504: Intentional AI Adoption

AI is now a standing agenda item. It shows up in QBRs, board packets, and 2026 budget plans with a big expectation stamp on it. CMOs are being asked to operationalize it fast, prove value in workflows, and keep risk, governance, and tool sprawl under control. To get specific about what to prioritize next, Drew brings together Guy Yalif (Webflow), Andy Dé (Lightbeam Health Solutions), and Kevin Briody (DisruptedCMO). Together, they focus on how CMOs can move from scattered experiments to intentional AI adoption across people, process, and technology, and what it takes to make AI a trusted part of how marketing runs. In this episode:  Guy shares an AI fluency maturity model and explains why the shift to operational excellence is a change management challenge.  Andy breaks down agentic AI and workflow automation with examples from CI, outbound, RFPs, content, and AEO, using "why, what, how, so what."  Kevin focuses on the people and platform side, from job anxiety and culture to vendor shakeouts and MarTech-level discipline.  Plus:  Centering AI plans on people and fluency so it feels additive, not threatening.  Using councils, fast-track approvals, and guardrails to scale safely.  Balancing efficiency with human experience and customer acceptance.  Treating AI tools like core MarTech, with scrutiny around contracts, integrations, and vendor longevity. If you want your 2026 AI plan to feel like a strategic advantage instead of a collection of pilots, this conversation will help you decide what to run, what to scale, and what to skip.  Learn more about the CMO Startegy Labs ➡️ https://cmohuddles.com/strategy-labs Check out Firebrick ➡️ https://firebrickconsulting.com/ For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/