AI for marketing teams: which tasks to automate first
Updated
Across the 2.4 million US jobs in marketing and content, the work scores 59 of 100 for AI exposure, weighted by how many people do each job. AI can take on about 932 hours a year per full-time person, 47% of a working year. The task that frees the most hours across the team is to prepare reports of findings, about 124 hours a year for each person who does it.
- AI exposure, weighted by employment
- 59 out of 100 High exposure
- Hours AI can take on
- 932 hours a year per full-time person
- Task time AI can do today
- 17% AI speeds up another 74%
Tasks to automate first
The 15 tasks where AI can take on the most hours across marketing and content: how exposed each task is, how much of the job it takes and how many people do that job. Hours are per person in the role that does the task. How we score each task.
| Task and who does it | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text. AI drafts reports and charts from data; analyst checks findings and narrative. Done by digital marketers. | 70% AI can do it 124 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Monitor industry statistics and follow trends in trade literature. AI monitors feeds and summarizes trade press; people set priorities and review. Done by digital marketers. | 65% AI can do it 94 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand. AI speeds up segmenting customer data; sourcing and framing still need people. Done by digital marketers. | 55% AI helps 93 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Compile lists describing product or service offerings. Routine catalog compilation from product data is easily automated. Done by marketing managers. | 80% AI can do it 105 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors. LLMs draft strategy options; manager judges fit and objectives. Done by marketing managers. | 55% AI helps 84 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Use sales forecasting or strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services, analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends. AI handles forecasting and trend synthesis; managers set strategic direction. Done by marketing managers. | 60% AI helps 76 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients. Press releases are drafted quickly by AI; a person reviews. Done by PR specialists. | 74% AI can do it 100 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets. Scheduling, drafting and posting are highly automatable with current tools. Done by PR specialists. | 72% AI can do it 98 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Prepare or edit organizational publications, such as employee newsletters or stockholders' reports, for internal or external audiences. Editing and layout of newsletters and reports is highly automatable. Done by PR specialists. | 72% AI can do it 87 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Use computer software to generate new images. Generative image tools create new images directly from prompts. Done by graphic designers. | 80% AI can do it 96 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor. Keying content into layouts is routine; designer still is responsible for design. Done by graphic designers. | 65% AI helps 82 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Prepare digital files for printing. Preflight, color conversion and export are largely scriptable tasks. Done by graphic designers. | 65% AI can do it 78 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax. AI catches spelling, punctuation and syntax errors reliably; person spot checks. Done by editors. | 90% AI can do it 120 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work. AI rewrites copy for clarity and readability well; quick review needed. Done by editors. | 75% AI can do it 95 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Create or update donor databases. Database entry and cleanup is routine data work AI handles well. Done by fundraisers. | 82% AI can do it 74 hours a year for each person in the role |
What stays with people
9% of the task time across these roles needs a person, and the output of the rest still needs someone to check it. The tasks below take the most of that time.
- 17% AI can do it
- 74% AI helps
- 9% Needs a person
- Direct trained survey interviewers. Digital marketers, 20% exposed
- Confer with legal staff to resolve problems, such as copyright infringement or royalty sharing with outside producers or distributors. Marketing managers, 20% exposed
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups. PR specialists, 12% exposed
- Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design. Graphic designers, 15% exposed
- Supervise and coordinate work of reporters and other editors. Editors, 15% exposed
Adoption path
Start with the tasks where AI helps a person, then automate the routine ones, then give whole workflows to agents with a person approving the output.
Roles in marketing and content
18 roles, each linked to its task-by-task score. Of the roles with at least 2% of the jobs, UX designers score highest at 66, photographers lowest at 43.
- Digital marketers, 37.2% of the team, score 62 out of 100
- Marketing managers, 16.3% of the team, score 55 out of 100
- PR specialists, 11.7% of the team, score 59 out of 100
- Graphic designers, 8.2% of the team, score 61 out of 100
- UX designers, 4.7% of the team, score 66 out of 100
- Fundraisers, 4.6% of the team, score 50 out of 100
- Editors, 3.8% of the team, score 59 out of 100
- Public relations managers, 3.1% of the team, score 54 out of 100
- Photographers, 2.1% of the team, score 43 out of 100
- Writers, 2% of the team, score 65 out of 100
- Technical writers, 1.9% of the team, score 61 out of 100
- Fundraising managers, 1.6% of the team, score 48 out of 100
- Video editors, 1.1% of the team, score 49 out of 100
- Advertising managers, 0.9% of the team, score 52 out of 100
- Animators, 0.8% of the team, score 55 out of 100
- Novelists, Counted under a related job in US data, score 63 out of 100
- SEO specialists, Counted under a related job in US data, score 62 out of 100
- Video game designers, Counted under a related job in US data, score 54 out of 100
Questions about AI for marketing teams
Which tasks should a marketing team automate first?
The first task to automate is to prepare reports of findings (70% exposed). Next come the tasks to monitor industry statistics and follow trends in trade literature (65%) and to collect and analyze data on customer demographics (55%). Together they free the most hours across the team.
How many hours can AI save a marketing team?
About 932 hours a year per full-time person, 47% of a 2,000-hour working year. For a team of 10 that is about 9,320 hours, the time of 4.7 full-time people. The figure is the share of task time AI can remove today, weighted by how many people do each job.
Which roles in a marketing team are most exposed to AI?
Of the roles with at least 2% of the jobs, UX designers score highest, at 66 of 100, and photographers lowest, at 43. Each role's page lists its tasks one by one.
Will AI replace jobs in marketing and content?
AI can do 17% of the task time across these roles today. Another 74% gets faster with AI while a person stays in charge. 9% needs a person. One task that stays with people is to direct trained survey interviewers.
Where should a marketing team start with AI?
With the quick wins: approved assistants for the tasks AI helps with, under a written AI policy. Then automate the 11 tasks on this page AI can do end to end. An AI audit maps the tasks in your team and ranks them the same way this page does.
Next steps
- AI content quality at volume: expertise in, drafts out
- Technical SEO and AI search optimization: turn visibility into qualified demand
Find the tasks to automate first in your team
We map the tasks in your marketing team, score each one the way this page does and build the automations that pay back first.