Nearly 70% of marketing leaders agree agentic AI will be transformative, yet effectiveness remains elusive

Core Insights - The role of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) is evolving, facing high expectations amidst challenges like budget constraints and declining strategic influence [3][4][6] - There is a significant gap in the effective use of AI in marketing, with only 7% of marketers believing AI has improved marketing effectiveness despite high adoption rates [7][8] Marketing Budget and Strategic Influence - Marketing budgets have decreased to an average of 5% of company revenue, while the involvement of CMOs in critical decision-making has dropped from 70% to 55% over two years [4] - The report highlights that 55% of marketing initiatives related to AI are funded by IT, limiting marketing's control over these initiatives [3][4] AI Integration and Effectiveness - Nearly 70% of large organizations utilize generative AI in marketing, but only 15% of marketing leaders report that low-value tasks are automated [7][8] - A mere 18% of marketers feel they are successfully personalizing customer interactions using AI, indicating a need for improved collaboration between marketing and technology [5][10] Collaboration and Skills Development - Strengthening collaboration between CMOs and CIOs is essential for aligning technology and data with strategic priorities, as 68% of marketing leaders believe their teams need to upskill in AI and business strategy [10][11] - The report emphasizes the importance of integrating AI across the marketing value chain to enhance customer experience and drive business growth [11] Future Directions for CMOs - CMOs are encouraged to redesign their operating models to be more human-centric and future-ready, positioning themselves as key drivers of customer experience [11][12] - The report suggests that CMOs should focus on removing silos within organizations and investing in the right AI skills to fully leverage AI's potential [11][12]