As I sit back this weekend, reflecting over a cup of strong coffee, I can’t help but feel both exhilarated and a bit daunted by the new technologies emerging around us—especially one that has recently caught the attention of my team and me.

We’ve been exploring a fascinating tool that uses AI to personalize voicemail drops using my own voice. Imagine being able to send a tailored message to each member of our mastermind group—that’s a thousand personal greetings at the click of a button!

The potential of this technology is (obviously) immense. It promises not just efficiency but a personal touch at an unprecedented scale. Who wouldn’t be tempted? The ability to reach out personally to large numbers of people without losing the essence of personal connection sounds like a marketer’s dream.

However, with this powerful tool at our fingertips, we’re faced with a critical decision:

Just because we can, does it mean we should?

This is the crux of my reflection today. There’s a fine line between personalized communication and intrusive overreach.

We’ve all been on the receiving end of marketing gone wrong—endless emails, intrusive ads, the list goes on. My concern is that our voicemails could become just another form of spam if we’re not careful. It’s essential to consider how these messages are received, not just how they are sent.

This brings me to the broader question of ethics and strategy. As marketers and business leaders, we wield considerable power with AI. But with great power comes great responsibility. We must decide not just where and when to use this technology, but how to use it in a way that adds genuine value without compromising our values or our audience’s trust.

As AI continues to open doors to new capabilities and efficiencies, let us be the gatekeepers who use it wisely. Let’s commit to deploying technology in ways that enhance, rather than diminish, human connection. I urge my peers, my team, and myself to embrace these tools with a thoughtful approach, considering not just the ‘can’ but the ‘should’ in every decision.

Future Predictions:

1. Our voicemail will (sadly) become another battleground for marketeers and lead to inevitable spam

2. We will see a rise in phone answering services … initially human led, but soon after AI led. When anyone invents a sword, a shield is swiftly brought to market as well

3. Legislation will be made stronger in the area of cold outreach with regards to voicemail drops