“AI will replace us.”
It’s a phrase we’ve all heard—sometimes whispered in fear, other times shouted from keynote stages. But what if, instead, AI was the very thing bringing us closer to our creativity, our clients, and our purpose?
That’s exactly what Ian Anderson Gray believes.
In Episode 60 of the AI Six Podcast, I reunited with Ian—founder of iag.me, marketing strategist, live video expert, and long-time collaborator—to dive into the real story behind AI: not the fear, not the hype, but the very real transformation happening in how we work, create, and connect.
Creativity Meets Code: Ian’s Unique Perspective
With a background in classical singing and a deep love for tech, Ian brings a rare mix of heart and head to the world of AI. He’s been blogging since 2011, building websites even longer, and helping entrepreneurs embrace tools like live video and now AI to grow their businesses.
As Ian puts it:
“AI should make us more human, not less. It frees us to do more of what we do best—critical thinking, creativity, and building relationships.”
The AI Journey: From Fear to Function
We talked about the two camps Ian often sees when it comes to AI:
- The evangelists who are “all in” on AI and possibly intimidating in their speed of adoption
- The resisters, who keep their heads in the sand out of fear it’ll replace them
But Ian believes there’s a powerful middle ground—one where marketers, creators, and business owners can dip their toes into AI, test, explore, and grow with it.
His advice? Start small. Use AI as an assistant, not a replacement. And don’t worry if it still feels overwhelming—if you’re thinking about this now, you’re already ahead of the curve.
Tools of the Trade: What Ian’s Using Right Now
As a self-confessed “tool nerd,” Ian shared some of his go-to AI platforms:
- ChatGPT Plus: For brainstorming, meetings, and even voice conversations while out on a walk
- Claude 3.5 Sonnet: Great for writing and coding tasks
- Notebook LM: From Google—ideal for learning, content research, and podcast prep
- Perplexity: An emerging player in AI search
- Magi & LibreChat: To experiment with multiple models without full subscriptions
He also had a strong message: You don’t need to understand it all. Let AI explain itself to you. Ask it how to use a tool like Notion in your podcast workflow or how to streamline a blog writing process. It’s your endlessly patient assistant.
Why AI is Changing Search (and What That Means for Marketers)
We couldn’t talk AI without digging into how it’s affecting search.
As Ian noted, we’re Googling less—and using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity to get answers directly.
That means marketers need to start thinking not just about SEO for humans and search engine bots—but also about visibility in AI models. Consider dedicated pages on your website designed specifically for large language model discovery. It’s not about ditching your website; it’s about adapting it for the new era.
The Shame Around AI—and Why We Need to Let It Go
Ian also addressed a topic that doesn’t get talked about enough: the shame or secrecy some feel about using AI tools.
“It’s not cheating—it’s smart,” Ian said. “If you’re just copying and pasting output, that’s lazy. But most of us are using AI for brainstorming, research, writing for our audience, refining tone and grammar… that’s smart marketing.”
And he’s right. We’ve long used assistants, editors, and teams. AI is just the next evolution of that support.
What’s Next? From AI Images to a More Ethical Future
As generative images become indistinguishable from the real thing, we touched on the growing need for ethics and transparency. Should AI-generated content be labelled? What about copyright issues with AI art?
It’s a conversation that’s just beginning—but one that marketers need to be part of now.
About the Podcast Host
Joanne Sweeney is a specialist in public-sector marketing and digital communications. She’s the author of Public Sector Marketing Pro and the creator of the Professional Diploma in AI for Public Sector Marketing. With years of experience in training, consulting, and advocating for digital transformation, Joanne provides insight and guidance for government agencies navigating the digital landscape. She is also the host of the award-winning Public Sector Marketing Show podcast.
