Chief marketing officers at major global brands are ramping up investments in generative artificial intelligence, with a recent Boston Consulting Group survey revealing that 71% of CMOs across Asia, Europe, and North America plan to spend seven figures annually on artificial intelligence experimentation over the next three years. Notably, confidence in generative artificial intelligence is at an all-time high, with 83% of surveyed CMOs optimistic about its impact in 2025 (a rise from 74% in 2023), and 60% expect it will drive revenue growth by 5% or more. The focus, however, is shifting from mere efficiency gains to enhancing content quality and customer experiences.
While large corporations integrate artificial intelligence for advanced video generation, tailored customer offers, and artificial intelligence-powered agents, small businesses face the temptation to chase every new tech trend. Yet, the report advises against following blindly: small business owners should focus on crafting clear messages and adopting user-friendly systems rather than overhauling budgets or teams. The key takeaways for smaller outfits include prioritising personalised, customer-relevant content over content quantity, leveraging even basic segmentation tools for better-targeted communication, and keeping measurement of results simple—just a spreadsheet and a handful of meaningful metrics can guide smarter decisions.
The winning formula, according to CMO data and practical marketing guides, is an emphasis on upskilling talent over amassing software tools. Larger marketing departments are achieving the best outcomes not just by using new platforms, but by training their teams to use them thoughtfully and maintain a human-centric voice. For small business leaders, this translates into learning the essentials of artificial intelligence, avoiding generic mass messaging, and using automation only to draft ideas or streamline repetitive tasks. Ultimately, businesses of all sizes are encouraged to avoid panic, adopt a strategic mindset, and stay true to their brand voice as artificial intelligence matures into a mainstream, but not one-size-fits-all, marketing asset.
