Zapier's Dan Slagen Discusses Marketing Teams Building With AI

@MktgAi· August 5, 2026 View original

Key takeaways

  • Marketing teams are evolving from AI users to AI builders.
  • Building custom AI solutions offers a competitive edge in marketing.
  • Training and collaboration are key for this transition.
  • MAICON26 will feature insights on this strategic shift.

Who benefits

MarketingAdvertisingE-commerceSaaSDigital Agencies

Summary

Zapier's Dan Slagen highlights the shift for marketing teams from merely using AI to actively building AI solutions. He shares insights on how his team made this transition, as featured in a MAICON26 speaker spotlight.

Dan Slagen from Zapier is emphasizing a critical evolution for marketing departments: moving beyond simply utilizing AI tools to actively developing AI-powered solutions. This perspective, shared in a MAICON26 speaker spotlight, suggests a more profound integration of artificial intelligence into marketing operations. Slagen's insights detail how his team at Zapier successfully navigated this transition, transforming from consumers of AI technology into creators. This shift implies a deeper technical understanding and strategic application of AI within marketing functions.

Why it matters

For marketing professionals, understanding how to build with AI, not just use it, unlocks greater innovation, customization, and competitive advantage in automating and optimizing campaigns.

How to implement this in your domain

  1. 1Identify repetitive marketing tasks that could be automated or enhanced by custom AI solutions.
  2. 2Invest in training for marketing team members on AI development platforms or low-code/no-code AI tools.
  3. 3Collaborate with engineering teams to prototype and deploy AI-driven marketing applications.
  4. 4Establish a dedicated "AI builder" role or task force within the marketing department.

Original post by @MktgAi

"Most marketing teams know how to use AI. The next phase is learning how to build with it. In our latest #MAICON26 speaker spotlight, Zapier's Dan Slagen shares how his team transitioned from AI users to AI builders."

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Originally posted by @MktgAi on X · view source

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