During SXSW 2024, The Lively & Grit Daily House hosted a panel that discussed the core of marketing to humans in an AI world. Industry leaders Justin Day, Founder of Swarm System, and Anne Ahola Ward, CEO of CircleClick Media, sat down with Cigdem Oztabak, Founder of Pirix and writer at CNNTurk, where they highlighted the importance of the balance between using AI and remaining human.

"Empathy and a shared connection are powerful forces. Just by surrounding yourself with other people, you are more likely to find joy at a comedy show or feel emotional during a sad movie. When someone smiles at you, there is an instinctual reaction that tells you to smile back. When someone else yawns, you can find yourself yawning as well, even if you don’t feel tired. These are parts of the human experience and psychology that are also present in marketing.

However, there is a new challenge on the horizon, one that sees marketers looking for a balance between leveraging cutting-edge technology like AI and preserving the human connection that is so important. As businesses navigate this terrain, the fundamental goal remains: to resonate on a personal level with each consumer. " Spencer Hulse- Grit Daily SXSW24