24 Mar Is AI and Marketing the Ultimate Growth Strategy?
In a fast-evolving digital world, the convergence of AI and marketing is reshaping how brands communicate, connect, and convert. In the latest episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, Guy Powell sits down with Upton Rand—author, entrepreneur, and founder of Gay Men’s Field Guide—to discuss how AI has transformed his creative process and marketing strategies.

Upton Rand on AI and Marketing
Rand began leveraging AI not out of curiosity but necessity. With limited time and resources, he used AI-enabled market research tools and language models to create marketing copy, target the right audiences, and even craft his books. Through this episode, he emphasizes how AI has amplified his productivity and decision-making. Whether generating social content or guiding PR outreach, AI acts as his 24/7 marketing assistant.
One standout moment? Upton created his own AI agent, Ember, designed to be an intuitive partner that remembers his goals, strategizes with him, and even offers emotional support. It’s a glimpse into the near future—where businesses of all sizes can afford custom AI tools to scale faster and smarter.
This episode covers more than tactics. It touches on the ethics of AI, the growing problem of hallucinations in machine learning, and how to avoid training your models with flawed data.
If you’re a marketer, author, or entrepreneur navigating the AI landscape, this conversation is a must-listen. You’ll walk away with practical advice, a few laughs, and a renewed sense of what’s possible when AI meets creativity.
You can find the video here: https://youtu.be/Y_awNjiuKH0
To learn more about Gay Men’s Field Guide, visit: https://www.gaymensfieldguide.com
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