Episode Summary: Generative AI Update – What the Latest Model Wars Mean for Marketers

Podcast: The Digital Marketing Podcast
Hosts: Daniel Rowles and Ciaran Rogers
Episode Date: January 4, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Daniel Rowles provides a detailed update on the fast-moving “model wars” in generative AI, focusing on the recent leapfrogging between OpenAI’s ChatGPT models and Google’s Gemini, and what these developments mean for digital marketers. He covers advances in image generation, new platform features, improved coding capabilities, and the practical implications for marketers, including automation, workflow, and creative production.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The AI Model Wars: ChatGPT vs. Gemini

• Rapid Model Updates: Late 2025 saw a competitive burst, with OpenAI releasing ChatGPT 5, quickly followed by Google’s Gemini 3, then ChatGPT 5.1 and 5.2 in rapid succession.
  • "[ChatGPT] was smarter and it was a lot more autonomous... Then suddenly Gemini 3 was released and... leapt ahead of ChatGPT." (02:00)
• Focus on Strengths:
  • ChatGPT 5.2: Excelled at real-world tasks (e.g., creating PowerPoints, spreadsheets).
  • Gemini 3: Superior at logical responses and, especially, coding.
• Industry Reaction: Sam Altman (OpenAI) congratulated Google publicly, then reportedly issued a “code red” at OpenAI, pushing harder for innovation. (03:00)
• Tool Selection: Choice of AI model may now depend on specific task (e.g., marketers leaning toward ChatGPT for integrations, Gemini for coding).

2. Image Generation Breakthroughs

• Google Nano Banana Pro: Major leap in photorealism and text generation; great for marketers needing product visuals in multiple scenarios.
  • "Extreme photorealism, like lighting and subtlety is incredibly better, but it's also really caught up in be able to create text effectively." (10:00)
• ChatGPT Image Editor: Now allows editing actual photos, including placing real people in new settings—previous safety restrictions have been relaxed.
  • "Now, the big shift is you can now do that." (09:40)

Practical Example:

• In Google Ads, upload a product photo, remove the background, and use Nano Banana Pro to place it in various scenarios at scale (see show notes for a demo).

• Brand Consistency: Both platforms now use source images to maintain on-brand color, fonts, and layouts for generated assets.

3. Expanded Tool Integrations and “Apps”

• Connectors → Apps: ChatGPT’s third-party connections are now called “apps” and integrate more deeply with tools like Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Figma, etc.
  • "Suddenly I'm interacting with apps like canva and Figma and lots of others as well from within ChatGPT itself..." (13:30)
• Workflow Advantage: Unlike Gemini, which is more contained in the Google ecosystem, ChatGPT allows broader integrations, ideal for marketers leveraging many different platforms.

4. Coding and Canvas Mode: Making Interactive Tools Accessible

• Gemini Coding Edge: Markedly better at understanding and building from prompts; code is “more reliable” than ChatGPT for now.
  • "The logic in working out what I want it to build from my prompt is really incredible." (15:30)
• Canvas Mode: Both ChatGPT and Gemini now offer “canvas” – a visual interface for code and content editing.
  • Marketers can tweak web apps, infographics, and interactive tutorials without deep dev skills.
  • "If you have Canvas mode switched on, you will get a little preview button and that will immediately show you what that code when it's running is going to look like as well." (21:00)
• Interactive Content: Easy drum-up of browser-side apps (HTML, CSS, React) for deploying quizzes, persona generators, or strategy builders on CMS, pending tech team support.

5. Custom AI Agents: GPTs, Gems, and Agents

• Naming:
  • ChatGPT → GPTs
  • Gemini → Gems
  • Copilot → Agents
• Interaction: Defined UIs for performing tailored tasks, e.g., filling in strategy details, generating brand-ready templates.

6. ChatGPT Atlas for Mac: Browser as Your AI Workflow Engine

• Atlas Features:
  • Works on Apple Silicon Macs (PC coming soon).
  • Compares/analyses multiple open pages; e.g., summarizing analytics and reporting across web, email, social, ads in one prompt.
  • "Where Atlas is really excelling is comparing and contrasting pages I have open. So look at these five web pages that are all selling maybe a similar product and create me a new page that's better than all of them." (25:00)
• Agent Mode: Allows direct editing of open docs/spreadsheets straight from browser, greatly improving workflow.

Memorable Moment:

• Daniel forced ChatGPT and Gemini to argue within Atlas’ side-by-side panels to see which one “thought” it was better! (28:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI Model Racing:
  "It seemed like [ChatGPT 5] was really racing ahead of Google Gemini... Then suddenly Gemini 3 was released and in terms of writing and logical responses, it kind of leapt ahead." — Daniel Rowles (02:00)

• On Image Generators' Progress:
  "The photorealism of what was being created as well... Gemini is, I feel, generally better at the moment at photorealism, but they're both incredible." (09:15)

• On Gemini’s Coding Leap:
  "Not just that it can code well, but the logic in working out what I want it to build from my prompt is really incredible. And the code is noticeably more reliable than ChatGPT from my experience currently." (15:20)

• On Brand-Consistent Asset Generation:
  "You can upload a whole sequence of images, you say create me something like an infographic... but use these images as source styling and it will copy the colors, the fonts, the spacing, the layout, those kind of things as well." (11:30)

• On Canvas Mode for Code:
  "If you have Canvas mode switched on, you will get a little preview button and that will immediately show you what that code when it's running is going to look like as well. So it's a real game changer..." (21:00)

• On ChatGPT Atlas Browser:
  "Imagine you go through, you open up your web analytics, your email analytics, your social analytics, your ads... and you create a prompt that you run once a month to go through and compile a standard report from all of those things in one place." (26:10)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 – 02:30: Introduction and recent AI model war overview (ChatGPT vs. Gemini)
• 02:30 – 05:00: Key model updates, adoption in Copilot, and Sam Altman’s response
• 05:00 – 10:00: Advances in model task performance; choosing models by use case
• 10:00 – 13:00: Google Nano Banana Pro, new image editing capabilities
• 13:00 – 16:00: ChatGPT’s new “apps” (formerly connectors) and third-party integrations
• 16:00 – 21:00: Coding capabilities of Gemini vs. ChatGPT and Canvas mode explained
• 21:00 – 25:00: Use cases for interactive content creation and deploying AI features
• 25:00 – 29:00: ChatGPT Atlas browser, workflow and reporting improvements, agent mode in action

Episode Tone

Daniel’s delivery is energetic, engaging, sometimes playful (especially in anecdotes about making AIs “argue”), but always clearly focused on practical marketing takeaways. There’s a strong emphasis on experimentation, immediacy, and actionable insight for marketers and entrepreneurs.

Summary: What Does This Mean for Marketers?

• The AI “model war” is pushing rapid, meaningful improvements that marketers can leverage right away.
• Image generation tools are now capable of replacing traditional photoshoots for many product scenarios, while maintaining brand consistency.
• Coding and interactive tool creation is more accessible than ever, opening doors for creative content and workflow automation even for non-developers.
• Integrated “apps” inside ChatGPT plus Gemini’s logical coding advances mean selecting the right platform for each task is increasingly important.
• ChatGPT Atlas and agent modes signal a shift toward browser-based, automated, multi-channel reporting and AI-augmented workflows—freeing marketers to focus on strategy, analysis, and creativity.

For resources and examples, visit the podcast show notes at targetinternet.com/podcast.