Do you think AI automation will eventually die out, or will it remain a constant game of evolving with AI?
Keywords like 'AI automation' will eventually die out as the term gets overused, but new labels such as go‑to‑market (GTM) engineering emerge to describe the same core work—building lead lists, automating outreach, and handing off to sales teams. GTM engineering is essentially the same as most AI‑driven growth automation; it just sounds fresher. As people tire of the AI label, everything will have AI baked in, so the term fades while the underlying need for AI‑powered solutions remains. My agency focuses on AI automation services that grow with AI, not on things that disappear with the trend.
I haven't thought about that in detail, so I don't have a detailed backup plan. I expect the core work of running an automation agency to remain viable for at least three to five years. Over that period the work will evolve—no‑code AI tools like pre‑draft generators will make many tasks more efficient. That doesn't mean you won't be able to run an agency; agents and other services will start to infiltrate the business model soon, but the model itself remains sound because the same shift will happen across the industry.
I think sometime over the next 2 to 3 years; I've been saying that for the last 6 months, maybe 2 to 2.5 years. Saturation is a relative term—just because something is called saturated doesn't mean you can't make money in it. Think of saturation like peak oil: the point where the most money is possible using the business model, after which it declines. However, interest in the model and the average impact of systems we build are increasing over time as AI technology improves, so you can still make a lot of money on the way down. If I were you, I'd get up and running with the stuff ASAP, because no market tactic lasts forever, and even if today's tactics stop working, there will be new business models I'll learn about and share with you.
That's a great question. Imagine accountants, flight coordinators, or any role being replaced by AI that can do the work better and cheaper. Who knows exactly when that will happen, but the good news is that running your own business gives you insulation - you control where you go, how you move, and how to stay indispensable. In reality, every role faces the same pressure. The world will look very different in 5-10 years, but our specific business model still has at least three years of runway to capitalize on. In fact, our services will be needed to build that AI-driven future, so there's hardly a better industry to be in.
Most ad agencies I see hardly last a few years because the market is already shifting to performance‑based pricing in many niches. That’s why a lot of people are quick to sell shovels, mentorship and coaching instead of actually running agencies themselves. My take on the future is two‑fold. First, think of the industrial revolution: machines replaced seamstresses, created new roles, and boosted productivity. Likewise, new automation will render today’s agency models obsolete, but it will also open new opportunities for those who can adapt to emerging technologies. No model lasts forever; we’ll need to shift to whatever new tech or business models appear. Second, AI will eventually swallow up most of what agencies do. In the next 10‑15 years AI will be as good as—or better than—humans at design, copy, and many deliverables. If AI can generate art, copy, and strategy, the skill set we rely on today will become commoditized. So rather than tweaking the same thing slightly, we’ll need to find fundamentally different ways to add value, perhaps by focusing on uniquely human insight or by embracing an AI‑driven renaissance where we re‑evaluate our role in creating economic value.