33 AI & Marketing Experts to Follow in 2023

AI used to be (and in some cases still is) a dirty word for many marketers. There was a fear that AI would take over our jobs and make us redundant. But AI has actually enabled marketers to focus on the work that really matters, all while helping to eliminate data issues, operationalize our work for better impact and give us access to the data we desperately need.  

Harvard Business Review estimates the global AI market value is expected to reach $267 billion by 2027, and the technology is expected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.  

The moral of the story? AI is here to stay and it’s time to begin planning for how it will impact your work and your business.  

To help you navigate this complex topic, we’ve identified the top 33 AI and Marketing experts to look to for advice. We’ve also provided quick access to following them on social media for timely updates and surfaced some of their top content on AI. Let these experts help guide your path to embracing AI. 

33 AI & Marketing Experts to Follow

Bernard Marr​​​​​​​​​  

Internationally best-selling author and Founder and CEO -  Bernard Marr and Co 

Where to find Bernard:  LinkedIn | Twitter  

Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies.  

Worth a read/listen:  

• Beyond The Hype: What You Really Need To Know About AI In 2023 
• The 12 Biggest AI Mistakes to Avoid  

Shelly Kramer

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President + Chief Evangelist, The Futurum Group | Principal Analyst, Futurum Research 

Where to find Shelly: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Shelly is a Principal Analyst entrepreneur with a technology-centric focus. She has written many articles and blogs. She has been recognized as an influential expert on topics including IoT, Hybrid Cloud, Big Data, and many others. She has also been considered one of the top Influencers in B2B Marketing.  

Worth a Read/Listen: 

• GrammarlyGO, the New Generative AI Product Designed to Delight and Amaze Every Person Who Writes 

Rand Fishkin

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Cofounder and CEO – SparkToro  

Where to find Rand: LinkedIn | Twitter  

Rand is the Cofounder and CEO of SparkToro. A software company that makes market research accessible to everyone. The author of Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World (2018), and a frequent keynote speaker on marketing and entrepreneurship.   

Worth a read/listen:  

• AI-Generated Content is the New Floor 
• Fireside Chat Recap: Q&A with Rand Fishkin & Wil Reynolds 

Kirk Borne

Founder (Data Scientist. Top Influencer. Speaker. Trainer. Consultant) – Data Leadership Group 

Where to find Kirk: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Kirk has been a worldwide influencer in Big Data and Data Science since 2013. He is an award-winning global expert in AI and all aspects of Data Science. He is very active on social media and often appears as a guest on industry-leading podcasts.  

Worth a read/listen: 

• Podcast: Demystifying AI for the Self-Driving Enterprise 
• Podcast: The Intersection Between Human Nature & AI 

Ronald Van Loon

Principal Analyst, CEO - Intelligent World 

Where to find Ronald: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Ronald is an industry thought leader and has been recognized as a Top 10 Global Influencer in AI & Machine Learning. He is also an Author and frequent public speaker for major AI, Big Data, IoT, Data Science & Analytics events. 

Worth a read/listen:  

• The Journey to Create a Data and AI Education Portal 

Tamara McCleary

CEO - Thulium 

Where to find Tamara: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Tamara is a research scientist and technology ethicist. She is ranked in the top 1% of global Social Media Influencers and often presents keynotes focused on advancements in AI. She is recognized internationally as an expert in new technologies, branding and social influence.  

Worth a read/listen:  

• Marketing with AI: the next leap into the future 
• The Role of AI at the Edge 

Chris Penn

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Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist at TrustInsights.ai 

Where to find Chris: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Bio: Chris Penn is a best-selling author, thought leader and authority on analytics, data science and ML. He has shaped five key fields which all include the crossover between AI and marketing. He is an Onalytica Top 100 AI in Marketing influencer and co-host of the award-winning Marketing Over Coffee marketing podcast 

Worth a Read/Listen: 

• How to Improve Your AI Prompts 
• https://www.marketingaiinstitute.com/blog/expert-spotlight-christopher-penn   

Marsha Collier

President – The Collier Company 

Where to find Marsha: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Marsha Collier is an author, consumer technology radio personality and educator focusing on technology, social media, digital marketing and e-commerce. She is the author of more than 45 books in the Wiley “For Dummies” series. She has sold over a million books and been listed on many Best Sellers lists.  Her Technology podcast gets 20,000 downloads per month.  

Worth a read/listen:  

• Podcast: Tech News of the Week - ChatGPT 

Cathy Hackl

Founder – Journey  

Where to find Cathy: LinkedIn | Twitter

Cathy is a globally recognized metaverse expert and tech futurist. She has a lot of experience in metaverse-related fields and has written multiple books on the subject. In 2020, BigThink named Hackl as one of the Top 10 Most Influential women in tech. She is referred to as the “Chief Metaverse Officer” and if one of the co-founders of Journey where she guides the world’s top brands of Metaverse strategies.  

Worth a read/listen:  

• What Does Generative AI Mean for Your Brand & What Does It Have To Do With The Future of The Metaverse? 

Paul Roetzer

Founder & CEO - Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institute 

Where to find Paul: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Paul’s focus is on incorporating AI into Content Marketing. He is an author of multiple books and as well as a keynote speaker and has appeared at many conferences. He focuses on educating marketers on adopting a “next-gen” approaches and machine learning capabilities.  

Worth a read/listen:  

• Paul Roetzer | Intro To AI 🤖 For Content Marketers & Comms Pros | BuzzSumo Webinars 
• Podcast: Paul Roetzer, Marketing AI Institute 

Rana El Kaliouby 

Co-Founder/CEO - Affectiva | Deputy CEO – Smart Eye  

Where to find Rana: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Rana is a thought leader and machine learning scientist who founded Affectiva, a company credited with defining the field of Emotion AI. She speaks regularly on ethics in AI and fighting bias in AI at conferences and is a best-selling author of her memoir “Girl Decoded”. 

Worth a Read/Listen: 

• Ignite your AI curiosity with Rana el Kaliouby 
• Video: Emotion AI, Social Robots & Self-Driving Cars 

Arvind Narayanan 

Professor – Princeton University 

Where to find Arvind: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Arvind Narayanan is a computer scientist and a professor at Princeton University. He co-authored a textbook on fairness and machine learning. Arvind is a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), twice recipient of the Privacy Enhancing Technologies Award.  

Worth a Read/Listen: 

• How to recognize AI snake oil 
• Taking on Big Tech: A Computer Scientist's Battle for Privacy, Truth, and AI 

Theodora Lau

Founder – Unconventional Ventures 

Where to find Theodora: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Theodora Lau is a leading author, podcaster and thought leader focusing on emerging technologies and Fintech. She also regularly speaks and creates content focusing on the importance of diversity & inclusion within these industries and has an impressive audience across her social and content channels. 

Worth a Read/ Listen: 

• One more thing – financial services, tech & human intersection 
• Making the Invisible Visible: Doing More with Data 

Sarah Guo

Founder – Conviction 

Where to find Sarah: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Sarah is a start-up investor with a focus on technology, including computers & software. She is also a podcaster, influential thought leader and founder of Conviction, an early-stage venture capital firm. 

Worth a Listen:  

• Carving out conviction around the future of AI with Sarah Guo 
• Sarah Guo discusses investing in AI 

Daniel Newman

CEO – Futurum Group 

Where to find Daniel: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Daniel is a leading analyst and business leader. As a Forbes & MarketWatch Contributor, TedX Alumni & 7 x Best Selling Author, he’s extremely influential within a wide range of tech topics, including AI, 5G and Cloud. He is also the co-host of the Six Five Podcast.  

Worth a Read/ Listen: 

• ChatGPT Fan? Here Are 10 More Generative AI Tools Worth Trying 
• Exploring The Ins And Outs Of The Generative AI Boom 

John Koetsier

Senior Contributor – Forbes 

Where to find John:  LinkedIn | Twitter 

Through John’s experience as a journalist, analyst, author & founder, he has become a leading expert in the Emerging Tech sector. He currently writes for Forbes regularly, covering key topics such as AI, VR, AR, and robotics and how they are transforming the world. He also hosts a number of podcasts, including TechFirst with John Koetsier. 

Worth a Read/ Listen: 

• GPT – 4 Beats 90% Of Lawyers Trying To Pass The Bar 
• Podcast: When AI creates: how generative AI will change the world 

Helen Yu

Founder & CEO – Tigon Advisory Corp. 

Where to find Helen: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Helen is a leading industry expert & content creator with a focus on a number of topical areas, including AI, DEI within Tech and Cybersecurity. She is a Fotune 500 Advisor, host of the CxO Spice Talk Podcast and Best-Selling Author, with a plethora of experience within big tech enterprises & advising leading businesses. 

Worth a Read/ Listen: 

• CXO Spice Talk – Trustworthy AI 
• The 3Rs for CEOs Preparing for AI, Data – and a Recession 

Ben Lorica

Host & Organizer – The Data Exchange Podcast 

Where to find Ben: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Ben has an extensive background in Data Science, and is the host of The Data Exchange Podcast, which focuses on Data, Machine Learning & AI. His considerable experience and content creation through podcasts & blogs make him a leading industry expert.  

Worth a Read/Listen: 

• Uncovering and Highlighting AI Trends 
• Getting Started on Aligning AI 

MyCool King (Michael King) 

Founder & CEO - iPullRank 

Where to find Michael: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Michael King founded iPullRank, an SEO and content strategy agency. He was a contributing author for Moz's “Inbound Marketing and SEO” written in 2013 and is currently writing his own book for Wiley Publishing, “The Science of SEO”. He has been recognized as an expert in marketing by Forbes and LinkedIn. He is also a top-rated speaker at global conferences.  

Worth a Read/Listen:  

• AI Content is not the SEO threat they want you to think it is 
• A Conversation on Artificial Intelligence, Chatbots, and Plagiarism in Higher Education 

Aaron Orendorff

Founder – iconiContent | Head of Marketing - Recart 

Where to find Aaron: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Aaron is a thought leader in Content Marketing and has appeared as a guest on many blogs. He currently works as Head of Marketing with a focus on an SMS platform helping ecommerce brands utilize marketing via text messages. He has published work in The New York Times, Forbes, Mashable, Business Insider, and more. 

Worth a read/listen 

• 10 Ecommerce Trends for 2022 

Katie Robbert

CEO of Trust Insights 

Where to Find Katie: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Katie is a leading analyst focusing on AI, Data Science and Digital Transformation. She is a co-host of both the In-Ear Insights Podcast, and the Punching Out Podcast 

Worth a Read/ Listen:  

• Simplifying AI in Marketing with Katie Robbert  
• Women Leading the AI Industry 

Gil Press

Columnist/Blogger - Forbes | Managing Partner gPress 

Where to find Gil: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Gil is a thought leader in marketing, branding, publishing, writing and market research. He is currently a blogger for Forbes and was previously a Senior Director of Thought Leadership at EMC where he also launched where I launched the Big Data conversation with the “How Much Information?” study (2000 with UC Berkeley) and the Digital Universe study (2007 with IDC). 

Worth a read/listen:  

• Generative AI Drives Investments, Business Adoption, Public Concerns and New Products 
• What’s to be Done About AI and Machine Learning? 

Carolina Milanesi 

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President and Principal Analyst at Creative Strategies 

Where to find Carolina: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Carolina focuses on consumer tech and is passionate about user engagement and user experience. This passion drives her to spend time analyzing the future of work. She has written many articles and been the guest on podcasts.  

Worth a Read/Listen: 

• What 5G Will Mean for AI, Self-Driving Cars, and the Internet of Things 
• Artificial Intelligence with Carolina Milanesi 

Matt Heinz

Founder/President - Heinz Marketing 

Where to find Matt: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Matt has spent more than 15 years in B2B marketing and business development and has recently focused on how AI is changing those industries. He is an author, dynamic speaker, and award-winning blogger. Matt is a repeat winner of Top 50 Most Influential People in Sales Lead Management and Top 50 Sales & Marketing Influencers 

Worth a Read/Listen: 

• How Generative AI is Changing B2B Sales and Marketing 
• Modern B2B PR Best Practices: CMOs Dish on Agencies, AI, SEO and More 

John Jantsch

CEO/Founder - Duct Tape Marketing | Co-Founder – Spark Lab Consulting 

Where to find John: LinkedIn | Twitter 

John is a marketing consultant, speaker and best-selling author of multiple books including “Duct Tape Marketing” and “Duct Tape Selling”. He has been featured in the New York Times and USA Today.  John was named one of the 50 Most Influential People in Small Business Marketing.  

Worth a Read/Listen: 

• A New Generation Of AI: ChatGPT 
• Why Marketers Should Start Integrating AI Into Their Work 

Anil Dash  

Head of Glitch and VP, Developer Experience – Fastly  

Where to find Anil: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Anil is the CEO of Glitch, and an advocate for a more humane, inclusive and ethical technology industry.  

Anindya Ghose 

Heinz Riehl Chair Professor, NYU Stern 

Where to find Anindya: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Anindya Ghose is an expert in Data and Business Analytics and was named “Top 200 Thought Leaders in Big Data and Business Analytics by Analytics Week in 2014. He is the author of a bestselling book and has published more than 115 journal and conference papers. 

Worth a Read/Listen:  

• Podcast: Anindya Ghose — China, US, & Future of AI 

Greg Sterling 

Chief Content Officer at Near Media  

Where to find Greg: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Greg is a digital marketing and technology expert, with a focus on local marketing, location intelligence & the SMB marketplace. He regularly writes articles for Near Media on trending topics within marketing & technology, and the intersection of these areas. 

Worth a Read/ Listen: 

• Fake Review Growth, AI Darkside, 'Kiss of Death' 
• 5-Star Attack, Data Privacy Paradox, AI Eschatology 

David Raab 

Founder at CDP Institute 

Where to find David: LinkedIn | Twitter 

David is an expert and consultant in marketing technology & analytics. He is also a renowned author, having written a number of books and contributed to many publications including Information Management, DM Review, and The Journal of Database Marketing. David also regularly keynotes at large conferences and events globally. 

Bill Franks 

Chief Analytics Officer, International Institute for Analytics 

Where to find Bill: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Bill is a globally recognized and influential expert on the topics of Analytics & Data Science. He is the Director of the Center for Data Science and Analytics at Kennesaw State University and the Chief Analytics Officer for The International Institute for Analytics (IIA).  

Worth a Read/ Listen: 

• Exploring the Legal Implications of Generative AI: Is it Fair Use? 
• AI-Driven Job Losses in Unexpected Places 

Alex Pentland 

MIT Professor & Director for MIT Connection Science 

Where to find Alex: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Alex directs MIT Connection Science and is one of the most-cited computational scientists in the world. He has been declared as one of the ‘7 most powerful data scientists in the world’ by Forbes and has received numerous prizes and awards for his work in Data Science, and regularly keynotes at leading global industry events. 

Worth a Read/ Listen: 

• What is web3? Part 1 of a three-part vlog on the OECD and web3  

Liz Miller 

VP & Principal Analyst at Constellation Research 

Where to Find Liz: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Liz is a VP & Principal Analyst for Constellation Research, a technology research firm. Her authority within both marketing and AI have positioned her as an influential thought leader at the intersection of these trending discussions. 

Worth a Read/ Listen:  

• ChatGPT: Looking Beyond the Hype 

Ash Fontana 

Investor, Advisor & Author of ‘The AI-first company’ 

Where to Find Ash: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Ash is a leading AI thought leader and author of ‘The AI-First Company: How to Compete & Win with Artificial Intelligence’. He is a founder of both AngelList and ZettaVentures, and has impressive experience in leading successful startups. 

Worth a Read/ Listen:  

• Investing in AI Episode 12: Ash Fontana and The AI-First Company 
• Chief Information Officer: Enterprise AI and the CIO

Will 2023 Be the Year of AI? 

AI will undoubtedly continue to evolve the way that we work and invest in our businesses. These experts are helping to pave the path and can provide a wealth of information on how to best focus your efforts.  

For those of you that have begun integrating AI into your business, what have been the biggest challenges, surprises and benefits?