As a CMO, you’ve probably heard enough about Salesforce Einstein, Adobe Sensei, HubSpot AI, ChatGPT, and Midjourney to last a lifetime. Yes, they’re powerful, they’re mainstream, and your intern has likely created a dozen presentations about them already. But let’s face it—today’s competitive landscape requires something even more cutting-edge. Welcome to the experimental side of AI marketing, where innovation meets slightly terrifying creativity, and where the best marketers boldly experiment in ways their competitors won’t dare.

Forget about merely surviving the AI revolution; here’s how you’ll lead it.

Mainstream is Good, But Experimental is Great

Of course, established AI solutions like Salesforce Einstein (predictive analytics), Adobe Sensei (content automation), and ChatGPT (content creation) have been game-changing. But every CMO and their assistant now use these. To genuinely differentiate your brand and stay ahead, it’s time to explore the AI frontier—the experimental, emerging tools reshaping marketing’s future.

Think of mainstream AI like Netflix originals—everyone watches them. Experimental AI, however, is your niche foreign-language series: slightly risky, critically acclaimed, and surprisingly impactful.

Ready to meet your new AI friends?

Experimental AI Tools CMOs Should Be Exploring

1. Synthesia: AI-Generated Video Marketing

Synthesia takes AI-generated content into uncharted territory—high-quality, realistic AI-powered video creation. Simply type your script, choose a digital presenter (no humans involved), and Synthesia creates a professional, realistic video within minutes.

• Why CMOs should care:
  Imagine rapidly producing personalized videos at scale—each tailored to individual customers or segments—without extensive filming budgets. Companies like Reuters and Accenture are experimenting with Synthesia to rapidly create engaging training and promotional videos.

• Humorous Takeaway:
  Yes, AI-generated actors mean no diva tantrums or bloated budgets. Synthesia might be the first video team you don’t have to bribe with donuts.

2. Persado: Emotionally Intelligent AI Copywriting

Persado is experimental AI that leverages emotional intelligence to create highly persuasive marketing copy. Its AI algorithm uses emotional language processing (ELP) to pinpoint which words trigger specific emotional responses.

• Why CMOs should care:
  JPMorgan Chase experimented with Persado, resulting in email campaigns that saw click-through rates increase by an astounding 450%. It seems AI now writes copy better than your top-paid creative.

• Takeaway:
  Finally, AI that understands human emotions—ironically better than some of your copywriters. Your marketing team might need therapy sessions after this.

3. Vizit: AI-Powered Visual Intelligence

Vizit goes beyond standard image creation, employing AI to predict precisely how consumers emotionally respond to visuals. It uses machine learning and visual neuroscience to measure the subconscious emotional impact of visual content.

• Why CMOs should care:
  Mars (yes, the candy bar people) and Keurig Dr Pepper are experimenting with Vizit to select visuals that resonate instantly and powerfully with consumers—significantly boosting conversion rates.

• Takeaway:
  Finally, you can scientifically prove to the design team why that stock image of “overly happy people around a laptop” never actually worked.

4. Pecan AI: Predictive Analytics on Steroids

Pecan is next-gen predictive AI built for marketers without requiring data scientists. It uses advanced machine learning to predict customer behavior, conversions, and campaign outcomes with unprecedented accuracy.

• Why CMOs should care:
  Marketers at Johnson & Johnson and Nestlé are exploring Pecan to forecast marketing results more accurately, optimize campaign spends, and uncover hidden consumer insights.

• Takeaway:
  Pecan provides predictive insights so accurate you’ll wonder if it’s been spying on your customer’s private WhatsApp groups (it hasn’t—probably).

5. Play.ht: AI-Generated Voiceovers That Sound Human

Play.ht converts written text into hyper-realistic human-sounding audio using advanced AI voices. Marketers can now quickly produce professional audio ads, podcasts, and brand voice content without hiring voice actors.

• Why CMOs should care:
  Spotify and Samsung have started experimenting with Play.ht for scalable audio ads and customer support automation, significantly reducing costs and production timelines.

• Takeaway:
  You can finally stop overpaying that celebrity to read your brand tagline. AI voices don’t take lunch breaks or demand royalties.

Why Experimentation Sets CMOs Apart

Today’s top marketers aren’t defined by adopting mainstream AI; they’re distinguished by strategic experimentation. According to Gartner, 83% of high-performing CMOs are already piloting experimental AI tools. To remain competitive, experimentation is now your strategic advantage.

As Amazon founder Jeff Bezos famously said: “If you only do things where you know the answer in advance, your company goes away.” The lesson? Embrace AI-driven uncertainty.

Expert Opinions: Experimenting with AI is Essential

Marketing futurist Brian Solis argues, “CMOs must be innovators, continually experimenting with cutting-edge technologies to lead markets rather than merely following them.” Similarly, McKinsey highlights experimentation as crucial to marketing effectiveness: “Brands that successfully experiment with AI are significantly outperforming competitors in engagement, conversion, and customer satisfaction.”

Or as marketers might humorously interpret it: “If you don’t experiment, your competition gladly will—and send you postcards from the top.”

Ethical Considerations in Experimental AI Marketing

Experimental AI isn’t without risks. CMOs must navigate ethical implications surrounding privacy, transparency, and consent. Always disclose when content is AI-generated, ensure transparency in data use, and avoid overstepping consumer trust boundaries. Your customers love innovation—until it feels invasive.

Practical Tips for CMOs Embarking on AI Experimentation

• Pilot Projects: Test AI tools in controlled environments to evaluate impact without full-scale risk.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Involve IT, legal, and marketing teams early to ensure alignment and minimize friction.
• Measure ROI and KPIs: Clearly define success metrics. Not every AI experiment will deliver instant ROI—but they will deliver invaluable learnings.

Final Thoughts (and a Dose of Reality)

Experimental AI marketing is your golden ticket to staying ahead of competitors, enhancing customer experiences, and pioneering industry change. It’s a brave new world filled with synthetic video stars, emotionally intelligent copy, visual neuroscience, predictive superpowers, and eerily human-sounding voices.

Sure, exploring experimental AI can be intimidating. But consider this: if your biggest risk in marketing is now being too innovative, you’re probably doing something very right.

And if you’re still unsure, just ask an AI-generated actor to reassure you—they’re surprisingly persuasive.