AI Marketing Community Building Leading with Curiosity
David Berkowitz · June 17, 2025
ai marketingcommunity building
TL;DR: In this episode of Bold Talks, Apil Ludvic interviews David Berkowitz about his unexpected journey into marketing, his transition into a Chief Community Officer role at Marketecture Media, and the evolving challenges and opportunities in AI-driven marketing. They discuss the critical role of human connection in community building, the shift from tactics to strategy, and what it means to truly be bold in today’s fast-changing landscape.
0:00 [Apil]: [Music] Welcome to the Bold Talk series where creativity, leadership, ideas, and innovation come together. I'm Apil Ludvic, and today I have the privilege of having a one-on-one conversation with David Berkowitz—Chief Community Officer at Marketecture Media, founder of the AI Marketers Guild, and author of The Non-Obvious Guide to Using AI for Marketing.
0:32 [Apil]: David, great seeing you. Welcome to our Bold Talk series, my friend. How are you?
0:32 [David]: I'm doing well—always glad to take a few minutes to chat with you, Apil.
0:55 [Apil]: I’ve known you for over 10 years, David. Before we move on to the exciting news you recently shared, please give us a bit of background.
1:19 [David]: I’m immersed in marketing. I started with editorial work at e-arketer, got pulled into PR, and then did corporate marketing for agencies like 360i under Dentsu. Later, I switched to the tech side at larger companies like Sisimos and Media Ocean.
1:43 [David]: I also worked at several 10-person startups, gaining diverse experience while building communities. It’s always been a blend of business and passion.
1:43 [Apil]: Great news—I understand you recently joined as Chief Community Officer at Marketecture Media following the acquisition of your previous startup. Tell us about that journey.
2:07 [David]: I’ve been building the Serial Marketers community for seven years and launched the AI Marketers Guild about two years ago to help marketers connect and understand how AI impacts our field.
2:28 [David]: I knew I couldn’t achieve my roadmap alone. I’ve benefitted from incredible mentors and wanted to work with people eager to invest in growing our communities and delivering value to our thousands of members worldwide.
2:52 [David]: I was looking for a team to help execute events and offerings for our global community. When March and the crew—Eric Paparo, Jeremy Bloom, and Adtech God—came together, I knew I had found an amazing group to collaborate with.
3:18 [David]: I’m excited to work with them every day.
3:18 [Apil]: It’s always great doing this together when you’re aligned on the same vision. Now, David, you’ve long been a voice in marketing and technology. How has your perspective shifted now that you’re operating with a B2B media company?
3:48 [David]: For me, March company has been a long-time reference—with numerous newsletters and podcasts. Early on, in my talks with Ariel and the team, we realized our audiences weren’t truly connecting.
4:09 [David]: Their network is deep in advertising and ad tech, while my communities consist more of brand and agency marketers. The synergy even had you as the first guest on the rebooted video series—we should have done that years ago.
4:33 [David]: I still consult and give talks based on my book, and now I’m exploring ways to integrate our content with the incredible events they’re planning for later this year.
4:55 [Apil]: There’s so much we can now accomplish without bombarding everyone with multiple subscriptions—the door is wider open. Now, David, when you started with the AI Marketers Guild, you witnessed rapid changes in the marketing AI space. What do most marketers get wrong about AI?
5:21 [Apil]: With so many tools available and endless copy-and-paste guidelines, what is it that marketers often misunderstand?
5:49 [David]: I believe the biggest mistake is not embracing failure as a learning opportunity. There are two types of failure: one that paralyzes you and one from which you learn and grow.
6:12 [David]: Many initial Gen AI tools were novel but ineffective. We’re now seeing a similar wave in video—expecting Google's new VO3 to produce feature-quality video without the human touch just won’t work.
6:40 [David]: It takes many human hours to craft a great story. Marketers burned by early iterations—like those who posted on Facebook 15 years ago and felt ignored—experience this cycle repeatedly.
7:04 [David]: Facebook didn’t stand the test of time. We’ve seen similar cycles with web 3 and other trends. With AI changing so quickly, it's tough; there are always 20 new things on my list, yet real priorities must be managed.
7:29 [Apil]: It’s good to know I’m not alone in this struggle. With new shiny things emerging daily, what do you see as the role of a marketer in the next two to three years?
7:54 [David]: The shift is from tactics to strategy. As I discuss in my book, you must be a better editor than just a writer—not only in writing but also in design and data science.
8:22 [David]: The real opportunity lies with those who ask deep, probing questions and extract meaningful insights, rather than those who simply input a prompt and accept the output at face value.
8:48 [David]: These new skill sets are essential. I almost pursued journalism early on because I deeply respect the dedication it takes to master a craft.
9:15 [David]: I have tremendous respect for great craftsmanship. Now, I’m returning to the investigative rigor of 20–25 years ago—I need to be an investigative reporter of my own content, rather than just churning out the next best piece.
9:38 [Apil]: You’ve witnessed the evolution of marketing up close. How would you compare the early dot-com era to today? How exciting was it then versus now?
10:11 [David]: It’s nostalgic thinking back to simpler times—like when the US had just three major TV networks. Today, we’re diverging in two directions: on one hand, AI and machine learning empower personalization like never before.
10:35 [David]: On the other hand, these once-exclusive tools are now democratized and available at low cost, leading to a "tragedy of the commons" where everyone uses the same methods.
11:02 [David]: Tools that were once enterprise-grade are now free or only a few dollars a month. When everyone employs the same tactics, banner blindness sets in—people simply ignore them.
11:27 [David]: Even when someone reaches out on LinkedIn with a well-crafted angle, many tune it out. The erosion of attention spans is a major challenge.
11:47 [Apil]: Let’s talk about your book, The Non-Obvious Guide to Using AI for Marketing. How much AI did you use in writing it?
12:15 [David]: I set a firm rule: no AI would write the text—I wanted it entirely original. However, AI helped during the planning phase; I used it to refine content from past articles and presentations for the book proposal.
12:41 [David]: In the final week before the first draft was due, I used Google’s Notebook LM extensively. I asked it to compare pros and cons of reordering chapters, which helped shape my editorial decisions before submission.
13:05 [David]: It served as an invaluable editorial partner. Although I didn’t expect to use it so much in the final week, it was incredibly helpful.
13:28 [David]: I now also find it useful for preparing presentations based on the book—it helps me recall and repurpose my previous work effectively.
13:49 [Apil]: It’s impressive how AI can speed up the process with great formats. Congratulations on the book, David. Now, considering your role as Chief Community Officer, I don’t believe AI can replace genuine community building.
14:16 [Apil]: The role of community building is irreplaceable by AI. Human relationships are essential, and as tools become ubiquitous, that personal touch becomes even more valuable.
14:42 [Apil]: Look at Starbucks—they scaled back automation because even a barista who misspells your name adds to the culture. That human touch is priceless.
15:04 [Apil]: AI isn’t going away unless we face an apocalyptic scenario. Just as people tire of online dating and crave in-person connection—even with all its imperfections—authentic human interaction will always be treasured.
15:29 [Apil]: The genuine conversation that goes beyond a profile is becoming increasingly valuable. As Newton’s law reminds us, every action has an equal and opposite reaction—and that might be a positive outcome of all this change.
15:52 [Apil]: David, I’d love to dive deeper into this conversation in a longer format next time. What does the word “bold” mean to you?
16:25 [David]: Bold means challenging the status quo and doing what hasn’t been done before. Personally, my boldest moments occur when I push myself into discomfort—it’s like climbing a mountain that expands your horizons.
16:50 [Apil]: I agree. When fear creeps in, that’s the moment to say, “I’ll do it, no matter what.” David, it’s been great seeing you. Always be bold, and congratulations on your exciting new chapter. I wish you great success, and I look forward to breaking bread together in New York or elsewhere.
17:13 [David]: Thank you. Until next time—be great and be bold, my friend. Take care. [Music]
0:00 [Apil]: [Music] Welcome to the Bold Talk series where creativity, leadership, ideas, and innovation come together. I'm Apil Ludvic, and today I have the privilege of having a one-on-one conversation with David Berkowitz—Chief Community Officer at Marketecture Media, founder of the AI Marketers Guild, and author of The Non-Obvious Guide to Using AI for Marketing.
0:32 [Apil]: David, great seeing you. Welcome to our Bold Talk series, my friend. How are you?
0:32 [David]: I'm doing well—always glad to take a few minutes to chat with you, Apil.
0:55 [Apil]: I’ve known you for over 10 years, David. Before we move on to the exciting news you recently shared, please give us a bit of background.
1:19 [David]: I’m immersed in marketing. I started with editorial work at e-arketer, got pulled into PR, and then did corporate marketing for agencies like 360i under Dentsu. Later, I switched to the tech side at larger companies like Sisimos and Media Ocean.
1:43 [David]: I also worked at several 10-person startups, gaining diverse experience while building communities. It’s always been a blend of business and passion.
1:43 [Apil]: Great news—I understand you recently joined as Chief Community Officer at Marketecture Media following the acquisition of your previous startup. Tell us about that journey.
2:07 [David]: I’ve been building the Serial Marketers community for seven years and launched the AI Marketers Guild about two years ago to help marketers connect and understand how AI impacts our field.
2:28 [David]: I knew I couldn’t achieve my roadmap alone. I’ve benefitted from incredible mentors and wanted to work with people eager to invest in growing our communities and delivering value to our thousands of members worldwide.
2:52 [David]: I was looking for a team to help execute events and offerings for our global community. When March and the crew—Eric Paparo, Jeremy Bloom, and Adtech God—came together, I knew I had found an amazing group to collaborate with.
3:18 [David]: I’m excited to work with them every day.
3:18 [Apil]: It’s always great doing this together when you’re aligned on the same vision. Now, David, you’ve long been a voice in marketing and technology. How has your perspective shifted now that you’re operating with a B2B media company?
3:48 [David]: For me, March company has been a long-time reference—with numerous newsletters and podcasts. Early on, in my talks with Ariel and the team, we realized our audiences weren’t truly connecting.
4:09 [David]: Their network is deep in advertising and ad tech, while my communities consist more of brand and agency marketers. The synergy even had you as the first guest on the rebooted video series—we should have done that years ago.
4:33 [David]: I still consult and give talks based on my book, and now I’m exploring ways to integrate our content with the incredible events they’re planning for later this year.
4:55 [Apil]: There’s so much we can now accomplish without bombarding everyone with multiple subscriptions—the door is wider open. Now, David, when you started with the AI Marketers Guild, you witnessed rapid changes in the marketing AI space. What do most marketers get wrong about AI?
5:21 [Apil]: With so many tools available and endless copy-and-paste guidelines, what is it that marketers often misunderstand?
5:49 [David]: I believe the biggest mistake is not embracing failure as a learning opportunity. There are two types of failure: one that paralyzes you and one from which you learn and grow.
6:12 [David]: Many initial Gen AI tools were novel but ineffective. We’re now seeing a similar wave in video—expecting Google's new VO3 to produce feature-quality video without the human touch just won’t work.
6:40 [David]: It takes many human hours to craft a great story. Marketers burned by early iterations—like those who posted on Facebook 15 years ago and felt ignored—experience this cycle repeatedly.
7:04 [David]: Facebook didn’t stand the test of time. We’ve seen similar cycles with web 3 and other trends. With AI changing so quickly, it's tough; there are always 20 new things on my list, yet real priorities must be managed.
7:29 [Apil]: It’s good to know I’m not alone in this struggle. With new shiny things emerging daily, what do you see as the role of a marketer in the next two to three years?
7:54 [David]: The shift is from tactics to strategy. As I discuss in my book, you must be a better editor than just a writer—not only in writing but also in design and data science.
8:22 [David]: The real opportunity lies with those who ask deep, probing questions and extract meaningful insights, rather than those who simply input a prompt and accept the output at face value.
8:48 [David]: These new skill sets are essential. I almost pursued journalism early on because I deeply respect the dedication it takes to master a craft.
9:15 [David]: I have tremendous respect for great craftsmanship. Now, I’m returning to the investigative rigor of 20–25 years ago—I need to be an investigative reporter of my own content, rather than just churning out the next best piece.
9:38 [Apil]: You’ve witnessed the evolution of marketing up close. How would you compare the early dot-com era to today? How exciting was it then versus now?
10:11 [David]: It’s nostalgic thinking back to simpler times—like when the US had just three major TV networks. Today, we’re diverging in two directions: on one hand, AI and machine learning empower personalization like never before.
10:35 [David]: On the other hand, these once-exclusive tools are now democratized and available at low cost, leading to a "tragedy of the commons" where everyone uses the same methods.
11:02 [David]: Tools that were once enterprise-grade are now free or only a few dollars a month. When everyone employs the same tactics, banner blindness sets in—people simply ignore them.
11:27 [David]: Even when someone reaches out on LinkedIn with a well-crafted angle, many tune it out. The erosion of attention spans is a major challenge.
11:47 [Apil]: Let’s talk about your book, The Non-Obvious Guide to Using AI for Marketing. How much AI did you use in writing it?
12:15 [David]: I set a firm rule: no AI would write the text—I wanted it entirely original. However, AI helped during the planning phase; I used it to refine content from past articles and presentations for the book proposal.
12:41 [David]: In the final week before the first draft was due, I used Google’s Notebook LM extensively. I asked it to compare pros and cons of reordering chapters, which helped shape my editorial decisions before submission.
13:05 [David]: It served as an invaluable editorial partner. Although I didn’t expect to use it so much in the final week, it was incredibly helpful.
13:28 [David]: I now also find it useful for preparing presentations based on the book—it helps me recall and repurpose my previous work effectively.
13:49 [Apil]: It’s impressive how AI can speed up the process with great formats. Congratulations on the book, David. Now, considering your role as Chief Community Officer, I don’t believe AI can replace genuine community building.
14:16 [Apil]: The role of community building is irreplaceable by AI. Human relationships are essential, and as tools become ubiquitous, that personal touch becomes even more valuable.
14:42 [Apil]: Look at Starbucks—they scaled back automation because even a barista who misspells your name adds to the culture. That human touch is priceless.
15:04 [Apil]: AI isn’t going away unless we face an apocalyptic scenario. Just as people tire of online dating and crave in-person connection—even with all its imperfections—authentic human interaction will always be treasured.
15:29 [Apil]: The genuine conversation that goes beyond a profile is becoming increasingly valuable. As Newton’s law reminds us, every action has an equal and opposite reaction—and that might be a positive outcome of all this change.
15:52 [Apil]: David, I’d love to dive deeper into this conversation in a longer format next time. What does the word “bold” mean to you?
16:25 [David]: Bold means challenging the status quo and doing what hasn’t been done before. Personally, my boldest moments occur when I push myself into discomfort—it’s like climbing a mountain that expands your horizons.
16:50 [Apil]: I agree. When fear creeps in, that’s the moment to say, “I’ll do it, no matter what.” David, it’s been great seeing you. Always be bold, and congratulations on your exciting new chapter. I wish you great success, and I look forward to breaking bread together in New York or elsewhere.
17:13 [David]: Thank you. Until next time—be great and be bold, my friend. Take care. [Music]