“Can you share an example of how an AI tool helped you identify a new market opportunity? How did you act on this insight?”
Here is what 14 thought leaders had to say.
AI Data Analysis Reveals Untapped Training Market
As an entrepreneur, I used a data analysis tool powered by AI to examine industry forums, social media, and customer reviews for new trends. The tool showed that more and more people were talking about automating employee training inside companies, especially among mid-sized tech firms that were having trouble with onboarding and developing skills. This wasn’t a market we had planned to target because our platform mainly focused on automation for customers.
Seeing this interest, we reached out to HR and Learning & Development teams in those companies to confirm their needs. Based on their feedback, we modified our AI system to create internal training programs with personalized learning paths and real-time progress updates. We then launched a marketing campaign and offered a beta program to early users. Within a few months, we gained several new clients in this area, creating a new source of income. The AI tool helped us find a niche opportunity we might have otherwise overlooked.
Matthew Ramirez, Founder, Rephrasely
AI Analytics Uncovers Eco-Friendly Product Demand
AI tools can greatly improve market analysis and opportunity identification in business development. For instance, an outdoor gear company used an AI analytics platform to track social media conversations and e-commerce trends, revealing increased consumer interest in eco-friendly products. This insight prompted the team to conduct further market research, validating the trend and informing their strategy.
Mohammed Kamal, Business Development Manager, Olavivo
AI Reveals Hidden Market for Digital Calm
One of the most eye-opening market discoveries I’ve made came not from a brainstorming session, but from an AI tool quietly analyzing long-tail keyword patterns and sentiment shifts in user-generated content. We were originally using the tool to optimize SEO content—but what it surfaced changed the trajectory of an entire campaign.
The AI flagged an unusual uptick in queries around “low-stimulation digital retreats” and “quiet online spaces”—terms that hadn’t hit mainstream trend reports yet. It cross-referenced those patterns with social sentiment and revealed an emerging audience frustrated with noisy digital environments, craving online experiences that felt more mindful and less overwhelming.
That insight didn’t scream “new market” at first. But digging deeper, we found a sizable group of creators, freelancers, and neurodivergent users who were actively hunting for online communities and tools designed for mental clarity rather than hyper-engagement. It wasn’t about productivity—it was about peace.
We leaned into this with a pilot product concept that emphasized calming design, intentional UX, and content that supported digital minimalism. We even A/B tested messaging that avoided urgency and embraced stillness—a radical move in a “move fast, break things” world. The early traction proved the market was real. What started as an SEO side quest became a launchpad for an entirely new offering.
What made the AI so powerful wasn’t just the data—it was its ability to connect subtle behavioral cues across platforms in ways a human team would’ve missed or dismissed as noise. And honestly, that’s the magic of combining intuition with machine-backed pattern recognition: AI doesn’t replace the creative leap, but it does point your compass toward places worth exploring.
John Mac, Serial Entrepreneur, UNIBATT
Woodworkers Benefit From AI-Optimized Content Strategy
One of the biggest opportunities we’re seeing now is optimizing content not just for traditional search, but for AI-driven engines and large language models.
We noticed that more woodworkers were using AI tools to ask practical, highly specific questions—like “What’s the best track saw for breaking down Baltic birch?” or “How accurate are router gantry systems for slab flattening?” So instead of generic product pages, we’ve built out detailed, structured content around those real queries. We focus on clear answers, tool specs, use-case comparisons, and workflows—all in plain language AI can surface easily.
As a result, we’ve seen our content pop up more often in AI-generated answers and summary-style results, even before users land on our site. It’s helped position us as the go-to source for specialty cutting and flattening setups, even among users who may have never heard of gantry systems before.
Jacob Rhodes, Owner and Chief Engineer, TrueTrac
AI Tools Transform Affiliate Marketing Strategy
Leveraging AI tools can significantly improve market opportunity identification. AI analyzes extensive data to uncover trends and patterns not visible through traditional methods. In affiliate marketing, it evaluates data from social media, search engines, and performance metrics to reveal new consumer behaviors, emerging niches, and overlooked demographics, ultimately guiding strategic decision-making.
Michael Kazula, Director of Marketing, Olavivo
AI Analytics Uncovers Overlooked Logistics Market
I used an AI-based analytics tool to segment our user behavior data, and it surfaced a surprising trend: a spike in feature usage from users in mid-sized logistics firms—a segment we hadn’t directly targeted. Most of our messaging was geared toward tech startups, but the AI grouped user actions and flagged this emerging cluster based on workflow patterns and support queries. We dug deeper, validated the pattern through manual review, and quickly built a landing page tailored to logistics pain points. Within a month, our conversion rate from that segment doubled. What struck me was that no one on our team had spotted this manually—AI surfaced a blind spot we didn’t even know existed. That experience taught me that the real value of AI isn’t just automation—it’s amplification of insight.
Nikita Sherbina, Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen
AI Bridges Regional Fulfillment Gaps
When our team developed our 3PL matching algorithm at Fulfill.com, we noticed something fascinating in the data patterns. The AI was consistently highlighting a geographic mismatch between available warehouse capacity and emerging eCommerce businesses in several secondary markets across the country.
Specifically, our analytics identified a significant cluster of growing D2C brands in the Pacific Northwest struggling to find regional fulfillment partners despite available capacity in the area. The traditional fulfillment networks weren’t connecting these parties efficiently.
We acted on this insight in two ways. First, we enhanced our matching algorithm to better weigh geographic proximity for brands prioritizing regional distribution. Second, we launched a targeted outreach campaign to bring more Pacific Northwest 3PLs onto our platform.
The results were striking. Within six months, we facilitated partnerships for over 40 brands who previously thought they’d need to ship from California or use national carriers at premium rates. One outdoor gear company reduced their average delivery time by 1.7 days and cut shipping costs by 22% through a Seattle-based 3PL they discovered through our platform.
This experience reinforced something I’ve seen throughout my career in AI and logistics: the most valuable insights often come from identifying patterns in what’s missing, not just what’s present. For mid-sized eCommerce brands, having regional fulfillment options can be the difference between profitable growth and margin compression.
By letting the data guide our product development, we’ve continued to uncover similar opportunities across the country, creating what we call “fulfillment network bridges” in underserved corridors where both 3PLs and brands can thrive together.
Joe Spisak, CEO, Fulfill.com
AI Identifies Campus Trade-In Opportunity
We used an AI clustering tool to segment device trade-ins by condition, location, and user intent. One cluster that stood out is a group of users trading in near-new phones in college towns during the first two weeks of the semester. That wasn’t seasonal noise. It was a pattern. Students were flipping upgrade deals from carriers for fast cash.
We tested targeted ads near campus zip codes paired with vending machine placement next to student housing. Response time dropped. Trade-in volume rose. We weren’t chasing attention. We met a habit where it lived.
The insight didn’t come from a brainstorm or a hunch. It came from data we already had but hadn’t grouped this way. AI sorted it fast. Then it was on the team to move. We briefed retail operations, updated signage, and shifted media spend within days. No new headcount. No wait. You find growth when you stop treating new tools as strategy and start using them as accelerants. The tools are fast. Your decisions have to be faster.
Alec Loeb, VP of Growth Marketing, EcoATM
AI Uncovers Emerging IT Certification Markets
One of the most impactful examples came when we started using ChatGPT and SEMrush together to explore underserved content gaps in the IT certification space for Clearcatnet. While we had always focused on popular exams like AWS SAA-C03 and Azure AZ-900, we weren’t actively tracking lesser-known or emerging certifications.
By prompting ChatGPT to analyze user behavior trends from online forums (like Reddit, Quora, and LinkedIn groups) and then cross-referencing those insights with SEMrush keyword volume and difficulty scores, we identified a rising interest in Google Cloud’s Professional Cloud Architect and Microsoft’s AI-102 exam—two certifications that didn’t have much quality prep material available online.
The AI not only flagged these as trending topics but also helped generate content outlines, blog ideas, and ad copy tailored to those specific audiences. Acting on this insight, we quickly built SEO-optimized landing pages, added those exams to our product library, and promoted them through LinkedIn and blog posts.
The result? Within just 45 days, those two exam pages became top performers in organic traffic and generated a 22% increase in new user sign-ups, mostly from users who hadn’t previously engaged with our core AWS-focused content.
AI gave us a first-mover advantage in a new niche, something that would’ve taken months to uncover through manual research.
Kaushal Kishor, CEO, Clearcatnet
AI Analysis Reveals Small Law Firm Opportunity
Using AI-powered market analysis tools, I identified a rising interest in legal tech solutions among small law firms—an opportunity that wasn’t obvious through traditional research. The AI analyzed vast data from search trends, social media, and industry reports, revealing gaps in affordable, user-friendly software tailored for smaller practices. Acting on this insight, I collaborated with ICS Legal to develop targeted content and SEO strategies addressing this niche, positioning us as a trusted resource. This approach attracted more inquiries and partnerships, tapping into an underserved market segment. AI tools like this help uncover nuanced opportunities quickly, enabling proactive and data-driven business decisions.
Amir Husen, Content Writer, SEO Specialist & Associate, ICS Legal
AI Detects Eco-Packaging Demand in New Markets
Using AI tools to spot new market chances has been a game changer. For example, by analyzing search trends and competitor gaps with an AI platform, I uncovered rising demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions in an overlooked region. Acting fast, I advised clients to pivot their content strategy and optimize for these terms. The result? A noticeable traffic spike and new leads from fresh markets.
On the warehouse side, smart automation paired with predictive analytics is gold. Technologies like AI-driven inventory forecasting and real-time tracking help cut delays and stockouts. Plus, flexible robotics adapt quickly to shifting orders. The key? Building a network that learns and adjusts like a seasoned chess player, always thinking two steps ahead. That kind of agility keeps fulfillment resilient, no matter what curveballs come flying.
Nick Mikhalenkov, SEO Manager, Nine Peaks Media
Data Confirms Market for Credit-Alternative Land Sales
Data analysis tools revealed a striking pattern across South Texas—families in rapidly growing areas like Edinburg, Robstown, Falfurrias, Starr County, and East Texas were being systematically excluded from land ownership due to credit requirements that didn’t reflect their actual ability to make consistent payments. Since 1993, Santa Cruz Properties recognized this market gap long before sophisticated analytics confirmed it: hardworking families with steady income but imperfect credit histories represented the largest underserved segment in rural and residential land sales.
Acting on this insight meant doubling down on our in-house financing with no credit check, transforming what traditional lenders saw as ‘risky prospects’ into our most loyal, long-term clients who consistently honor their payment commitments. The data simply validated what our client-first approach had taught us—when you remove artificial barriers and focus on character over credit scores, you discover market opportunities that others completely miss. Our commitment to efficiency and personal service turns these data-driven insights into real families achieving their property dreams, proving that the best market opportunities often hide behind outdated qualification standards.
Ydette Macaraeg, Marketing coordinator, Santa Cruz Properties
AI Search Analysis Drives 2,300% Traffic Surge
Can AI Spot New Opportunities? Absolutely! Here’s My Story
Let me tell you how an AI tool recently turned on the lightbulb for a huge new opportunity. I work closely with digital marketing, and one of our industrial clients was stuck, traffic flatlined, and competitors were eating their digital lunch. Enter an AI-driven analysis tool that scans how AI powered search features like Google’s AI Overviews were reshaping search habits.
The AI spat out a surprising insight: our client’s competitors were already popping up in AI generated search responses, exactly where our client wasn’t. Talk about an “aha” moment! This was a completely new battlefield we hadn’t considered.
Acting quickly, we revamped their content strategy to speak directly to these AI-driven platforms. Think natural language queries, conversational headings, easy-to-scan bullet lists, and stats tailored specifically for AI readability. I’m no tech genius, but we also implemented schema markup, basically a “translator” that helped our client’s site charm AI engines effortlessly.
Did it work? Better than my self-control at an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet! AI-driven traffic surged by a staggering 2,300% monthly, and they started appearing for 90 key AI overview keywords (up from zero!). Overall rankings climbed dramatically too, jumping to 1,295 top-10 keywords from just 808.
Here’s another quick proof: Unilever used AI to spot rising demand for immunity-boosting herbal teas during the pandemic, swiftly launching a new product line based on these insights. AI driven tools allowed them to predict this surge way before competitors even noticed, giving them an early-mover advantage.
Bottom line? AI isn’t just a trendy buzzword, it’s a powerful detective, uncovering market opportunities faster than traditional methods ever could. My experience taught me that pairing quick AI driven insights with decisive action can transform your business strategy, ensuring you don’t just join the party, you’re hosting it. AI is the unexpected goldmine that rewards those who act, not just admire the glitter.
Pujan Motiwala, Founder, Click Catalyst
