Omnichannel by OmnichannelX

Ep. 40 – Think Fast! AI and Truth Collapse

1. When both simple and sophisticated AIs become universal, how will we tell real from synthetic? And if we can't, what do we do as individuals and societies to maintain coherence in our institutions, cultures, and our own sense of internal stability?

Today we're starting a productive discussion about Truth Collapse: The AI-accelerated meta-crisis that could make or break the world.

 

What you'll learn:

• The importance of humility and understanding our vulnerabilities to predict and prepare for the future.
• The psychological manipulation techniques used by tech companies, such as Skinner boxes and addictive design.
• The role of AI in cultural participation and the associated risks.
• The potential dangers of AI in terms of emotional manipulation and truth collapse.
• Legislative measures that could mitigate the negative impacts of AI.

Ep. 39 – Think Harder: The dark side of content and AI

Understanding AI Ethics is crucial as we integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into our societies. This article explores five essential insights into AI ethics that help safeguard our future.

Explore the ethical complexities of AI and technology in this insightful podcast with Noz Urbina and Larry Swanson. Learn about the manipulation tactics of big tech, the historical power of corporations, and the crucial role of government in technology regulation.

 

What you'll learn:

• Understand the dual aspect of AI and technology: potential benefits and significant ethical dilemmas
• How technologies, particularly AI, are designed to exploit human psychology for profit (e.g., social media platforms using addiction mechanics)
• Historical roots of corporate power and its implications for modern-day technology practices
• Insight into the necessity for governmental intervention and effective policy-making to regulate tech companies and protect societal interests
• An exploration of personal and collective responsibility in fostering a healthier relationship with technology and governance.

 

 

Ep. 38 – The state of omnichannel in financial services w/ Robyn Eastlake

Noz Urbina and Robyn Eastlake discussed the current state of omnichannel in the financial services sector, emphasizing its crucial role in meeting users' needs and staying connected with businesses. They highlighted the importance of content efforts being connected and omnichannel, and offered tips on how to implement successful omnichannel strategies. They discussed the challenges of creating a successful content strategy in the financial services industry, including balancing short-term goals with long-term thinking and leveraging AI in content design and automated experience design. They also explored the potential of AI in content production while maintaining the value of human creativity, and emphasized the need for a hybrid approach that leverages the strengths of both AI and human creativity.

"The challenge is always how do you remind everybody in the day to day that [long-term relationship building] is the goal. You have your setup where you have your manufacturing side of the business deciding lending policy and then you have your distribution, still pretty much set up by channel. They're not usually pretty well connected... Making sure that users feel valued, they feel safe, they're protected, and that the things that are being served to them are appropriate to them is hugely valuable for businesses." – Robyn Eastlake

Listen now

 

What you'll learn

• Omnichannel Mastery: Insights on navigating omnichannel strategy in financial services.
• Content Meets AI: How AI is shaping content strategies and what pitfalls to avoid.
• User-Centric Design: The importance of aligning content with user needs and expectations.
• Navigating Challenges: Key strategies for overcoming common obstacles in financial services.
• Future Trends: Predictions on the evolution of content and digital experiences.

Ep. 37 – Marketing to audience intent instead of the funnel w/ Ashley Faus

Our guest today is Ashley Faus, whose work has been featured in TIME, Forbes, and The Journal of Brand Strategy. She currently works at Atlassian as a Head of Lifecycle Marketing.

In this episode, Ashley and Noz Urbina unpack the power of content intent in boosting demand, dissecting learn vs. use intent, funnel phases in intent-focused strategies, and AI’s role in content creation. They offer expert insights and tips on streamlining content roles for team synergy, ensuring message harmony, and aligning marketing with audience needs.

 

“I actually think the funnel is a retrospective measurement tool, not a forward-looking strategy tool. Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Today I shall be in the awareness phase.’ People don’t behave that way. So, I like to frame up the audience journey in terms of a playground, where people can go up, down, sideways; they can chart their own journey.” – Ashley Faus

 

By the end of the episode, you’ll learn:

 

• The Importance of Content Intent: Understand the difference between learn intent and use intent, and how this knowledge can dramatically improve demand generation and pipeline generation.
• Redefining the Funnel: Learn how the traditional top-of-funnel, middle-of-funnel, and bottom-of-funnel model is evolving to accommodate content by intent, and why a mindset shift is necessary for effective marketing.
• AI in Content Creation: Discover the spectrum of content creation from 100% human to 100% AI, and learn how to match the intent with the appropriate approach for creating meaningful content.
• Audience Intent Mapping: Gain insights into mapping the customer journey to a “playground” model where consumers can chart their own path, moving beyond the linear funnel model to understand consumer behavior more accurately.
• Content Planning and Strategy: Find out how breaking down content into actionable steps and clear CTAs can guide users more effectively towards their goals.
• Effective Marketing through Understanding: Learn the importance of tailoring marketing messages to individual preferences and interests, and how understanding the job or message behind each piece of content can lead to more successful engagement.
• Collaboration and Strategy in Content Marketing: Discover the critical role of collaboration across teams to create consistent messaging, the importance of a multichannel approach, and how to scale content marketing strategies effectively.

Ep. 36 – Think again: Untapping AI opportunities w/ Noz Urbina

In today's episode of the Omnichannel Podcast, we're joined by AI expert Noz Urbina, alongside our host Larry Swanson, to go deeper into the transformative power of artificial intelligence across business, creativity, and more.

This discussion will uncover how AI is revolutionizing our methods of problem-solving, content creation, and decision-making.

Join us as Noz shares his journey through the evolution of AI, highlighting its potential to enhance human creativity and challenge our understanding of technology's role in society. Tune in to explore the complexities, opportunities, and future directions of AI in our rapidly evolving digital landscape.

"AI enables us all to be programmers without being coders. It's about understanding the problem, its context, its constraints, and the intended results, and being able to express that logically and clearly, understanding both your own bias and the AI's bias. That's what lets us win the future." - Noz Urbina

Ep. 35 – Fixing the fundamentals of the web: Sharing 55 years of omnichannel experience w/ Steven Pemberton

Our guest today is Steven Pemberton, a renowned researcher in the field of computer science and information technology.

Pemberton is best known for his contributions to the development of the World Wide Web, particularly in the areas of markup languages and web standards.

In this podcast episode, Steven and Noz discuss the future of web development and content strategy. This discussion untangles the complexities of web technologies, emphasising the pivotal role of structured content and the innovative approaches shaping digital experiences.

"My fundamental point of view is that if it works, you should do it... My problems with AI is that firstly, there's no I in there yet, that it's machine learning but it's not artificial intelligence. So that you can't trust it." - Steven Pemberton

Ep. 34 – Focus, leverage, and build habits with ex-Spotify leadership coach w/ Cliff Hazell

Omnichannel is the unification of engagement and communication strategies so that they complement each other – rather than run in parallel – to give the audience what they really need. That means orchestrating experiences across multiple touchpoints and aligning content, design, governance, and systems around people's journeys.

Our guest today is Cliff Hazell. He's a founder, manager, and coach.

Over the last two decades, Cliff has built a career dedicated to dismantling the barriers that impede exceptional work. 

He seeks to cultivate the appropriate culture and systems necessary for the development of outstanding companies and product and says he’s trying to show brands the benefit of integrating everything you do, not just fixing one part. Omnichannel for the win, baby!

He’s now based in Sweden, where he spent four years leading a team of coaches at Spotify during a period of significant growth, as the company expanded its workforce from 700 to 5000 employees before moving on to coaching private clients, particularly those experiencing rapid scaling. 

His guidance is focused on helping them develop focus, leverage, and sustainable habits. We’re going to talk about what that exactly means and how you can do it during this episode.

"If you automate stuff that is the wrong idea. You now have the bad things automated." - Cliff Hazell

Ep. 33 – Decoding the Content Tech Evolution w/ Tony Byrne

In this OmnichannelX podcast episode, host Noz Urbina sits down with Tony Byrne, Founder of Real Story Group (formerly CMS Watch).

Tony brings over two decades of expertise in CMSs, offering unique perspectives on the evolution of DAMs, headless CMS, and the emerging role of AI in content strategy. This episode delves into the complexities of modern content technologies and offers insightful strategies for making informed choices in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

 

By the end of the episode, you'll learn:

• Evolution of Content Management Systems: Understand how DAMs and CMS have evolved over the years, including the rise of headless CMS and the impact of AI
• Strategic Technology Decisions: Learn the importance of having a clear strategy and vision when choosing content management technologies
• The Future of DAMs: Explore how DAMs are expanding their capabilities, managing a wider range of assets, and playing a crucial role in the content lifecycle
• The Role of AI in Content Strategy: Gain insights into how AI is transforming content creation and management, not just at the customer touchpoint but throughout the content lifecycle
• Challenges with Headless CMS: Understand the limitations and potential pitfalls of headless CMS and the importance of hybrid solutions
• Emerging Omni-channel Content Platforms: Discover the concept of Omni-channel Content Platforms (OCPs) and how they differ from traditional DAM and CMS solutions
• Making Informed Technology Choices: Learn practical tips for navigating the complex content technology market and making decisions that align with your organization’s needs.

Ep. 32 – Mastering AI, Metaverse, and Modern Content Dynamics w/ Brian Piper

In this OmnichannelX podcast episode, host Noz Urbina sits down with Brian Piper, Director of Content Strategy and Assessment at the University of Rochester.

They explore the evolution of digital marketing, the impactful role of AI, and the fascinating world of the metaverse. Brian shares valuable insights from his work at the University of Rochester, discussing the intricacies of user journeys, content optimisation, and the future of AR/VR in education.

 

What you will learn:

• Understanding the evolution and future of digital marketing and content strategy
• Insights into the application and impact of AI and the metaverse in various fields
• Strategies for optimizing content performance and user engagement
• The role of analytics in understanding and improving user journeys
• The potential of AR/VR in educational and professional settings.

Ep 31. Navigating the Digital Asset Management Landscape w/ Thomas Stilling

In this enlightening episode of the podcast, host Noz Urbina sits down with Thomas Stilling, a seasoned expert in Digital Asset Management (DAM) and digital strategy.

With his extensive background at Forrester Research and 20th Century Fox, Thomas delves into the intricacies of DAM systems, their evolution, and their crucial role in powering omnichannel experiences.

The discussion also touches on the differences between DAMs and Content Management Systems (CMS), the emerging role of AI in DAMs, and the importance of effective governance and change management in maximizing the potential of digital assets.

This episode offers valuable insights for professionals grappling with the complexities of digital asset storage, findability, and efficient use in a multi-faceted digital environment.