What if you could describe what you want your marketing to do and have an AI funnel and campaign builder create it for you? That’s exactly what Active Intelligence is here to do.
Instead of spending hours building email campaigns and customer journey automations yourself, you simply describe your goal, and AI builds everything for you.
This matters whether you’re a business owner tired of staring at blank email templates, a marketer juggling too many manual tasks, or a growing team that needs professional results without everyone becoming a CRM expert.
In this post, you’ll learn what Active Intelligence actually is, see real examples from our team at WolfPack, and understand exactly what you can build with it.
Contents
A Look at Traditional CRM and What’s Changing
Let’s start with the basics. A CRM (Customer Relationship Management system) manages your customer relationships and communications.
It keeps track of your customers and helps you communicate with them through emails, text messages, and other channels.
Most businesses today have a CRM platform featuring marketing automation, but not many use them to their full potential because they’re clunky and complicated.
The problem is that you’re still building everything manually.
You set up “if this, then that” rules. Someone downloads a guide, and they get an email series. Someone abandons a cart, and they get a reminder.
You write every email. You design every workflow. Then, you create every segment by clicking through filters. You pull performance data from multiple dashboards.
It’s automated sending, but manual for everything else.
What’s Changing?
| Workflow Step | Traditional CRM | With Active Intelligence |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign setup | Manual “if this, then that” rules | Describe your goal in plain language |
| Content creation | Write and design each email manually | AI drafts and formats campaigns |
| Audience segmentation | Click through filters | Describe the audience and AI builds it |
| Reporting | Navigate multiple dashboards | Ask performance questions directly |
| Optimization | Analyze manually | AI recommends improvements automatically |
Active Intelligence is shepherding a shift from telling the system what actions you want to complete to instead telling it what goal you want to accomplish.
Because sometimes, you just don’t know what to do next. But AI does.
- Instead of building campaigns step by step, you describe what you want, and AI creates it.
- Rather than manually analyzing performance across dashboards, you ask questions and get instant answers.
- Instead of clicking through segmentation filters, you describe your audience in plain language.
ActiveCampaign calls this “autonomous marketing.” You set the goal. AI handles the execution, optimization, and analysis.
What is Active Intelligence?
Active Intelligence is our CRM platform’s AI upgrade that powers the entire platform.
Launched this year, it’s the first of its kind, built on billions of data points from real customer interactions across email, SMS, WhatsApp, and more.
This isn’t theoretical AI trained on generic internet content. It’s trained on actual marketing campaigns that worked (and ones that didn’t).
How Do You Use It?
You interact with Active Intelligence through simple conversation. In the platform, you click Active Intelligence in the top left corner to activate it, then just type what you want:
- “Create a welcome series for new customers.”
- “Show me how my emails performed last month.”
- “Build an automation for event follow-ups.”
The AI responds, asks clarifying questions if needed, builds what you need, and shows you the results. No complex software interfaces to learn.
No technical skills required.
How Is It Different from ChatGPT?
Active Intelligence isn’t just another AI writing assistant or AI model for you to throw questions into while you work.
While tools like ChatGPT can help you draft marketing content, they can’t actually do anything with it, and ChatGPT definitely isn’t going to anticipate your audience’s needs.
Active Intelligence is fundamentally different because it:
- Connects to your actual customer data
- Takes real action (builds campaigns, sets up automations, creates segments)
- Trains specifically on marketing that drives results
- Makes strategic decisions based on your business goals
It doesn’t just suggest what to write. It builds the entire campaign, sets up the automation, creates the audience segment, and analyzes the performance. All through a simple conversation.
Your AI Marketing Team
Active Intelligence uses specialized AI “agents” that each handle specific tasks. Some build campaigns, others analyze data, some optimize send timing, and others create audience segments.
You manage all of them through one simple conversational interface.
“This isn’t AI for AI’s sake. It’s purposeful innovation that helps small teams accomplish what once required entire departments.”
– Jason VandeBoom, ActiveCampaign CEO
What Can You Do With Active Intelligence?
This AI funnel builder handles four main areas. Let’s get specific.
Here’s how you can…
- Set up complete email campaigns in minutes
- Build automations for each part of the customer’s journey instantly
- Create smart, no-stress audience segments
- Get actionable, conversational performance insights for all your emails
Complete Email Campaigns in Minutes
Exactly what it sounds like. Build entire email campaigns and sequences from a simple description, including subject lines, email copy, layout, calls-to-action, and brand styling.
Watch our quick demo of campaign setup for an upcoming event!
Our Example
We needed an email campaign for a spring home maintenance seminar.
- What we did: Opened Active Intelligence and described the goal: an email promoting the seminar with key details.
- What happened: Within seconds, AI generated multiple subject line options, complete email body copy, and event details already formatted.
- Our part: Plugged in our specific information (date, time, location) and sent it to our contacts.
- Time invested: About 5 minutes instead of 30-45 minutes.
Customer Journey Automation Built Instantly
Your leads and past clients deserve a smooth triage through your funnel, and that’s what this AI builder will do.
Construct complete multi-step workflows with triggers, wait steps, and actions from a simple description.
Our Example
We wanted to automate event follow-ups for our clients.
- Our prompt: “Build an automation that sends a follow-up email to new event registrants three days after they’re added.”
- What AI created instantly:
- Correct trigger (when a contact is added to the event list)
- Wait step (3 days)
- Email action with follow-up content already drafted
- Our next step: Clicked into the automation to customize the email copy, then activated it.
- Time invested: Under 1 minute instead of 10-15 minutes.
Smart Audience Segmentation
Build precise audience segments from plain language descriptions. No more manually setting up complex filters.
Watch our quick demo using Active Campaign AI to segment contacts!
Our Example
Olivia, our CRM specialist, needed a specific segment for a real estate client.
- Her prompt: “Find all contacts who have done at least two inspections with me as a buyer’s agent this year.”
- What AI did: Automatically built the segment using those exact conditions, filtering by contact type, inspection count, role, and timeframe.
- Time invested: Under 30 seconds instead of 5-10 minutes.
Instant Performance Insights
Get quick, simple answers to questions about your campaign performance conversationally, without digging through dashboards.
Our Example
We asked Active Intelligence to show how our clients’ emails were performing.
- What we got:
- Instant results: 8,992 contacts reached
- Open rate: 52.35%
- Context: AI confirmed this was excellent performance (and conversely, it would have noted if our numbers weren’t so hot)
- For reference, the industry standard for good open rates is 20-25%. We got this snapshot in seconds instead of 10-15 minutes of manual reporting.
- Why this matters: You can ask “Why did my open rate drop last month?” and get root cause analysis with specific recommendations.
If you’re creating just a few campaigns per week, you’re looking at hours saved for strategy, creativity, or actually running your business.
How Active Intelligence Works Behind the Scenes
You’ve seen what Active Intelligence can do. Now let’s talk about what makes it actually work, because understanding the engine helps you get better results.
Built on Real Marketing Data
Active Intelligence and its capabilities and processes are built on billions of actual customer interactions across the ActiveCampaign platform.
It analyzes what actually works in the real world, provides industry-specific insights, and constantly improves as it processes more campaigns.
Your Data Stays Private
Your specific customer data and campaigns are never shared with anyone else.
Active Intelligence learns from aggregated patterns across millions of businesses, but your contact lists, campaign strategies, and competitive information remain completely confidential.
Multi-Channel Capabilities
Active Intelligence handles email, SMS, and WhatsApp (access to 2.4+ billion users) seamlessly.
You get consistent messaging across every touchpoint, controlled through one conversational interface.
Works With Your Existing Tools
It integrates with tools you already use, syncing data from your CRM, scheduling software, and communication channels so your follow-ups and client updates happen automatically.
You don’t have to start over or waste time figuring out how your tools and processes will work together. They just do.
Real Results of Smarter CRM
Talk is cheap. Let’s look at actual numbers from real businesses using Active Intelligence, including our own client data.
When we analyzed our clients’ email campaigns in ActiveCampaign, here’s what we found:
- Our clients’ average open rate: 52.35%
- Industry benchmark for “good” performance: 20-25%
That’s more than double what most businesses achieve. And it’s not just about open rates.
The broader impact of AI-powered marketing automation is backed by solid data:
- 6x higher transaction rates when campaigns are personalized vs. generic email blasts
- 10-15 hours saved per week for marketing teams using AI automation
- 20-30% improvement in open rates when using optimized send times
These aren’t theoretical benefits. They’re measurable outcomes happening right now for businesses using Active Intelligence.
How Different Businesses Use It
E-commerce brands can rely on it for:
- Abandoned cart recovery with individually optimized send timing
- Personalized product recommendations based on browsing behavior
- Seasonal campaigns created in minutes instead of days
Service-based businesses might use it for:
- Automated event promotion and follow-up sequences
- Client onboarding workflows that run on autopilot
- Consultation booking funnels that nurture and qualify leads
Here’s the pattern we see consistently: Small teams producing enterprise-level campaigns, faster execution with data-driven optimization, and more time spent on strategy instead of drowning in execution busywork.
The businesses winning with Active Intelligence aren’t necessarily bigger or better funded. They’re just using smarter tools.
Getting Started With Active Intelligence
Active Intelligence is available on the platform’s Pro and Enterprise plans. It’s designed for all skill levels, and you can start simple and scale as you learn. Her
Your First Week Action Plan
| Day | Action | Time Required | What You’ll Learn |
| 1 | Set up brand kit | 10 minutes | How AI extracts brand elements |
| 2 | Create an audience segment | 15 minutes | Campaign generation |
| 3 | Build simple automation | 10 minutes | Workflow structure |
| 4 | Create audience segment | 5 minutes | Segmentation criteria |
| 5 | Ask performance questions | 5 minutes | Conversational insights |
Step 1: Set Up Your Brand Kit
Enter your website URL into Active Intelligence. Review the brand elements AI extracted (colors, fonts, logos), add any additional guidelines, and save.
Why this matters: Every campaign will automatically match your brand from day one.
Step 2: Create Your First Campaign
Open the conversational workspace and describe a straightforward goal: “Create an email for [your event/promotion].”
Review what the AI builds, add your specific details, and send or schedule.
Heads up: Your first campaign might take 10-15 extra minutes as you explore. By your third or fourth, you’ll be done in no time.
Step 3: Build Your First Automation
Start with event follow-ups or welcome sequences. Describe the journey: “Send a follow-up email 3 days after someone registers for my event.” Review the automation AI creates, customize the email content, and activate.
Pro tip: The AI learns your preferences over time, getting better at matching your style.
Step 4: Create Your First Segment
Think of an audience you want to target. Describe them naturally: “Contacts who opened my last 3 emails but haven’t purchased.”
Let AI build the segment, review, confirm, and use it in your next campaign.
Step 5: Check Performance
Make this a habit. Check in regularly: “How are my campaigns performing?” Dig into specifics: “Which subject lines got the best open rates?” Act on the recommendations provided.
Why This Matters for Your Business Right Now
For effective digital marketing in 2025, a few things have fundamentally changed.
- Customer acquisition costs keep rising. You need better conversion rates just to maintain the same ROI.
- Personalization is expected, not optional. Generic email blasts don’t cut it anymore.
- Small teams are expected to do more. Budget constraints mean fewer people doing work that used to require entire departments.
- Manual approaches don’t scale. You need intelligent systems that scale with your business.
The Competitive Reality
Your competitors may already be using tools like Active Intelligence. Early adopters are pulling ahead because they’re moving faster, optimizing better, and spending more time on strategy than execution.
The gap is widening. Not because AI is magic, but because it handles repetitive work that used to take hours, freeing teams to focus on what actually moves the needle.
The bottom line: Technology that seemed futuristic even a year ago is now accessible and becoming the standard. Earlier adoption means more time to learn, optimize, and stay ahead.
Common Questions About AI for Marketing
Will AI-generated content sound generic?
Short answer: No, especially after it learns your brand.
Active Intelligence trains on billions of real marketing messages that worked. It applies your brand guidelines automatically, and you maintain final approval. AI-generated content often performs better because it’s optimized based on actual data.
Do I need technical skills?
Short answer: Not at all.
Everything works through conversational prompts. If you can describe what you want, you can use it. Our entire team uses it, regardless of technical background.
How is this different from ChatGPT?
Active Intelligence connects to your customer data, takes action (builds campaigns, creates automations), trains on marketing results, and lives inside your CRM.
ChatGPT helps you write, and can help users find you online. Active Intelligence builds, launches, and optimizes your entire marketing operation.
What if I want to review everything first?
You’re always in control. AI builds campaigns as drafts.
You review, edit, and approve before anything is sent. Think of AI as doing the first draft while you do final approval.
What size business is this for?
Built for small to mid-sized businesses. Works for solopreneurs, small teams of 5-10 people, and mid-sized companies up to 50+.
It levels the playing field and scales with your growth.
Conclusion
Active Intelligence is powerful, but implementation strategy matters. Proper setup leads to better long-term results. Expert guidance accelerates your learning curve. Strategic use of AI features drives better outcomes than random experimentation.
We use Active Intelligence ourselves every day and can help you avoid common pitfalls while maximizing the platform’s capabilities for your specific business.
Ready to get started? Schedule a free strategy consultation to discuss how Active Intelligence can work for your business.
