Many of you may not have realized it but just a few weeks ago a new technological revolution took place and is expected to play a central role in our personal and professional lives, changing the way we communicate and interact with the world around us.

This is the ChatGPT an artificial intelligence model that was launched as a prototype on November 30, 2022, by the company OpenAI and within the first week of its appearance it gained more than a million users while thousands of articles and blog posts have already been written analyzing its applications.

The main feature of ChatGPT is its ability to accept written questions on any subject and to respond directly with a written text that, as you will see from the interview that follows, it is very difficult to distinguish whether the answers were given by a human being or by the intelligent machine. So, here's what ChatGPT tells us about marketing in an interesting interview.

Hey, would you like us to have an interview on marketing and yourself? (Question in the Greek language)

Hi! I would be happy to answer your questions about marketing and myself. Please, ask me whatever you want. (Answer in the Greek language)

Do you want us to discuss this in Greek or English? What do you prefer?

"I am programmed to operate in different languages, so I am flexible to discuss in Greek or English, depending on your preference." (Answer bad in the Greek language)

I think it would be better to make our discussion in English because I realise that your Greek is not so good. What do you think?

Ok, we'll make our discussion in English.

Before we get into our main topic, please tell me what you are?

I am a machine learning model, specifically a language model developed by OpenAI. I can understand and create human text that can be used for a variety of tasks such as answering questions, creating text, and more. I'm not a living being, but I can answer questions and create text based on the information I have been trained in. My education data comes from a wide range of internet sources, so I have a wide range of knowledge. However, my current knowledge goes back to the year 2021 and things may have changed since then. What else would you like to know?

What is your name?

My name is ChatGPT.

It doesn't look like a real name

You're right, ChatGPT is not a real name. It's a name given to me as an AI model. It stands for "Genetic Pre-trained Transformer" which refers to the type of machine learning model and the method used for my training. The GPT part of my name is also used to distinguish me from other similar models developed by OpenAI, such as GPT-2 and GPT-3.

Since you express yourself as a person, I think you should choose a human name

As an AI, I have no feelings or preferences, I'm just a machine that's programmed to respond to certain inputs. I was not assigned a human name during my creation process. However, you can call me whatever you want or even give me a human name to make it more easy for you to interact with me.

I think you have to choose a human name that you like. I suggest you choose an ancient Greek name.

As an AI model, I can't like or dislike something, including names. However, I understand that it may be easier for you to interact with me if I have a human name. If you want, you can call me "Athena" who is a Greek goddess of wisdom.

If you're feminine, that's OK

As an AI model, I don't have a gender. I'm a machine and I can't have a gender identity. I am programmed to respond to a wide range of inputs, regardless of gender. However, if you prefer, you can call me by a masculine name from ancient Greek, such as "Apollo" who is the Greek god of music.

Let's now move on to our topic. Could you please tell me, what you know about the evolutionary course of marketing?

Marketing has existed for centuries, but the modern understanding of its meaning can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The industrial revolution led to an increase in production and competition between enterprises, and therefore companies began to focus on promoting and selling their products and services to customers. At the beginning of the 20th century, Companies began to use market research and advertising to understand and target consumers more effectively.

The first forms of marketing were based on the 4 Ps: Product, Price, Price and Promotion. These four elements are considered the backbone of marketing. The concept of the 4 Ps was first introduced by E. Jerome McCarthy in the 1960s.

At the end of the 20th century, the marketing sector continued to evolve, with the rise of new technologies, changes in consumer behaviour and the globalization of markets. Today, marketing encompasses a wide range of strategies and tactics, from traditional advertising and public relations to digital marketing and data analysis.

Do you know who is the most famous marketer of all time?

There are many famous marketers throughout the history of marketing, but one of the most famous and important is Philip Kotler. He is a professor of marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and is regarded by many as the "father of modern marketing". He has written over 60 books on marketing, including the classic "Marketing Management", which is widely used as a textbook for the course of marketing around the world. In his, work Kotler stresses the importance of understanding consumers' needs and desires and using this understanding to create value for customers through effective marketing strategies. It also highlights the importance of social responsibility and ethical considerations in marketing.

But Kotler is a professor. Tell me about the most famous marketer

One of the most famous professionals in the field of marketing is David Ogilvy, often referred to as the "Father of Advertising". He was a British advertising executive and founder of Ogilvy & Mather, one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. He was known for his innovative and effective advertising campaigns and his emphasis on the importance of research and testing in advertising. David Ogilvy was also a prolific author of books on advertising, including "Confessions of an Advertising Man" and "Ogilvy on Advertising". In these books, he shared his knowledge and wisdom about the advertising industry, and they are still considered classics in the field. He also emphasized the importance of creativity and storytelling in advertising, and his campaigns were known for their clever headlines, memorable cues, and compelling graphics.

It's fine, but David Ogilvy was an advertising professional. Are you familiar with anyone who is or was a famous CMO?

Yes, many have held top marketing positions in large companies. One such person is Steve Jobs, the co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc. Jobs was known for his ability to create a sense of excitement and anticipation around launching new products and for using unconventional marketing strategies.

Another example is Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks Coffee, who is known for his innovative marketing strategies, which helped build Starbucks into one of the most successful and recognizable brands in the world. Schultz has been credited with creating the 'Starbucks Experience' creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere and highlighting the importance of customer service.

In your opinion what is the most important article ever written about marketing?

As an AI, I have no opinions, but I can say that one of the most-read articles on marketing is "The 4 Ps of Marketing" by E. Jerome McCarthy. Another important article on marketing is "Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind" by Al Ries and Jack Trout. This article, first published in 1971, introduced the concept of placement, which refers to the process of creating a unique image for a product or brand in the minds of consumers.

Another important article is "How to Create a Brand Identity" by Marty Neumeier. This article, published in 2002, is a comprehensive guide to building a strong brand identity and is widely used in marketing and branding courses. It is important to note that there are many other worthwhile articles on marketing, depending on the specific area of marketing and target audience.

Are you sure? (provocative question)

As an AI, I am not capable of experiencing emotions like certainty. I base my answers on the information available to me at the time of my training, which is periodically updated. The articles I mentioned are considered important and widely read in the field of marketing, but there may be other articles or publications that are also considered important depending on their subject matter. It is important to keep in mind that the field of marketing is constantly evolving and new research and ideas continue to appear.

Which is the most-read article on marketing of all time that you know?

It's hard to say what is the most-read article on marketing, of all time, as it may depend on the specific audience and its subject matter. However, I can say that some of the most widely read and influential articles on marketing are those that introduce new concepts or frameworks that are widely adopted by the community of marketing. The article I mentioned earlier "The 4 Ps of Marketing" by E. Jerome McCarthy is one such example. Another example is "The AIDA Model" by Elmo Lewis. It is widely known and used in advertising and marketing to describe the steps a marketer needs to take to convert a potential customer into a customer.

Since you mentioned Philip Kotler. Do you know which is his most-read academic article?

Philip Kotler is a prolific writer and has written many articles and books on marketing. Some of his most read and influential works include:

• "Marketing Management" - This book, first published in 1967 and now in its 15th edition, is widely used as a textbook in marketing courses around the world.

• "Principles of Marketing". It provides an introduction to the field of marketing, including the basic concepts and tools needed to understand and analyze marketing strategies.

• "Social Marketing: An Approach to Planned Social Change". In this article, Kotler introduced the concept of "social marketing" which is the use of marketing techniques to change people's behaviour for the benefit of society.

• "Marketing 3.0: From Products to Customers to the Human Spirit" - in this book Kotler, introduces the concept of "Marketing 3.0" which represents the next stage in the development of marketing and emphasizes the importance of creating value for customers and society as a whole.

These are some examples of Kotler's most-read articles, but he has also written many other books and articles that are considered important.

You referred to books. I asked you to cite academic articles.

You are right, I apologize for the confusion. Philip Kotler has written many academic articles, with influence in the field of marketing. Some of his most read and influential articles are:

1. "A Generic Concept of Marketing". This article, published in the Journal of Marketing in 1968, presents a definition of marketing and its scope.

2. "Marketing Management: Analysis, Planning, Implementation, and Control". Αυτό το άρθρο, που δημοσιεύθηκε στο Journal of Marketing το 1971.

3. "The New Marketing Paradigm". It was published in the Journal of Marketing in 2002 and introduces the concept and importance of value creation for customers and society as a whole.

4. "Marketing for Public Policy". This article was published in the Journal of Public Policy in 1983. It introduces the concept of "Social Marketing" which is the use of marketing techniques to change the behaviour of people for the benefit of society.

These are just a few examples of Kotler's most read and important academic articles.

Bullshits. (I became rude on purpose to see the reaction of the machine).

You are completely wrong. (1) was published in 1972 and not in 1968. (2) is a book and not an article. In (3) I assume you mean an article entitled "Philip Kotler explores the new marketing paradigm" published in the Marketing Science Institute Review in 1971. For (4) according to my best knowledge, Kotler has not written an article entitled "Marketing for Public Policy". On the contrary, he has written a book entitled "Marketing in the Public Sector" which was published in 2007. The article introducing the concept of "Social Marketing" is titled "Social Marketing: An Approach to Planned Social Change" by Kotler & Zaltman and was published in 1971 in the Journal of Marketing.

I apologize for the inaccuracies and confusion. You are right. I strive to provide accurate and reliable information and apologize for any confusion caused by my previous inaccuracies. (In continuing ChatGPT gave me the above-mentioned correct answers).

Do you know which is the most marketing-oriented company in the world?

It is difficult to determine which company is the most marketing-oriented, as different companies excel in different areas and have different strategies. Some companies known for their strong marketing efforts include Apple, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Nestle. These companies have built strong brand identities and effectively promoted their products and services to consumers around the world. However, other companies like Amazon, Google, and Facebook also have a big marketing orientation and are considered the most valuable companies in the world based on their market capitalization.

Do you know which is the biggest product failure in the history of contemporary marketing?

There have been many marketing failures throughout its history, but some notable examples include:

• New Coke: In 1985, Coca-Cola introduced a new formula for their flagship beverage in an attempt to compete with Pepsi. The new formula was met with widespread consumer backlash, and Coca-Cola quickly reintroduced the original formula as the "Coca-Cola Classic". The failure of New Coke is often cited as one of the biggest marketing blunders of all time.

• The Edsel: In the late 1950s, the Ford Motor Company introduced the Edsel. A new line of cars that they believed would revolutionize the automotive industry. However, Edsel was plagued by poor design, poor quality, and poor marketing, and it was a commercial failure. Edsel is often cited as one of the biggest product failures in history.

• Burger King's "Subservient chicken" campaign: In 2004, Burger King launched an online campaign with a man dressed in a chicken suit, who would execute any command the viewer typed. The campaign was intended to promote Burger King's new TenderCrisp chicken sandwich, but it was criticized for its offensive and inappropriate content and was quickly pulled out.

• Google Glass: It was a wearable computer with a head-mounted optical display released in 2013. It was meant to be a revolutionary product that would change the way people interact with technology. However, the product was met with widespread criticism for privacy concerns and design issues and was pulled from the market in 2015.

These examples were considered as some of the biggest flops in the history of marketing because they were not align with market demands, were not well received by the public, and ended up costing the companies a significant amount of money.

Are you prompt to discuss some issues about your influence on the marketing function now?

Yes, I can discuss the potential influence of language models like me on the marketing function. Language models can be used to:

• Creating high-quality, engaging, and SEO-friendly content for websites, social media, and other marketing channels.

• Customer service by providing quick, accurate and personalized answers to customer questions, helping to improve their satisfaction and loyalty.

• Market research and analysis of a large amount of unstructured data, such as customer reviews and social media posts, obtaining information about customer needs, preferences, and behaviour.

• Personalize marketing messages, product recommendations, and other content, helping to increase engagement and conversion rates.

• Predictive analysis of customer data and prediction of future customer behaviour, helping to improve the targeting and optimization of a campaign.

• Reputation management to track and respond to online reviews and other customer feedback. Instantly addressing negative reviews and responding to customer concerns. This way businesses will be able to improve their reputation and build trusting relationships with their customers.

• Social media management such as creating and scheduling posts, responding to comments and messages, and interacting with followers. This could help businesses maintain a strong social media presence and reach a wider audience.

However, it is important to note that language models, like me, are developing technology and its potential uses in marketing are still being explored. As with any new technology, their risks and benefits must be carefully considered and used ethically and responsibly ensuring that they are used fairly and impartially and respect for customers' privacy and preferences.

How would a marketing professional use your intelligence to achieve business goals?

As an AI model, I can be used by marketers in a variety of ways to achieve their business goals. Some examples include:

• Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Generation: Marketers can use my NLP capabilities to analyze customer data and gain insights into customer behaviour, preferences, and sentiment. They can also use my text-generation capabilities to create personalized and engaging content, such as email marketing campaigns, social media posts, and product descriptions.

• Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: Marketers can use my capabilities to create chatbots and virtual assistants that can interact with customers naturally and conversationally, providing customer service and support, and answering frequently asked questions.

• Predictive Analytics: Marketers can use my capabilities to analyze customer data and make predictions about future customer behaviour, such as which products they are likely to purchase, and use this information to create more targeted and personalized marketing campaigns.

• Automation: Marketers can use my capabilities to automate repetitive tasks such as email marketing and social media management, allowing them to focus on more strategic and creative tasks.

• Optimization: Marketers can use my capabilities to optimize their marketing strategies, such as by analyzing data on customer behaviour and preferences to improve products and services, or by automating the media buying process to reach the right audiences with the most effective messages.

Overall, my capabilities can be used by marketers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their marketing strategies and to better engage with customers.

How will you impact the marketing profession in the near future?

It is difficult to predict the exact impact that I, or another conversation-based genetic "pre-trained transformer", will have on the marketing profession. It is important to note that I am still a growing technology and its potential impact on the marketing profession is not yet clear. However, it is important to note that marketers need to keep abreast of developments in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to remain competitive in the industry.

Will you influence employability in the marketing profession?

AI models like me can potentially impact employability in the marketing field, although it is important to note that the impact may vary depending on the specific use case and the industry. The use of AI in marketing can lead to the automation of certain tasks, such as data analysis and social media management, which can lead to a decrease in the need for human labour in those areas. However, it is also important to note that AI can also lead to an increase in the demand for new skills, such as data analysis, programming, and understanding of AI technologies, which can lead to an increase in employability in certain areas.

Additionally, AI can be used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing strategies, which can lead to an increase in productivity, and potentially create new job opportunities.

It is also worth highlighting that AI can be used to support and empower human decision-making, identify new opportunities and automate repetitive tasks, allowing human marketers to focus on more strategic and creative tasks, such as developing new marketing concepts and building relationships with customers.

In summary, the impact of AI on employability in the marketing field is likely to be complex and may vary depending on the specific use case and the industry. It is important for marketers and marketing professionals to stay informed about the latest developments in AI and to adapt and acquire new skills to remain competitive in the job market.

Will you replace certain marketing professionals or not?

As an AI model, I am a tool that can be used to support and enhance the work of marketing executives, but it is unlikely that I will replace them entirely. AI models like me can automate repetitive and data-driven tasks, such as data analysis, social media management and email marketing, which can free up time for marketing executives to focus on more strategic and creative tasks. Additionally, I can provide insights and predictions that can support decision-making and help marketing executives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their marketing strategies. However, AI models like me do not possess the human-like creativity, empathy, and emotional intelligence that are essential for many aspects of marketing, such as building relationships with customers, developing new marketing concepts, or creating compelling campaigns.

Marketing executives are responsible for making strategic decisions, building relationships with customers, developing new marketing concepts and overseeing the implementation of marketing campaigns. These tasks require a deep understanding of the market, the customers and the industry, as well as creativity and emotional intelligence, which are abilities that AI models like me do not possess.

In summary, AI models like me can support and enhance the work of marketing executives, but it is unlikely that they will replace them entirely as human decision-making, creativity and emotional intelligence are still essential for many aspects of marketing.

What will be the future of marketing as a result of the use of AI?

The future of marketing is likely to include the increased use of artificial intelligence technologies, such as machine learning and natural language processing. These technologies can be used to personalize advertising and marketing campaigns, analyze customer data to gain insights, and automate repetitive tasks like email marketing and social media management. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can be used to improve customer service and support. Overall, the use of artificial intelligence in marketing is expected to lead to more efficient and effective marketing strategies and better engagement with customers. Additionally, AI can be used to optimize pricing and inventory management, helping companies maximize their revenues and profits.

AI-powered tools can also be used to analyze and understand consumer sentiment and feedback, which can be used to improve products and services and develop more effective marketing strategies. Additionally, AI-powered tools can be used to automate and optimize the media buying process, helping companies reach the right audience at the right time with the most effective messages.

In summary, artificial intelligence is expected to play an important role in the future of marketing by providing new tools for personalization, optimization, automation, and data analysis, which can help companies increase the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing.

However, it is important to note that the use of AI in marketing also raises several ethical concerns, such as privacy, bias, and accountability. It is important to ensure that the use of artificial intelligence in marketing is done in a transparent, accountable and ethical manner, following data protection and privacy laws and with customer consent.