17 answers
Bilal
Student
White Bear Lake, Minnesota
2
Questions
Asked
2139 views
Will Ai take over Marketing (Like Sports Marketing)?
I'm in 9th grade, and before I wanted to be a non-surgical orthopedic or a Sports medicine physician, but know i want to do marketing in sports or just marketing in general. And my dad says that Marketing is going to be taken over by AI (well, not the whole thing, but the things I want to do). Is this true?
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17 answers
Suzy Tai Donka
Manager, Customer Success
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Suzy’s Answer
It's really smart that you're thinking about it now. As someone who has been in the martech space for 16+ years and have experienced different seasons in our industry, I will say that AI is changing the way marketers operate the most. There are certainly aspects of our roles that can be done faster with AI as Jon mentioned in this thread, but ultimately I wouldn't avoid marketing because of AI. Marketing really is about influencing human behavior so that may include understanding what customers really care about, creating differentiated positioning, marketing marketing decisions, aligning with business goals, that requires interaction with our clients and cannot be easily replicated by AI.
Your dad's opinion is absolutely valid and may stem from observing layoffs in the industry. Tech is not immune to economic cycles but the demand isn't going away. Companies in every industry requires software, data, AI, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and digital marketing. I'd like to share a few recent examples where it didn't work out but it's important to understand the underlying contributing factor - in this case, it's about lack of governance:
1) Uber burned through their entire 2026 Claude code budget by April
2) One of Axios' clients did not set limits on employee Claude license usage ie $20/cap per month, resulting in a $500 million bill. This may also raise the question if human support is actually more cost effective in the long run
3) Amazon also shut down its internal leaderboard that rewarded highest AI usage after realizing volume and value aren't the same thing. I want to underscore the value piece
I think it's important to stay on top of the industry trends and news but don't let that deter you from exploring a future in tech. Instead I'd advise focusing on:
Problem-solving
Communication
Critical thinking
Data literacy
Learning how to use AI effectively
Building expertise in an area you genuinely enjoy :)
In the context of how you can use Claude to sharpen your skillsets or to further your education:
- Consider high leverage tasks such as synthesizing, pressure test your thinking not just produce output. For example a difficult problem you need to solve - ask them to push back on your narrative or surface gaps
- If it takes 30 seconds to do yourself, just do it
- One good prompt beats five lazy ones. Give Claude context to get a better output. Garbage in, garbage out
Those skills will remain valuable whether the next decade is dominated by AI, healthcare, sports, finance, or something we haven't even imagined yet. Keep in mind that the job market will look different by the time you graduate high school and college. Choose something that you're interested in and become exceptionally good at it. In my opinion, that's usually a better predictor of long-term success than trying to guess if AI will take over everything. Don't remember to pivot, stay curious and evolve! I hope that helps and best of luck to you!
Your dad's opinion is absolutely valid and may stem from observing layoffs in the industry. Tech is not immune to economic cycles but the demand isn't going away. Companies in every industry requires software, data, AI, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and digital marketing. I'd like to share a few recent examples where it didn't work out but it's important to understand the underlying contributing factor - in this case, it's about lack of governance:
1) Uber burned through their entire 2026 Claude code budget by April
2) One of Axios' clients did not set limits on employee Claude license usage ie $20/cap per month, resulting in a $500 million bill. This may also raise the question if human support is actually more cost effective in the long run
3) Amazon also shut down its internal leaderboard that rewarded highest AI usage after realizing volume and value aren't the same thing. I want to underscore the value piece
I think it's important to stay on top of the industry trends and news but don't let that deter you from exploring a future in tech. Instead I'd advise focusing on:
Problem-solving
Communication
Critical thinking
Data literacy
Learning how to use AI effectively
Building expertise in an area you genuinely enjoy :)
In the context of how you can use Claude to sharpen your skillsets or to further your education:
- Consider high leverage tasks such as synthesizing, pressure test your thinking not just produce output. For example a difficult problem you need to solve - ask them to push back on your narrative or surface gaps
- If it takes 30 seconds to do yourself, just do it
- One good prompt beats five lazy ones. Give Claude context to get a better output. Garbage in, garbage out
Those skills will remain valuable whether the next decade is dominated by AI, healthcare, sports, finance, or something we haven't even imagined yet. Keep in mind that the job market will look different by the time you graduate high school and college. Choose something that you're interested in and become exceptionally good at it. In my opinion, that's usually a better predictor of long-term success than trying to guess if AI will take over everything. Don't remember to pivot, stay curious and evolve! I hope that helps and best of luck to you!
Thank you, Suzy!
Bilal
Melvin Dilanchian
Communications/Marketing Specialist
3
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Melvin’s Answer
I agree with Suzy's advice! I've worked with sports brands, especially in communications and partnerships with the LA Rams. Marketing is broad, but some parts always need a personal touch, like building relationships, negotiating, and making judgments. For example, when managing partnerships between a sports team and brands, you need to find the right partners, start conversations, and shape the partnership. AI can help, but it can't replace the human role in executing projects. You also need to handle in-person tasks, such as organizing events.
Jon Hecht
Director, Human Resources
2
Answers
Littleton, Colorado
Updated
Jon’s Answer
Marketing is vast, and AI is changing aspects of marketing. For instance, writing basic copy, resizing ads, generating first drafts, running A/B tests, and analyzing campaign data were entry-level tasks I did a lot of earlier in my career. That type of repetitive work in marketing is already being automated or accelerated by AI. That's real.
Here's the brighter take - Marketing has always been about human connection. As a marketer, you need to deeply understand what people care about, why they make decisions, and how to create meaning around a product, team, or brand. Sports marketing specifically is built on passion, identity, and community. AI can generate a banner ad. It cannot understand why a fanbase bleeds a certain color, or how to turn a losing season into a reason to stay loyal. The marketers who will thrive are the ones who use AI as a tool to support strategy, relationship building, creative and storytelling.
You're in 9th grade, and things may very well change before you graduate high school or college. But my recommendation is not to pick a job, but skill sets that will be valuable in a given field. For marketing, those things are understanding/building strategy, communicating effectively and understanding data.
Here's the brighter take - Marketing has always been about human connection. As a marketer, you need to deeply understand what people care about, why they make decisions, and how to create meaning around a product, team, or brand. Sports marketing specifically is built on passion, identity, and community. AI can generate a banner ad. It cannot understand why a fanbase bleeds a certain color, or how to turn a losing season into a reason to stay loyal. The marketers who will thrive are the ones who use AI as a tool to support strategy, relationship building, creative and storytelling.
You're in 9th grade, and things may very well change before you graduate high school or college. But my recommendation is not to pick a job, but skill sets that will be valuable in a given field. For marketing, those things are understanding/building strategy, communicating effectively and understanding data.
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Bilal
Monika Rambhiya
Services to run your buisness faster
1
Answer
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Updated
Monika’s Answer
Hey Bilal,
Ai is just the part. We ofcourse need to learn ai& get the work done. But Ai ourself is not enough.
Ai was most scary for writers, coders & graphic designers. But they r also having secured jobs yet using AI.
So yes you will have to do possible things through AI but nothing to be scared.
Since ai saves your Time& energy. Companies expect you to have another skill as well such as sales, operations which ever interests you, should proceed& be curious to learn.
Ai is just the part. We ofcourse need to learn ai& get the work done. But Ai ourself is not enough.
Ai was most scary for writers, coders & graphic designers. But they r also having secured jobs yet using AI.
So yes you will have to do possible things through AI but nothing to be scared.
Since ai saves your Time& energy. Companies expect you to have another skill as well such as sales, operations which ever interests you, should proceed& be curious to learn.
Brendan Moffitt
Consultant
3
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Brendan’s Answer
I think AI won't completely take over. Instead, it will help improve the industry. Learning to use AI well will be important. I believe a personal touch will always be needed, especially in marketing.
Cameron Andriola
3
Answers
Updated
Cameron’s Answer
Hi - I work in AI for a living, helping companies figure out how to actually use it. I don't think you should let AI stop you from doing what you want to do. If anything you can change the conversation about how you can use AI to change what historically was thought of for marketing/sports marketing. My advice would be don't run away from AI, run towards it. If you are the one who dives into AI to help you pick the right campaign idea, or make a creative call, or do analysis faster than others on athletes, teams agents - you will shine against peers as a human using AI to change the game.
There's a Harvard professor, Karim Lakhani, who put it well: 'AI won't replace humans - but humans with AI will replace humans without AI.'" Hope this helps but different way of thinking about this.
There's a Harvard professor, Karim Lakhani, who put it well: 'AI won't replace humans - but humans with AI will replace humans without AI.'" Hope this helps but different way of thinking about this.
Jay Iyer
Manager
6
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jay’s Answer
Your dad is raising a fair point -- but the full picture is more nuanced. Let me break it down honestly.
What AI is taking over in marketing:
* Writing basic ad copy and social media captions
* Running and optimizing digital ad campaigns
* Analyzing data to find patterns in customer behavior
* A/B testing (trying version A vs. version B of something)
What AI is NOT good at replacing:
* Building real relationships with athletes, teams, and sponsors
* Understanding why fans emotionally connect to a sport or player
* Creative strategy -- coming up with a genuinely original campaign idea
* Negotiating deals and partnerships
* Reading a room, a culture, or a moment in time
The realistic picture for your future: By the time you're entering the workforce (roughly 10 years from now), AI will likely handle a lot of the tactical work in marketing. But that actually frees up marketers to focus more on strategy, relationships, and creativity -- the parts humans are better at anyway.
What AI is taking over in marketing:
* Writing basic ad copy and social media captions
* Running and optimizing digital ad campaigns
* Analyzing data to find patterns in customer behavior
* A/B testing (trying version A vs. version B of something)
What AI is NOT good at replacing:
* Building real relationships with athletes, teams, and sponsors
* Understanding why fans emotionally connect to a sport or player
* Creative strategy -- coming up with a genuinely original campaign idea
* Negotiating deals and partnerships
* Reading a room, a culture, or a moment in time
The realistic picture for your future: By the time you're entering the workforce (roughly 10 years from now), AI will likely handle a lot of the tactical work in marketing. But that actually frees up marketers to focus more on strategy, relationships, and creativity -- the parts humans are better at anyway.
Mahum Hashmi
Analyst
9
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Mahum’s Answer
Hi! Technology is always going to be advancing but what we can do is to learn how to work alongside it rather than fearing that it will take over. Marketing is all about human connection and building a bond with the customer, which AI cannot do. Just as phones, computers, etc. were created and humans had to adjust to those changes, we must learn to adjust to AI! I would say to do some courses and certs in AI so that you stand out
Curt Wynn
Solution Engineer
3
Answers
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Updated
Curt’s Answer
Hi Bilal,
Great question. You are smart to think about these things. AI is definitely changing the marketing industry, but marketing at its core is about differentiation . The industry will definitely change but if it is something you are interested in, it is a great skill that helps you learn to stand out in any capacity. Marketing is a great skill set that can be applied to any career. Think of this all as skills you can apply to a career. I was a Marketing Major who is now a Tech Solution Engineer!
Also....listen to your Dad!
Great question. You are smart to think about these things. AI is definitely changing the marketing industry, but marketing at its core is about differentiation . The industry will definitely change but if it is something you are interested in, it is a great skill that helps you learn to stand out in any capacity. Marketing is a great skill set that can be applied to any career. Think of this all as skills you can apply to a career. I was a Marketing Major who is now a Tech Solution Engineer!
Also....listen to your Dad!
Patil Indrasena Reddy
Specialist Senior
4
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Patil Indrasena’s Answer
Marketing is approached in various ways, and AI is already playing a role. However, there are tasks where human involvement is crucial, such as communicating with customers and building relationships. While AI can help plan and design marketing strategies, the actual execution still depends on people.
Ashley Simon-Madden
People Programs Specialist
16
Answers
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
Top marketers are using AI to stay ahead! AI has shown that marketing is truly a science, sparking a wave of curiosity, experiments, data analysis, and creativity. I don't believe AI will take over, but it will need more tech experts to unlock the creativity that thrills everyone. You might see more college courses on brand management and machine learning. New roles like technical product marketers are emerging, blending creative communication with a love for data.
Read about technical roles in marketing and see if any of them pique your interest
Ashley recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much for the advice.
Bilal
Syed Anees
2
Answers
Updated
Syed’s Answer
It's normal to feel worried about AI, but remember how computers changed things when they first came out. That change was even bigger than what AI is doing now. Just like any tool, AI is meant to help us, not replace us. While technology can change jobs, it also opens up new chances. If you're interested in sports marketing, you'll use AI to improve your skills and create new opportunities.
Khozema Kathawala
Consulting
2
Answers
Pennington, New Jersey
Updated
Khozema’s Answer
AI won't replace Marketing. It's a great idea to combine Psychology with Marketing to better understand how people think and make buying decisions. This knowledge will help you learn about AI and how to use it effectively.
Charlie Chen
Advertising/Marketing
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Charlie’s Answer
While AI is displacing some jobs I really depends on how you approach it. Marketing like any role where you are communicating a product/service or idea will always need a human pov to appeal to people. So you should learn how to use AI but also engage with culture (reads books watch movies talk to ppl) as it's best way to understand how to communicate and market to ppl.
Emma Fekete
Consulting
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Emma’s Answer
Hi Bilal,
I completely agree with the advice on "getting smart with AI." You're already ahead by considering how AI will affect your career. Instead of worrying about AI taking jobs, think about how it will change what marketers do every day. AI can handle some tasks, allowing marketers to focus more on strategic work, like finding the best ways to connect with customers and coming up with new ideas.
Even in an AI-driven world, it's important to improve skills like critical thinking and communication. In marketing, connecting with customers in a personal way is key. While AI can help create content, some people might not like it if it feels too impersonal. Knowing how to use AI to boost your work and be more strategic will be a great advantage in future job interviews.
I completely agree with the advice on "getting smart with AI." You're already ahead by considering how AI will affect your career. Instead of worrying about AI taking jobs, think about how it will change what marketers do every day. AI can handle some tasks, allowing marketers to focus more on strategic work, like finding the best ways to connect with customers and coming up with new ideas.
Even in an AI-driven world, it's important to improve skills like critical thinking and communication. In marketing, connecting with customers in a personal way is key. While AI can help create content, some people might not like it if it feels too impersonal. Knowing how to use AI to boost your work and be more strategic will be a great advantage in future job interviews.
Arman Jalalian
Security Engineer II
5
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Arman’s Answer
Hey Bilal,
Great question, and one that I know many people are asking themselves these days!
When it comes to the topic of AI, I would have the mindset of how work may be enhanced, but not replaced.
There are aspects of work that will absolutely become automated as time goes on, however the positions you are hopeful of getting will not be entirely replaced. Think of it more so as having the "grunt" work automated, so that you are able to focus your efforts elsewhere.
This does not mean that you need to give up on your dreams and aspirations due to the fear of AI, but rather understanding how the market may shift as AI becomes more prevalent, and learning how AI will be incorporated into the work itself.
Stay true to your interests, and you can make it happen!
Great question, and one that I know many people are asking themselves these days!
When it comes to the topic of AI, I would have the mindset of how work may be enhanced, but not replaced.
There are aspects of work that will absolutely become automated as time goes on, however the positions you are hopeful of getting will not be entirely replaced. Think of it more so as having the "grunt" work automated, so that you are able to focus your efforts elsewhere.
This does not mean that you need to give up on your dreams and aspirations due to the fear of AI, but rather understanding how the market may shift as AI becomes more prevalent, and learning how AI will be incorporated into the work itself.
Stay true to your interests, and you can make it happen!
Afsheen Agahi
Consulting
10
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Afsheen’s Answer
That’s a really thoughtful question, and it’s something a lot of people are wondering right now.
Your dad is right that AI will change marketing. It already helps with things like writing posts, creating ads, analyzing data, and coming up with campaign ideas. So yes, some marketing tasks will be automated.
But marketing is much bigger than tasks. At its core, marketing is about understanding people—what they care about, what excites them, and what makes them feel connected to a brand, team, athlete, or story.
In sports marketing especially, human creativity, relationships, culture, emotion, and fan connection matter a lot. AI can help create content, but it can’t replace the human side of knowing what will truly resonate with people.
So I wouldn’t let AI stop you from exploring marketing. The future probably won’t belong to marketers who ignore AI—it will belong to marketers who know how to use it well.
Since you’re only in 9th grade, you have plenty of time to learn, experiment, and figure out what you enjoy. Stay curious, learn about marketing, sports, business, communication, and technology, and you’ll be building skills that will still matter in the future.
In short: Never stop chasing your dreams! Stay nimble, agile, and make it happen.
Your dad is right that AI will change marketing. It already helps with things like writing posts, creating ads, analyzing data, and coming up with campaign ideas. So yes, some marketing tasks will be automated.
But marketing is much bigger than tasks. At its core, marketing is about understanding people—what they care about, what excites them, and what makes them feel connected to a brand, team, athlete, or story.
In sports marketing especially, human creativity, relationships, culture, emotion, and fan connection matter a lot. AI can help create content, but it can’t replace the human side of knowing what will truly resonate with people.
So I wouldn’t let AI stop you from exploring marketing. The future probably won’t belong to marketers who ignore AI—it will belong to marketers who know how to use it well.
Since you’re only in 9th grade, you have plenty of time to learn, experiment, and figure out what you enjoy. Stay curious, learn about marketing, sports, business, communication, and technology, and you’ll be building skills that will still matter in the future.
In short: Never stop chasing your dreams! Stay nimble, agile, and make it happen.