Starting today, we’re launching a new sub-series of Talking Marketing — “Mini Episodes with Chetna.” We’ll meet on the 14th of every month to discuss all things marketing — quick, insightful conversations that dive into trends, ideas, and shifts shaping the industry. These episodes will be separate from our usual interviews with professionals from across the marketing field.

In this first episode, we explore the meteoric rise — and recent cooling — of AI influencers. Once hailed as the future of marketing, virtual models and algorithmic personas are now facing backlash and trust issues. What went wrong? And what does it reveal about our search for authenticity in a digital world?

Join us for Episode 1 — “Unreal Influence: The Human Cost of AI in Marketing,” where we take a deep dive into the evolving relationship between humans, technology, and storytelling in modern marketing.