In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan and Travis Sanchez dive into the groundbreaking updates to ChatGPT’s 4.0 image generator and explore how it's changing the game for marketers, creatives, and business owners alike. They dissect what makes this release different, from its ability to handle complex text in images to real multimodal generation that finally delivers on the AI design promise. The brothers also discuss the practical limitations, the viral Studio Ghibli trend, and a powerful new mindset for marketers in the AI era. Plus, Dan shares insights from his Social Media Marketing World presentation and a viral post from Stephen Bartlett that every creative professional should hear.

• ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
• High Level Marketing Platform - https://danchez.com/highlevel
• AI Podcasting Tools - https://danchez.com/podtools
• n8n AI Automation Platform - https://danchez.com/n8n

• Matt Wolfe’s AI image use cases video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ahIpX6H2Fw
• Google ImageFX - https://deepmind.google/technologies/imagefx/
• Suno (AI music tool) - https://www.suno.ai/
• Napkin (diagram creator) - https://napkin.io/
• CapCut with AI tools - https://www.capcut.com/
• Perplexity AI - https://www.perplexity.ai/
• Grok (X’s AI tool) - https://x.ai/
• Stephen Bartlett’s Viral LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7311296027062341633/

• 00:13 – Why ChatGPT-4.0's image generator broke Dan's presentation deck
• 02:20 – First impressions and real-world design test results
• 04:00 – What’s new: real multimodal capability and image + text accuracy
• 07:00 – Dan’s attempt at a kids book using only ChatGPT
• 10:00 – Viral trend: Anime-style selfies and OpenAI's smart launch strategy
• 14:00 – Copyright controversy, design emulation, and creative disruption
• 21:00 – Practical use cases: from fashion previews to dental tourism
• 25:00 – GPT-4.0’s upgraded base model: surprisingly better than 4.5
• 28:00 – Takeaways from Social Media Marketing World: AI's growing footprint
• 33:00 – The “AI adoption staircase” for marketers: what to learn next
• 39:00 – Procter & Gamble study: Individuals with AI outperform entire teams
• 41:00 – Vibe Marketing: AI-driven productivity or creative burnout?
• 45:00 – Stephen Bartlett’s viral post and the danger of romanticizing your craft
• 50:00 – Why marketers must double down on human advantage + AI mastery

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez and Travis Sanchez dive into the current state of AI video and the evolving landscape of AI-generated content. They explore the progress of AI-generated videos, the challenges that still exist, and how marketers should be thinking about these advancements. They also discuss Google's new image generation tool and its potential impact on marketing creatives, as well as the ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated job applications. Tune in for insights on how AI is reshaping marketing and how you can stay ahead of the curve.

• ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
• High Level Marketing Platform - https://danchez.com/highlevel
• AI Podcasting Tools - https://danchez.com/podtools
• n8n AI Automation Platform - https://danchez.com/n8n

• CapCut AI Video Generator - https://www.capcut.com/ai
• OpenAI’s Sora Video Model - https://openai.com/research/sora
• Google’s ImageFX (Imogen) - https://deepmind.google/technologies/imogen-3
• MidJourney AI - https://www.midjourney.com/
• Cursor AI Code Tool - https://cursor.sh/
• Bubble No-Code Platform - https://bubble.io/
• Sean Puri’s AI K-Shaped Economy Post - https://x.com/ShaanVP/status/1893008119342776803
• HR AI LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/katiedolgin_authenticity-ai-writing-activity-7307790019505569793-XGv7/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAJq6gwB_q7tbdFevQk2MATQbXLntrfkInA

• 00:01 - Introduction and AI Video Discussion
• 00:43 - Testing AI Video Generators – CapCut, Sora, and more
• 02:30 - Why AI Video is Still Not Ready for Marketing
• 06:38 - The Rise of Google’s AI Image Generator (ImageFX)
• 09:55 - Why Google’s Image Tool is a Game Changer
• 14:24 - The Ethics of AI in Job Applications
• 20:06 - AI’s Role in Coding and the Risks of AI-Built Apps
• 30:31 - How AI is Reshaping Job Skills and the Economy
• 39:52 - Staying Ahead in AI Without Feeling Overwhelmed

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez shares how AI has transformed his podcast production workflow. He reveals how he automates pre-production, production, and post-production to turn a single episode into a high-value content waterfall—saving time and maximizing reach. From using custom GPTs for research and outlines to leveraging Zencastr for recording and editing, and finally automating content distribution with N8N, Dan walks you through his streamlined, AI-powered process. If you're a podcaster or content marketer, this episode will show you how to create more content with less effort using AI-driven automation.

• ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
• High Level Marketing Platform - https://danchez.com/highlevel
• AI Podcasting Tools - https://danchez.com/podtools
• n8n AI Automation Platform - https://danchez.com/n8n
• MyShowrunner.com/

• 00:00 – How AI Has Changed Podcasting Forever
• 01:35 – Pre-Production: Custom GPTs & Automating Research
• 06:12 – Production: Why Dan Uses Zencastr for Everything
• 10:34 – Post-Production: Automating Show Notes, Titles & More
• 13:02 – Automating YouTube Uploads with N8N
• 18:45 – Automating Blog Posts & SEO with AI
• 21:28 – AI-Generated Social Media Posts & Scheduling
• 24:54 – The Future of AI-Driven Podcast Workflows

• ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
• High Level Marketing Platform - https://danchez.com/highlevel
• AI Podcasting Tools - https://danchez.com/podtools

• Sesame AI (Voice AI Demo) - https://sesame.ai
• Runway ML (AI Video Generation) - https://runwayml.com
• Social Media Marketing World (AI Marketing Track) - https://danchez.com/world
• Michael Stelzner’s AI Explored Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversing-with-the-future-my-mind-blowing-experiment/id1740971373?i=1000698407762
• Olga's LinkedIn post - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7303766258078916608/

• 0:00 - Separating AI Help from AI Hype
• 1:09 - China’s AI Developments: Real Innovation or Just Media Noise?
• 6:01 - ChatGPT vs. Competitors: Who's Really Leading?
• 10:22 - Sesame AI: The Best AI Voice Model Yet?
• 15:09 - How AI Voice Could Transform Customer Service & Sales
• 20:49 - The Future of AI-Powered Lead Generation & CRM
• 27:46 - OpenAI’s New Dev Tools: What Marketers Need to Know
• 39:07 - AI Risk vs. Reward: A Useful Framework for Marketers
• 40:42 - Social Media Marketing World: AI Marketing Track Announcement

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez and his brother, Travis Sanchez, break down the latest in AI marketing trends. They discuss the controversy around ChatGPT-4.5—whether it's a real upgrade or just hype—along with tips on how to personalize your ChatGPT experience for a more interactive and useful assistant. They also dive into deep research with AI, how marketers can leverage AI-driven insights for audience research, and even explore the emerging role of AI in job descriptions. Plus, don’t miss their take on the most impressive AI-generated ad they’ve seen yet!

• ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
• High Level Marketing Platform - https://danchez.com/highlevel
• AI Podcasting Tools - https://danchez.com/podtools

• Viral AI Video: https://x.com/PJaccetturo/status/1896983633921294773
• Michael Stelzner & Social Media Examiner’s AI Business Society - https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/ai/
• Danchez’s Deep Research Toolkit - https://danchez.com/deep
• Grok AI by X (formerly Twitter) - https://grok.com
• David Goggins Motivation (Reference) - https://davidgoggins.com/

• (00:01) - Intro: Separating AI hype from reality
• (00:15) - ChatGPT 4.5: Is it a major upgrade or overhyped?
• (01:39) - Personalizing ChatGPT for a better AI assistant
• (05:47) - AI personalities: Creating an assistant that matches your workflow
• (12:20) - ChatGPT’s Pro model: Is it worth the cost?
• (22:41) - The future of AI-generated applications and tools
• (27:56) - Deep research: AI-powered audience and competitor insights
• (35:08) - How many marketing jobs now require AI skills?
• (44:56) - AI-generated commercials: The future of ad creation?

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez shares his journey from marketing automation to AI-driven marketing. He discusses his early experiences at Sweet Fish Media, Element 451, and Social Media Examiner, and how he recognized AI as the future of marketing. Dan breaks down his 30-30-30 framework for mastering a subject, reveals his automated podcast production workflow, and explains his AI-assisted book-writing process. If you're a marketer looking to streamline workflows and harness AI for growth, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

My Favorite AI Tools:

• ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
• High Level Marketing Platform - https://danchez.com/highlevel
• AI Podcasting Tools - https://danchez.com/podtools

Resources Mentioned:

• Social Media Examiner - https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/
• Sweet Fish Media - https://sweetfishmedia.com/
• Element 451 - https://element451.com/
• N8N (Automation Tool) - https://n8n.io/
• Suno AI (Music AI Tool) - https://suno.ai/
• Zencastr - https://zencastr.com/
• Marketing Experiments (Flint McGlaughlin) - https://marketingexperiments.com/
• Keap (Infusionsoft) - https://keap.com/

Timestamps:

• [00:00] - Intro: Dan Sanchez's background and marketing journey
• [02:00] - The "Ultimate Marketer" moment at Infusionsoft
• [05:30] - Podcasting, social media, and the Sweet Fish Media era
• [10:00] - The pivot to AI: Why Dan bet big on AI marketing
• [17:00] - The 30-30-30 framework: How to become an expert fast
• [24:00] - AI-powered podcast automation: The workflow breakdown
• [33:00] - Co-writing a book with AI: Process and best practices
• [41:00] - The five types of AI marketing and their impact
• [45:00] - The future of AI marketing: Trends and opportunities

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez and Travis break down a massive week of AI news, including the launch of ChatGPT 4.5, Claude 3.7, and Grok 3. They explore how ChatGPT 4.5 smooths out the rough edges of its predecessor, making content generation even more powerful for marketers. They also discuss the strategic battle between AI models and why OpenAI rushed to release 4.5 early to undercut Claude 3.7’s momentum.

The conversation dives into the importance of deep research for marketers, with Dan sharing a viral prompt that helps uncover the most frequently asked audience questions across forums and social media. They also discuss Amazon’s AI push with Claude integration, the growing concerns around AI privacy, and the rapid acceleration of AI development. If you’re a marketer looking to stay ahead of the game, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

• ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
• High Level Marketing Platform - https://danchez.com/highlevel
• AI Podcasting Tools - https://danchez.com/podtools

• Dan's viral LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/digitalmarketingdan_danchez-activity-7300918456713969664-CuJM?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAJq6gwB_q7tbdFevQk2MATQbXLntrfkInA
• AI Riding a bike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEv4ZfOwCPA
• AI Business Society Community - https://danchez.com/society

• 00:01 - Introduction and why this week’s AI news is huge
• 00:37 - ChatGPT 4.5 release: What’s new and why it’s a game-changer
• 03:28 - Why OpenAI called it 4.5 instead of 5.0
• 08:07 - The unexpected release of Claude 3.7 and OpenAI’s strategic counter-move
• 10:57 - Grok 3’s moment of fame and how it compares to ChatGPT
• 13:25 - Deep research in ChatGPT: Dan’s viral prompt for audience insights
• 19:32 - The case for upgrading to ChatGPT Pro for deep research
• 22:05 - Amazon’s AI expansion and Jeff Bezos’ full-time return
• 26:32 - Poll results: Are companies providing AI training?
• 32:23 - Why marketers need to double down on custom GPTs
• 40:43 - The acceleration of AI development: What’s next?

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez shares the results of a bold AI SEO experiment he conducted over the past year. After investing $500 in an AI-powered blogging tool, Dan set up multiple websites to test if fully automated AI content could drive traffic and revenue. The results? A mix of surprising insights, major pitfalls, and hard-earned lessons. Tune in as Dan breaks down what worked, what failed, and how AI should really be used for content creation in today’s SEO landscape.

• ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
• High Level Marketing Platform - https://danchez.com/highlevel
• AI Podcasting Tools - https://danchez.com/podtools

• AppSumo - https://appsumo.com/
• WP Autoblog (AI SEO Tool) - https://wpautoblog.com/
• WPX Hosting - https://wpx.net/

• 00:00 – The $500 AI SEO Experiment Begins
• 00:10 – The AI Tool: WP Autoblog & Setup Process
• 03:45 – The Content Strategy: Automated Mass Blogging
• 07:15 – The Problems with AI-Generated Content
• 10:30 – The Surprising SEO Outcome (It Worked… Kind of?)
• 13:50 – Why AI Content Didn’t Drive Real Traffic
• 16:10 – The Fatal Flaws of Fully Automated SEO
• 19:30 – What Actually Works? How to Use AI for Content the Right Way
• 22:00 – The Future of AI in SEO & Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez and Travis Sanchez break down the biggest AI news of the week, including the launch of Grok 3, Microsoft’s supercomputer chips, and OpenAI’s roadmap for GPT-4.5 and GPT-5. They discuss how Grok 3 is competing with the best AI models, why Microsoft’s chip development matters for AI progress, and how OpenAI’s deep research tools are reshaping marketing strategies. Dan also shares a game-changing approach for using AI deep research to create high-impact lead magnets. If you’re a marketer looking to stay ahead of the AI curve, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

• ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
• High Level Marketing Platform - https://danchez.com/highlevel
• AI Podcasting Tools - https://danchez.com/podtools

• Grok 3 AI Model - https://grok.com/
• OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 & GPT-5 Roadmap - https://x.com/sama/status/1889755723078443244
• Perplexity AI - https://www.perplexity.ai/
• Rand Fishkin’s Post on GEO - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/randfishkin_we-know-people-are-using-ai-tools-we-know-activity-7292630703035273216-jhy2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAJq6gwB_q7tbdFevQk2MATQbXLntrfkInA
• Social Media Marketing World 2025 - https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/smmworld/

• (00:36) – The AI race: How Grok 3 is making waves in the AI space
• (04:34) – Grok 3 vs. ChatGPT: Which AI model is winning?
• (08:25) – OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 update and what it means for marketers
• (14:42) – Google’s AI ecosystem: Is it catching up to OpenAI?
• (20:55) – Deep research in AI: The game-changing tool marketers should be using
• (24:59) – How to use AI deep research to create high-performing lead magnets
• (33:13) – Why AI adoption is still in its early stages
• (40:17) – The rise of GMO (Generative Machine Optimization) and why it matters
• (45:35) – Final thoughts: What marketers should be focusing on right now

AI agents are generating a lot of buzz right now, but how close are we to fully autonomous AI? In this episode of The AI-Driven Marketer, host Dan Sanchez (Dances) cuts through the hype to break down the five stages of AI agents and what marketers need to do to stay ahead. From simple automation to full AI autonomy, Dan lays out a roadmap for how AI will evolve in the coming years and how marketers can start preparing now. Whether you're just getting started with AI automation or you're ready to build intelligent workflows, this episode is packed with actionable insights to future-proof your marketing strategy.

Resources Mentioned:

• AI Fundamentals Course: https://danchez.com/courses/ai-fundamentals/
• N8N (AI Automation Platform): https://n8n.io/

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: The AI Agent Hype

02:00 - What Is an AI Agent? Defining the Term

04:30 - The Five Levels of AI (From Chatbots to Full Autonomy)

07:45 - Where Are We Now? AI's Progress in 2024

10:15 - The 5 Stages of AI Agents

12:00 - Stage 1: Automation with AI (Simple AI-Powered Workflows)

14:45 - Stage 2: Intelligent Automation (AI Begins to Think for You)

17:30 - Stage 3: AI-Assisted Automation (AI Helps Build Campaigns)

20:15 - Stage 4: AI-Led Automation (AI Makes Key Decisions)

23:00 - Stage 5: Fully Autonomous AI Agents (The Future of AI in Marketing)

26:45 - Predictions: How Fast Will AI Agents Advance?

29:30 - Practical Steps to Prepare for AI Agents Today

32:00 - Why Most Marketers Are Still Behind (And How to Get Ahead)

34:45 - Closing Thoughts: The AI Learning Curve and Next Steps

Key Takeaways:

• AI agents are not fully autonomous yet, but they are rapidly evolving.
• Most "AI agents" today are actually just automated workflows with AI enhancements.
• The transition from AI-assisted automation to AI-led automation will be a game-changer for marketers.
• Marketers should start experimenting with AI-powered automation tools now to stay competitive.
• Full AI autonomy is likely less than two years away—prepare by learning automation now.

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