Why 69% of American Marketers Are Excited (Not Scared) About AI

According to a recent study by SurveyMonkey, 69% of American marketers reported feeling excited about the rise of AI and its impact on their jobs.

(Image Source: SurveyMonkey)

As we step into a new era of marketing, where more teams are embracing AI technologies, AI marketing statistics suggest that 60% of marketers are now very optimistic about the direction the industry is heading.

This follows a significantly different result in 2023, when half of the US population was still concerned about AI and its impact on their daily lives. In fact, Pew Research data from 2023 revealed that just 10% believed AI had the potential to revolutionize the marketing sector.

So what has changed in the last two years? Are attitudes towards AI beginning to shift? Let’s take a closer look at what this could mean for the future of the marketing landscape as AI-powered solutions continue to change the game.

Are Attitudes Changing Towards AI?

Attitudes are shifting among American marketers regarding the adoption of AI in the workplace.

In 2025, nearly 75% of US marketing leaders believe that AI gives them a competitive advantage in the industry.

With more than two-thirds of agencies now using AI to support and enhance human tasks, it’s clear that artificial intelligence is here to stay.

“Marketing is where AI shines because it amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it… It handles the time-consuming tasks, so marketers can focus on strategy and building genuine connections with their audience. The result is better work delivered faster,” says Amy Kilpatrick, CMO at ActiveCampaign.

With many using AI predictive aid for customer targeting and even more leveraging generative AI to create hyper-personalized content, those who choose not to invest are likely to fall behind.

AI has the ability to meet rising customer expectations and is making it easier for marketers to deliver quality campaigns in half the time.

After studies revealed that 80% of customers are more likely to do business with a company that offers personalized experiences, AI has become a key asset for brands aiming to customize their content at scale.

The Reaction to Generative AI

Generative AI is undoubtedly fueling the popularity of this technological shift we’re seeing. 

The generative AI in marketing market is experiencing rapid growth, with projections indicating a substantial increase in market size over the next few years.

Studies show that the Global Generative AI in Marketing Market size is projected to exceed USD 85 Billion By 2029. Much of this growth is driven by North America, which accounts for more than 63% of the market’s revenue in 2025.

The reaction to generative AI from US marketers is the fuel driving this technology forward. With more than 71% now using generative AI weekly, it has become a powerful tool in the modern marketer’s toolkit.

(Image Source: American Marketing Association)

An overwhelming majority of marketers are embracing generative AI to enhance productivity, improve creative outputs, and tailor content to their target audiences. 

According to experts at AMS:

Chatbots like ChatGPT are the most popular tool for content generation, with 62% of marketers using them at work. Close behind are AI-powered tools like Grammarly (58%) and tools with embedded AI functionality, like Microsoft Co-Pilot or Canva (52%).

Generative AI tools are transforming how brands establish their online presence, extending beyond content to full-scale AI workflows and automations. Modern-day marketers are now leveraging AI to generate complete, fully autonomous workflows that combine the use of AI and business processes (e.g. lead segmentation), but in a far more efficient, no-code way.

Many have seen enormous benefits, with 85% claiming that generative AI has either slightly or significantly increased their productivity levels.

(Image Source: American Marketing Association)

With many marketers reporting gains in quality of content produced, time saved, and even improved team collaboration, it’s safe to say that adoption of generative AI has been largely positive for the vast majority of US businesses.

Mounting Concern on the Horizon

While general adoption attitudes have been positive, many marketers are still concerned about what an AI-powered future could hold for their position in the industry.

From a lack of transparency to job displacement to ethical and privacy concerns, the rise of AI in the marketing sector doesn’t come without risk.

A significant portion of US marketers are also struggling to afford the initial investment, with 45% claiming that the high cost of implementing AI solutions is their primary concern in 2025.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key challenges holding back the adoption of AI in the US marketing sector:

Lack of Understanding 

A recent study by Salesforce found that 43% of marketers still don’t know how to maximize the value of AI tools.

This is no surprise, as 70% of those following reported that they received no AI training before using new tools.

Without sufficient knowledge of AI and how this technology works, businesses that invest blindly are likely to experience a challenging adoption and low success rates. AI is a powerful tool, but it is only effective when inputs are direct and targeted.

Employment Concerns 

Growing employment concerns are steering some marketing teams away from adopting AI.

A 2023 report revealed that more than half of marketers believed AI could jeopardize their employment, a sentiment that has continued to rise in tandem with the technology’s growing success.

According to the Marketing AI Institute, the belief that AI could eliminate positions stands at:

“As AI systems become more able to perform tasks traditionally carried out by humans, there is an understandable fear that some jobs may become obsolete,” say experts at People Insight. “While AI can also create new opportunities, we can’t ignore the reality that this is a cause of stress for some employees.”

Privacy and Ethics 

Another key concern slowing adoption is the impact of AI on consumer privacy. While AI tools are brilliant at crafting tailored, hyper-personalized content, they use customer data to generate the best results possible.

Predictive AI systems, in particular, require vast amounts of data to function, which in turn raises concerns among marketers about the collection, storage, and use of personal information. Worst still, with cybercrime on the rise, there is a potential for the misuse of this data, which raises the risk of data breaches and inaccurate profiling.

Bias is also a primary ethical concern for many marketers adopting the technology. 60% of US marketers have reported feeling worried that AI-generated content could harm their brand through biases, plagiarism, and value misalignment.

A Quietly Confident Future

Two-thirds of US marketers are excited about the proliferation of AI in the marketing sector for a reason.

AI drives productivity, enhances the creative process, and answers the growing customer demand for personalization.

As we move into a new era of tech-first marketing, AI will be at the forefront of the industry’s growth.

However, while many businesses are quietly confident about AI’s impacts, others are still proceeding with caution.

One thing is sure: businesses that embrace AI with ethical concerns in mind will be the ones shaping the future of marketing, while those who hesitate risk falling behind in a rapidly evolving landscape.