the mash

In the short time since artificial intelligence became part of our daily lives and public debates, it’s already made seismic shifts in the way people work. We gathered our agency’s internal AI task force, which includes writers, designers, marketers and digital experts, for a roundtable discussion of AI’s impact, learning how they expect it to change agencies, politics and beyond.

As companies realize the importance of AI, they're pouring more money than ever into the technology so as not to get left behind. But since the technology is (in many ways) maturing faster than what we can, or are willing to, execute on, we have to figure out how to correct for “the human factor”—both corporate leadership vision and team execution. How do you ensure it isn’t a limitation for success in your adoption of AI? Read Interrupt Principal Bill Rossiter’s take on the importance of AI on enabling the future success of your team and business performance.

The building materials industry is at a unique crossroads: customers want more personalized service than ever before. And AI may lend itself best to the needs of the building materials industry to deliver that. Executive Creative Director and Brand Strategist Anita Holman explores how this game-changing tool could enhance every brand’s ability to develop personalized advice in ways that were never humanly possible before.

Hashtags once felt like a make-or-break element of a social strategy. But with the introduction of SEO search on platforms like Instagram, brand management teams need to rethink their strategy. Your words still count—but how you use them is changing. Learn more about the status of that pound sign (and your caption writing) in this rundown.

You’ve hired the right team. You’ve invested in a social strategy. Yet you’re still not seeing the results you want on TikTok, the current king of social channels. According to our in-house social media guru Hayley Kandik, it’s not you, it's the algorithm. Don’t be discouraged—with a few small tweaks, you can press forward with creating an identity for your brand on TikTok that serves both your goals and your audience.

A cookie-free future is coming. That means a new analytics future, too. Dive into an explanation of Google Analytics 4, the new data tool created in anticipation of this change, and explore how Interrupt’s digital marketing team is leading the transition.

In the race to comment on AI, senior copywriter Dan Tischler asks: what does the AI think? His discovery reaffirmed his belief that there isn’t yet a rival for the human imagination when it comes to copy.

This year has brought a tidal wave in the evolution of AI image generators. Chris Graver, our associate creative director, takes them on and learns how to make them work with (rather than against) him in his efforts to fearlessly take on the future.

An online advertising strategy that’s focused solely on calls to action may be working against your marketing goals in ways you don’t realize. While results matter, you can’t produce them without the right approach. Just like you wouldn’t ask someone to purchase something right when they walk through the doors of a brick and mortar store, your online messaging should take customers on a journey that’s more than transactional.

Summer doesn’t just signal vacation season—it also means more remote work in more places. That “free” connection you’re latching on to during your work at coffee shops, hotels and more could be doing more with your data than you bargained for and can pose a major threat to your whole organization. Our IT expert Matt Wittman weighs in on why a VPN should be one of the main tools in your remote work arsenal.

Is technology changing to meet consumers’ evolving needs or are consumers changing as a result of what technology enables? Like the chicken and the egg, it really doesn’t matter which came first. Consumer expectations and technology will keep changing, and if your brand is too chicken to keep up, you may be left with egg on your face (pun intended). Read on to learn why sharpening your digital CX is essential to your business survival.

Are you investing in digital resources? How much are you paying attention to your customer experience (CX)? If you impress at every touchpoint—digital, in-person and beyond—you can weather virtually any storm. Discover more now.

In a rapidly changing digital landscape, businesses must be aware and compliant with new data protection regulations. As regulations evolve, companies need to rethink their marketing approaches to successfully reach key customers.

COVID-19 has impacted industries across the country. The digital space has now become the most important place to focus your efforts in order to bridge the gap and continue to connect with customers.

The Interrupt Team just returned from attending AIA 2019, the American Institute of Architects’ annual architecture conference, in Las Vegas and has some key takeaways to share.

As online shopping continues to gain traction, the overall retail experience is becoming more critical to the success of big box retailers. Online product research now plays a huge role regardless of where the purchase ultimately occurs. Whether buying online or in-store, the consumer shopping journey often begins long before the final sale, challenging all retailers (especially big box) to more carefully craft the sales path from beginning to end.

Is Google testing new branded video advertising in paid search results? Sure seems that way. Something we will keep an eye on, this could be a paid search game changer for brands.

With Conversational AI, brands can have more meaningful conversations with their target audience and customers — as long as they are set up to live in this world. They also have an opportunity to learn more about customer intent by how customers or potential customers are verbalizing their ask, which leads to better and more personalized marketing efforts.

In project management, risk is the likelihood of something not going according to plan.

Manufacturers and suppliers need to wake up to how tech is changing LBM.