AI transformation for digital publishers [Part 2] - Is your content even ready for AI?

The pressure on publishers to leverage AI is mounting. But while some are quick to jump in, it’s critical to first ask: Is your organization ready for AI? After conducting over 500 AI experiments with global publishers, we’ve learned a lot about what works — and what doesn’t. Two areas stood out where AI consistently generated value across the board:

1. Increasing Productivity in Content Operations
2. Creating a Personalized Customer Experience

These are not just isolated success stories. These two pillars were the foundation for every publisher that successfully used AI to generate measurable business impact.

Why Productivity and Personalization Matter

In content operations, AI can automate time-consuming tasks like content discovery, editing, and workflow management, allowing teams to focus on higher-value activities. When done right, the increase in productivity is exponential (Time saved was up to 60%).

On the customer experience front, AI can deliver personalized content and recommendations, enhancing user engagement and retention. Personalization is key to making audiences feel connected to your brand and can be a game-changer in a world where content overload is the norm (Increase in conversion rate was up to 300%).

But here is the catch - Most of the publishers know they want to do it but they either are unable to create working prototypes or are stuck in the hypothesis stage or are not even sure how to start.

The first step to making any progress is to understand where do you lie within the AI Readiness spectrum

Three AI Readiness Stages

AI Leader

• Publishers who have invested and are able to develop inhouse capabilities or have been able to find a suitable vendor.?
• At least 2 live use cases that are scaled and adopted within the teams
• Systems in place with teams that have internal teams or a partner to help experiment and optimize KPIs

AI Adopter

• Early adopters that have identified few use cases that create a tangible value for enhancing productivity or monetization
• Few use cases tried on a small scale, likely facing issues in scaling
• Management team bought into AI potential but still trying to figure out how to productize and scale

AI Skeptic

• Management is skeptical and is inclining towards observing before taking the first step
• Growing uncertainty within the teams, stemming from the buzz generated from AI
• The main use case is curiosity and no real AI opportunity is discovered

Not sure which stage you are at - Take our assessment and get a AI Readiness score!

Why Take This Assessment?

If you’re ready to explore these opportunities, this assessment will provide actionable insights, helping you identify areas for improvement and prioritize next steps.

In addition, you’ll receive a customized AI Readiness score, benchmarking where you stand compared to your peers.

The Assessment looks at 7 key elements, also known as McKinsey & Company's 7S Model - seven interdependent elements, each of which must align to ensure success.

AI isn’t a silver bullet — it’s a tool to amplify your existing strengths. Knowing where you stand in terms of AI readiness will give you a roadmap for successful integration.

Take the AI Readiness Assessment and see how your organization measures up or comment the person who will benefit from this assessment!

About Me: I’m an entrepreneur with a background in Media and Tech consulting, dedicated to helping publishers bridge the AI gap. My company, Bridged Media, has worked with 20+ publishers globally, offering no-code AI solutions that eliminate the need for extensive data processing or dedicated AI resources.

Ready to explore AI for your business? Drop me a line!