The AI CMO: Humanizing Technology Through Empathetic Marketing

When Stephen Sakash began his journey from journalism school to digital marketing, he never imagined he'd be at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to make marketing more human. Yet that's exactly where his path has led him – developing an AI Chief Marketing Officer tool that helps businesses uncover their higher purpose and translate it into emotionally resonant campaigns.

At the heart of Sakash's approach is a concept he calls BLISS: Building Love Into Scalable Systems. This framework addresses a critical challenge many growing companies face – maintaining authenticity and emotional connection while scaling operations. Without deliberate attention to these elements, businesses often lose the very soul that made them successful as they systematize their processes. Sakash's solution? Consistently finding ways to infuse empathy and purpose into every aspect of marketing and operations.

The results speak for themselves. According to research Sakash cites, customers with strong emotional connections deliver 306% more lifetime value. This underscores why marketers should focus less on features and benefits and more on crafting narratives that make people feel something meaningful. His AI tool helps uncover these emotional connections while saving marketers significant time – potentially allowing them to accomplish in minutes what might otherwise take days.

What makes Sakash's perspective particularly valuable is his focus on using AI to enhance human empathy rather than diminish it. While many AI developers prioritize efficiency and profit maximization, he deliberately programmed his tool to prompt marketers to tell better stories and consider all stakeholders – not just shareholders. "AI is only going to amplify our better angels or our inner demons," Sakash warns, "and we need more people talking about how it can amplify our better angels."

For aspiring marketing professionals, Sakash offers clear guidance: find meaning in your work and look for ways to build love into whatever systems you touch. By approaching business from this perspective, you'll create more effective campaigns and contribute to more fulfilling workplaces where people feel connected to something larger than themselves. Subscribe to our podcast for more conversations with digital innovators who are reshaping the future of media and marketing.

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This podcast is proudly sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace. Learn more or apply today at https://dmm.usc.edu.