A Guide to the Most Powerful AI Applications for Marketing
So much has changed in marketing since Professor Philip Kotler wrote Marketing Management, the most widely used marketing textbook in the world. I had the pleasure over the years to speak at conferences with Professor Kotler, and he was always on the lookout for new tools that would transform marketing. I remember when CRM tools came on the market; he was absolutely thrilled!
A notable example of such a tool today would be artificial intelligence (AI), which has rapidly evolved from a futuristic concept to a core enabler of modern marketing. In 2025, AI is not just a buzzword; it is a critical driver of efficiency, personalization, and growth across the marketing landscape. I thought now was the right time to take inventory of the eight most powerful AI applications for marketing—ways that AI can transform how brands connect with audiences, optimize campaigns, and drive business results.
Customer Insights and Segmentation
AI excels at analyzing massive datasets to uncover actionable customer insights. Through advanced algorithms, marketers can automatically segment audiences based on demographics, behaviors, preferences, and purchase history. This enables hyper-targeted campaigns that resonate with specific groups, improving conversion rates and customer loyalty.
Predictive analytics: AI models forecast future customer behaviors, such as likelihood to purchase or churn, allowing marketers to proactively tailor strategies.
Persona generation: AI tools can create detailed, data-driven personas, even for hard-to-reach segments, supporting more effective targeting and messaging.
Personalization at Scale
Consumers now expect personalization, and AI makes it possible to deliver tailored experiences to millions of users simultaneously.
Recommendation engines: Platforms like Amazon and Netflix use AI to analyze user data and deliver personalized product or content recommendations, significantly boosting engagement and sales.
Dynamic content creation: AI can generate individualized emails, website content, and social media posts, ensuring each customer receives relevant messaging.
Content Creation and Optimization
AI-powered tools are revolutionizing content marketing by automating and enhancing the creation, optimization, and distribution of content.
AI writing assistants: Tools like Jasper AI and ContentShake AI help marketers generate high-quality blog posts, ad copy, and social media content, adhering to brand voice and style guidelines.
SEO optimization: Solutions such as Surfer SEO analyze search trends and competitor content, providing actionable recommendations to improve organic rankings.
Visual content generation: AI platforms can create images, videos, and even 3-D product renderings, streamlining creative workflows and enabling rapid iteration.
Marketing Automation and CRM
AI-driven automation platforms are central to modern marketing operations, managing repetitive tasks and orchestrating complex campaigns across multiple channels.
Campaign management: Tools like Salesforce Einstein and Adobe Marketo Engage use AI to automate campaign planning, execution, and optimization, freeing marketers to focus on strategy.
Lead scoring and nurturing: AI algorithms evaluate leads based on engagement and fit, prioritizing sales efforts and increasing conversion rates.
Conversational CRM: Chatbots and virtual assistants, such as HubSpot’s ChatSpot, automate customer interactions, from answering queries to qualifying leads.
Advertising and Media Buying
AI is transforming digital advertising by optimizing spend, targeting, and creative in real time.
Programmatic advertising: Platforms like Albert.ai automate ad buying, audience segmentation, and campaign optimization, continuously learning and improving performance.
Ad copy generation: AI tools generate and test multiple ad variations, identifying the most effective messaging for different segments.
Performance forecasting: AI models predict campaign outcomes, allowing marketers to allocate budgets more efficiently and maximize ROI.
Social Media Marketing
AI-powered tools streamline and enhance social media management, from content planning to audience engagement.
Content scheduling and analytics: Solutions like Flick.social automate post scheduling, suggest optimal posting times, and analyze performance.
Hashtag optimization: AI identifies trending and relevant hashtags, increasing content discoverability and reach.
Sentiment analysis: AI monitors social conversations, providing real-time insights into brand perception and emerging trends.
Customer Service and Chatbots
AI-driven chatbots are now a staple of digital customer service, providing instant, 24/7 support.
Automated support: AI chatbots handle common customer inquiries, resolve issues, and escalate complex cases to human agents, improving satisfaction and reducing costs.
Conversational marketing: Bots can qualify leads, guide users through the sales funnel, and even close transactions within messaging platforms.
Market Research and Competitive Intelligence
AI accelerates and deepens market research, enabling brands to stay ahead of competitors.
Social listening: AI tools analyze online conversations to identify emerging trends, competitor moves, and consumer sentiment.
Automated surveys and interviews: AI can engage with personas or real customers to gather feedback and insights at scale.
I feel certain even Professor Kotler would be surprised at how quickly AI has empowered marketing. AI’s most important applications in marketing—customer insights, personalization, content creation, automation, advertising, social media, customer service, and market research—are fundamentally reshaping how marketing gets performed. CRM users, and marketers in particular, who embrace these AI-driven innovations are poised to deliver more relevant, efficient, and impactful campaigns, setting new standards for customer engagement that will deliver new business growth in 2025 and beyond. These sure are exciting times in CRM and high-tech!
Barton Goldenberg (bgoldenberg@ismguide.com) is president of ISM, Inc. Since 1985, ISM has helped global corporations successfully apply leveraging leading edge technologies—AI, spatial computing (VR/AR/XR), digital communities, and CRM—to improve sales, marketing and customer service. His thought leadership includes co-creator of the Business Success in the AI Virtual World podcast, co-creator of the award winning AI and Spatial Computing Resource Center, and author of three business books including The Definitive Guide to Social CRM. He is also in high demand as a keynote speaker (www.bartongoldenberg.com) having recently spoken at CES 2025 and will soon speak at AWE 2025 in CA, VRTO in Toronto, the AI Summit in Silicon Valley, and at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.