The Future of Sales, with Tim Cortinovis

I chat with Tim Cortinovis—AI expert, keynote speaker, and author—about how AI is transforming the role of sales. Tim shares his journey with AI, starting from experimenting with an early chatbot in the '80s to becoming an expert in AI-driven sales strategies today. We dive deep into the skills needed for salespeople in the AI era and why embracing AI isn't optional anymore—it's essential to staying competitive. Tim offers practical advice on how salespeople can start using AI right away, highlighting his favorite tools that make everyday sales tasks simpler and more effective. We also explore the future of sales, including fascinating predictions about how AI-driven agents and avatars could soon revolutionize customer interactions. Whether you're already integrating AI into your sales process or just starting out, this episode will give you actionable insights to stay ahead. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Sales 02:18 Using AI to build ideal customer personas 04:37 Utilizing AI for Market Research and Sales Intelligence 07:24 Building and Testing Buyer Personas with AI 11:40 The Evolving Skill Set of Sales Professionals 14:50 Common misconceptions and mistakes salespeople make with AI 16:22 Recommended Tools for Sales Professionals 18:58 What does the future of sales look like? Highlights * How AI is currently reshaping the sales profession—and why it's not optional anymore. * Tim's top AI tools every salesperson should start using today: 1. ChatGPT for crafting emails and refining your sales pitch. 2. Perplexity.ai for powerful and simplified market research. 3. Microsoft Copilot for creating engaging presentations quickly and effortlessly. 4. Make.com for integrating different AIs in one workflow Key Takeaways * AI isn't replacing salespeople—it's enhancing their abilities and efficiency. * Modern salespeople need to be data-driven, trusting AI insights rather than relying purely on gut feeling. * AI-driven agents and avatars will soon handle basic sales tasks, freeing sales professionals to focus on strategic relationships and deeper customer insights. Key Quotes from Tim Cortinovis “Around 30% of the task is done by the AI—there’s still 70% left to human skill.” “Modern salespeople need to be data-driven, trusting AI insights rather than relying purely on gut feeling.” “AI-driven agents and avatars will handle basic sales tasks, allowing professionals to focus on higher-level client interactions.” Connect with Tim Follow Tim on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/timcortinovis/ Check out Tim’s book “Selling Smarter, not harder” on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Selling-Smarter-Not-Harder-Generative-ebook/dp/B0D7HJBM9Y/ and don't forget to leave him a review!