Episode Summary: Ep. 310 - What is AGENTIC AI? Bloomreach CMO Amanda Cole Breaks Down the Future of AI and Ecommerce!
Podcast Title: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson
Host: Jay Schwedelson, GURU Media Hub
Guest: Amanda Cole, Chief Marketing Officer at Bloomreach
Release Date: April 17, 2025
Sponsor: Marigold – A relationship marketing platform
1. Introduction to the Episode
In Episode 310 of "Do This, NOT That!" host Jay Schwedelson welcomes Amanda Cole, the Chief Marketing Officer at Bloomreach, to discuss the emerging concept of agentic AI and its transformative impact on the ecommerce landscape. Jay sets the stage by highlighting Bloomreach's significant influence in the ecommerce sector, noting that they power nearly 25% of all ecommerce experiences in the US and UK, collaborating with over 1,400 brands globally.
Notable Quote:
Jay Schwedelson [00:08]: "Today I'm very excited. We're going to be talking about agentic AI. I basically don't know what that is because I'm clueless. And that's why I'm excited to have the person that we have here."
2. Defining Agentic AI
Amanda Cole delves into the concept of agentic AI, elucidating that it refers to technology capable of acting autonomously to make decisions and achieve goals without human intervention. She draws a parallel with ChatGPT, describing it as an agent that can converse in a human-like manner, search for information, and perform tasks independently.
Notable Quote:
Amanda Cole [02:09]: "Agents mean that we are creating technology that can act autonomously and make decisions and achieve goals without human intervention."
Amanda emphasizes the shift from traditional workflow-based software to agentic AI, where marketers can directly communicate their objectives to agents, which then execute tasks seamlessly.
3. Agentic AI vs. Traditional Chatbots
The discussion transitions to comparing agentic AI with traditional chatbots. Amanda highlights the limitations of old chatbots, which were often rigid and workflow-dependent, leading to frustrating user experiences. In contrast, agentic AI leverages comprehensive company knowledge to provide accurate and contextually relevant responses without being confined to predefined workflows.
Notable Quotes:
Amanda Cole [05:15]: "Chatbots are very workflow based. Someone on the back end had to know what kind of question you would type, provide you with a series of answers. Those answers are very limited."
Jay Schwedelson [06:21]: "I would go to the Vans website and instead of going into like their search bar and saying I want really cool sneakers... I would almost be interacting with the way I interact with ChatGPT."
4. Consumer Interactions with Agentic AI
Amanda provides a practical example of agentic AI in action through Bloomreach's agent, Clarity, available on vans.com. Unlike traditional search bars, Clarity engages users in a conversational manner, allowing them to express nuanced preferences and receive tailored product recommendations. This "ChatGPT-ification" of ecommerce enhances the shopping experience by making it more personalized and intuitive.
Notable Quote:
Amanda Cole [04:52]: "Consumers absolutely are interacting with agents now and it will only become more prevalent that they're going to interact with agents again."
5. The Future of AI in Ecommerce and Business
The conversation explores the broader implications of agentic AI, including the integration of voice-activated interactions and the potential for businesses to create their own agents. Amanda envisions a future where agents handle various tasks, from scheduling and email management to personalized customer interactions, thereby increasing operational efficiency and enhancing user experiences.
Notable Quotes:
Amanda Cole [07:49]: "Absolutely, 100%."
Amanda Cole [08:14]: "We will manage our world that way in the same way we do with applications today."
When discussing the relevance of agentic AI skills in the job market, Amanda compares proficiency in AI to fundamental digital skills like using the internet or a mobile phone. While currently in the early stages, she anticipates that understanding and leveraging agentic AI will become essential for marketing professionals.
Notable Quote:
Amanda Cole [09:37]: "Agentic technology and AI in general is going to be that important to how we interact with the world around us."
6. Bloomreach's Innovation Fest
Amanda introduces Innovation Fest, a free virtual event hosted by Bloomreach scheduled for May 7th at 11 am Eastern Time. The event will showcase Bloomreach's latest technologies, including Clarity and new marketing agents designed to deliver personalized, conversational experiences across various channels. Amanda encourages listeners to attend to gain insights into the evolving agentic technology landscape.
Notable Quote:
Amanda Cole [10:53]: "We'll actually explain to you what clarity is and how it works as an agent. We'll also be launching our new marketing agents..."
7. Conclusion
Jay wraps up the episode by expressing enthusiasm for the advancements in agentic AI and the upcoming Innovation Fest. He encourages listeners to connect with Amanda Cole on LinkedIn and participate in the event to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving marketing and AI domains. The episode concludes with a call to action to subscribe, leave a review, and visit guruevents.com for more marketing events and insights.
Notable Quotes:
Jay Schwedelson [11:23]: "Amanda, you are awesome. Anything else you want to share with the universe about?"
Jay Schwedelson [12:04]: "Subscribe to make sure you get the latest episode each week for more actionable tips and a little chaos from today's top marketers."
Key Takeaways
- Agentic AI represents a significant evolution from traditional AI and chatbots, offering autonomous decision-making and personalized interactions.
- Consumer Experience: Agentic AI enhances the ecommerce experience by enabling conversational interfaces that understand and respond to nuanced user preferences.
- Business Applications: Companies can deploy agentic AI to automate tasks, improve customer service, and deliver personalized marketing strategies.
- Future Relevance: Proficiency in agentic AI will become as fundamental for marketers as existing digital skills.
- Upcoming Events: Bloomreach's Innovation Fest is a pivotal event for those interested in the future of AI and ecommerce technologies.
Connect with Amanda Cole:
Find Amanda Cole on LinkedIn and join the conversation at Innovation Fest to explore the future of agentic AI in marketing and ecommerce.
Sponsor:
Explore Marigold – a relationship marketing platform that helps businesses acquire new customers and transform them into superfans with advanced loyalty solutions. Trusted by brands like American Airlines, Honeybaked Ham, Title Boxing, and Notre Dame University.
Stay tuned to "Do This, NOT That!" for more in-depth discussions with leading marketing experts, offering actionable insights to elevate your marketing strategies and stay competitive in the ever-evolving landscape.