting 1-2 hours off their daily workload, and 37% saving 3-4 hours. How are they using that extra time? 63% are reducing their workload, and 54% are re-prioritizing and managing tasks more effectively.

Interestingly, 26% of employees are spending their newfound time on non-work-related activities, raising questions about how employers view AI's impact.

Want to learn more? Check out the full Slingshot report.

What Two AI Hosts Say About Their Secret Love Affair

Google’s NotebookLM is a game-changer for anyone managing a mountain of information. It’s simple: upload your articles, research notes, strategy docs—even audio files—and NotebookLM organizes them into tailored summaries, FAQs, briefing docs, or study guides, basically whatever you want.

But here’s where it gets interesting: NotebookLM lets you turn that content into a customized podcast hosted by two AI voices. This feature is perfect for making team training, client updates, or manager debriefs more engaging—without any extra production work.

And it’s super flexible. While listening, you can keep exploring in NotebookLM—ask follow-up questions, pull citations, or dig into relevant quotes, all without pausing the audio. 

The best part? The AI hosts are ready for anything—even a little humor. I threw them a curveball this week, suggesting they might secretly be in love, and their response turned into a hilarious and insightful discussion (shout out to Olivia Moore for the idea). 

They used the prompt to talk about how we often connect with digital personalities, touching on parasocial relationships and the importance of critical thinking in the age of social media.

You can give NotebookLM a try here. 

5 AI Insights Every Marketer Should Know

AI is moving faster than a viral TikTok trend—adopted at rates 2-3 times quicker than the internet or even personal computers. Every week, there’s a new launch, another flashy product, another giant leap toward a sci-fi future. 

The hype is real, and so are the concerns: job loss, deepfakes, even whispers of rogue AI taking over. But it’s not all doom and gloom. CMO advisor Carilu Dietrich recently sat down with marketing leaders from Canva, HubSpot, and Stripe to find out what’s at the top of CMOs' minds. 

Here are the top 4 takeaways:

1. AI is a top priority. CMOs are focusing on integrating AI into products to deliver better customer experiences.

2. Experimentation is key. Right now, AI is mostly in the testing phases, with uses ranging from content creation to personalized marketing. But most projects still require a human touch to get it right.

3. Privacy and ethics are in the spotlight. Companies are setting strict guidelines to manage data usage and security, tackling the tricky balance of innovation and compliance.

4. Learning agility matters. CMOs are upskilling teams and experimenting with new tools to boost productivity while staying realistic about AI’s immediate impacts.

5. Cautious optimism is the mood. While there’s excitement about AI’s potential, CMOs are keeping expectations grounded, knowing the journey to full integration is just beginning.

For a deeper dive, check out Carilu’s full post or catch the full webinar.

Cut The Clutter: 4 Smart Way to Integrate AI Tools

Marketers are drowning in tools, and adding yet another one to the mix won’t magically solve your problems. Generative AI promises faster workflows, richer insights, and automated content—but it’s not a quick fix you can just bolt onto your existing stack.

To move from small experiments to company-wide success, you need a strategic approach. It’s not about piling on more tools — it’s about having a plan that streamlines your workflows and cuts the clutter.

Here are four ways to make generative AI work for you without overwhelming your stack:

1. Establish an AI Council: Bring together a cross-functional team to lead AI adoption, focusing on business value, risk management, and upskilling.

2. Get Your Data Ready: Clean, structured data and solid metadata management are key. Assign a marketing data champion to ensure data quality aligns with your goals.

3. Refine Your Tech and Talent Mix: Decide whether to buy or build AI models, and invest in upskilling staff to match your chosen approach.

4. Build Customer Trust: Be upfront about how AI-generated content is used. Transparency goes a long way in building trust and loyalty.

Generative AI can be an A-player, but only if integrated thoughtfully. Without a clear strategy, it’s just another tool that will sit on the shelf gathering dust. Focus on aligning AI with your existing processes, invest in the right skills, and prioritize transparency. 

That’s how you turn the promise of AI into real success.

A shout-out to Nicole Greene for her implementation framework. 

AI SEO Tactics to Drive Traffic Without Penalties

SEO is undergoing a major shift with the rise of Programmatic Search or SEO 2.0, as AI takes on tasks like keyword research, content creation, and backlink analysis. And it’s catching on fast—84% of SEO specialists now report that AI influences their SEO strategy.

Wondering how you can get started with SEO 2.0?

Greg Isenberg, founder of Boring Marketing, shares his top four AI and SEO strategies to boost search rankings—without compromising quality. 

1. AI + Human Collaboration
   AI tools like ChatGPT and Jasper make content creation easier, but the human touch is still essential. Isenberg emphasizes that humans need to refine the tone, verify details, and capture the brand’s unique voice to keep content authentic.

2. Anticipate User Intent
   Use AI to tailor content based on individual preferences and behaviors, making it more relevant to users. If you’re ready for advanced SEO, use predictive analytics to anticipate what users need as a way to increase engagement and lift your search rankings.

3. Interactive Content
   Adding elements like quizzes, polls, and interactive tools keeps visitors engaged, reduces bounce rates, and encourages return visits. These interactions are positive signals for search engines, which can enhance SEO rankings.

4. Dynamic Keyword Optimization
   Use AI to conduct continuous keyword research and adapt content to current trends and search behaviors. Staying aligned with the latest queries helps maintain relevance and ranking.

By integrating AI into smart SEO strategies, you’ll keep your content relevant, rank higher, and create stronger connections with your audience.

Check out the details at the Hubspot blog.