Startup life? Brutal.
Investors want miracles, but your budget could barely buy coffee for a team of two.
I remember the early days at my first startup, we had next to nothing for a marketing budget. Every click, every visitor was a hard-won victory. Those scrappy days taught me to squeeze every drop out of what we had.
Today, that edge is called AI.
And if you're not leaning into it, you’re playing on hard mode.
Dane Vahey, Head of Strategic Marketing at OpenAI, says:
Most marketers are still splashing around in the shallow end with AI. They’re using it to write social posts and email subject lines, but the real power? That’s down in the deep end, changing how we think and operate.
Blog posts and subject lines?
That’s child’s play.
It’s time to go much deeper.
In this post, I’ll cover:
Why AI Primitives matter for marketers
The core AI skills every marketer should know
My take on what it all means for the future of marketing
Why AI primitives matter
Dane calls “AI Primitives” the building blocks of modern marketing.
It’s not about cranking out more social posts.
Think of it as an unfair advantage that 99% of marketers aren’t leveraging.
AI Primitive #1: Research and get insights, fast
Remember when research used to take days?
Now, it’s done in minutes
No more outdated, irrelevant data.
With tools like Search GPT (coming soon) or Perplexity, you can pull real-time data from across the globe.
Planning a campaign in Brazil?
Ask, “What’s the regulatory landscape for SaaS?”
Bam—instant intel.
This isn’t research.
It’s weaponised knowledge.
AI Primitive #2: Data analysis is turning raw data into gold
Your data is a goldmine if you know how to use it.
Most marketers are drowning in data and gasping for insights.
With ChatGPT, you can upload marketing data and instantly spot trends without spreadsheet marathons.
Imagine heading into a meeting armed with insights that took AI minutes to pull.
When I first experimented with automating my weekly marketing reports using AI, I expected inevitable bugs and glitches. Instead, every Monday morning, I receive a comprehensive analysis of the week's performance directly in my inbox—no manual effort required. Welcome to the boardroom ambush game-changer.
AI Primitive #3: Content generation is more than blog posts
Yes, we’re all using AI for content.
But if you’re just churning out blog posts, you’re leaving money on the table.
Tools like DALL-E and Runway ML go beyond words, letting you generate visuals, videos, and onboarding materials without a big production team.
AI still needs your voice, though—keep it on-brand.
AI Primitive #4: Automation & Coding
AI is democratising tech.
With tools like Zapier and Make, you can automate workflows, lead scoring, and follow-ups. No-code tools like Bubble.io mean you’re building custom dashboards without a single line of code.
It’s a super power on demand.
Here’s an example of an AI app I built with AI without typing a line of code.
AI Primitive #5: Thinking
AI isn’t here to take over your job.
It’s your brainstorming buddy.
With ChatGPT’s Advanced Audio model, brainstorm on the go.
Need fresh angles?
Ask, “What am I missing?” AI will point out blind spots and suggest alternatives.
And with ChatGPT’s memory feature, it remembers past convos, becoming a strategic partner over time.
Startup life isn’t forgiving but you already know that.
AI gives you the chance to work smarter and more strategically.
Marketers may lead the AI charge in companies, but most are barely scratching the surface.
Drafts and captions? Helpful, sure.
But that’s AI on training wheels.
If you’re serious about leveraging AI, focus on these:
Research: Fast-track campaigns with AI insights.
Data Analysis: Spot trends without drowning in spreadsheets.
Content Generation: Let AI handle visuals, videos, and more.
Automation & Coding: Build workflows without a developer.
Thinking: Brainstorm, strategise, and uncover what you’re missing.
Adopting AI Primitives thinking is about upgrading your entire approach.
With AI as your partner, you’re no longer just executing, you’re strategising and operating on a whole new level. It’s a framework for winning.
This is AI-First Marketing.
Go Deeper
Check out these hand-picked resources:
Harvard Business Review: How to Design an AI Marketing Strategy
Hubspot: AI in Digital Marketing The Complete Guide
Synthesia: 11 Powerful Uses of AI in Marketing