The New Age Of Publishing: How AI Tools Are Empowering Diverse Creators

Publishers have always come in all shapes and sizes, but with easily-accessible tools and powerful software platforms putting publishing prowess in the hands of so many, the look of a “publisher” has never been more diverse.

A recent URLgenius survey with the commendable goal of “shining a bright light on the hustle, heart, and high-tech savvy of today’s creators” found that 43% found AI tools to be helping them streamline their workflow. And though 30% hadn’t noticed any impact, 23% said AI makes content creation more accessible and 21% said that content “increases competition.”

 

GenAI and How It’s Impacting U.S. Publishers

Generative AI is reshaping how consumers discover and consume news. As users shift from traditional search to tools like ChatGPT, they’re seeking faster, contextual answers to complex and evolving topics — from market trends to policy developments. As a result, news-related prompts on ChatGPT and zero-click search have surged, while organic traffic to publishers has declined. AI is changing how news is accessed while redefining distribution dynamics. Publishers must now adapt their strategies to stay visible and relevant across AI-powered platforms.

 

CMOs Pursue Productivity Gains As Marketing Budgets Stagnate

Fifty-nine percent of CMOs report they have insufficient budget to execute their strategy in 2025, down by five percentage points since 2024. Although budgets have failed to grow year-on-year, marketing leaders appear to be using their funds in a more productive way. 

 

Marketers Do Better When More People Work On Email

Email is a vital channel, but marketers need to invest in it, especially in personnel, judging by The State of Email 2025, a study by Litmus from Validity. Of the companies polled, 35% see an ROI of 36.1% or more and 9% get between 1:1 and 10:1. But many firms face hurdles in tracking ROI.