Imri Marcus is a co-founder and CEO of Brandlight [1], a platform based in New York that operates in the AI brand visibility and AI-search optimization sectors [1].
Founded
Insights & ideas
Imri Marcus argues that AI is collapsing the traditional marketing funnel, which for two decades relied on optimizing for clicks that drove traffic to websites for measurement and conversion tracking [1]. He contends that discovery, consideration, and even conversion are now converging inside AI systems themselves, describing this as a shift into a "black box" where the customer journey no longer surfaces externally [1]. Whereas Google historically served as a gateway to the open web, presenting users with links to choose from, Marcus points out that AI engines now act as frontline salespeople, directly influencing or making the case for a brand or its competitors within the interaction itself [1]. He notes that purchasing decisions are already beginning to happen directly within AI environments like ChatGPT and browsers, signaling that discovery, consideration, and conversion are merging into a single AI-mediated moment, a change he says is unfolding very rapidly [1].
Media & appearances
- AI is changing the traditional marketing funnel - YouTube
Imri Marcus discusses how AI is fundamentally transforming the traditional marketing funnel by shifting customer discovery, consideration, and conversion moments from external web properties into AI engines and chatbots. He explains that the 20-year model of optimizing for clicks to websites is being displaced by AI systems that act as frontline salespeople, enabling purchasing decisions to occur directly within platforms like ChatGPT and browsers.
- #801: Brandlight CEO Imri Marcus on GEO, AI browsers, and the new search experienceThe Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström®: Expert Mode Marketing Technology, AI, & CX · Jan 21, 2026
- Brandlight CEO Imri Marcus on - Apple Podcasts
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