Sun, Sand & Signal Strength: Media + Marketing Truths from POSSIBLE 2025 in Miami Beach
Fresh off the sun-soaked sands of Miami Beach, a bit sunburned and somewhere between a keynote on AI ethics and an espresso-martini-fueled brainstorm about shoppable memes, I realized something at POSSIBLE 2025: Marketing is weirder, faster, and more wildly entertaining than ever.
Gone are the days of long lead calendars and carefully crafted campaigns approved by twelve committees. Today, it’s all about brand vibes, algorithm whispers, and AI that will outkick your punt coverage. So, in true Jeff Mard fashion, I scribbled down the 10 trends that matter on my flight home last night. And couldn’t wait to write this up… so here we go, buckle up.
Will "Chat Commerce" Lead to a Closed or Open Future? The Shopify-ChatGPT Rumblings
Rumors are swirling about a potential integration of Shopify directly into ChatGPT.
From a user perspective, this sounds incredibly convenient. Imagine asking your AI assistant to find the perfect gift and being able to purchase it directly within the chat interface. This seamless experience hints at a future where conversational AI becomes a central hub for online shopping.
However, this development also sparks a familiar unease, echoing the era of America Online (AOL!). One where users were largely confined within a single, proprietary ecosystem. Similarly, the dominance of Internet Explorer leveraging the Windows install base. This raises serious concerns about powerful platforms potentially dictating user access and limiting choice.