What Do Chief Marketing Officers Think About AI in 2025?

 Introduction 

Hi there! I’m Dr. Carlos Valdez, founder and director of MercadotecniayVentas.com, an educational portal where over 90% of our content is freely accessible. Our mission is to educate, inspire, and empower students, professionals, and academics in the fields of marketing and sales through updated, ethical, and—above all—useful content for professional life.

Each week we share new content on our social media platforms—TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube—as well as in our podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. And of course, right here on our website.

This week, our video-audio blog for April 26 is titled:
What Do Chief Marketing Officers Think About AI in 2025?
Below, we explain why their vision matters, what the latest data says, and how you can turn those insights into concrete actions for your career or business.

1. Why Listen to CMOs?

Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) occupy a strategic role within any organization. They are responsible not only for defining the campaigns we see in the media but also for deciding how to invest in technology, talent, and processes. When a CMO adopts artificial intelligence, it’s not just a trend—it’s because they see it as a tool capable of improving outcomes, reducing costs, and enhancing the customer experience. That’s why knowing what CMOs think about AI in 2025 gives us a precise compass to anticipate where our industry is heading.

Moreover, their perspective doesn’t only reflect the reality of large corporations—it also influences educational decisions, business opportunities, and trends that eventually impact small businesses, agencies, entrepreneurs, and even students preparing to enter the workforce. What CMOs believe today will define what will be valued tomorrow in the marketplace.

2. What the 2025 CMO Survey Reveals

The most recent report, developed by Deloitte, Duke University, and the American Marketing Association, shows clear and significant growth in the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in marketing. The percentage of marketing activities using these technologies grew from 13.1% in 2024 to 17.2% in 2025. Even more striking is the case of generative AI, whose use doubled in a single year, jumping from 7% to 15.1%.

These numbers are not just indicators of technological adoption—they reflect real-world results. According to the same study, companies that have integrated AI into their marketing processes report an 8.6% increase in sales productivity, an 8.5% improvement in customer satisfaction, and a 10.8% reduction in marketing operating costs. This confirms what we at MercadotecniayVentas.com have been advocating since our founding last year: AI doesn’t just improve efficiency—it amplifies the impact of marketing and sales when implemented with strategic clarity and ethical purpose.

However, the report also highlights a significant barrier. Many companies use only 60% of the real capabilities of the tools they acquire. This reveals a gap between technological investment and its effective application, driven by a lack of trained talent, resistance to change, or a weak digital strategy.

3. Alignment with Our 2025 Report: AI in Marketing and Sales

In our own report, published by MercadotecniayVentas.com, we observed trends that broadly align with the CMO Survey. For example, 32% of surveyed leaders consider artificial intelligence and marketing technologies (MarTech) to already be the primary driver of revenue growth. Additionally, we identified the main benefits as improvements in productivity, customer satisfaction, and optimized marketing budgets.

Our report also highlights specific areas where AI investment is growing fastest: content generation, campaign automation, and predictive analytics. In each of these areas, companies are seeking not only efficiency but also smarter ways to connect with their audiences and adapt messaging to changing contexts. Interestingly, these applications are not limited to large corporations—more and more SMEs are integrating AI through accessible tools, many of them free or with freemium models.

We also emphasize the risk of merely purchasing tools without redesigning processes or training teams. Technology alone transforms nothing. It is well-trained human talent that turns AI into value.

4. Benefits, Challenges, and Adoption Gaps

The consensus among the reports analyzed is clear: the benefits of AI in marketing are evident and measurable. Companies are improving responsiveness, personalizing campaigns with greater precision, reducing costs, and optimizing time. But significant challenges still need to be addressed.

One of the main challenges is the lack of specialized talent. Many organizations acquire sophisticated platforms without having personnel who know how to use them. Another challenge is measuring the ROI of AI tools, especially in processes that don’t yield immediate results. In addition, legitimate concerns persist around ethics, algorithmic bias, and cybersecurity.

As for adoption gaps, we see lower usage among small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as in more traditional sectors. We also observe a disconnect between AI tools and existing management systems like CRMs or ERPs. And in many cases, there is a misguided focus on “buying software” instead of adopting a clear vision for organizational change.

5. What Can You Do with This Information?

The first step is to evaluate your current situation. In our 2025 Report, we include a self-assessment tool so you can determine your level of maturity in using artificial intelligence for marketing and sales. From there, we suggest starting with simple but high-impact use cases, such as automated content generation or email campaign automation.

You can design a 90-day pilot plan with clear metrics: number of leads generated, time saved, or reduction in operational costs. Train your team—even if it’s small—and focus on learning by doing. Document the results, make adjustments as needed, and begin to scale. The key is to move forward step by step, but with a clear direction.

If you’re a student or academic, now is the perfect time to learn about AI from an applied perspective. If you’re a professional or entrepreneur, remember that you don’t need to be a programming expert to start—you need vision, strategy, and the willingness to learn.

Conclusion

The most influential marketing directors are no longer asking whether AI is worth it—they’re investing time and resources in how to scale it responsibly and profitably. The data backs it up: AI is not a future promise; it’s a present reality that’s transforming results in marketing and sales.

At MercadotecniayVentas.com, we’ll remain by your side with free, practical, and always up-to-date resources so that your marketing strategy stays strong, customer-focused, and value-generating—even in times of accelerated change. Our commitment is to help you turn these trends into decisions and results that strengthen your brand, your career, and your community.

See you in the next post.
And remember: in marketing and sales, it’s always about creating value.

References

Valdez, C. (2025). 2025 Report: Artificial Intelligence in Marketing and Sales. MercadotecniayVentas.com. https://www.mercadotecniayventas.com/ia2025

Deloitte, Duke University & American Marketing Association. (2025). The CMO Survey – Highlights & Insights Report. https://cmosurvey.org/