AI Insights for 2026

I've been thinking a lot about where marketing is headed, especially with AI changing the game. Looking toward 2026, some interesting trends are emerging that focus less on the tech itself and more on how we, as humans, interact with it.

One of the biggest things I'm seeing is a real craving for authenticity. As AI-generated content becomes more common, people are getting better at spotting it, and they're actively choosing to engage with content that feels genuinely human. The unique voice, the personal stories, the quirks—that’s what’s building trust and connection.

This highlights a crucial point: AI is a powerful tool, not an employee. Getting quality output depends entirely on the quality of the input. It’s not about asking it to "write a blog post." It’s about crafting thoughtful prompts to produce meaningful insights, not just a collection of puffed-up words. The goal is value, not volume.

I also believe we'll see a major shift from creating net-new content to content refreshing and curation. Attention spans are short. Nobody wants to read a wall of text on a blank page anymore. Instead, they want quick, digestible nuggets of information with links to dive deeper if they choose—think shorter landing pages and posts that lead to videos, articles, or guides. Refreshing our existing content to be more scannable and link-friendly will be more important than ever. You will see searchable repositories of content become more prevalent.

This ties into how search is evolving, too. Google is getting smarter. It's moving beyond simple keywords and is now better at answering long, complex questions. The platforms that provide clear, direct answers will win. It’s no longer about just having the right keywords, but about having the best, most helpful answer.

Don’t worry about whether AI created the content—focus on whether it’s authentic, credible, and genuinely helpful. AI is changing how we connect with our consumers in a more personable, authentic, and valuable way.

Let me know if I can assist you!