Get on the Brand Wagon

Because sometimes, human hope outweighs algorithmic probability. #HTTR!

We’ve officially reached peak 2025: asking artificial intelligence who’s going to win a football game. Forget Vegas odds, I’ve enlisted the digital brain trust of Gemini, Grok, and my fav, ChatGPT, to predict the outcome of today’s Commanders vs. Chargers showdown.

Is it ridiculous? Absolutely. Is it science? Arguably. But if we’re trusting AI to forecast stock markets, hurricanes, and next year’s brand trends, why not test its football IQ?

Besides, it’s Sunday…and nothing pairs better with football than a little friendly algorithmic rivalry.

Plus, in a week where D.C. can’t even keep the lights on, we could all use a little levity. Humor might not fix gridlock, but it sure makes life a little less stressful. So, grab your popcorn 🍿, because if the algorithms can make sense of this matchup — or this country — it could be the upset of the season.   🏈                                

So now you’re asking how this is relevant to branding, my jam. Today's Brand Wagon isn’t about football — it’s about trust. When we test AIs on something as unpredictable as sports, we’re really testing how confidently they handle uncertainty, bias, and data gaps.

The same logic applies to brand strategy and, frankly, leadership.

Do you trust what’s being predicted, or do you challenge it?

Do you ask for the “why” behind the answer?

In a world that’s one misinformed click away from chaos, learning how to question the machine might just be the most human skill we have left.

Hello, it’s me. (No, not Adele. Me—the brand whisperer. 😉)

It’s been an uncharacteristically hot, wet, busy summer, and I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve made it to my pool. But I digress...

At this mid-2025 reality checkpoint, I’m here to chat about AI in marketing.
Like many of you, I’m swimming through content that’s either:

1. Benign but smells like straight-up AI soup (not because of emojis or em dashes), or
2. Darker, trickier, and way more nefarious (think clickbait-meets-national-security-concerns).

So let’s simplify. Here are 3 things I’m learning about how to smartly, safely, and humanely leverage AI—not for creation, but for efficiency:

1. TEST.

Try your task in multiple platforms. Compare outputs. You'll start to get a feel for which tool does what best. (Personally, my money's still on ChatGPT overall—but I always peek at the competition.👀)

2. BE PRECISE.

Prompting is an art form. Sure, you can borrow prompts being shared freely by marketers with engagement goals (yup, the free content flood is real). But precision means:

• Asking your tool for a global view. Apparently, AI's outputs are shaped by the data it’s been fed and how far its servers reach. A global lens = broader thinking.
• Checking sources. Ask for citations. Question the data.
• Understanding why you’re creating something. If you're not intentional, you're just adding to the noise.

Also? This is where the dark side creeps in. It's shockingly easy to manipulate outputs to mislead certain demographics. Disinformation isn't hypothetical—it’s happening. So don’t just scan. Think. Cross-check. Check your assumptions.

3. KEEP A HUMAN IN THE LOOP.

AI can replace repetitive tasks. But it can’t replicate your human judgment, empathy, or lived experience (yet). So, use it. But:

• Apply critical thinking.
• Know your audience.
• Infuse your positive intention.

Remember: brand reputation isn’t just for companies. Your personal brand is on the line, too.

Go forth and create authentically, with positive intention and efficiency.
TLS 2 cents, out.

P.S. No AI was used in the original writing of this blog.
OK…fine. I did ask ChatGPT to roast bad AI usage. Here's what it said:

“Using AI without human review is like letting a Roomba babysit your toddler. Sure, it’s automated but you’re gonna regret it.”