16 Thought Leaders Implementing AI Technology

From revolutionizing marketing strategies to optimizing content creation, and enhancing customer experiences to streamlining operations, these 16 AI thought leaders are putting theory into practice.

They offer invaluable insights on how AI can transform businesses while addressing the ethical considerations guiding its development.

Whether you are a marketer, an agency professional, or a business leader looking to harness the power of AI, the expertise and experiences of these thought leaders will provide you with actionable insights and inspiration:

Liza Adams

The Why: A passionate champion for using data-driven insights to fuel creativity and innovation in marketing.

Liza Adams is known for her practical applications of AI in content personalization and analytics. Adams is an AI advisor and fractional CMO, working with B2B businesses. With 20+ years as a senior marketing exec at industry leaders like Smartsheet, Juniper Networks, and others, she helps teams understand AI’s potential, craft AI strategies, and plan AI operations. Liza is all about guiding teams to create value and profit responsibly with AI. With a decade in AI, from machine learning to generative AI, she is recognized as an AI thought leader, writer, and speaker. Liza was recognized as a person to follow in AI at G2’s 2023 Reach event and named one of the 50 CMOs to watch in 2024 by Pavilion. Her work focuses on leveraging AI to create more relevant and engaging content experiences for audiences. She’s big on using business for good, boosting marketing’s value, and supporting diversity and inclusion.

Learn more about Liza:

Martin Broadhurst

The Why: A top voice in leveraging AI to revolutionize marketing with practical, industry-leading insights and expertise.

Martin Broadhurst is a top voice in the practical application of AI tools for marketers. He’s all about helping companies use AI to boost efficiency and innovation. Martin’s mission is to demystify AI for marketers of all backgrounds. Broadhurst is a Hubspot Gold Partner. Hosting the ‘Artificially Intelligent Marketing’ podcast on Spotify, he breaks down marketing and AI weekly. His professional journey includes publications in peer-reviewed journals, a role on the editorial board of Applied Marketing Analytics journal, and he also holds a lecturer position where he teaches marketing.

Learn more about Martin:

Dustin Callif

The Why: A thought leader in marketing who uses AI to create more personalized and efficient customer experiences.

Dustin Califf leads the day-to-day operations of an award-winning creative production partner, Tool. Known for expertise in brand storytelling, creative tech, and commercial production, Califf drives AI-enhanced advertising campaigns. He sees AI as a game-changer in content creation, helping marketing teams craft efficient creative tools. Throughout his award-winning career, Califf has teamed up with big names like Amazon, Uber, Airbnb, Chobani, Facebook, Netflix, Google, Under Armour, Landrover, Intel, Starbucks, Nike, and more. Califf also has shared insights at major conferences like SXSW and Cannes Advertising Festival and is a regular Forbes contributor on the subject of AI and advertising. His insights into automating and optimizing customer journeys are revolutionizing how businesses approach growth and retention.

Learn more about Dustin:

Andy Crestodina

The Why: Highly respected figure in SEO and content marketing, known for his ability to simplify complex SEO strategies and make them actionable for marketers.

Over the last two decades, Andy Crestodina has been dishing out digital marketing tips to 1,000+ businesses. He’s a regular speaker at major marketing events and writes for big marketing blogs. He is also the author of “Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing.” With 500+ articles on content strategy, SEO, influencer marketing, visitor psychology, and analytics, and now a growing number of AI articles, his content reaches over a million readers annually. Andy’s practical advice and data-driven approach make him a must-follow for anyone serious about digital marketing.

Learn more about Andy:

Jeff Coyle

The Why: A pioneer in using AI to optimize content strategy that balances creativity with data-driven insights

Jeff Coyle, the co-founder and CSO at MarketMuse, is a data-driven search engine marketing pro with over 21 years in the search industry. He’s all about aiding content marketers, SEO pros, agencies, and e-commerce folks in boosting their content game and putting semantic research to work. Before kicking off MarketMuse in 2015, Jeff consulted in Atlanta and headed up the Traffic, Search, and Engagement crew at TechTarget for seven years. If you’re a MAICON alum, you’ve definitely crossed paths with this MAICON 5-time speaker! His expertise has been featured in Search Engine Journal, Forbes, and other great places.

Learn more about Jeff:

Yash Gad, Ph.D.

The Why: AI researcher who emphasizes leveraging AI while prioritizing data privacy and security.

Yash Gad is a data science and tech expert with over 15 years of experience in healthcare, marketing, machine learning, and analytics. He is the brains behind Audience Architecture, which uses AI-backed tools to blend digital media, proprietary datasets, and public datasets for valuable actionable insights on customer behaviors. His contributions are critical for companies looking to leverage AI while safeguarding sensitive information. Yash’s thought leadership extends beyond technical expertise; he is also an advocate for ethical AI practices in marketing.

Learn more about Yash:

Ashley Gross

The Why: A lifelong learner and trailblazer in building AI marketing engines that drive business growth.

Fueled by the impact of generative AI, Ashley Gross left a successful marketing career to champion accessible AI solutions. Her love for learning and crafting AI apps, along with building a sales GPT from scratch, sparked a community passion. Now, Gross heads a thriving subscription platform offering tools, founder access, workshops, and events. She is passionate about scaling AI applications beyond pilot projects to achieve sustainable, long-term results. Ashley’s leadership in this space makes her a key figure for anyone looking to fully integrate AI into their marketing strategy.