3267: Moving Beyond Attention: Branding in the Age of AI and XR

What happens when marketing, psychology, and emerging tech converge around a single purpose, redefining the relationship between brands and consumers?

In today's episode, I'm joined by Jaime Schwarz, a creative force behind Brand Therapy, The TeamFlow Institute, and MRKD.art, whose work is challenging the very foundations of modern brand strategy.

From early days in the advertising trenches to pioneering Web3-native branding frameworks, Jaime brings a fresh take on how brands should evolve in a world dominated by AI, XR, and blockchain.

We unpack the philosophy behind Brand Therapy — not as a gimmick, but as a framework that positions the brand as a living voice within the organization, mediating between company intent and customer expectation.

Jaime explains how the rise of conversational AI and tokenized digital products shifts the entire focus from knowing your customer to understanding your product, not in terms of features, but as vehicles of legacy, collaboration, and value exchange.

Throughout the discussion, Jaime breaks down complex ideas into accessible frameworks, such as the shift from consumerism to "conspicuous prosumerism," where ownership is just the beginning of the story. Whether it's a sneaker, a piece of digital art, or an AI-enabled car that remembers your preferences and evolves with you, Jaime shows how technology can enhance brand relationships rather than dilute them.

We also dive into the challenges of co-creation in enterprise environments, why marketers need to rethink what product-market fit actually means in the age of real-time AI interaction, and how NFTs, quantum computing, and immersive experiences are not hype but building blocks of a new economic model. Jaime's insights offer not just theory but a call to action for companies to stop waiting for the future and start prototyping it.

If you're curious about how the smartest brands are embracing change without losing their core identity, this episode offers a compelling roadmap. And if you're in New York during NYTechWeek, don't miss the launch of MRKD.dj's Infinite Drop Live Album — June 6, only 150 tickets available.

https://partiful.com/e/mFEMK9C7GHKoRw73ryVg