NEW YORK - TelAve -- As 800 million people now use ChatGPT weekly, Professor and AI strategist Dr. Erin Jacques warns that traditional lead generation methods like guides, webinars, and gated courses are rapidly losing their edge. The shift, she argues, isn't just technological. It's psychological.

"ChatGPT didn't just change how people search. It altered what they expect from every business interaction," says Dr. Jacques, founder of ChatifyIT, a platform that helps businesses deploy AI agents for lead generation. "When someone can get immediate responses from AI, waiting for a download feels prehistoric."

Data supports her claim. Marketers report that fewer than 10% of people actually consume lead magnets they download. Webinar attendance lands around 40 to 50% of registrants. Meanwhile, 62% of consumers say they would rather use a chatbot than wait for a human agent.

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"The old model was: give me your email, wait for my content, hope you read it," Dr. Jacques explains. "The new model is: get instant help from an AI agent trained on exactly what you need."

This shift arrives as the lead generation industry faces pressure. Studies estimate around 79% of marketing leads never convert, often due to poor nurturing, and 61% of marketers name lead generation as their biggest challenge.

Dr. Jacques points to broader trends: analysts have long projected that AI could power up to 95% of customer interactions, and that expectation is now transforming how customers behave in 2026. Recent surveys suggest 80% of companies either use or plan to implement AI chatbots, attracted by costs averaging $0.50 per AI interaction versus $6.00 for human support.

ChatifyIT enables businesses to create AI agents that engage visitors, answer questions, and capture leads through conversation. The platform targets coaches, course creators, professionals, and service businesses.

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"We're not replacing expertise," Dr. Jacques notes. "We're changing delivery from friction-filled downloads to instant conversations."

The platform launches at chatifyit.com, marking what Dr. Jacques calls the end of "the PDF era."

About Dr. Erin Jacques
Dr. Erin Jacques is a Professor, AI strategist, and Columbia University graduate. She teaches the ChatGPT Discovery Method, focusing on Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and AI monetization strategies. She is the founder of ChatifyIT, a platform helping businesses deploy AI agents for lead generation.

Website: https://www.chatifyit.com