Guest: Nick Cawthon
Host: Mark Fidelman

As kids head back to school and businesses push forward with digital transformation, one theme keeps surfacing: is using AI “cheating”? In this episode, Mark and Nick dive into how teachers, students, and professionals can move past the stigma of AI and instead embrace it as a partner in creativity and productivity. From calculators once banned in classrooms to AI now frowned upon by professors, history is repeating itself. But will the future workplace punish—or reward—those who leverage generative tools?

Nick brings deep experience leading UX and design teams where human-centered practices often clash with algorithm-driven efficiencies. Together, they explore how to build a culture of amnesty, upskilling, and authenticity in both education and the enterprise.

• Why AI in classrooms is today’s calculator controversy—same fears, different tools.

• How to create “AI amnesty” in schools and workplaces so learning and experimentation thrive.

• Why human-centered design must evolve in an age where algorithms shape interactions.

• Whether generative AI kills creativity—or actually unlocks higher levels of it.

• How CMOs and leaders can overcome cultural, data, and training barriers to AI adoption.

• What tomorrow’s workforce looks like if kids embrace AI as a partner versus fearing it as a threat.

• “There’s no such thing as writer’s block anymore—AI isn’t killing creativity, it’s changing what it looks like.” – Nick

• “It’s not AI that will take your job—it’s the person who knows how to use it.” – Nick

• Take Nick’s UX/Design AI Readiness Survey → retrain.gage.io

• 📖 Grab Mark’s new book Agentized → Agentized.ai

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Episode Overview:
In this episode of AI Marketing, Mark Fidelman is joined by Jon Levesque, former Microsoft and DocuSign community leader turned founder of Seek. Together, they dissect how discovery, influence, and technology are shifting under the weight of the creator economy and AI’s explosive growth.

They explore:

• Why the directory era is dead and why centralized discovery models like Yelp and Google Local are becoming obsolete.

• How the creator economy is shaping consumer decisions—from travel inspiration on TikTok to Substack newsletters—and why authenticity is the new currency.

• The AI paradox: how AI accelerates opportunity while simultaneously commoditizing entire industries.

• The looming future of AGI and ASI, and what it means for human experience, creativity, and survival in an AI-dominated world.

• Jon’s startup Seek, which turns travel content into shoppable itineraries with affiliate revenue baked in, offering creators a powerful new monetization channel.

Why Listen:
This conversation cuts straight into the future of discovery, influence, and AI. It’s both visionary and practical, helping you understand where the opportunities lie and how to avoid getting left behind in the AI revolution.

Guest:

• Jon Levesque – Founder of Seek, community leader, and creator economy advocate.
  
  
  Contact mark@fanaticsmedia.com

Imagine a company that runs 24/7, makes decisions in real time, and scales without hiring a single new employee…

That’s not tomorrow. That’s now.

In this solo episode, Mark Fidelman introduces “Agentized” a bold new book I co-authored with Jas Dhillon. This is not another book about ChatGPT or AI tools. It’s about the transformation of work itself and how companies that fail to integrate autonomous AI agents risk becoming obsolete.

Inside this episode:

• Why AI is no longer optional, it’s existential

• A behind-the-scenes look at the real CEO story that inspired Chapter 1

• How autonomous agents are changing marketing, sales, ops, and leadership

• What the “Agentized Enterprise” looks like and why it outpaces traditional firms

• A glimpse at what happens when AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) arrives

• Why this isn’t just about tech it’s about strategy and survival

📖 Read Chapter 1 now FREE.

🔁 Give us feedback and get a free copy of the audiobook or hardcover when it drops this year.
📝 Link to Chapter 1 & TOC

TOC: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17mhERPQcpO3YermdCNnJGWbQJjaKDcN-5YGIyrIakqI/edit?usp=sharing

Chapter 1: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A1nj2xuPBMR4X4Vzp7cfk9KBdqn0d26ZG42zQHoncaM/edit?usp=sharing


Send feedback to markefidelman@gmail.com including your name and info so that I can send you the free book / audio book when released

Mark Fidelman and Lee Hackett discuss the transformative potential of AI in marketing, emphasizing that CMOs must personally engage with AI tools to stay competitive and drive business value. They explore how AI will reshape marketing roles, potentially reducing team sizes while increasing productivity through advanced technologies like AI agents and large language models. The conversation highlights the critical need for CMOs to experiment, understand AI capabilities, and proactively integrate these technologies into their strategic planning to remain relevant in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

• Speakers were Host Mark Fidelman and Lee Hackett from Blueprint X

• Discussion focused on how CMOs can leverage AI technologies

Main Podcast Highlights:

1. AI's Impact on Marketing

• AI will transform marketing roles

• Productivity gains expected

• Teams will likely become smaller

• CMOs must personally engage with AI tools

1. Critical AI Adoption Strategies

• Understand data models

• Create organizational willingness to experiment

• Develop a clear vision for AI integration

• Focus on business metrics and measurable outcomes

1. Future CMO Skills

• Master AI tools

• Demonstrate ability to deploy AI effectively

• Be curious and adaptable

• Learn to direct AI agents strategically

1. Immediate Recommendations

• Start using AI tools daily

• Experiment with AI agents

• Stay informed about emerging technologies

• Don't outsource AI learning

Recommended Action: CMOs should personally experiment with AI tools like ChatGPT and create AI agents to understand their potential.

Lee Hackett's contact information is: Website: blueprintx.com (spelled B-L-U-P-R-I-N-T-X) Email: lee.hackett@blueprintx.com

• Host: Mark Fidelman

• Guest: Richard Savoy, Co-founder and CEO of Adiona (enterprise logistics optimization company)

Main Discussion Points:

1. B2B Marketing Transformation

• Deals have become more complex (increased from 11 to 17 touchpoints)

• Slower technology adoption in logistics and supply chain sectors

• Buyers are more cautious and selective about technology solutions

1. AI's Role in Marketing

• Top of Funnel:

* Hyper-targeted lead generation * Automated lead qualification * Identifying potential leads through organizational changes

1. AI Marketing Strategies

• Website content optimization based on visitor's geographic location

• Automated content rearrangement based on user journey

• Real-time feedback loops for customer interactions

1. Future of B2B Marketing

• Shift from in-person events to digital AI-enabled interactions

• Relationship-based selling remains crucial

• AI will enhance, not completely replace human interactions

Key Advice:

• Professionals should become AI experts to remain relevant

• Embrace AI tools to improve marketing and sales processes

• Prepare for significant changes in marketing strategies

Contact: Richard Savoy's company website: adiona.tech Recommended Action:

• Learn and integrate AI tools into marketing strategies

• Stay adaptable to technological changes

• Focus on relationship-building while leveraging AI capabilities

🤖 The Premise of the Book:

• Bambenek's new book, Lies, Damn Lies, and AI, explores how AI’s promise is often overstated — especially when it’s portrayed as a magical black box that can solve any problem.

• Title is inspired by the classic quote about misleading statistics — now updated for the AI era.

💊 AI in Healthcare – A False Narrative?

• AI is valuable only when paired with human professionals, not when left on its own.

• Example: AI can help doctors detect anomalies on X-rays, but only a human can make complex medical judgments.

• The lie: That AI will replace doctors, when in reality it augments them.

🧠 AI as a Propaganda Engine:

• Bambenek argues that AI amplifies misinformation at scale, and platforms aren’t prepared to filter it properly.

• AI-generated content (deepfakes, fake articles, fake studies) can erode trust faster than any disinformation campaign in history.

🧑‍💻 Cybersecurity Meets AI:

• AI tools are now helping hackers, not just defenders.

• Script kiddies can launch sophisticated attacks without understanding the code.

• A new arms race is underway: AI vs. AI in cybersecurity.

📉 The Cost of Hype:

• Venture capital and corporate hype often exaggerate what AI can do, leading to wasted money, broken products, and dangerous expectations.

• The idea of “general AI taking over everything” is a misleading narrative pushed for clicks and funding.

🧩 Call for Transparency:

• Bambenek advocates for “explainable AI” — if an algorithm makes a decision, we should understand why.

• Black-box systems being deployed in legal, medical, or hiring decisions are a major red flag.

“AI doesn’t replace expertise. It amplifies it — or it amplifies ignorance if you’re not careful.” – John Bambenek
“There’s nothing more dangerous than trusting a machine you don’t understand.” – Mark Fidelman

• Book: Lies, Damn Lies, and AI by John Bambenek – Available on Amazon

• Guest: John Bambenek on LinkedIn

Podcast Episode Notes
AI Marketing with Mark Fidelman
Episode Title: Revolutionizing Sales with AI: Featuring Gaurav Bhattacharya, CEO of Jeeva.ai

Episode Overview:
In this engaging conversation, Mark Fidelman sits down with Gaurav Bhattacharya, CEO of Jeeva.ai, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming sales. They discuss practical ways marketers and salespeople can leverage AI, the potential future of AI in sales, and why the human touch will remain indispensable.

Key Discussion Points:

• Introduction to Jeeva.ai

  • Agentic AI platform supporting over 10,000 sales reps and 300 enterprise customers.

  • Backed by notable investors including Alt Capital (Jack Altman), Sapphire Ventures, and Mark Benioff of Salesforce.

• Why AI Matters for Sales

  • Automates repetitive tasks such as lead generation, research, personalized outreach, and CRM updates.

  • Enhances efficiency, allowing salespeople to focus on relationship building and strategic tasks.

• AI Replacing Sales Calls?

  • Gaurav’s strong stance against AI fully replacing human sales interactions.

  • Belief in AI augmenting rather than replacing high-value sales tasks.

• Future of AI and Human Work

  • Discussion on Universal Basic Income and the evolution of jobs in an AI-driven economy.

  • Predictions on autonomous driving and entrepreneurial opportunities in AI-managed fleets.

• First Steps for Salespeople New to AI

  • Begin with chat-based tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Perplexity) for deep research and personalized outreach.

  • Leverage AI to build credibility and trust through superior customer knowledge.

• What Top Sales Performers Do Differently

  • Proactively prospecting with AI tools.

  • Maximizing opportunities by personally generating leads beyond inbound marketing.

• Jeeva.ai’s Unique Solutions for Salespeople

  • Advanced AI-powered lead discovery and enrichment.

  • Personalized multi-channel outreach campaigns automated and scaled effortlessly.

  • Enhanced productivity, enabling sales reps to manage larger pipelines effectively.

Connect with Jeeva.ai:

• Website: Jeeva.ai

• Email: g@jeeva.ai

• LinkedIn: Gaurav Bhattacharya (Look for Jeeva.ai affiliation)

Host Information:

• Mark Fidelman
  AI marketing expert, podcast host, and fractional CMO specializing in AI, blockchain, and real estate tokenization.

• Website: markfidelman.com

• LinkedIn: Mark Fidelman

• Twitter: @MarkFidelman

Subscribe and Listen:

• Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Join us next episode as we continue to dive deep into the transformative power of AI across marketing and sales!